All-22 - Continued Oline concern and other observations

[CATCH17]

Excellent review.
Blocking is my biggest concern going forward. The defense should improve with players returning but I don't see a solution in sight for the blocking issues. Martin does not look right. Free is really struggling. Leary/Collins have not been what Leary was last season. The Guards don't seem to give Fred with initial help blocks like last season.

I don't really think Murray would make much difference. I thought the RBs got some dirty yards in the first 2 games and Randle's had some big plays even when the blocking broke down.

It does seem that defenses know what play is coming often. I wonder if they are doing something specific that is tipping off defenses. Some Centers have been known to hold the ball differently on runs vs passes. Maybe Weeden is doing something to tip them off. It would be interesting to pick up a player that has been on one of the opposing defenses to see if he knows something.

Buh buh buh... Mike Irvin says it's a RB by committee problem.

 

[burmafrd]

They only 'lie' because they don't agree with your preconceived notion.

You have done NOTHING to refute my point other than to say 'well, stats lie.'

It just goes to show your lack of knowledge when it comes to statistics.

And I'm not enamored with Weeden. I'm just saying that he has played fine for a backup QB. But because you have predetermined to hate him, you can't see the folly of your thinking. And that's why I'm done discussing this with you. Your mind is made up.





YR

it goes to show that you have either a blind spot with Weedon or no football judgement at all. One or the other. Little things like looking off a safety, pump fakes, being able to move around in the pocket. Those and more are the reasons Weedon is failing. You can hug your stats all you want and it makes no difference at all. Weedon is not productive of POINTS. Bottom line.

 

[CATCH17]

BTW...


If teams want to sit in cover 3 I would run T. Will and Escobar down the seem every play until they changed defenses.

Why are we not abusing that?

 

[65fastback2plus2]

All comes back to our red-headed fearless leader....thats the problem.

we have members on here that can diagnose the issue and find a solution to the problem, but our multi-million $$$ HC cant. smh.

 

[TonyRomo17]

BTW...


If teams want to sit in cover 3 I would run T. Will and Escobar down the seem every play until they changed defenses.

Why are we not abusing that?

Because our coaching staff is pathetic, also i dont think Weeden can hit those throws, he missed it vs ATL

 

[Floatyworm]

I really wish I had an efficient way to make some animated gifs like @itsaboat and others. The All-22 is a great feature and worth it if you have no real life - it is cheap "entertainment." When you compare teams and or games like NO this year vs last year, you really can see some root cause issues and sometimes get confirmation when someone like @Sturm1310 pulls stuff out .

That said, here are some thoughts and happy to point to other interesting plays (or post if someone can give me heads up on a tool that I dont have to spend 20 minutes loading one clip (I apparently have some life)

Offense
Oline
The line is not playing anywhere NEAR expectations. The biggest issues across the board is that they look weak and leverage seems consistently bad. There are many times (like the Michael play) where 1 or 2 players are driven back 2 yards before the handoff occurs. In this game, Leary looked exceptionally weak and slow for him, maybe he is still nursing injuries. Free seems to give you one good play and then 3 bad ones.

Teams are also learning tendencies of the Cowboys stretch and zone plays. The cut blocks are very anticipated and the result is you have tackles hitting the ground and the defender left upright hurdling over. Communication and calls seem to be 50/50 propositions as well (but that is pretty subjective statement)

Overall, this line looks average, it doesn't look like last year, and this has been in all 4 games not just since Romo is out. Pass Blocking has been decent - but that isnt playing to our gameplan. Grade - D+

QB
Weeden actually played ok enough to win. I still do not think he gives you more than someone like Showers (who is mobile). After watching Weeden and going back to some Cleveland games, he just doesnt seem to incorporate any pump fakes, look offs, etc. He locks on read #1 or #2, by then he seems to get nervous and lose composure. If the route is open he will stand in and take a hit, if not his bail is always backwards, there is no step up. A couple of sacks were plays Romo hits TDs on. I cant really fault Weeden for that, but whith his other issues - partial progressions, lack of touch, not incredibly accurate - I think having some mobility is really more valuable than a vet who has proven not to cut it. There were still many throws left on the field (video and the 3rd down incomplete to WItten where Williams had great seperation from Breaux on the same side

Grade - C

TEs
I really do not like the 2TE set on the line. It is crowding the area and giving more people room to shoot gaps and. Hanna missed a couple of blocks that could have sprung for big gains, but overall TEs are open and doing a passable job

Grade - B

RBs
After watching this year and last years game,. I have a new respect for "dirty yards". There are many runs that were stuffed for 1, 0, -1 where the RB immediately bailed for the cutback. Teams have studied this and the cutbacks arent there as ther were last year. However, watching a few of Demarcos runs last, he would run into the crease between a Smith and Free and sping through a crevice that really didnt look like it was there. The Dline got a hand on him, but his momentum was too much to impede him. Randle and McFadden dont see that crease developing or dont trust it. Every run seems to have a cutback way too early. Aside form that, many runs have no chance due to a blown assignment from the line.

Grade - C

WRs
This was impossible to judge last week as no balls go to the edge. WRs were open. They were open again this week and the ball was moved pretty effectively. Williams has had a couple of drops and Street is worthless, but Butler, Beasley and Williams have been good enough to win.

Grade - B

This is getting long in the tooth, so maybe i'll save the defense for another thread. Suffice it to say, with your #1WR gone, Pro-Bowl QB gone, the TEAM has to play efficient and execute. The coaches also have to adjust and understand what the strengths are and have situational awareness and instill all remote scenarios as teaching tools (like Parcells). The defense also has to capitalize on turnovers and tackle. 1-3 plays can typically make the difference in NFL games and these plays can be obvious or hidden. You cant win with a multiple false starts, too many men penalties, stepping out of bounds, calling timeout on first and goal at the with :40 seconds in the half resulting in 3 points for the other team. Getting stupid defense holding calls that dont impede a receiver, but just negates a Turnover (Carr). Dropping gift INTs (Claiborne, Patmon). Continuing to run the same plays and show tendencies. THere is a great play the Saints had on a sweep where the slot receiver came down and pushed lawrence from setting the edge - yet to see a similar variation from Dallas.

Chip Kelly said that they are 2 missed kicks away form being 3-1. THey are also a Brandon Marshall lateral to his shadow from being 0-4. Dallas could also be anywhere from 1-3 to 4-0. But there are way too many opportunities left out there and way too many dumb mistakes. The most concerning though is the oline getting manhandled 70% of the time


Here are two plays indicative of how drives end in FGs versus 7 points. The TE seam route is always open (Hanna this time). The next play is Randle for -4. Leary and Tyron Whiff. Free misses his block and ends up riding him into randles cut back - way to frequent look

Might be the best write up I've seen on here.......Keep bringing the truth!!!!

Excellent breakdown on the O-line.

 

[AzorAhai]

Because our coaching staff is pathetic, also i dont think Weeden can hit those throws, he missed it vs ATL

And he hit the exact same route against NO. Even Romo misses those seam throws every now and then.

 

[Idgit]

Good stuff. Nothing I'd take issue with here except the off-hand Showers comment.

The real meat of this is the criticism of the OL. To be fair, our offense has been middling this year, and they are generally getting Weeds enough time to make his two reads and dump the ball off. I think I'd give them an average grade overall, unless you're adjusting for the fact that they should be an A and they're performing at a level significantly below that. Their penalties have hurt us, too.

The defense is the other big disappointment for me so far. And I think a lot of that isn't entirely fair because they had a lot of injuries up front, too, but I still expected them to perform at at least last year's level and then to improve fairly significantly when Hardy came back. Missing Gregory has hurt, but they've been pretty underwhelming, overall.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

The issue is that we are still 0-2. Weeden did as much to lose the Atlanta game as he did to win it with those HOF stats. The INT was a killer and the epitome of inaccuracy - almost as dumb as his 25 yard shuffle pass in Cleveland a couple years back. He isnt escaping pressure and missing plays.

He had a fine NO game and was not the top 10 reasons we lost. IM speaking more about the philosophy, most backups are going to lose. If Weeden goes 0-7 or 1-6, what was really gained? At least if you had a young talented guy under contract, you can potentially groom or grow with. Weeden, Cassel, Orton, etc.just keeps the revolving door going with winless outcomes. There doesnt seem to be any return on the $2-$4M cap space over a $500K cap space guy.

Cassel came in for Brady and won 10 games. That begs the question then is it the backup or the coaches and his system

 

[Daillest88]

Wow wide open on that twill completion. Pathetic

 

[TheDude]

Cassel came in for Brady and won 10 games. That begs the question then is it the backup or the coaches and his system

Fair point

 

[TheDude]

Good stuff. Nothing I'd take issue with here except the off-hand Showers comment.

The real meat of this is the criticism of the OL. To be fair, our offense has been middling this year, and they are generally getting Weeds enough time to make his two reads and dump the ball off. I think I'd give them an average grade overall, unless you're adjusting for the fact that they should be an A and they're performing at a level significantly below that. Their penalties have hurt us, too.

The defense is the other big disappointment for me so far. And I think a lot of that isn't entirely fair because they had a lot of injuries up front, too, but I still expected them to perform at at least last year's level and then to improve fairly significantly when Hardy came back. Missing Gregory has hurt, but they've been pretty underwhelming, overall.

I regret the Showers comment...more about youth and mobility versus watching the same failed veterans failing (their fault or not). Showers was just the one on the team at the time.

 

[perrykemp]

Cassel came in for Brady and won 10 games. That begs the question then is it the backup or the coaches and his system

I'd say the Cassell's 2008 season for the Patriots is the rare exception. They went 11-5 without Brady and missed the playoffs.

Seneca Wallace / Scott Tolizien / Matt Flynn stinking up the joint and going 2-5-1 while Rodgers was out for the 2013 Packers is more the norm.

Both teams are known for their good coaches and good systems.

 

[Irvin88_4life]

I'd say the Cassell's 2008 season for the Patriots is the rare exception. They went 11-5 without Brady and missed the playoffs.

Seneca Wallace / Scott Tolizien / Matt Flynn stinking up the joint and going 2-5-1 while Rodgers was out for the 2013 Packers is more the norm.

Both teams are known for their good coaches and good systems.

Kitna came in and played well for the Cowboys

 

[Idgit]

I'd say the Cassell's 2008 season for the Patriots is the rare exception. They went 11-5 without Brady and missed the playoffs.

Seneca Wallace / Scott Tolizien / Matt Flynn stinking up the joint and going 2-5-1 while Rodgers was out for the 2013 Packers is more the norm.

Both teams are known for their good coaches and good systems.

Well, to be fair, if we were taping signals and bugging locker rooms and deflating footballs and found other more creative ways to cheat, we could probably have won with a 7-year-younger-Matt Cassel, too. These are the situations where being great at cheating really really pays off for you, or so I would imagine.

 

[TheDude]

Well, to be fair, if we were taping signals and bugging locker rooms and deflating footballs and found other more creative ways to cheat, we could probably have won with a 7-year-younger-Matt Cassel, too. These are the situations where being great at cheating really really pays off for you, or so I would imagine.

Or
If you ain't cheating you ain't tryin

 

[khiladi]

Because our coaching staff is pathetic, also i dont think Weeden can hit those throws, he missed it vs ATL

One throw doesn't s whole game make.. Part of good QB'ing is rhythm... You keep attacking what the defense gives you.

 

[Idgit]

Or
If you ain't cheating you ain't tryin

The Pats are world-class try-ers, no doubt.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Cassel came in for Brady and won 10 games. That begs the question then is it the backup or the coaches and his system

its the dumb coaches...a whole ton of book smarts and no common sense.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

If the WR's are open and get a good grade, the OL is pass blocking pretty well, then I think Weeden's grade should lower than it is.