Bledsoe - my observation

[Hostile]

The way I see it, it's not a mulligan if you mess up every time you swing.

Says you. If it ain't straight, I didn't hit it.

 

[Homerun Trot]

The problem this week with the 3 step drops was if the primary receiver wasn't open, and the Hawks did a pretty good job in coverage, Bledsoe was getting backed into by his own guys.

This is definitely true, and it happened in the Raiders game quite a bit. It's tougher for the o-line to create a pocket for Drew using the three step drop.

 

[kojak]

I don't understand with the injury to Flozell and the o-line problems we have been having, why they don't use the shotgun more often in passing situations.

 

[Nors]

Its obvious to us the average fan - lets hope our coaches adjust to our QB's strengths - especially with JJ out.

 

[lane]

Great Take! Bledsoe reminds me of Troy Aikman more than any QB I have observed. They both like to hold onto the ball and take that long 5 step drop. However, if you could protect either QB, they would just make you pay.

troy never did good with a wet ball either.

bledsoe is the man........... with protection and a dry ball... and proper playcalling...

i love watching my team with a real qb.

 

[Zman5]

Use the shotgun. He will at least have some room to step up when he throws.

 

[burmafrd]

Problem with the shotgun is you need a good snap from center. Can we rely on that from AL?

 

[morasp]

As far as arm strength and deep ball accuracy Drew is the man. For west coast type dink and dunk I actually think Romo would be pretty good.

 

[dbair1967]

Bledsoe really struggles on 3 step quick hit plays. Either its there or its not. And often the pocket collapses on him.

I like him best at 5 and 7 drop plays. Especially off play action. The field opens up and thats when he hits a lot of medium range passes. And the threat is there that will keep secondary out of box setting up run later..

I cant understand why the shotgun isnt used more...I know Bledsoe has used it alot and its been used here some...seems like alot of the issues of not even being able to get a pass off clean would be solved by doing this on obvious passing downs

David

 

[dbair1967]

troy never did good with a wet ball either.

bledsoe is the man........... with protection and a dry ball... and proper playcalling...

i love watching my team with a real qb.

well no QB is better with a wet ball

that said, Aikman played one of his best games ever in the NFC Champiosnhip game in 1992, and that game was played on possibly the worst field ever in the rain for some of the game

David

 

[dbair1967]

Great Take! Bledsoe reminds me of Troy Aikman more than any QB I have observed. .

I guess that would be fair if you are comparing Bledsoe with Aikman towards the end of his career, but before the knee and back stuff wore him down Aikman got back into the throwing position much quicker than Bledsoe, and he also had a quicker release

David

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Some good points have been brought up.

Nors brought up a good point on Drew and his "comfort" level within a 3-step drop system. He's isn't and to make matters worse his accuracy and touch on short passes is not effective.

Drew is a better passer on medium to long patterns-- no question.

But here is problem...

Teams have repeatedly either taken away the longer routes OR blitzed relentlessly since the mid-point of the 2002 season. In conjunction that's when Drew's "dream season" of 2002 went into the tank... and remained so until the 1/4 mark of the 2004 season when the Buffalo offense finally started emphasizing short patterns to avoid sacks and decrease the number of 3 & outs the offense had been suffering through.

I think much to his chagrin Drew did buy into the concept... at least until the last game of the season against Pittsburgh, which would decide the Bills playoff future.

After Drew's failure to beat a Pittsburgh team that was playing mostly 2nd & 3rd stringers on defense many within the Bills organization were greatly miffed that Drew did not follow the game plan that emphasized the short passing game and instead fell back into his bad habits of looking long first-- forcing balls-- and taking needless sacks.

And here's the situation at hand...

1. Do we continue to emphasize the short passing game even though it doesn't play to the strengths of the QB?
2. Do we "open up the offense" with more passing period?
3. Do we emphasize a more "vertical" passing game?

Buffalo almost made the playoffs last year by doing #1. Drew isn't the best in this type of offense but it seems to carry the least amount of risk.

Drew is an offensive line 'killer'. The pass protection always looks worse with Drew than it will virtually any other QB due to his desire to look for the longer routes first. Consider this... how can the protection offered by this year's offensive line (up to the loss of Adams) be worse than last year given we had Gurode at RG and Tucker at RT for most of the year? The fact is it couldn't. Bledsoe has probably added a good 8 sacks to our total by just "being Drew". It's what you are going to get with him.

I honestly don't see how we can open up the passing game more... I honestly don't. If this offense goes to a 60/40 pass/run ratio I guarantee bad things will happen.

Consequently going to a more vertical offense will lead to the same problems. Yes, we will get more big plays but the negative plays will kill us.

 

[Hoov]

last week the offense ran a lot of 2 TE sets. I think this week we will run more 3 wr sets and Price will play a lot. I wonder if bledsoe will do better having glen and price on the field at the same time. if dallas uses both to stretch the field i think there would be a lot of room for witten and Key to work underneath. Thoughts on this ?

 

[burmafrd]

Added 8 sacks to our total- really. That is pathetic. This last game all sacks- or virtually all- were on the line. Before this game there were several BLOWN pickups by backs or screw ups by the line. I would say only about 1/4 of the sacks this season are Bledsoe's fault- and what we have gained is much more then what we have lost.
All you need is ONE more big play then negative plays to win a game. Some want to hate on Bledsoe so much they have lost what little reason they have.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't think I'm "hating" on Drew. I think my portrayal of him is one of the most accurate on this board. The fact is if Bledsoe plays within the short passing game system then he and the team will have much more success.

 

[burmafrd]

7 step drop with a check off back nearby if the rush is there. If he has time go intermediate or deep. That is what he is best at and has had success at. And he has the receivers to do it. THAT and run more draws. We would do well. Pass about half the time on first down so that the D cannot get set.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

7 step drop with a check off back nearby if the rush is there. If he has time go intermediate or deep. That is what he is best at and has had success at. And he has the receivers to do it. THAT and run more draws. We would do well. Pass about half the time on first down so that the D cannot get set.

The problem with that is this:

1. Drew will wait for the something to develop deep before he checks off. This is really his biggest weakness that the defenses key on. They'll take away the deep passes and in the process greatly increase the chance of sacks/fumbles/ints.

2. And "no". One more "big" play per game as compared to "negative" plays will not guarantee a win.

 

[Doomsday101]

The problem with that is this:

1. Drew will wait for the something to develop deep before he checks off. This is really his biggest weakness that the defenses key on. They'll take away the deep passes and in the process greatly increase the chance of sacks/fumbles/ints.

2. And "no". One more "big" play per game as compared to "negative" plays will not guarantee a win.

Bledsoe has been hitting the 10 yard passes which is why Dallas ranks towards the top on 3rd down converstion. There are times that he is looking for the homerun ball but he is also hitting the shorter routs and moving the chains. Dallas is hitting 42.7% on 3rd down most coming from the passing game

 

[Hoov]

Bledsoe has been hitting the 10 yard passes which is why Dallas ranks towards the top on 3rd down converstion. There are times that he is looking for the homerun ball but he is also hitting the shorter routs and moving the chains. Dallas is hitting 42.7% on 3rd down most coming from the passing game

yes he was hitting the 10 yard passes until last week. but most of the 3rd down conversions were to crayton and glen if im not mistaken.

last week, no crayton, seattle takes away glen with double teams, witten stayed in to block more. bledsoe had no where to go, i guess key wasnt getting open or enough sepearation for bledose to feel comfortable throwing it to him on 3rd down ? i dont know.

But im hoping a return to 3 wr sets on passing downs will produce better results than last week.

 

[Doomsday101]

yes he was hitting the 10 yard passes until last week. but most of the 3rd down conversions were to crayton and glen if im not mistaken.

last week, no crayton, seattle takes away glen with double teams, witten stayed in to block more. bledsoe had no where to go, i guess key wasnt getting open or enough sepearation for bledose to feel comfortable throwing it to him on 3rd down ? i dont know.

But im hoping a return to 3 wr sets on passing downs will produce better results than last week.

A lot of that had to do with trying to provide help for both tackle spots. If your having to help the tackles that is 1 to 2 less guys involved in getting out in the routs.