Bledsoe - my observation

[Trip]

There was an earlier post here showing that the run/pass ratio was the same in the Seattle game as it was in the Eagles game, so no one is limiting the offense for Bledsoe. He's limited the offense himself with his mistakes. You can't expect everybody else's defense not to show up like the Eagles defense.
Qb's have to play well with pressure. There are going to be slips and falls by receivers and O-line break downs, and the qb must still make plays, even against good defenses.

If you pass the ball 60% of the time with 1-2 receivers in the route, is that the same to you as passing the ball 60% of the time with three receivers and Witten in the pattern? The offense was limited last week.

Mistakes? He's been pretty good.

Quick Bledsoe recap over the past three years, for those ready to run him off...

1. Comes to Buffalo in 2002. Passes for 4,500 yards, almost leads a terrible team (defensively, atrocious) to the playoffs, misses out by a game. Makes the probowl.

2. Coaching staff is so confident in his ability, they choose to spend money on the atrocious defense, and not re-sign a 94-catch, 1,200-yard receiver and starting tight end and 3rd down back that was used effectively in the passing game. Eric Moulds, the one remaining target misses a significant portion of the next season. Mike Pucillo, one of the worst offensive lineman in recent memory, mans the starting right guard position. With NO targets and inconsistent, if not terrible protection, Bledsoe has a bad season.

3. Bills decide to release starting guards Pucillo and Reuben Brown, and sign Chris Villarrial, a decent player and anoint Lawrence smith, maybe the second worst offensive lineman in recent memory, starting left guard. The Bills interior pass protection is an absolute joke and as a result coaching staff gets extremely conservative. Bledsoe has a poor season but the Bills narrowly miss the playoffs.

4. Bledsoe comes to Dallas. Has targets again like 2002. Has a decent line again like 2002 and starts off on a pro bowl pace, like 2002.

That Eagles defense that didn't show up? Made the Super Bowl last year, remember?

 

[Slyster]

More playaction on 1st and 2nd down is needed. Going deep on 2nd and short wont hurt either.

 

[Givincer]

If you pass the ball 60% of the time with 1-2 receivers in the route, is that the same to you as passing the ball 60% of the time with three receivers and Witten in the pattern? The offense was limited last week.

Mistakes? He's been pretty good.

Quick Bledsoe recap over the past three years, for those ready to run him off...

1. Comes to Buffalo in 2002. Passes for 4,500 yards, almost leads a terrible team (defensively, atrocious) to the playoffs, misses out by a game. Makes the probowl.

2. Coaching staff is so confident in his ability, they choose to spend money on the atrocious defense, and not re-sign a 94-catch, 1,200-yard receiver and starting tight end and 3rd down back that was used effectively in the passing game. Eric Moulds, the one remaining target misses a significant portion of the next season. Mike Pucillo, one of the worst offensive lineman in recent memory, mans the starting right guard position. With NO targets and inconsistent, if not terrible protection, Bledsoe has a bad season.

3. Bills decide to release starting guards Pucillo and Reuben Brown, and sign Chris Villarrial, a decent player and anoint Lawrence smith, maybe the second worst offensive lineman in recent memory, starting left guard. The Bills interior pass protection is an absolute joke and as a result coaching staff gets extremely conservative. Bledsoe has a poor season but the Bills narrowly miss the playoffs.

4. Bledsoe comes to Dallas. Has targets again like 2002. Has a decent line again like 2002 and starts off on a pro bowl pace, like 2002.

That Eagles defense that didn't show up? Made the Super Bowl last year, remember?

I thought I was the only Cowboy fan that knew all that. Most people don't know that to be quite honest...And if they do they refuse to believe the effect of taking targets / protection away on the QB.

 

[Trip]

I want a piece of that wager too. My two cents says that he'll make a second half swoon like he always does, especially with road games against the Eagles,Giants and Skins and the Chiefs,Broncos,Panthers and Rams.

like he always does, huh?

I'd like to see the stats to back that up.

He got that reputation in 2002, after he started off on a record-breaking pace. He also played an inordinate amount of extremely cold games in the second half that year, and he had very little running game. Henry had a good year, but disappeared in the second half, like the whole offense.

You think his QB rating is significantly different in the second half versus the first half, for his career?

Unless the winters in Dallas have dramatically changed since I've been away, I doubt you'll see any dropoff.

Edited - Never mind, looked it up myself.

Career 1st half = 82.8 rating
Career 2nd half = 74.6 rating
Career in cold games (40 or less) = 68.6 rating

Pretty easy to see why he's been slightly worse in the second half, considering his career has been in New England and Buffalo, and take out that 2002 season and the numbers are closer. Last year was virtually identical.

 

[Trip]

I thought I was the only Cowboy fan that knew all that. Most people don't know that to be quite honest...And if they do they refuse to believe the effect of taking targets / protection away on the QB.

then it's our duty, yours and mine, to educate the masses. Preach with me, brother.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

If you pass the ball 60% of the time with 1-2 receivers in the route, is that the same to you as passing the ball 60% of the time with three receivers and Witten in the pattern? The offense was limited last week.

Mistakes? He's been pretty good.

Quick Bledsoe recap over the past three years, for those ready to run him off...

1. Comes to Buffalo in 2002. Passes for 4,500 yards, almost leads a terrible team (defensively, atrocious) to the playoffs, misses out by a game. Makes the probowl.

2. Coaching staff is so confident in his ability, they choose to spend money on the atrocious defense, and not re-sign a 94-catch, 1,200-yard receiver and starting tight end and 3rd down back that was used effectively in the passing game. Eric Moulds, the one remaining target misses a significant portion of the next season. Mike Pucillo, one of the worst offensive lineman in recent memory, mans the starting right guard position. With NO targets and inconsistent, if not terrible protection, Bledsoe has a bad season.

3. Bills decide to release starting guards Pucillo and Reuben Brown, and sign Chris Villarrial, a decent player and anoint Lawrence smith, maybe the second worst offensive lineman in recent memory, starting left guard. The Bills interior pass protection is an absolute joke and as a result coaching staff gets extremely conservative. Bledsoe has a poor season but the Bills narrowly miss the playoffs.

4. Bledsoe comes to Dallas. Has targets again like 2002. Has a decent line again like 2002 and starts off on a pro bowl pace, like 2002.

That Eagles defense that didn't show up? Made the Super Bowl last year, remember?

OK...


BTW, the Bills' defense in 2002 was ranked 15th in the NFL. Pretty "atrocious" huh?

 

[MichaelWinicki]

like he always does, huh?

I'd like to see the stats to back that up.

He got that reputation in 2002, after he started off on a record-breaking pace. He also played an inordinate amount of extremely cold games in the second half that year, and he had very little running game. Henry had a good year, but disappeared in the second half, like the whole offense.

You think his QB rating is significantly different in the second half versus the first half, for his career?

Unless the winters in Dallas have dramatically changed since I've been away, I doubt you'll see any dropoff.

Edited - Never mind, looked it up myself.

Career 1st half = 82.8 rating
Career 2nd half = 74.6 rating
Career in cold games (40 or less) = 68.6 rating

Pretty easy to see why he's been slightly worse in the second half, considering his career has been in New England and Buffalo, and take out that 2002 season and the numbers are closer. Last year was virtually identical.

OK... let's look at Bledsoe's 2002....

The first 8 games:
Comp Att Yards TD Ints Rating
26 39 271 1 2 73.8
35 49 463 3 0 121.4
27 41 283 2 0 102.0
28 36 328 4 0 141.7
32 53 417 2 3 74.2
19 33 254 2 0 102.3
15 31 182 1 0 77.6
21 36 302 1 0 94.6

Let's total that up
203 318 2500 17 5

The last 8 games:
28 45 302 1 1 80.0
24 36 225 1 1 81.4
21 33 181 0 2 52.7
15 27 306 3 0 132.6
32 51 328 2 4 61.6
11 33 107 0 0 43.4
18 36 179 0 2 41.3
23 31 231 1 0 105.7

Let's total that up
172 292 1859 8 10

Pretty frightening huh? Obviously his probowl season of 2002 was done strictly on the backside of the first 8 games because he wasn't anything special over the last 8.

And it had nothing to do with "cold weather" (by the way, on the coldest day of the season, week 12, the temp was 25 degrees and Bledsoe had his 2nd best rating day of the season at 132.6) or Travis Henry "tanking" the last half of the season (1s half of season 151 carries 695 yards--- 2nd half of season 174 carries 743 yards)...

It had everything to do with defenses smarting up and taking away the deep ball from the Buffalo offense. Look at the yards per attemp... 1st 8 games 7.86, last 8 games 6.37... That is the entire story of how to beat Drew Bledsoe. Take away the long pass, make him work short where he isn't nearly as effective nor as happy.

2002 saw the best and worst of Drew Bledsoe wrapped up in a single season.

 

[Tripod]

OK... let's look at Bledsoe's 2002....

The first 8 games:
Comp Att Yards TD Ints Rating
26 39 271 1 2 73.8
35 49 463 3 0 121.4
27 41 283 2 0 102.0
28 36 328 4 0 141.7
32 53 417 2 3 74.2
19 33 254 2 0 102.3
15 31 182 1 0 77.6
21 36 302 1 0 94.6

Let's total that up
203 318 2500 17 5

The last 8 games:
28 45 302 1 1 80.0
24 36 225 1 1 81.4
21 33 181 0 2 52.7
15 27 306 3 0 132.6
32 51 328 2 4 61.6
11 33 107 0 0 43.4
18 36 179 0 2 41.3
23 31 231 1 0 105.7

Let's total that up
172 292 1859 8 10

Pretty frightening huh? Obviously his probowl season of 2002 was done strictly on the backside of the first 8 games because he wasn't anything special over the last 8.

And it had nothing to do with "cold weather" (by the way, on the coldest day of the season, week 12, the temp was 25 degrees and Bledsoe had his 2nd best rating day of the season at 132.6) or Travis Henry "tanking" the last half of the season (1s half of season 151 carries 695 yards--- 2nd half of season 174 carries 743 yards)...

It had everything to do with defenses smarting up and taking away the deep ball from the Buffalo offense. Look at the yards per attemp... 1st 8 games 7.86, last 8 games 6.37... That is the entire story of how to beat Drew Bledsoe. Take away the long pass, make him work short where he isn't nearly as effective nor as happy.

So what else ya got?

How many times are we going to base Bledsoe's career on the 2002 season?

I'm sure Drew wouldn't mind since he had 4359 passing yards, went to the Pro Bowl, set 11 franchise passing records and increased his new team's win total by 5 games that year. All with a new team and coaching staff.

Is it fair to say one half of the season was worse than the other? Um, yeah it is. But in his 12 year career only 2 years was his second half worse than the first.

Ripping Bledsoe is still quite premature Mike, we'll need a few more meltdowns before you can get your joy. Perhaps you will, perhaps you won't. I'm hoping you don't.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

How many times are we going to base Bledsoe's career on the 2002 season?

I'm sure Drew wouldn't mind since he had 4359 passing yards, went to the Pro Bowl, set 11 franchise passing records and increased his new team's win total by 5 games that year. All with a new team and coaching staff.

Is it fair to say one half of the season was worse than the other? Um, yeah it is. But in his 12 year career only 2 years was his second half worse than the first.

Ripping Bledsoe is still quite premature Mike, we'll need a few more meltdowns before you can get your joy. Perhaps you will, perhaps you won't. I'm hoping you don't.

Well look at you.

Trust me, no one was more crushed last week when that ill-advised passed was picked off and jogged back into field-goal range-- No one.

Someone made statements concerning 2002 and I countered... if you can't take that well...

And who was ripping? I gave the numbers just as they are.

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Well look at you.

Trust me, no one was more crushed last week when that ill-advised passed was picked off and jogged back into field-goal range-- No one.

Someone made statements concerning 2002 and I countered... if you can't take that well...

And who was ripping? I gave the numbers just as they are.

You ole Hater, you.

Morning, Mikey.

 

[Cowchips]

I seem to recalll that Bledsoe also went through a stretch in New England (1995-1997) when the team never lost a game in December. That was largely under the team created by Parcells.

I don't think he (Bledsoe) gets enough credit for some of the misery and bad luck he's endured. Crappy receivers in 1998-2000, Moulds injuries and loss of talent in 2003 and 2004. Oline injuries, etc. And through it all, there was Bledsoe, in the pocket with broken fingers, concussions, etc still trying his damndest to move his team forward and win.

The 2nd half of 2002 is also directly correlated to when "Big Mike" (also known as Big Wuss) and Jenning and others started missing a lot of games due to injury.

 

[Tripod]

to MW

Just countering. Apparently that's ok, right?

Just wanted to point out that Bledsoe isn't the complete failure that you spent the Spring and Summer predicting he would be. All blasting on the man before he touched a football here.

I'm glad you didn't know what you were talking about.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You ole Hater, you.

Morning, Mikey.

LOL!

I'm awful huh?

"Please forgive them for they know not what they do"

 

[MichaelWinicki]

to MW

Just countering. Apparently that's ok, right?

Just wanted to point out that Bledsoe isn't the complete failure that you spent the Spring and Summer predicting he would be. All blasting on the man before he touched a football here.

I'm glad you didn't know what you were talking about.

Sure... you can counter. Feel free. This is a "discussion board" and I especially dislike it when anyone suggests that we should talk about "this" or we shouldn't talk about "that". As long as we're adult about it-- it's all fair game.

Fair enough?

 

[LaTunaNostra]

LOL!

I'm awful huh?

You certainly are. In fact, your refusal to bow low to Drew Bledsoe in abject worship after he performs abysmally in a game is starting to annoy me.

Just because you witnessed his coach-killing debacle in Buffalo doesn't make YOU any kind of expert. That was only a three year hands-over-eyes experience.

I got to see DB firsthand from my home base for seven years, the good as well as the bad, and the good came with Tuna's tight control, Bill's development, strong hand, and loosening rein as circumstances allowed. Of course, even for Bill, the reality of an unchained Drew came home to roost...in that SB loss to the Pack. How many picks, I forget?

But it sas after Tuna blew town that the coach killing began. For all the yardage amassed, and the very laudable comebacks, Pete Carroll still ended up unemployed largely because he did not wisely restrain his QB.

Oh, the excuse were many, the oline "Rucci and Lane are now turnstyles!", "Zampese is crazy - Drew doesn't need timing", "Curtis Martin was never adequately replaced", "She's hurt/hungover/suspended again", "Why did Coates have to retire?", blah blah blah....really all the same issues every team has to deal with every year, retirement, aging, injury... but used by the Apologists to more creatively "spread the blame" (a phenomenon we saw on this board this week...sure it's ALWAYS a "team loss"...but when the main culprit is DB, there's an extra special effort to spread real or imagined BS about.


Of course you'll get accused of wanting to see DB fail, just to prove yourself 'right'. Me too...I so much enjoyed seeing that absolutely stupid force to Glenn end the game last week. What's one little loss when you have 16 whole games to play? I especially crave Bledsoe's failure because that and that alone would probably bring a decision on Bill's part not to renew his contract in Dallas. And you know, Mikey, how anxious I am to see that bum Parcells sent packing.

The good and the bad of Drew Bledsoe, we've both seen it firsthand. And now everyone here has too. Censureship of views ain't gonna work - like it never does - when the Emperor has no clothes, it's pretty easy to see.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

You certainly are. In fact, your refusal to bow low to Drew Bledsoe in abject worship after he performs abysmally in a game is starting to annoy me.

Just because you witnessed his coach-killing debacle in Buffalo doesn't make YOU any kind of expert. That was only a three year hands-over-eyes experience.

I got to see DB firsthand from my home base for seven years, the good as well as the bad, and the good came with Tuna's tight control, Bill's development, strong hand, and loosening rein as circumstances allowed. Of course, even for Bill, the reality of an unchained Drew came home to roost...in that SB loss to the Pack. How many picks, I forget?

But it sas after Tuna blew town that the coach killing began. For all the yardage amassed, and the very laudable comebacks, Pete Carroll still ended up unemployed largely because he did not wisely restrain his QB.

Oh, the excuse were many, the oline "Rucci and Lane are now turnstyles!", "Zampese is crazy - Drew doesn't need timing", "Curtis Martin was never adequately replaced", "She's hurt/hungover/suspended again", "Why did Coates have to retire?", blah blah blah....really all the same issues every team has to deal with every year, retirement, aging, injury... but used by the Apologists to more creatively "spread the blame" (a phenomenon we saw on this board this week...sure it's ALWAYS a "team loss"...but when the main culprit is DB, there's an extra special effort to spread real or imagined BS about.


Of course you'll get accused of wanting to see DB fail, just to prove yourself 'right'. Me too...I so much enjoyed seeing that absolutely stupid force to Glenn end the game last week. What's one little loss when you have 16 whole games to play? I especially crave Bledsoe's failure because that and that alone would probably bring a decision on Bill's part not to renew his contract in Dallas. And you know, Mikey, how anxious I am to see that bum Parcells sent packing.

The good and the bad of Drew Bledsoe, we've both seen it firsthand. And now everyone here has too. Censureship of views ain't gonna work - like it never does - when the Emperor has no clothes, it's pretty easy to see.

Nothing else can be said...

 

[LaTunaNostra]

Nothing else can be said...

Only if you lock this thread.

In fact, I foresee another ten pages of apologies by folks who registered when Drew was signed, or his old loyal vanguard in NE mounting yet another HOF worthy campaign.

Bledsoe is certainly the best QB seen 'round these parts since Mr Aikman, but his failures elsewhere are fair game for a critique here. He didn't spring full blown from Tuna's brow last offseason..he came with baggage like any vet player does...and just as Keyshawn's personality issues, Peerless Price's experience in Atlanta, Aaron Glenn's decline in Houston...Bledsoe's past is not just a useful frame of reference, but a needed one.

Now it's up to Bill to keep him honest as well as upright.....in the end the final accountability will rest with Tuna.

I just hope BP doesn't go the same way as Carroll and Williams.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Only if you lock this thread.

In fact, I foresee another ten pages of apologies by folks who registered when Drew was signed, or his old loyal vanguard in NE mounting yet another HOF worthy campaign.

Bledsoe is certainly the best QB seen 'round these parts since Mr Aikman, but his failures elsewhere are fair game for a critique here. He didn't spring full blown from Tuna's brow last offseason..he came with baggage like any vet player does...and just as Keyshawn's personality issues, Peerless Price's experience in Atlanta, Aaron Glenn's decline in Houston...Bledsoe's past is not just a useful frame of reference, but a needed one.

Now it's up to Bill to keep him honest as well as upright.....in the end the final accountability will rest with Tuna.

I just hope BP doesn't go the same way as Carroll and Williams.

Barb, hey I understand the mentality here. Cowboy fans have been like the "40 year-old virgin" when it comes to quarterbacks.

And Bledsoe hasn't been a car wreck. Truthfully, I don't know of anyone that said he would. I think it was the consensus of folks that didn't have man-love for the guy that he would be an improvement over Vinny. Not leaps & bounds but an improvement. Heck, I even said this team was an on-the-edge playoff team with him and the other additions made during the offseason.

But I wasn't going to become a Bledsoe-mark. I had seen and heard way too much over his three previous seasons in Buffalo to buy into that like so many had.

Bledsoe has performed way above my expectations so far. And the Dallas Cowboys have benefited. But I'm not ready to proclaim him reborn and expect the 90-something QB rating to last the whole season. I just don't. I've seen way too much of this guy. And I don't want to hear the boatload of excuses when it does-- But I know they'll be posted all over this board.

 

[kmd24]

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

I didn't read the whole thread, so someone may have said this, but it seems to me that Bledsoe has the slowest FIRST step in the league. Maybe there is some correlation between that and all the fumbles.

That first step is a pretty important on a three step drop, not as much on a 5 or 7.

 

[Nors]

Bledsoe is exceeding expectations. Parcells needs to open it up like Eagles game. This is going to be a step up week. We will get a W this week on Drews arm and our defense.