FuzzyLumpkins
The Boognish
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We destroyed the run. On the first series, the Bears ran right at a stunt and McClain knifed through to make a tackle.
The defensive line did a very good job getting penetration and we enjoyed the best 1T play we have seen all year. It makes a difference as it allowed us to persevere some early offensive struggles.
They seem intent on keeping a 1T on the field at all times even for the niickel. I have been waiting to see a NASCAR lineup with Crawford or Melton playing the 1 but that has not been the case these past few weeks. Spencer took most to all of the nickel snaps and they just chipped him with the TE down after down.
Crawford made several plays throughout the day including beating single blocking when he got it consistently.
With the 1's consistently getting good push no one at RDE could get any pressure. Mincey saw a lot of single blocking and got 1 pressure. Outside of that it was a goose egg for the position and that is the crux of our pass rush problems.
We tried to run zone blitzes, stunts, etc as they have had succsess with in the past but give the Bears some credit, they picked almost all of it up. Our oline would do well to match that type of performance. Cutler had to short stride throws with pressure in his grill but I thought he had a very good game as well particularly in the second half.
Let's be fair though. They gave Cutler a lot of 6 and 7 man protections and we couldn't cover 3 and 4 receivers with 7 and 8 men.
Lack of team speed is killing us in coverage. Hitchens is an average athlete and stiff in the hips. McClain is fast for a 260 lbs wrecking ball but he is about where Hitchens is in ability to run. You combine that with minus run athletes in Carr, Church and Wilber/Spillman and it's going to create problems. Wilcox has good range but we cannot get to the far sideline from the middle deep of the formation. He can do halves but Church nor Spillman lack the range to handle even half the field. Chicago's first TD drive of the second half highlighted that last very clearly.
You end up seeing lots of guys just getting to their dropss with the ball in the air. Its designed such that your drop corresponds with the QBs 3,5, or 7 step drop. When you get there the QB is supposed to be just hitting his back foot and you are ready to drive on the throw. In the fourth quarter, Jefferies and Bennett ran routes in the middle of the field and our deep drops weren't even being finished before the ball was in the air. Between that and only haveing one guy -Carter, McClain, or OScan were called on for this- underneath in the middle of the field for over 12 yards and you get what you get.
Combine that with a deer-in-the-headlights version of zone coverage at various times from Spillman, Carter, Hitchens, Wilcox, and McClain and you have a recipe for disaster. In this case it was three TDs in about 7 or so minutes.
Hamilton is active but not in coverage over Spillman. I would like to see that change. Patmon is very very good at zone coverage. He picks up, carries and drops off receiver in his zone like a pro. He also shades to routes and doesn't stare the QB down from the snap. And of course he drives on throws well too. He will help when he gets healthy.
Selvie doesn't get pushed around but he looks sluggish relative to last year and cannot get off blocks well. I know he is dinged He is a warrior and runs through the whistle but his play is providing little to no pass rush. He still got a healthy dose of snaps with the Lawrence injury but I would rather play the youth when he comes back. Mend well, George.
Hayden played the best game I can recall. He saw a lot of single blocking and he consistently got penetration ripping across the center. They double teamed him twice and he only allowed himself to be slightly turned and held the poa on the first. Unfortunately the second was the first TD where he was blown completely off the line. He continued to do the little things well. Hustling all over the field and decent zone coverage were on display. Competition does wonders.
At this point, I think you can start arguing that the Cowboys hit on drafting Crawford with confidence. Yeah he could get injured and make me the fool but NFL OG and C cannot block him 1 vs 1. You can wall him off with 2 and 3 man protections but that brings opportunities for his teammates and he can win some double teams too. He is equally disruptive to runs and passes. 3 down 3 technique. He doesn't have the sack totals to be in the probowl but he is by far our best DL and competes with Scandrick and Rolando for top defenders title.
Mincey was pretty quiet. He took advantage of a teammates pressure and a scrambling Cutler but he generated little push on his own. As mentioned before RDE was not particularly impressive.
Spencer got quite a few snaps but he remains on the strongside and I'm not sure that he got a pass rush attempt without a chip from the TE. At one point he got frustrated and pancaked the TE before trying the tackle but it's hard to pass rush like that. I can see his athleticism as he is able to stop start and move and turn very well but outside of that great breakdown in space to secure the fumble illustrating that athleticism, he was very much contained. He stunted inside of Hayden or twisting LB but that got nowhere. Long day for Anthony.
Brent was very encouraging in his first snaps in near two years. He played extensively getting multiple rotations in both halves. He did better in the first half than the second but he remains a force. First thing apparent is his size. Second is his long arms that he aggressively uses to rip and chop. Third was his rustiness. In his initial snaps the OC and G pulled the chair on him to use a basketball term and he lost his feet. It's all in part of using strength in contact and staying low. His problem isn't in knowing what techniques to use so much as it is a one of feel and conditioning. As it was he drew a lot of doubles and push just like you want from your NT and Forte had nowhere to cut back to. Further technique was on display when he shed his block to make a tackle as opposed to the chase down from behind technique. He wore down in the second half like much of the defense but the workload was high for a first game of the year. If he keeps coming on it will be a major boon.
McClain is a bit of a one trick pony. Trying to rip through the B gap, he can be disruptive but he doesn't use his hands very well and he ends up out of control and unaware. For all that he was disruptive, Cutler just sidestepped him for an easy score for the second TD in the 4th quarter. He's a backup and I don't hate him especially considering he plays on both return teams but I wonder if Coleman or Bishop couldn't be just as effective.
Melton keeps being very disruptive in limited snaps. He defended two passes. One from a hand out of a scrum and another from blowing up a screen. Not bad for playing many of his snaps out of position They tried to run screens and horizontal stuff to his side of the field in the first half and he was having none of it. I don't know how we can keep him but he has been effective for us in limited snaps all season long. He will get a contract somewhere.
Carter likely needs to move on. He looks hesitant and completely lacking confidence. I was more critical on the first watch-through but after further review some of those zone calls I would question too. It's one thing when he is the only guy making theses mistakes but when you see Spillman, Hitchens, McClain and even Scandrick having the same issues then it is a systemic problem. Too much reacting and not enough attacking
The coaches ended up playing Wilber at times over Carter and he was worse. He shouldn't be used on intermediate drops but the coaches call what they call and he gets turned around and out of position often. He is one that I notice whiffing blocks on special teams and a special teams tackle every now and then would help. Strange to think how high I was on him this time last year.
McClain plain beat up Bennett. Bennett had about 10 catches and McClain got a good hit on at least 5 of them. Other guy's got in on the beating but the limping MartyB was mostly a Rolando special.
(1:01) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short right to M.Bennett to CHI 40 for 4 yards (R.McClain). CHI-M.Bennett was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
We have ourselves a pain train.
He makes us a better tackling team. If you can slow your guy up McClain will get there and finish the tackle. This is a major boon for defensive backs who can have issues bringing bigger receivers down. When he gets good DT play like he enjoyed today he can wreak havoc on runs and his quick reads disrupt the horizontal passing game. When need be he can take on, direct and then shed blocks from OL or smaller. He runs well for his size and shows good instincts. I think he is in the conversation with Oscan and Crawford for top defensive honors.
Hitchens will pick up receivers into his zone but seeing routes across the field is a work in progress. He isn't making any plays in coverage and we need that to improve but I wasn't seeing him targeted or picked on either like the other two starters. He is a good tackler and shows good hustle in pursuit but he cannot take on even TE blocks worth a damn. Good DT play kept LB clean so it wasn't an issue. Seeing them choose to block him and leave Ro free is just fine with me.
Carr was okay. I know people will handwave at the TD reception with the ignored OPI. Either he or Church were responsible for the first TD too as neither picked up Bennett for an easy throw, I think Church should have stayed inside but who knows what the call in fact was. You would like to see more physicality in the face of obvious OPI but you know what else I would have liked to have seen? S help and Church was late and out of the picture. He did a good job outside of that considering that he was matched up with Jefferies for 3 quaters. They moved Marshall around a lot more before the injury. He was also very physical in run and short throw support and that was a big part of holding them to one score in the first three quarters.
Scandrick was all over the place. TFL on run blitz. Several open field tackles on short throws. Tight coverage and making plays on the ball. Came away with a pick to seal the game. By far the best defensive performance for the evening. Even his anger there at the end was righteous. Great game.
Scheme called for Wilcox man to man on Marshall up the seam. He was stride for stride in trail technique and he timed laying out to play the ball well but the throw was better and the 1 handed grab was best. Of course Church was late getting over but they should be used to that by now. Wilcox picks up receivers in his zone and as such wasn't picked on much. Does a good job coming up in pursuit and support. The scheme had Marshall and Jefferies 1v1 on LB and S all game long and that is a problem.
Church sucks at deep support and is consistently late to help throws to his side of the field. The Wilcox throw described above was up the open side hash and Church was in the middle of the formation. He still missed getting there. That is unacceptable from a deep safety and the problem is becoming routine. He is great at 1v1 coverage and picking up, carrying, and dropping off receivers even on deep drops. He makes good reads but at the end of the day he is more quick than fast and he is not all that quick. He just cannot get there to help on deep throws and its a problem that teams are exploiting.
Moore wasn't challenged in the horizontal game out of his nickel looks and when thrown on he makes quick tackles or better knocks down the pass. Good quiet game.
Spillman came in at the end during the 4th for a dime look. He was a deer in the headlights and failed to react to a throw right in front of him. I hope Hamilton gets a shot after the last few weeks of poor Spillman coverage
Offensive thought are here: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/fuzzy-offensive-thoughts-at-chi.308223/
The defensive line did a very good job getting penetration and we enjoyed the best 1T play we have seen all year. It makes a difference as it allowed us to persevere some early offensive struggles.
They seem intent on keeping a 1T on the field at all times even for the niickel. I have been waiting to see a NASCAR lineup with Crawford or Melton playing the 1 but that has not been the case these past few weeks. Spencer took most to all of the nickel snaps and they just chipped him with the TE down after down.
Crawford made several plays throughout the day including beating single blocking when he got it consistently.
With the 1's consistently getting good push no one at RDE could get any pressure. Mincey saw a lot of single blocking and got 1 pressure. Outside of that it was a goose egg for the position and that is the crux of our pass rush problems.
We tried to run zone blitzes, stunts, etc as they have had succsess with in the past but give the Bears some credit, they picked almost all of it up. Our oline would do well to match that type of performance. Cutler had to short stride throws with pressure in his grill but I thought he had a very good game as well particularly in the second half.
Let's be fair though. They gave Cutler a lot of 6 and 7 man protections and we couldn't cover 3 and 4 receivers with 7 and 8 men.
Lack of team speed is killing us in coverage. Hitchens is an average athlete and stiff in the hips. McClain is fast for a 260 lbs wrecking ball but he is about where Hitchens is in ability to run. You combine that with minus run athletes in Carr, Church and Wilber/Spillman and it's going to create problems. Wilcox has good range but we cannot get to the far sideline from the middle deep of the formation. He can do halves but Church nor Spillman lack the range to handle even half the field. Chicago's first TD drive of the second half highlighted that last very clearly.
You end up seeing lots of guys just getting to their dropss with the ball in the air. Its designed such that your drop corresponds with the QBs 3,5, or 7 step drop. When you get there the QB is supposed to be just hitting his back foot and you are ready to drive on the throw. In the fourth quarter, Jefferies and Bennett ran routes in the middle of the field and our deep drops weren't even being finished before the ball was in the air. Between that and only haveing one guy -Carter, McClain, or OScan were called on for this- underneath in the middle of the field for over 12 yards and you get what you get.
Combine that with a deer-in-the-headlights version of zone coverage at various times from Spillman, Carter, Hitchens, Wilcox, and McClain and you have a recipe for disaster. In this case it was three TDs in about 7 or so minutes.
Hamilton is active but not in coverage over Spillman. I would like to see that change. Patmon is very very good at zone coverage. He picks up, carries and drops off receiver in his zone like a pro. He also shades to routes and doesn't stare the QB down from the snap. And of course he drives on throws well too. He will help when he gets healthy.
Selvie doesn't get pushed around but he looks sluggish relative to last year and cannot get off blocks well. I know he is dinged He is a warrior and runs through the whistle but his play is providing little to no pass rush. He still got a healthy dose of snaps with the Lawrence injury but I would rather play the youth when he comes back. Mend well, George.
Hayden played the best game I can recall. He saw a lot of single blocking and he consistently got penetration ripping across the center. They double teamed him twice and he only allowed himself to be slightly turned and held the poa on the first. Unfortunately the second was the first TD where he was blown completely off the line. He continued to do the little things well. Hustling all over the field and decent zone coverage were on display. Competition does wonders.
At this point, I think you can start arguing that the Cowboys hit on drafting Crawford with confidence. Yeah he could get injured and make me the fool but NFL OG and C cannot block him 1 vs 1. You can wall him off with 2 and 3 man protections but that brings opportunities for his teammates and he can win some double teams too. He is equally disruptive to runs and passes. 3 down 3 technique. He doesn't have the sack totals to be in the probowl but he is by far our best DL and competes with Scandrick and Rolando for top defenders title.
Mincey was pretty quiet. He took advantage of a teammates pressure and a scrambling Cutler but he generated little push on his own. As mentioned before RDE was not particularly impressive.
Spencer got quite a few snaps but he remains on the strongside and I'm not sure that he got a pass rush attempt without a chip from the TE. At one point he got frustrated and pancaked the TE before trying the tackle but it's hard to pass rush like that. I can see his athleticism as he is able to stop start and move and turn very well but outside of that great breakdown in space to secure the fumble illustrating that athleticism, he was very much contained. He stunted inside of Hayden or twisting LB but that got nowhere. Long day for Anthony.
Brent was very encouraging in his first snaps in near two years. He played extensively getting multiple rotations in both halves. He did better in the first half than the second but he remains a force. First thing apparent is his size. Second is his long arms that he aggressively uses to rip and chop. Third was his rustiness. In his initial snaps the OC and G pulled the chair on him to use a basketball term and he lost his feet. It's all in part of using strength in contact and staying low. His problem isn't in knowing what techniques to use so much as it is a one of feel and conditioning. As it was he drew a lot of doubles and push just like you want from your NT and Forte had nowhere to cut back to. Further technique was on display when he shed his block to make a tackle as opposed to the chase down from behind technique. He wore down in the second half like much of the defense but the workload was high for a first game of the year. If he keeps coming on it will be a major boon.
McClain is a bit of a one trick pony. Trying to rip through the B gap, he can be disruptive but he doesn't use his hands very well and he ends up out of control and unaware. For all that he was disruptive, Cutler just sidestepped him for an easy score for the second TD in the 4th quarter. He's a backup and I don't hate him especially considering he plays on both return teams but I wonder if Coleman or Bishop couldn't be just as effective.
Melton keeps being very disruptive in limited snaps. He defended two passes. One from a hand out of a scrum and another from blowing up a screen. Not bad for playing many of his snaps out of position They tried to run screens and horizontal stuff to his side of the field in the first half and he was having none of it. I don't know how we can keep him but he has been effective for us in limited snaps all season long. He will get a contract somewhere.
Carter likely needs to move on. He looks hesitant and completely lacking confidence. I was more critical on the first watch-through but after further review some of those zone calls I would question too. It's one thing when he is the only guy making theses mistakes but when you see Spillman, Hitchens, McClain and even Scandrick having the same issues then it is a systemic problem. Too much reacting and not enough attacking
The coaches ended up playing Wilber at times over Carter and he was worse. He shouldn't be used on intermediate drops but the coaches call what they call and he gets turned around and out of position often. He is one that I notice whiffing blocks on special teams and a special teams tackle every now and then would help. Strange to think how high I was on him this time last year.
McClain plain beat up Bennett. Bennett had about 10 catches and McClain got a good hit on at least 5 of them. Other guy's got in on the beating but the limping MartyB was mostly a Rolando special.
(1:01) (Shotgun) J.Cutler pass short right to M.Bennett to CHI 40 for 4 yards (R.McClain). CHI-M.Bennett was injured during the play. His return is Questionable.
We have ourselves a pain train.
He makes us a better tackling team. If you can slow your guy up McClain will get there and finish the tackle. This is a major boon for defensive backs who can have issues bringing bigger receivers down. When he gets good DT play like he enjoyed today he can wreak havoc on runs and his quick reads disrupt the horizontal passing game. When need be he can take on, direct and then shed blocks from OL or smaller. He runs well for his size and shows good instincts. I think he is in the conversation with Oscan and Crawford for top defensive honors.
Hitchens will pick up receivers into his zone but seeing routes across the field is a work in progress. He isn't making any plays in coverage and we need that to improve but I wasn't seeing him targeted or picked on either like the other two starters. He is a good tackler and shows good hustle in pursuit but he cannot take on even TE blocks worth a damn. Good DT play kept LB clean so it wasn't an issue. Seeing them choose to block him and leave Ro free is just fine with me.
Carr was okay. I know people will handwave at the TD reception with the ignored OPI. Either he or Church were responsible for the first TD too as neither picked up Bennett for an easy throw, I think Church should have stayed inside but who knows what the call in fact was. You would like to see more physicality in the face of obvious OPI but you know what else I would have liked to have seen? S help and Church was late and out of the picture. He did a good job outside of that considering that he was matched up with Jefferies for 3 quaters. They moved Marshall around a lot more before the injury. He was also very physical in run and short throw support and that was a big part of holding them to one score in the first three quarters.
Scandrick was all over the place. TFL on run blitz. Several open field tackles on short throws. Tight coverage and making plays on the ball. Came away with a pick to seal the game. By far the best defensive performance for the evening. Even his anger there at the end was righteous. Great game.
Scheme called for Wilcox man to man on Marshall up the seam. He was stride for stride in trail technique and he timed laying out to play the ball well but the throw was better and the 1 handed grab was best. Of course Church was late getting over but they should be used to that by now. Wilcox picks up receivers in his zone and as such wasn't picked on much. Does a good job coming up in pursuit and support. The scheme had Marshall and Jefferies 1v1 on LB and S all game long and that is a problem.
Church sucks at deep support and is consistently late to help throws to his side of the field. The Wilcox throw described above was up the open side hash and Church was in the middle of the formation. He still missed getting there. That is unacceptable from a deep safety and the problem is becoming routine. He is great at 1v1 coverage and picking up, carrying, and dropping off receivers even on deep drops. He makes good reads but at the end of the day he is more quick than fast and he is not all that quick. He just cannot get there to help on deep throws and its a problem that teams are exploiting.
Moore wasn't challenged in the horizontal game out of his nickel looks and when thrown on he makes quick tackles or better knocks down the pass. Good quiet game.
Spillman came in at the end during the 4th for a dime look. He was a deer in the headlights and failed to react to a throw right in front of him. I hope Hamilton gets a shot after the last few weeks of poor Spillman coverage
Offensive thought are here: http://cowboyszone.com/threads/fuzzy-offensive-thoughts-at-chi.308223/
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