Fuzzy Impressions @Mia

[texbumthelife]

Nice write-up Fuzzy.

I do disagree with you about Hitchens/McClain though. Hitchens looked a little timid and late on the first series, but after that he did a good job. He was knifing into running lanes and was regularly the first guy to the ball. McClain on the other hand had a very difficult time shedding blockers and diagnosing. He was repeatedly out of position on PA and was late to the ball carrier.

In their defense, Hitchens hasn't had a chance to play any position long enough to get the instincts and McClain obviously needs more time. At this point though, I think Hitchens has the edge.

 

[CCBoy]

If working on a muscle car...I don't see Hitchens as yet being street legal. McClain already has some punch at the start.

 

[texbumthelife]

If working on a muscle car...I don't see Hitchens as yet being street legal. McClain already has some punch at the start.

Well then his clutch must have been stuck last night, because he had no punch at the start or finish.

 

[CCBoy]

Well then his clutch must have been stuck last night, because he had no punch at the start or finish.

I think the track had an off night as a whole...

 

[texbumthelife]

I think the track had an off night as a whole...

I would say that's a very astute, if not obvious observation.



I think McClain for the most part just needs the reps. He has the body and the mentality. He just needs to get back into a rhythm.

 

[CCBoy]

I would say that's a very astute, if not obvious observation.



I think McClain for the most part just needs the reps. He has the body and the mentality. He just needs to get back into a rhythm.

You describe the view well...but I'm a former linebacker, I want one more thing in his play. I want to see a little linebacker's 'pissed off' to show.

 

[VThokie7]

I've seen Ryan Williams injury come up a few times. It was just cramps, so he is still fine.

 

[Future]

I like Martin at LG and Mack at RG. Martin isn't ready for T IMO. But I could be wrong.

Considering the time he spent playing tackle at ND, I would think he'd be less prepared to play guard.

 

[jobberone]

Considering the time he spent playing tackle at ND, I would think he'd be less prepared to play guard.

I don't know all the reasons why the club thinks he's better in the interior. My guess is his anchor is better served at G/C than T. They may think his feet are better there than at T. Whether they're right or not I can't say. He looks like a RT from some years back. Now both OTs have to be pretty nimble rather than just the LT.

We can revisit this in three years.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Excellent post. Im glad you pointed out Crawford. He's playing out of position. Its not a coincidence he makes plays when he's moved inside. Thats his natural position.

Linehan gets the play in immediately and there cannot be 5 seconds off the play clock before our QB is lining people up. I love it.

Romo was inaccurate. He gets like this from time to time and I am not overly concerned. I would like to see the coaching staff recognize it in the regular season and run the ball. He also got hit twice so perhaps we can stop with the whinging over whether he is going to break every play.

Instead we ran 4 and 5 receiver sets repeatedly. It looked much more like practice than it did a dress rehearsal. At least I hope so.

We gave the receivers plenty of opportunity and Clutts was not much of a factor at all. Murray I think that does not portend well for his future. Dunbar also got some opportunities. He was disappointing in pass protection but remains nimble in space. Free struggled in pass pro against Wake but he got no help.

Street got open on third down for the first team which was big for him. Terrence Williams seems soft to me and I don't like it. Beasley seemed inconsistent. Escobar in previous weeks has been a more reliable target. Harris didn't seem involved much at all. Boyd too for that matter. Newsome, Briscoe nor Byrd did anything truly remarkable.

Backup OL does pretty well. Run blocking opens lanes and gets on guys upfield. Was looking for 63 and couldn't find him but they change numbers and the like all the time. Wetzel seemed active but they like running behind Parnell

Ryan Williams and Randle both got hurt. Williams made a great block in pass protection while Randle helps on special teams.

We started mixing in our backups after the second series and rotated in a bunch of guys. After the third series, it was mostly 2nd teamers. As opposed to other teams who for two weeks in a row have left their players in for much longer.

Mincey looked slow and Crawford still hasn't figured out how to get away. Selvie got hurt. Wilson hand fighting is coming along nicely. The second string LT couldn't keep his hands on him and he was disruptive. He is improving and deserves a shot a the practice squad. Boatright and Bush continue to get pressure.

I am going to call Hayden cutback because he gives it up all game long. Coleman wasn't as effective this week but he was still able to get upfield and be disruptive against opposing 1's. Minter is very weak at the poa. Bishop is using his hands after contact now but he is not using anything but the same club he used in college off the snap. He needs to expand his game and his lack of significant progress is disconcerting. That being said he held up the poa better than Hayden if not all that well.

As a whole I think our guys look much more confident attacking out of zone coverages and did a good job for the most part of keeping everything in front of them. Bend but don't break that knows how to attack routes will make some plays on the ball and I counted at least 5 breaks on balls.

Carter showed up and looked aggressive and instinctive which was very encouraging. Wilber is struggling in the run game. Durant was up and down. Hitchens keeps getting praise but he looked godawful just late or overpowered. McClain looked physical in the run game. He likes to attack. I see Lawrence out there but he doesn't make plays. Smith showed good awareness going out to cover the slot WR. Sapp who has practiced with the team borked that same cover a couple snaps later. Smith also showed up with tackles in both the base and kick coverage.

Carr looked like a guy getting his feet wet but who hadn't settled in yet. He was tackling well. Scandrick continues to show an elevated game. Patmon is a monster in zone coverage. He is superb at picking up guys cutting across him in his zone and is instinctual in timing and feel for the ball. Throw in a good game tackling and I think he made a strong case for Mitchell and Patmon over Moore on the roster. Carr Scandrick Claiborne Patmon Mitchell

The starting safeties are both very good tacklers; Wilcox in particular brings a heavy load. They also are doing a very good job assisting their teammates playing in space in a cover 3 and helping over the top in cover 2. One thing we can accomplish on defense is taking away the big play and the starting safeties and guys at corner have done a good job with that. Wilcox overran Floyd last week and Mitchell got picked on in past weeks but the first team has done a good job keeping everything in front. Ryan Smith was identified and targeted repeatedly this game. It's not a good sign when you are a go to read for multiple QBs. Dixon's game is undisciplined but he does seem to see routes out in space but he is undecided as to what to do. Work in progress.

 

[Bluestang]

I don't know all the reasons why the club thinks he's better in the interior. My guess is his anchor is better served at G/C than T. They may think his feet are better there than at T. Whether they're right or not I can't say. He looks like a RT from some years back. Now both OTs have to be pretty nimble rather than just the LT.

We can revisit this in three years.

I think Martin's current position was decided on the inept guard play they've had in recent years. They probably felt that Martin would be better than Leary and Bernadeau so they would leave those 2 to battle for the starting job at LG.

Now this doesn't really solve the Doug Free issue, but if the base offense is going to feature two TEs, then they could scheme around Free issues pretty easily vs the interior positions.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I was at the game. and it seemed like Bernadeau was really bad

 

[jobberone]

I think Martin's current position was decided on the inept guard play they've had in recent years. They probably felt that Martin would be better than Leary and Bernadeau so they would leave those 2 to battle for the starting job at LG.

Now this doesn't really solve the Doug Free issue, but if the base offense is going to feature two TEs, then they could scheme around Free issues pretty easily vs the interior positions.

That's true although I don't like having our TEs doing much more than chipping because none are good blockers...yet. I think I have more faith in Free but not a whole lot more.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Nice write-up Fuzzy.

I do disagree with you about Hitchens/McClain though. Hitchens looked a little timid and late on the first series, but after that he did a good job. He was knifing into running lanes and was regularly the first guy to the ball. McClain on the other hand had a very difficult time shedding blockers and diagnosing. He was repeatedly out of position on PA and was late to the ball carrier.

In their defense, Hitchens hasn't had a chance to play any position long enough to get the instincts and McClain obviously needs more time. At this point though, I think Hitchens has the edge.

McClain didn't stay out there very long and Hitchens went the whole way. McClain only played a few series with the second team and by the time the 4th quarter rolled around he was already gone. I don't put much stock in a guys work against the dregs as opposed to the first and second team.

Hitchens in particular couldn't handle Minter getting blown off the ball. he is having the same issues finding run fits that he did last week and the week before. He showed up on kick coverage at least.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Excellent post. Im glad you pointed out Crawford. He's playing out of position. Its not a coincidence he makes plays when he's moved inside. Thats his natural position.

I never said Crawford was out of position.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

I never said Crawford was out of position.

I never said you did either . But he is playing out of position.

 

[coult44]

Nice write-up Fuzzy.

I do disagree with you about Hitchens/McClain though. Hitchens looked a little timid and late on the first series, but after that he did a good job. He was knifing into running lanes and was regularly the first guy to the ball. McClain on the other hand had a very difficult time shedding blockers and diagnosing. He was repeatedly out of position on PA and was late to the ball carrier.

In their defense, Hitchens hasn't had a chance to play any position long enough to get the instincts and McClain obviously needs more time. At this point though, I think Hitchens has the edge.

Curious? Did y'all watch the tv telecast,or are you getting all this info from some other film. TV cares about a couple things only, and I promise you following around lbs isn't on that list...

 

[skinsscalper]

Curious? Did y'all watch the tv telecast,or are you getting all this info from some other film. TV cares about a couple things only, and I promise you following around lbs isn't on that list...

Not to answer for Fuzzy, himself, but I know that a couple of posters around here buy access to the "All-22" game footage and do quite a bit of film break down for the analysis that they post here. Xwalker and NeionDeion come to mind. Again, I don't know what footage Fuzzy references but his analyses are, typically, thorough and spot on, FWIW.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Just an OBS after watching the tape. Zach Martin needs to be much better. Im not sure if he should even be starting . He will be fine with an offseason of weight training but, its obvious he has been getting overpowered in the preseason.

PS Durant is absolutely horrid

 

[Zman5]

Just an OBS after watching the tape. Zach Martin needs to be much better. Im not sure if he should even be starting . He will be fine with an offseason of weight training but, its obvious he has been getting overpowered in the preseason.

PS Durant is absolutely horrid

I agree about Durant. Both him and Hitchens were step or two late on most of the plays. Rolando was good and shedding blocks and makes a good play when he is in position but the problem is he is out of position most of the time. He seems to have problem seeing the play develop and either over runs a play or hit the wrong gap .. Maybe it's because he's been out of football for two years.

Our LBs suck for the most part currently. Part of that is bad DL play and part of it is the LBs are not very good themselves.