Game Observations...feel free to share after the game

[Chuck 54]

1. The offense really looked bad until that one TD drive...no run blocking, and Bledsoe was really off target on throws towards Crayton...he totally missed JJ on a little swing route that would have gone a long way...put it in the ground. JJ will have a huge year if the line will just block a little.

2. Crayton is not only for real, but I have to admit he doesn't even look like the same player...this guy looked great tonight...awesome hands and running.

3. The guys who predicted no FB on the roster are full of it...we not only need a FB, we have a darn good one in Polite.

4. Romo is clearly the best backup QB...no question...I still say that's not saying much, but Henson looks like a career backup...I'd trade them both for Seneca Wallace.

5. Pettitti was very slow afoot in pass protection, but he did a nice job except for a few bad reads on line stunts where guys came free outside of him. Tucker looked much better tonight...of course it was against backups, but he was really paving some running lanes with a nice push...he also has a quickness problem with the pass rush however.

6. Demarcus Ware!!!! Woohooo...we found a LB...however, we better start playing this guy at LB all the time, even in the 4 man front, because he's totally ineffective at DE...he's got nothing at this stage with his hand on the ground.

7. I thought Cortez did a very nice job...made all his kicks and looked awsome on first half kickoffs...what happened with the short ones in the 2nd half? Anyone think that was by design? Last year he was on the roster only as a kickoff specialist.

8. Anthony Thomas looked great, imo...he is the #2 RB easily...he's just like JJ in that the line has to at least give him a crease, and BP has to call the plays he'll run best.

9. Our punt and KO returners don't look like much to me...Rashard Lee still wouldn't make this team, but the boy is a better return man than any of these guys...yesterday I read where he returned a 60+ KO in his preseason game, leading to a score.

10. We definitely have some playmakers on defense, but the overall performance of this unit still worries me...Seattle ran the ball well early,and it seemed guys were open in the middle the entire game...This game would have been ugly, imo, if Seattle could catch the ball...it's a freaky thing...no matter who they use, they drop it...weird.

Just my observations...share yours.

 

[zagnut]

1. The offense really looked bad until that one TD drive...no run blocking, and Bledsoe was really off target on throws towards Crayton...he totally missed JJ on a little swing route that would have gone a long way...put it in the ground. JJ will have a huge year if the line will just block a little.

2. Crayton is not only for real, but I have to admit he doesn't even look like the same player...this guy looked great tonight...awesome hands and running.

3. The guys who predicted no FB on the roster are full of it...we not only need a FB, we have a darn good one in Polite.

4. Romo is clearly the best backup QB...no question...I still say that's not saying much, but Henson looks like a career backup...I'd trade them both for Seneca Wallace.

5. Pettitti was very slow afoot in pass protection, but he did a nice job except for a few bad reads on line stunts where guys came free outside of him. Tucker looked much better tonight...of course it was against backups, but he was really paving some running lanes with a nice push...he also has a quickness problem with the pass rush however.

6. Demarcus Ware!!!! Woohooo...we found a LB...however, we better start playing this guy at LB all the time, even in the 4 man front, because he's totally ineffective at DE...he's got nothing at this stage with his hand on the ground.

7. I thought Cortez did a very nice job...made all his kicks and looked awsome on first half kickoffs...what happened with the short ones in the 2nd half? Anyone think that was by design? Last year he was on the roster only as a kickoff specialist.

8. Anthony Thomas looked great, imo...he is the #2 RB easily...he's just like JJ in that the line has to at least give him a crease, and BP has to call the plays he'll run best.

9. Our punt and KO returners don't look like much to me...Rashard Lee still wouldn't make this team, but the boy is a better return man than any of these guys...yesterday I read where he returned a 60+ KO in his preseason game, leading to a score.

10. We definitely have some playmakers on defense, but the overall performance of this unit still worries me...Seattle ran the ball well early,and it seemed guys were open in the middle the entire game...This game would have been ugly, imo, if Seattle could catch the ball...it's a freaky thing...no matter who they use, they drop it...weird.

Just my observations...share yours.

I pretty much agree with all of yours Wayne. Just to add:

* I think A-Train holds down the Richie Anderson role. Maybe more of a runner than catcher.

* Julius showed some solid hands. This was a real weakness in his game last year and he looks to have worked hard on it. I can see us putting him in space with short routes and put opposing LB in Hell.

* Ware -- I needed to see it and he sure showed it. I was/am a Merriman fan, but Ware showed some Kearse-like ability. We have at least one piece of the 3-4 LB puzzle. We need to develop another stud on the opposite side.

* Coverage schemes need a lot of work. The middle routes were open all day. The CBs were lining up 8 to 10 yards off the line a lot and giving up easy yards underneath. LBers, outside of Ware's one INT, were lost in coverage. I don't think we'll play the same way in the season as we did tonight scheme-wise. I get the feeling (I hope) we were trying some things out and seeing how folks did.

* Petitti looks good head to head. He needs some experience to recognize when to switch off. Not so good picking up stunts.

* Not our team, but Jeramy Stevens looks to have grown up and might have an Antonio Gates-like season. He's going to be a big-time target for SEA.

* QBs were unimpressive. Parcells really wanted to work the running game. Romo is fine at #2. I think he's probably as good as Garrett was behind Aikman, or can be.

* Crayton is our future #2 WR. Mark it down. Reminds me of Art Monk a lot.

* Beriault may be starting by the middle of the season.

 

[dstew60105]

<<4. Romo is clearly the best backup QB...no question...I still say that's not saying much, but Henson looks like a career backup...I'd trade them both for Seneca Wallace.>.

Not that these guys are all world, but Seneca Wallace? Did you see him play tonight? I wouldn't trade Babe Laufenberg for him. I still find it funny about the comments about Henson. My God, it's his second training camp after starting 9 games in college. RELAX!!!


Don

 

[Mash]

Well here goes.....

I expected to see more out of Bledsoe.....didn't see much.....Henson has alot of work to do......more than Quincy Carter ever had to do.....he zero's on his primary target and never looks for other options....his mechanics are terriable and it seems like he has no confidence on the field.....Romo played like a solid backup.....I can't see him being anymore than that...but he is solid.

Julius will get his yards....as long as the OL plays better.....the rest of the backs are solid....one of our strongest positions.

Johnson,Glenn and Crayton are very good IMHO.....Crayton can be a starter in this league.....his hands are very good.....KJ....doesn't get any seperation but is a player...Glen is our best WR.

Witten....didn't see much action.....nothing to worry about....needs to improve his blocking....the rest are solid.

The OL is a mess IMHO.....same old story.....I thought Gurode played better than the other centers.....RT needs alot of work.....max protect is are only option.....Larry Allen is overrated.

DL....no pass rush....other than Ware and Thorton....we did nothing.....Ellis got shoved around like a little school boy.

DB...will be solid...have not worries there....thought Davis played okay at FS.

Parcells will kill this team if he continues to pull back the reins.....players look scared in making mistakes....no fire on this team.....the offence plays not to lose instead of playing to win...

Special team....kickers look good....coverage not bad....return teams suck....Bill will try to play field position all year long and hope the defence get gell and hold their own.

 

[dbair1967]

1. The offense really looked bad until that one TD drive...no run blocking, and Bledsoe was really off target on throws towards Crayton...he totally missed JJ on a little swing route that would have gone a long way...put it in the ground. JJ will have a huge year if the line will just block a little.

2. Crayton is not only for real, but I have to admit he doesn't even look like the same player...this guy looked great tonight...awesome hands and running.

3. The guys who predicted no FB on the roster are full of it...we not only need a FB, we have a darn good one in Polite.

4. Romo is clearly the best backup QB...no question...I still say that's not saying much, but Henson looks like a career backup...I'd trade them both for Seneca Wallace.

5. Pettitti was very slow afoot in pass protection, but he did a nice job except for a few bad reads on line stunts where guys came free outside of him. Tucker looked much better tonight...of course it was against backups, but he was really paving some running lanes with a nice push...he also has a quickness problem with the pass rush however.

6. Demarcus Ware!!!! Woohooo...we found a LB...however, we better start playing this guy at LB all the time, even in the 4 man front, because he's totally ineffective at DE...he's got nothing at this stage with his hand on the ground.

7. I thought Cortez did a very nice job...made all his kicks and looked awsome on first half kickoffs...what happened with the short ones in the 2nd half? Anyone think that was by design? Last year he was on the roster only as a kickoff specialist.

8. Anthony Thomas looked great, imo...he is the #2 RB easily...he's just like JJ in that the line has to at least give him a crease, and BP has to call the plays he'll run best.

9. Our punt and KO returners don't look like much to me...Rashard Lee still wouldn't make this team, but the boy is a better return man than any of these guys...yesterday I read where he returned a 60+ KO in his preseason game, leading to a score.

10. We definitely have some playmakers on defense, but the overall performance of this unit still worries me...Seattle ran the ball well early,and it seemed guys were open in the middle the entire game...This game would have been ugly, imo, if Seattle could catch the ball...it's a freaky thing...no matter who they use, they drop it...weird.

Just my observations...share yours.

actually I disagree on most of these...

the offense clearly isnt in sync because the OL is playing poorly, period. I thought Bledsoe other than 1 or 2 passes looked good...

you'd trade Henson and Romo for Seneca Wallace? ***? Wallace looked like a practice squad guy out there today

Tucker and Vollers would be hard pressed to mae any team as even the last OL, they are both horrendous

Thomas looked solid on one drive, but looked like a scrub on another...he made a couple runs on the same drive that should have been 6-8-10 yd runs at the minimum into 1 or 2 yd gains...Barber's fumbling might be the only thing that saves Thomas a spot here

disagree on Ware, he got several pressures from the down DL spot...at the end of the game didnt get as many but it appeared he was really gassed...earlier in the game he was basically unblockable...but 3-4 OLB is definitely his best position IMO

David

 

[mperfection]

4. Romo is clearly the best backup QB...no question...I still say that's not saying much, but Henson looks like a career backup...I'd trade them both for Seneca Wallace.
C'mon. This quote alone almost made your post irrelevant. No use resorting to exaggerations to amplify your comments.

 

[Big D]

I'm not sure if I missed one but i think we just played a game with 0 false start penaltys.

 

[dougonthebench]

I thought it was an overall better performance from the whole team.Allthough it looked like Hasselbeck looked like he was going to pick us apart all day.

 

[dougonthebench]

I'm not sure if I missed one but i think we just played a game with 0 false start penaltys.

you are right.

 

[dbair1967]

<<4. Romo is clearly the best backup QB...no question...I still say that's not saying much, but Henson looks like a career backup...I'd trade them both for Seneca Wallace.>.

Not that these guys are all world, but Seneca Wallace? Did you see him play tonight? I wouldn't trade Babe Laufenberg for him. I still find it funny about the comments about Henson. My God, it's his second training camp after starting 9 games in college. RELAX!!!


Don

I agree, cant understand the Henson crucifying by the fickle folks here...he threw one bad pass...had two drives stopped by dropped balls (one drive likely would have been a TD drive if not for Morgans drop) and had to fend for himself on alot of plays because of bad pass protection

David

 

[yesfan]

Quincy Morgan= trade bait

 

[Tobal]

Ware looked good rushing from the LB spot, not so good with his hand on the ground.

Henson looks a little lost, but I don't see the "career backup" statement. Romo was better tonight for the most part.

Romo made a nice throw, but he's a turnover machine in the making. He's too sure of himself. He's got to get that under control.

Petiti looked good except for the one stunt

I'll add more later

 

[Tobal]

Quincy Morgan= trade bait

Think we could get a bottle cap opener for him?

 

[dstew60105]

I agree, cant understand the Henson crucifying by the fickle folks here...he threw one bad pass...had two drives stopped by dropped balls (one drive likely would have been a TD drive if not for Morgans drop) and had to fend for himself on alot of plays because of bad pass protection

David

Poor pass potention, a bad shotgun snap and a couple of drive killing drops. Not pretty, but hardly the end of the world. BTW, what did Romo do tonight? Not much better. Henson will be fine.

Don

 

[Baileyneverfailey]

"he's got nothing at this stage with his hand on the ground."

You do realize he played DE with his hand on the ground his entire college career, right? With his speed/size, we probably would have drafted him at 11 to be a DE if we were staying 4-3 full time. He's a pass rusher.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Zagnut, I think Burnett is going to be our guy opposite Ware, Parcells is keeping it simple as to not overload him and allow him to make plays in space, and he's showing it in practice, it's just a matter of time before Al shows that he isn't going to help or hurt his cause, just that Burnett offers more playmaking abilities, and will get the nod...

QBs were unimpressive because Parcells isn't showing his hand, how he plans to beat teams who overload on the run, we aren't taking advantage of it, and there's a reason for it...

 

[dstew60105]

Quincy Morgan= trade bait

What are you asking? Straight up for a ham sandwich?

Don

 

[jlust22]

1) Bledsoe looked better, but still not all that great. He still doesn't look all that comfortable and is not yet in tune with his WR's. Henson didn't look particularly good. He has a pretty nice pocket presence, but he doesn't seem to be able to go through his progressions well at this point. Romo didn't get many opportunities tonight. He made a fairly nice throw to Crayton, but also made a horrible throw which should have been intercepted. I think Parcells wants to run a pretty conservative offense this season.

2) Julius looked good making people miss and getting yards after contact. A-Train may not be all that great, but there is no way they should cut him. He is a solid RB who can catch the ball well and also block the blitz. Barber has some ability, but I wouldn't trust him as the main back-up. Need to see more of Thompson.

3) Crayton was very impressive. He just snatches the ball out of the air. I'll wait to evaluate Key and Glenn til the regular season, but they should be solid. Nothing special though. Haven't seen anything after the 1st three guys. No depth as of now.

4) OL looked a lot better than last week. I still think they are a bit inconsistent in their blocking. Too many times with no where to run. Good to see Johnson back starting and Petitti did pretty well I think.

5) Run defense continues to be pretty solid. The pass rush was better because they seemed to blitz a lot with the LB's and S's. Ware made some incredible athletic plays. He has great potential. I wasn't too impressed with his pass rushing ability from the RDE position though. I am sure he was pretty tired, but he was pretty much handled by the backup LT's from Seattle. He seemed to want to run around the LT everytime which won't work in the NFL.

6) Pass defense has to get better. It was terrible last year and has been terrible in the 1st two preseason games against the #1 QB's. Too much open space between the LB's and S's and between the CB's and the S's. Henry seemed to be giving way too much cushion on the WR's. QB's are completing way too high a % against Dallas. Beriault hits like a truck. Roy missed a couple of easy tackles tonight. He needs to have a great year this season. No excuses.

7) Cortez looked good tonight. Hopefully, it will continue. McBriar looks very good. Not at all impressed with the return game. Thompson hasn't shown much ability to return KO's and Barber hasn't shown much ability to return punts. Somebody needs to step up at those spots.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

"at the end of the game didnt get as many but it appeared he (Ware) was really gassed..."

Parcells already said that he can't play alot of snaps as a 4-down DE, OTs will eat him up, I think he'll be spending alot of time as a weakside LB in the nickel, with Kenyon COleman as the strong-side E and Ellis as the weakside E...

 

[2much2soon]

Romo threw some nice balls tonight.
Henson still needs another year of seasoning.
Bledsoe still scares me.

Ware looks like he can be dominant.
Kalen Thornton, even though he was against 2nd and 3rd teamers tonight, always seems to be making plays or on the verge of making plays every time I have seen him the last two seasons.