Gurode/Johnson Question

[AdamJT13]

What's your sense of how Gurode played?

Not good. I went back last night and watched the center on all of our offensive plays. Gurode was OK in pass protection, but there were multiple plays like the first one in the third quarter. The Giants' nose tackles seemed to pick one side and try to shoot through the gap. If we ran the other way, they were completely out of the play, and several of those resulted in 8- to 12-yard runs. But if they guessed the correct side, they either blew up the play or made Julius cut back the other way. Gurode didn't get much push in the running game, and he struggled in space other than one or two plays.

 

[AbeBeta]

Not good. I went back last night and watched the center on all of our offensive plays. Gurode was OK in pass protection, but there were multiple plays like the first one in the third quarter. The Giants' nose tackles seemed to pick one side and try to shoot through the gap. If we ran the other way, they were completely out of the play, and several of those resulted in 8- to 12-yard runs. But if they guessed the correct side, they either blew up the play or made Julius cut back the other way. Gurode didn't get much push in the running game, and he struggled in space other than one or two plays.

Me, I think Al's strength was not 100% following surgery -- and he needs all his strength to have a chance.

The Giants likely gapped Gurode because he has problems with that - he's far better against a DT who lines up over him.

Gurode puzzles me -- I would expect him to be a great run blocker given his size and strength.

 

[Vertigo_17]

AdamJT13,

Since you re-watched the game, how did Gurode stack up vs. Johnson? They both looked awful IMO, but trying to see who we can start thinking of as our backup C next year.

 

[AbeBeta]

AdamJT13,

Since you re-watched the game, how did Gurode stack up vs. Johnson? They both looked awful IMO, but trying to see who we can start thinking of as our backup C next year.

I'm giving Al a pass on this game - he played 10 days after surgery. Sure it was "minor" but most people wouldn't be doing much of anything for several weeks after that