LarryCanadian
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This win might be bigger than people think from a confidence perspective. 2 years ago when we went 10-6, I think we would have gone 6-10 as well if we hadn't won that huge close game early in the year agains the Giants I believe.
Last year the bounces went against us and the team didn't have the confidence, depth, or "mental toughness" Parcells refers to win those many close games.
We did get some bounces in the game, although we persevered through the bounces that went against us. We came back after that fumbled snap which looked like a drive that was certainly heading towards points. We didn't panic after that god awful, eerily familiar self destruct penalty and whiffing Oline drive. The team didn't fall apart at that clutch 1st and goal with 90 seconds remaining, after giving up that 4th and 14. Last year we would not have made the defensive stand.
While our pass rush wasn't perfect, I think we hurried Brees a bit more than we've seen in past years, plus I think teams are already wary of Ware. He is still learning, and most of LT's good runs were when the Tackle turned Ware inside, sealing him off, but we'll get better there. We held LT to 87 yards was it, PLUS NO CATCHES I believe. That is incredible, where is the coverage of that? A lot of people were crying over their first round first pick fantasy football player yesterday, I assure you that.
Julius impressed me in different ways. He caught the ball well early in game, which softened D a bit. He would have had 130 yards if 2 or 3 of his runs, including at least a 20 yarder, didn't come back on penalties. Most importantly, he did what Parcells has been asking and really minimized the negative runs, fight back to the line or making a yard here and there.
Crayton not only had a fantastic game and shows how good and reliable he can be, he showed he has Yards After Catch ability, something this team sorely needs. Key ain't gonna outsprint many and Glenn is pretty small and is always diving for balls. Crayton caught lots of passes in stride with those big mitts of his! The TD catch he had, had him bouncing off 3 tacklers I believe. Crayton also learned a valuable lesson when he fumbled and had the focus to recover his own fumble. The ball wasn't well protected, albeit again, he was nicely fighting for 8-10 extra yards.
Newman was solid and I agreed with the non-pass interference call early, although it was close. That will help his confidence there. He gets that flag and oh boy, now he's thinking about it all game again. He broke up some nice passes after that. Missed one tackle in space that cost us, but was not shy to stick his head in. Henry was downright awesome and he will help so much as a big guy against Owens, and Burress, and don't we play Moss? His height and jam at line are gonna be a huge help.
The negatives I saw included mistakes by linebackers not picking up McCardell a few times, and/or Davis missing assignments back there on San Diego TD's.
What the heck happened to the kickoffs we saw all preseason, all of a sudden they had no hang time and were hitting at the 10-15, instead of touchbacks or at the 2. Sproles is fast, but I didn't even see 'Boys close to him for 30 yards sometimes. That's gotta stop. Should have cost us the game. Again kudos to the defense, San Diego had darn good field position most of the game.
Ellis. I like Ellis but what was he thinking. Key 3rd down play if I remember correctly and the QB is blocking for LT. Ellis lets himself get sealed off to the outside by the QB?! He should have picked Brees up and thrown him through LT. That was a big missed play. Ellis should have shoved Brees around like a rag doll into LT at the least or at least shed him and dove at LT's legs around the 1st down marker. He looked GASSED on that play or confused. Yikes. He's gonna get heckled to death on that one during film review and in locker room. Brees is a small QB out there compared to most.
Bledsoe worried me as he held the ball a long time, but he's got gutts and deserves credit, because he's willing to take hit to try and get play done. The key pass to Witten side arm with a guy dangling off him was an example someone else pointed out and was all Bledsoe. Generally he did well.
Anyone else see the "screen" play, at least I think it was a screen, where Julius was held for at least a yard. It looked like Petiti whiffed completely (by design, but a bit too quickly, or at least with no push to keep end running upfield a bit), as Bledsoe rolled slightly out to the right, and he threw it to Julius but Jones was a yard back of the throw because the defender was handing off him for at least a second before ball was in air. That was a total missed call, and makes up for the ones that went our way. San Diego self destructed on D like we did a few times last year.
I think our dline men need to work on taking down QB when they have a hand on them. We still seem to let a few to many escape. Glover didn't let go this time though, hehe.
Just some thoughts.
LarryCanadian
Last year the bounces went against us and the team didn't have the confidence, depth, or "mental toughness" Parcells refers to win those many close games.
We did get some bounces in the game, although we persevered through the bounces that went against us. We came back after that fumbled snap which looked like a drive that was certainly heading towards points. We didn't panic after that god awful, eerily familiar self destruct penalty and whiffing Oline drive. The team didn't fall apart at that clutch 1st and goal with 90 seconds remaining, after giving up that 4th and 14. Last year we would not have made the defensive stand.
While our pass rush wasn't perfect, I think we hurried Brees a bit more than we've seen in past years, plus I think teams are already wary of Ware. He is still learning, and most of LT's good runs were when the Tackle turned Ware inside, sealing him off, but we'll get better there. We held LT to 87 yards was it, PLUS NO CATCHES I believe. That is incredible, where is the coverage of that? A lot of people were crying over their first round first pick fantasy football player yesterday, I assure you that.
Julius impressed me in different ways. He caught the ball well early in game, which softened D a bit. He would have had 130 yards if 2 or 3 of his runs, including at least a 20 yarder, didn't come back on penalties. Most importantly, he did what Parcells has been asking and really minimized the negative runs, fight back to the line or making a yard here and there.
Crayton not only had a fantastic game and shows how good and reliable he can be, he showed he has Yards After Catch ability, something this team sorely needs. Key ain't gonna outsprint many and Glenn is pretty small and is always diving for balls. Crayton caught lots of passes in stride with those big mitts of his! The TD catch he had, had him bouncing off 3 tacklers I believe. Crayton also learned a valuable lesson when he fumbled and had the focus to recover his own fumble. The ball wasn't well protected, albeit again, he was nicely fighting for 8-10 extra yards.
Newman was solid and I agreed with the non-pass interference call early, although it was close. That will help his confidence there. He gets that flag and oh boy, now he's thinking about it all game again. He broke up some nice passes after that. Missed one tackle in space that cost us, but was not shy to stick his head in. Henry was downright awesome and he will help so much as a big guy against Owens, and Burress, and don't we play Moss? His height and jam at line are gonna be a huge help.
The negatives I saw included mistakes by linebackers not picking up McCardell a few times, and/or Davis missing assignments back there on San Diego TD's.
What the heck happened to the kickoffs we saw all preseason, all of a sudden they had no hang time and were hitting at the 10-15, instead of touchbacks or at the 2. Sproles is fast, but I didn't even see 'Boys close to him for 30 yards sometimes. That's gotta stop. Should have cost us the game. Again kudos to the defense, San Diego had darn good field position most of the game.
Ellis. I like Ellis but what was he thinking. Key 3rd down play if I remember correctly and the QB is blocking for LT. Ellis lets himself get sealed off to the outside by the QB?! He should have picked Brees up and thrown him through LT. That was a big missed play. Ellis should have shoved Brees around like a rag doll into LT at the least or at least shed him and dove at LT's legs around the 1st down marker. He looked GASSED on that play or confused. Yikes. He's gonna get heckled to death on that one during film review and in locker room. Brees is a small QB out there compared to most.
Bledsoe worried me as he held the ball a long time, but he's got gutts and deserves credit, because he's willing to take hit to try and get play done. The key pass to Witten side arm with a guy dangling off him was an example someone else pointed out and was all Bledsoe. Generally he did well.
Anyone else see the "screen" play, at least I think it was a screen, where Julius was held for at least a yard. It looked like Petiti whiffed completely (by design, but a bit too quickly, or at least with no push to keep end running upfield a bit), as Bledsoe rolled slightly out to the right, and he threw it to Julius but Jones was a yard back of the throw because the defender was handing off him for at least a second before ball was in air. That was a total missed call, and makes up for the ones that went our way. San Diego self destructed on D like we did a few times last year.
I think our dline men need to work on taking down QB when they have a hand on them. We still seem to let a few to many escape. Glover didn't let go this time though, hehe.
Just some thoughts.
LarryCanadian