My Thoughts on the Game

[Yakuza Rich]

1. Tackling - I didn't want to get my hopes up too high on this team after a couple of preseason games, but this team definitely tackles much better than it has in quite some time. Lot less over committing and with Henry and K. Davis as starters, they already hit a lot harder.

2. Roy - He was having one of those games again where he's dominating against the run, drilling receivers, etc.

3. O-Line - The good part was that the right side of the O-Line didn't make many mental errors, in fact made less than they did against Seattle. However, the left side made too many mental errors. They weren't awful, but just too many. Even with Walter in at right guard, this team appears to run the ball better to the right side than it did last year.

4. Screen passes - we need to give up on the hope they'll work. Julius can't catch and the O-Line can't get out and block when he does get the ball.

5. Patrick Crayton - He actually reminds me more of Marty Booker but with 10 times better hands.

6. Gameplanning - I thought Parcells kept this game more vanilla than the Seattle game and really just made some adjustments to their blitzes. Didn't utilize the TE's or Keyshawn much. Didn't even really utilize a 3 WR set that much. Blitzed a lot less than they did Seattle as well.

7. Special Teams - Can't tackle, can't open holes, Cortez misses a gimme. I'm actually more concerned about Special teams play right now than I am about RT and FS.

8. Bledsoe - I thought he was getting out into the pocket quicker than I've seen him and making his reads and decisions much more quickly as well. Even the sack that he gave up wasn't his fault.

Rich......

 

[Rack]

Agree on all accounts. Our coverage teams need much improvement in a short amount of time or we're in trouble.

 

[Doomsday101]

Agree on all accounts. Our coverage teams need much improvement in a short amount of time or we're in trouble.

Even Parcells said that we used a lot of different people on the coverage as some guys are trying to make the club on special teams. Once we put the normal starting group on coverage it will look a lot better than a bunch of bubble players breaking assignments as they try to become the hero.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

1. Tackling - I didn't want to get my hopes up too high on this team after a couple of preseason games, but this team definitely tackles much better than it has in quite some time. Lot less over committing and with Henry and K. Davis as starters, they already hit a lot harder.

2. Roy - He was having one of those games again where he's dominating against the run, drilling receivers, etc.

3. O-Line - The good part was that the right side of the O-Line didn't make many mental errors, in fact made less than they did against Seattle. However, the left side made too many mental errors. They weren't awful, but just too many. Even with Walter in at right guard, this team appears to run the ball better to the right side than it did last year.

4. Screen passes - we need to give up on the hope they'll work. Julius can't catch and the O-Line can't get out and block when he does get the ball.

5. Patrick Crayton - He actually reminds me more of Marty Booker but with 10 times better hands.

6. Gameplanning - I thought Parcells kept this game more vanilla than the Seattle game and really just made some adjustments to their blitzes. Didn't utilize the TE's or Keyshawn much. Didn't even really utilize a 3 WR set that much. Blitzed a lot less than they did Seattle as well.

7. Special Teams - Can't tackle, can't open holes, Cortez misses a gimme. I'm actually more concerned about Special teams play right now than I am about RT and FS.

8. Bledsoe - I thought he was getting out into the pocket quicker than I've seen him and making his reads and decisions much more quickly as well. Even the sack that he gave up wasn't his fault.

Rich......

I was very concerned with Bledsoe comfort level and being able to feel the pass rush....he looked much better this game........

right now the Oline is my biggest concern....and funny enough Petitti is not one of them....Flo can not handle the speed rushers, LA does not have any speed to block in the open areas...dominates in tight quarters...Rivera has not been playing....I hope they all pull it together soon.

 

[MrMom]

5. Patrick Crayton - He actually reminds me more of Marty Booker but with 10 times better hands.

That's a very good comparison. Both guys are solid, but not flashy, and both have great hands.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

That's a very good comparison. Both guys are solid, but not flashy, and both have great hands.

Both were also former QB's (I think Booker was a HS Quarterback, though)

Plus, Booker was better than you think. He had 197 catches in 2001 and 2002 despite being saddled with an awful Chicago offense.

That being said, Booker did drop quite a few balls back in the day. He has decent hands whereas Crayton has superb hands.

Rich...........

 

[WilmingtonHeel]

Good analysis, Crayton has hands of velcro and he's learn how to run routes with patience and acceleration. I thought Gurode played prety well.

 

[MrMom]

Plus, Booker was better than you think. He had 197 catches in 2001 and 2002 despite being saddled with an awful Chicago offense.

Oh I agree, I live up here in Chicagoland so I heard a lot about Booker. He's a great no. 2, and I think Crayton can develop into a fine no. 2.

 

[scottsp]

Nice job on that, Rich. Agree on just about all of it.

With regards to screen passing, I read a post earlier on this and some solid points were made, particularly about us not practicing it that much. Also pointed out was how our OL don't hold their initial blocks long enough. And the fact teams are not so threatened by this offense upfield.

I would like to add to those, that our offensive line, as a unit, is ridiculously bad in terms of blocking in open space. They do not get out or set up well. And even our best offensive linemen are not at all adept at getting out and onto defenders. They just don't do well in space.

The screen is a timing play which requires a bit of work - and that even with the threat of making plays downfield, an able-bodied offensive line, and quarterback/runners who can sell the play.

That said, I don't look for this to be an offensive staple for us. At least I would hope not. It's a shame though, because I feel Julius could do great damage if they could ever run those more efficiently.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

That's a very good comparison. Both guys are solid, but not flashy, and both have great hands.

if your #2 (TG) is your flash WR, then tahts all you can ask for in your #3. We havent really have a 3rd guy capable of making big catches in a while. Crayton will be excellent when defenses key in on Keyshawn, TG, Witten and Jones on 3rd downs.

 

[joseephuss]

I don't understand where you get the opinion that Julius can't catch good enough for the screen passes. Every screen I have seen run this pre-season, Bledsoe has been rushed and hasn't gotten the ball close to Julius. I would love for Julius to be the weak link of the screen pass because that would be relativelyeasy to fix. But so far he hasn't had the chance to even fail at it. Lots of improvement is needed in the O-line, Bledsoe and JJ to get the screen working. Until then I will be sick to my stomache every time I see it being set up during a game.

 

[Future]

I don't understand where you get the opinion that Julius can't catch good enough for the screen passes. Every screen I have seen run this pre-season, Bledsoe has been rushed and hasn't gotten the ball close to Julius. I would love for Julius to be the weak link of the screen pass because that would be relativelyeasy to fix. But so far he hasn't had the chance to even fail at it. Lots of improvement is needed in the O-line, Bledsoe and JJ to get the screen working. Until then I will be sick to my stomache every time I see it being set up during a game.

I agree, I can't remember seeing the boys run a screen cleanly and JJ just dropping the ball. I thought i read that he had great hands somewhere?

 

[starfrombirth]

I agree, I can't remember seeing the boys run a screen cleanly and JJ just dropping the ball. I thought i read that he had great hands somewhere?

That ball that he dropped was behind him and at his feet. Even Crayton would have had a hard time with that catch. jmo

 

[ghst187]

Even Parcells said that we used a lot of different people on the coverage as some guys are trying to make the club on special teams. Once we put the normal starting group on coverage it will look a lot better than a bunch of bubble players breaking assignments as they try to become the hero.

True, the STs, in preseason, are where a lot of players are given their last chances to make the team so they're very far from fluid.

 

[Duane]

n't tackle, can't open holes, Cortez misses a gimme. I'm actually more concerned about Special teams play right now than I am about RT and FS.

Are you talking about the one right before the half with time running out? If so you're off on the gimme remark. The play was rushed and he didn't get a real good spot on the ball.

 

[zagnut]

Julius' hands have improved but he doesn't have great hands. He's had some nice catches this preseason that he would not have caught last year.

Our timing is just always drastically off on screens. It's frustrating because we could cause a lot of pain with the screen. Our linemen are not screen people. They're smash people.

I think the lack of a stud WR that scares defenses also has an effect on the difficulty we have running the screen. Key doesn't get loose very often. He catches just about anything, but there ain't any open space for him to pick up yards after the catch.

 

[zagnut]

1. Tackling - I didn't want to get my hopes up too high on this team after a couple of preseason games, but this team definitely tackles much better than it has in quite some time. Lot less over committing and with Henry and K. Davis as starters, they already hit a lot harder.

2. Roy - He was having one of those games again where he's dominating against the run, drilling receivers, etc.

3. O-Line - The good part was that the right side of the O-Line didn't make many mental errors, in fact made less than they did against Seattle. However, the left side made too many mental errors. They weren't awful, but just too many. Even with Walter in at right guard, this team appears to run the ball better to the right side than it did last year.

4. Screen passes - we need to give up on the hope they'll work. Julius can't catch and the O-Line can't get out and block when he does get the ball.

5. Patrick Crayton - He actually reminds me more of Marty Booker but with 10 times better hands.

6. Gameplanning - I thought Parcells kept this game more vanilla than the Seattle game and really just made some adjustments to their blitzes. Didn't utilize the TE's or Keyshawn much. Didn't even really utilize a 3 WR set that much. Blitzed a lot less than they did Seattle as well.

7. Special Teams - Can't tackle, can't open holes, Cortez misses a gimme. I'm actually more concerned about Special teams play right now than I am about RT and FS.

8. Bledsoe - I thought he was getting out into the pocket quicker than I've seen him and making his reads and decisions much more quickly as well. Even the sack that he gave up wasn't his fault.

Rich......

I agree with the Bledsoe bit. There was a period in the second quarter where the entire offense was in sync and the timing was perfect. Bledsoe was snappy with his drops and passes and was not wasting any time. We didn't carry it into the 2nd half but I honestly have not seen too much from Bledsoe that worries me. He looks better than anything we've had lately, maybe even including the last couple years of Aikman.

Special teams were tough to watch. I really thought we would handle the kicking issue in the offseason. Can't fix everything I guess.