Skins vs. Steelers Positives and Negatives

The one positive is it was just game 1.
Matt Jones is not the answer at RB. He runs straight, no bend at his hips, no leverage. Too easy to knock over. He will be injured soon if he does not lower his center of gravity while running.
I have said this since I joined this site, rule #1 in football 101 stopping the run and being able to effectively run the ball. If we can not do this we will have a long season with no playoffs. It fucking kills me we suck at the basics in football.
According to some, we are "built" to be a passing team. You have to learn to walk before you can run or pass in this situation. We made the decision to spend a ton of money on our receivers and TE. We subtracted players from last year and did not replace them with quality talent. We basically created our current weakness.
I understand a team is built over time. But regressing should not happen.

Im not sold he is healthy...but I think he needs a full season to see if he can be the guy. If not Kelly should get carries.

But McDerp needs to commit to the run game...we should never be passing 3 straight downs.

You know, the more I think about it the more I think we're making a tactical error in running a one-gap front and thinking it will work with this level of defensive line talent. One-gap schemes are rooted in shooting the gap and getting penetration, which leads to pressure on the QB, but also disrupting run plays in the backfield. When you're not making a tackle for a loss, the hope is you make the RB have to cut or juke when he's two yards behind the line of scrimmage.

But we're just not quick enough along the front to penetrate. Baker occasionally gets a little penetration. You see RJF get it here and there. But it's not consistent enough to routinely disrupt.

Shooting a gap and going for penetration of course allows the guards and center to move to the second level and block the linebackers more often.

So my question is why do we have such a steadfast desire to stick with a one gap scheme? Like, have we ever tried flexing into a two-gap style to see what happens? Has Barry tried that and I just haven't noticed? Because I don't feel like he's ever tried it.

I grow frustrated with the lack of adjustment.

The one positive is it was just game 1.

Matt Jones is not the answer at RB. He runs straight, no bend at his hips, no leverage. Too easy to knock over. He will be injured soon if he does not lower his center of gravity while running.

I have said this since I joined this site, rule #1 in football 101 stopping the run and being able to effectively run the ball. If we can not do this we will have a long season with no playoffs. It fucking kills me we suck at the basics in football.

According to some, we are "built" to be a passing team. You have to learn to walk before you can run or pass in this situation. We made the decision to spend a ton of money on our receivers and TE. We subtracted players from last year and did not replace them with quality talent. We basically created our current weakness.

I understand a team is built over time. But regressing should not happen.



I wouldn't say regress. In all fairness we couldn't stop the run or run the ball last year. We also couldn't effectively rush the qb. After only one game I would- if i had to compare- say at the very least we are last years team. However I think we will be better than last year.
We improved in areas that maybe weren't ultra necessary to improve on, but that brings me back to the draft. Everyone on this board was saying things like "drafting for need is how you stay mediocre forever, and taking bpa is how u build a contender but it takes time". Now we are one game into the future and Josh Doctson has no impact on our run game on either side of the ball. Shocker. Lol. All the same people are questioning SM and our improvement. During the draft nobody was complaining. What did everyone mean when they said bpa was the way to go for the future??? Im not saying you specifically but im curious. If people now are going to say we did nothing to improve inour areas of need, than dont hip hip hooray when we dont draft for need!
Who did we subtract and not replace? I would imagine you , like alot of people, are referring to Alfmo?
The guys production has dwindled for three years. Last year he looked like he had mud feet. Other than one nice run for about 13 yards he averaged almost 3 against the Giants. Maybe you weren't referring to him but than who? Why everybody is acting like we let AP walk is beyond me.

You know, the more I think about it the more I think we're making a tactical error in running a one-gap front and thinking it will work with this level of defensive line talent. One-gap schemes are rooted in shooting the gap and getting penetration, which leads to pressure on the QB, but also disrupting run plays in the backfield. When you're not making a tackle for a loss, the hope is you make the RB have to cut or juke when he's two yards behind the line of scrimmage.

But we're just not quick enough along the front to penetrate. Baker occasionally gets a little penetration. You see RJF get it here and there. But it's not consistent enough to routinely disrupt.

Shooting a gap and going for penetration of course allows the guards and center to move to the second level and block the linebackers more often.

So my question is why do we have such a steadfast desire to stick with a one gap scheme? Like, have we ever tried flexing into a two-gap style to see what happens? Has Barry tried that and I just haven't noticed? Because I don't feel like he's ever tried it.

I grow frustrated with the lack of adjustment.

Joe Barry is the problem i have been less then excited about that guy. thought it was a bad hire from go.

The thing that continues to amaze me is how bad a game strategy coach Gruden is. Has there ever been a game where he clearly out coaches the opposition? It seems every time he comes in with a game plan that is just destroyed by the game plan of the opposing coach. Then he shows little ability to adapt at half time.

You know, the more I think about it the more I think we're making a tactical error in running a one-gap front and thinking it will work with this level of defensive line talent. One-gap schemes are rooted in shooting the gap and getting penetration, which leads to pressure on the QB, but also disrupting run plays in the backfield. When you're not making a tackle for a loss, the hope is you make the RB have to cut or juke when he's two yards behind the line of scrimmage.

But we're just not quick enough along the front to penetrate. Baker occasionally gets a little penetration. You see RJF get it here and there. But it's not consistent enough to routinely disrupt.

Shooting a gap and going for penetration of course allows the guards and center to move to the second level and block the linebackers more often.

So my question is why do we have such a steadfast desire to stick with a one gap scheme? Like, have we ever tried flexing into a two-gap style to see what happens? Has Barry tried that and I just haven't noticed? Because I don't feel like he's ever tried it.

I grow frustrated with the lack of adjustment.

I think its primary one gap but it seems to me in some sub sets it can be 2 gap just based on scheme and looks the offense may give. Group needs to work better together to stop the run. Bruton and Cravens need to really step up in support...

The thing that continues to amaze me is how bad a game strategy coach Gruden is. Has there ever been a game where he clearly out coaches the opposition? It seems every time he comes in with a game plan that is just destroyed by the game plan of the opposing coach. Then he shows little ability to adapt at half time.

that's what chaps my ass, i understand getting hosed in the 1st half. but when you fail to make adjustments in the 2nd half; come on dawg.

was anyone else yelling for them to put norman on brown, before his 1st td, after his 1st td, after his 2nd td, or at any point?

was anyone else yelling for them to put norman on brown, before his 1st td, after his 1st td, after his 2nd td, or at any point?


All game... all f'in game...

a friend of mine pointed out that breeland shut down dez last season. that wasn't hard to do as he was dealing w nagging injuries; 9 starts / 31 catches / 401 yards / 3 touchdowns.

breeland is good but he's not the guy we gave over $35m fully guaranteed.

There appeared to be no in-game defensive adjustments at all. Offense or defensively. The most glaring were the continued 1 on 1 coverage of Breeland on Brown and the lack of blitzes. At the same time, we continued to play (to my untrained eye anyway) a soft zone in the middle of the field and they just ate it up after the first quarter.

The game plan wasn't working. Do something. Anything. ... but no.

[contrary to most, I think Breeland did as well as could be expected. He was really only beaten a couple of times and was generally right with Brown. There were several plays that no other QB/WR tandem completes between the timing and accuracy of Big Ben's passes and Brown's anticipation. No one was going to stop them one v. one Monday night. Even if you don't want to cycle Norman over, then let Norman go 1v1 on their WR2/3's and shade the safety over -- do something.].

As others have said, and at this point, I have no confidence that Barry will do anything that will raise the defense above its talent level. Particularly on game day.