AnonEmouse
09-21-2020, 07:25 AM
Lotta doom and gloom after yesterday.
We found out how good this team could be in week 1, now we found out how bad this team could be in a week 2.
It will be a year of growing pains, and hopefully progress. But in weeks where our offensive line looks like trash I don't expect to see competitive football. Haskins is never going to be a guy that can succeed in spite of his o-line.
This. I think some of us have a reasonable take on what's likely this year and some have just too much expectation.
Firstly talking about Herbert having a good first game is dumb for 3 reasons; 1) he had 4 years of starting in college (though he was good from the get go), 2) he has an established O around him with a good OL and some of the best skill position players around him and 3) he still made dumb decisions. His field position awareness was lacking; he unnecessarily threw the ball into traffic while running when he was 3 yards from the 1st down marker with nobody in front of him and they were in the lead. And his INT was ugly.
And no QB is going to light up the scoreboard with a Swiss cheese OL. I only caught the plays that they showed on Redzone, but I saw multiple plays where he had less than 2 seconds to pass. On a designed quick pass that's OK, but on 3rd and 10, if you can't give your QB at least 3 seconds you are most likely to be 4th and 10 or worse. Leaving 2 extra blockers in isn't the answer because any decent secondary should shut down 3 WR's all day, especially when only rushing 4 or 5. The OL has to improve if we're to get more than 4-6 wins.
And I can't blame the D. We still got 3 sacks (albeit only 1 from a DL) against a QB who's like trying to trying to catch mist. What is a little concerning is that Drake managed over 4y per carry, though I believe he was largely bottled up in the 1st half? Murray getting big yardage isn't a surprise as most of his running yardage comes off broken plays. I do however agree that its surprising we didn't spy him more. Tough one really because if you take an LB or DB out of coverage to spy him, Hopkins etc. will have a field day...
I'm taking some positives from this, and seeing them as what RR will build on as the season goes forward and into the offseason decisions:
1) McLaurin is the real deal, the one shining light on O.
Sims is a good enough #2 (forget Inman) or #3 if we can get better #2 in the offseason. I'd build a WR crew around them and ditch everyone else as better guys come in.
2) Gibson is a keeper, maybe McKissick. I see why RR thought AP was a luxury we didn't need. He wouldn't do better behind this OL and he'd be taking reps from guys that should be the future.
3) CY is the real deal AND he elevates the rest of the DL. We need to find LB's and DB's to back up the DL play. Fuller and Moreland should be the only ones with anything like a guarantee to be here next year.
4) Haskins hasn't thrown an INT yet; for all his inaccuracy he's trying to put the ball where only his guy can catch it, albeit that he's not doing a great job. But I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt through a lack of experience. I think he can and will improve (though it may take a revamped OL).
We found out how good this team could be in week 1, now we found out how bad this team could be in a week 2.
It will be a year of growing pains, and hopefully progress. But in weeks where our offensive line looks like trash I don't expect to see competitive football. Haskins is never going to be a guy that can succeed in spite of his o-line.
This. I think some of us have a reasonable take on what's likely this year and some have just too much expectation.
Firstly talking about Herbert having a good first game is dumb for 3 reasons; 1) he had 4 years of starting in college (though he was good from the get go), 2) he has an established O around him with a good OL and some of the best skill position players around him and 3) he still made dumb decisions. His field position awareness was lacking; he unnecessarily threw the ball into traffic while running when he was 3 yards from the 1st down marker with nobody in front of him and they were in the lead. And his INT was ugly.
And no QB is going to light up the scoreboard with a Swiss cheese OL. I only caught the plays that they showed on Redzone, but I saw multiple plays where he had less than 2 seconds to pass. On a designed quick pass that's OK, but on 3rd and 10, if you can't give your QB at least 3 seconds you are most likely to be 4th and 10 or worse. Leaving 2 extra blockers in isn't the answer because any decent secondary should shut down 3 WR's all day, especially when only rushing 4 or 5. The OL has to improve if we're to get more than 4-6 wins.
And I can't blame the D. We still got 3 sacks (albeit only 1 from a DL) against a QB who's like trying to trying to catch mist. What is a little concerning is that Drake managed over 4y per carry, though I believe he was largely bottled up in the 1st half? Murray getting big yardage isn't a surprise as most of his running yardage comes off broken plays. I do however agree that its surprising we didn't spy him more. Tough one really because if you take an LB or DB out of coverage to spy him, Hopkins etc. will have a field day...
I'm taking some positives from this, and seeing them as what RR will build on as the season goes forward and into the offseason decisions:
1) McLaurin is the real deal, the one shining light on O.
Sims is a good enough #2 (forget Inman) or #3 if we can get better #2 in the offseason. I'd build a WR crew around them and ditch everyone else as better guys come in.
2) Gibson is a keeper, maybe McKissick. I see why RR thought AP was a luxury we didn't need. He wouldn't do better behind this OL and he'd be taking reps from guys that should be the future.
3) CY is the real deal AND he elevates the rest of the DL. We need to find LB's and DB's to back up the DL play. Fuller and Moreland should be the only ones with anything like a guarantee to be here next year.
4) Haskins hasn't thrown an INT yet; for all his inaccuracy he's trying to put the ball where only his guy can catch it, albeit that he's not doing a great job. But I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt through a lack of experience. I think he can and will improve (though it may take a revamped OL).