Quote:
Originally Posted by Iowanian
Finally, a bolt fan with history of pre and postgame comment finds his way.
Shamrock, most of your new friends can seriosly take a flying Fug after a rolling dounut, hopefully in heavy traffic.
Purchase Kleenex now.....a heartbreak is coming.
the dolts have some pass protection issues, a qb that doesn't deal well with pressure and a suspect secondary. good luck with that vs good teams.
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Schematically, the Bolts do have some issues with pass protection. I've been hounding some OL apologists on my main board in regards to the slide protection in our C-G gaps - primarily between Hardwick and my favorite whipping boy, right guard Mike Goff.
Centering the defense is the issue, IMO. Teams have been able to throw an extra man into the middle and create havoc after Hardwick has point of the center of the slide. It also manifested itself (badly) when Gates got solo'd up on Hali. That should never happen.
However, the Squaws have arguably the BEST combination of guards and center in the NFL, yet you were repeatedly subjected to similar blitz issues from our ILB's. Edwards (who had his best game in 3 seasons) and Godfrey came virtually untouched multiple times.
Sliding the protection is difficult, if you are anticipating something that doesn't happen. It either leaves an edge protector with no one to block (which overloads the then weak side of the protection scheme) or it puts a good pass rusher in solo protection on a TE or RB (see Gates vs. Hali).
Rivers has dealt with protection issues and pressure very well this season (see Pittsburgh, Cincy, Donkeys, etc). This game, he didn't. He also was high, wide, low, etc early, even without protection problems. One bad game after a string of good games can be chalked up to the "first year starter" seeing something new and not dealing with it well. It's part of the QB growth.
The CB's played very well, especially Jammer. No INT's for him, but several pass defensed, blanket coverage, and he displayed again why he's the best tackling CB in the NFL. Our safeties limited Gonzo, after a string of games vs KC where he was basically uncoverable (is that a word?).
Merriman is nursing a sore foot, and wasn't as effective as usual. Still, our front seven rocked KC's world for most of the game. The few rushing successes the Squaws had were mostly when Jamal Williams was getting a breather.
Every team has weaknesses. Every team tries to hide those issues, and every opponent tries to exploit them. The Chargers are the closest to be a "complete" team. Nothing is easy, but this team will make it to the Super Bowl
and win it.
BTW: The freaking Donkeys are now the 6th seed .... last wild card. I'd love to have the chance to beat them for a third time this season. : :)