B_Ambuehl
11-14-2005, 01:08 PM
Call me crazy but there were a lot of positives in that game and, given that Roaf can return healthy, I feel better about the team then at any other point this season. Here's why:
-90% of the problems on offense can be pinned on Jordan Black and they've been there all year. With the starting offensive line playing every game this is probably a 7-2 football team. He gave up 3 sacks yesterday, another pressure, and caused one of the other interior lineman to give up a sack having to help him. When he was at right tackle he was also giving up 2-3 sacks and multiple pressures per game. His stats against San Diego were about what they were yesterday. Losses to Philly and San Diego can be pinned squarely on the offensive line.
- Given LJ stays healthy, Holmes injury is a blessing in disguise. There isn't a more productive runner in the NFL at this point.
- I know it doesn't appear to be so based on yesterday's offensive "scoring" output, but the offensive coaching staff has found their rhythm with regard to play calling and play selection. I said last week that most teams in the NFL would be struggling to score 10 points a game with the situation at tackle the way it is. Lots of people probably rolled their eyes until they saw the stats on TV about Green getting hit more then any other quarterback this year. Given those stats, and realizing that those hits can entirely be blamed on the backups at tackle, mainly Black, you can expect them to be remedied. The fact that the offense was *still* #6 overall is a credit to the coaches.
- Even yesterday I thought the coaches had an excellent gameplan and called an excellent game. The running game was dominant and the passing game was working off of that. The protection never really got horrible until turnovers forced us out of the original gameplan and took away the play action pass and short dropbacks. Trent was only pressured on 3 out of his first 27 dropbacks which, although not perfect, is probably not as bad as what one might think.
- Gonzales is in the flow, LJ is in the flow and the team is running the ball very effectively, Kennison has been in the flow, and, given the starting offensive line back and the hope that Green doesn't perform like yesterday and turn the ball over, I feel this offense about ready to get back to their 27 + pts per game average.
- This defensive football team is finally playing like they know what the hell they're doing out on the football field. They've had a different swagger about them the last 2 weeks. The blitzes aren't being telegraphed and are effective. They're getting pressure on the quarterback. Guys are playing with confidence. Kawika is playing as good as any MLB in the NFL. Wesley is hitting people and making plays. Even with the 2 throws downfield yesterday, Warfield and Surtain are doing an excellent job covering the short and intermediate stuff and making the tackles at CB. 9 times out of 10 Warfield makes the play on that first ball. The D-line is killing the running game. Siavii even got in there and made a couple of tackles yesterday. Two weeks in a row they've given up less then 200 passing yards.
- The loss is being overblown with regard to the playoffs. I'll take my chances with 10 wins and to do that only requires winning 1 out of 2 on the road and 3 out of 4 at home. That's achievable given the return of Roaf, the health of the rest of the team, and the defensive improvements. They have to win next week to get one in this recent 2 game grouping and win 1 out of 2 vs the Giants and Cowboys. I'll place my money on either Jacksonville or Cincinnati faultering at some point and coughing up a couple of bad losses - neither of those teams are complete by any means and every week is tough.
-90% of the problems on offense can be pinned on Jordan Black and they've been there all year. With the starting offensive line playing every game this is probably a 7-2 football team. He gave up 3 sacks yesterday, another pressure, and caused one of the other interior lineman to give up a sack having to help him. When he was at right tackle he was also giving up 2-3 sacks and multiple pressures per game. His stats against San Diego were about what they were yesterday. Losses to Philly and San Diego can be pinned squarely on the offensive line.
- Given LJ stays healthy, Holmes injury is a blessing in disguise. There isn't a more productive runner in the NFL at this point.
- I know it doesn't appear to be so based on yesterday's offensive "scoring" output, but the offensive coaching staff has found their rhythm with regard to play calling and play selection. I said last week that most teams in the NFL would be struggling to score 10 points a game with the situation at tackle the way it is. Lots of people probably rolled their eyes until they saw the stats on TV about Green getting hit more then any other quarterback this year. Given those stats, and realizing that those hits can entirely be blamed on the backups at tackle, mainly Black, you can expect them to be remedied. The fact that the offense was *still* #6 overall is a credit to the coaches.
- Even yesterday I thought the coaches had an excellent gameplan and called an excellent game. The running game was dominant and the passing game was working off of that. The protection never really got horrible until turnovers forced us out of the original gameplan and took away the play action pass and short dropbacks. Trent was only pressured on 3 out of his first 27 dropbacks which, although not perfect, is probably not as bad as what one might think.
- Gonzales is in the flow, LJ is in the flow and the team is running the ball very effectively, Kennison has been in the flow, and, given the starting offensive line back and the hope that Green doesn't perform like yesterday and turn the ball over, I feel this offense about ready to get back to their 27 + pts per game average.
- This defensive football team is finally playing like they know what the hell they're doing out on the football field. They've had a different swagger about them the last 2 weeks. The blitzes aren't being telegraphed and are effective. They're getting pressure on the quarterback. Guys are playing with confidence. Kawika is playing as good as any MLB in the NFL. Wesley is hitting people and making plays. Even with the 2 throws downfield yesterday, Warfield and Surtain are doing an excellent job covering the short and intermediate stuff and making the tackles at CB. 9 times out of 10 Warfield makes the play on that first ball. The D-line is killing the running game. Siavii even got in there and made a couple of tackles yesterday. Two weeks in a row they've given up less then 200 passing yards.
- The loss is being overblown with regard to the playoffs. I'll take my chances with 10 wins and to do that only requires winning 1 out of 2 on the road and 3 out of 4 at home. That's achievable given the return of Roaf, the health of the rest of the team, and the defensive improvements. They have to win next week to get one in this recent 2 game grouping and win 1 out of 2 vs the Giants and Cowboys. I'll place my money on either Jacksonville or Cincinnati faultering at some point and coughing up a couple of bad losses - neither of those teams are complete by any means and every week is tough.