- Joined
- Sep 13, 2004
- Messages
- 37,607
- Reaction score
- 16,388
First, let us be really, really clear. Josh does not hire players. He makes recommendations on players he knows (Salas, Lloyd).
USING THE ROOKIES
I think that Josh took a major risk with the rookies, especially in Game 2. He treated the rookies as if they were ready for prime time. They were NOT. So, the game plan for Game 3 included a much different approach. The rookies are now being brought along much more slowly. There was no hurry up. The patterns did not emphasize the rookies reading defenses, changing their patterns, and then changing again depending on whether Brady was in trouble.
Brady took the burden upon himself. Brady had to hold the ball longer. Brady had to absorb all the extra hits, because of the reduced options.
Josh and Brady used the rookies over and over again. Te first two games were trials of fire.
I think that Josh did what he had to with the rookies. Hopefully, they can absorb more of the offense in each additional week.
THE TIGHT END SITUATION
Josh did the best he could with the little provided by the Front Office. He moved Solder over to tight end for lots of reps in the first two games. Hooman was the #1 TE. He even sent out Hooman for a couple of passes. And he didn't used Sudfeld much; he clearly isn't ready. Josh understands that the #1 TE cannot also play fullback, so Hooman was excused from that role.
THE RUNNING GAME AND THE RUNNING BACKS
As far as I can see, our running backs are doing very, very well. One would not imagine this, given that the teams we played had reasonable run defenses and our passing game was extremely limited.
Josh has used whoever was healthy. The use oif Blount has been especially good. He has chewed up lots of time and absorbed lots of hits, all reps that Ridley didn't have to take. Develin has been used at fullback instead of Hooman, a correct decision IMHO.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Dante has done what he needed to do to deal with Solder playing TE, and with losing Vollmer for part of the game. More importantly, the Game 3 blocking schemes needed to be changed to recognize the fact that Brady would need to hold the ball much more.
QUARTERBACK
Yes, Josh (our quarterback coach) has to deal with Tom's frustration regarding personnel and their development status. I trust that the Game 3 game plan was a short-term solution to the elephant in the room (need for the rookies to internalize more of the offense).
BOTTOM LINE
I guess I can't have asked for much more from Josh. I suppose I cannot fault the unfulfilled hope reflected in the Game 2 game plan. Obviously, the rookies frustrated everyone (clearly Brady was most vocal).
We have may unknowns as we continue through the season to the playoff run. IMHO, one of the "knowns" will be the high quality of Josh and the quality of the game planning by Josh and Brady.
USING THE ROOKIES
I think that Josh took a major risk with the rookies, especially in Game 2. He treated the rookies as if they were ready for prime time. They were NOT. So, the game plan for Game 3 included a much different approach. The rookies are now being brought along much more slowly. There was no hurry up. The patterns did not emphasize the rookies reading defenses, changing their patterns, and then changing again depending on whether Brady was in trouble.
Brady took the burden upon himself. Brady had to hold the ball longer. Brady had to absorb all the extra hits, because of the reduced options.
Josh and Brady used the rookies over and over again. Te first two games were trials of fire.
I think that Josh did what he had to with the rookies. Hopefully, they can absorb more of the offense in each additional week.
THE TIGHT END SITUATION
Josh did the best he could with the little provided by the Front Office. He moved Solder over to tight end for lots of reps in the first two games. Hooman was the #1 TE. He even sent out Hooman for a couple of passes. And he didn't used Sudfeld much; he clearly isn't ready. Josh understands that the #1 TE cannot also play fullback, so Hooman was excused from that role.
THE RUNNING GAME AND THE RUNNING BACKS
As far as I can see, our running backs are doing very, very well. One would not imagine this, given that the teams we played had reasonable run defenses and our passing game was extremely limited.
Josh has used whoever was healthy. The use oif Blount has been especially good. He has chewed up lots of time and absorbed lots of hits, all reps that Ridley didn't have to take. Develin has been used at fullback instead of Hooman, a correct decision IMHO.
THE OFFENSIVE LINE
Dante has done what he needed to do to deal with Solder playing TE, and with losing Vollmer for part of the game. More importantly, the Game 3 blocking schemes needed to be changed to recognize the fact that Brady would need to hold the ball much more.
QUARTERBACK
Yes, Josh (our quarterback coach) has to deal with Tom's frustration regarding personnel and their development status. I trust that the Game 3 game plan was a short-term solution to the elephant in the room (need for the rookies to internalize more of the offense).
BOTTOM LINE
I guess I can't have asked for much more from Josh. I suppose I cannot fault the unfulfilled hope reflected in the Game 2 game plan. Obviously, the rookies frustrated everyone (clearly Brady was most vocal).
We have may unknowns as we continue through the season to the playoff run. IMHO, one of the "knowns" will be the high quality of Josh and the quality of the game planning by Josh and Brady.