UPs and/or DOWNs for game 3

[BradyManny]

I'm skipping the DOWNS section. I'm sure they'll be enough sky is falling talk that we should just focus on whose stock rose today...


RAY VENTRONE - Maybe it's just a function of the plays they were running, but he was getting open in the middle of the field and racked up some YAC. He's making it harder and harder to be a guy that they cut.

CJ JONES - A couple great catches, especially on the lobs, the second of which he was badly interfered with (no call) and still made the catch. Showed good speed and good jump ball capability.

CHAD JACKSON - 2 nice catches, one for TD, showed some great athleticism on the fade, and drew a blatant PI after badly beating his man on a deep ball.

MATT GUTIERREZ - I don't care if he's going up against scrubs, his throws were on the money, and he delivered the ball to the right people in the right places. You can't hold it against him who is competition was.

JOSH MCDANIELS - It's only preseason, but he did a great job of switching up the offense in the second half to make up for how putrid the offensive line was playing.

 

[eastsrule]

Does Rodney Harrison deserve a mention?

 

[Leave No Doubt]

All the above, plus Bru and Vrabel! I know we expect good stuff from the vets but plays like they all made just proves speed and youth has it's advantages, but smarts and experience does too.

 

[The Dynasty]

Chad Jackson definitely did. Mayo is the real deal, after seeing him in person

 

[D-cleater]

Welcome to the Homer Thread

I'm skipping the DOWNS section. I'm sure they'll be enough sky is falling talk that we should just focus on whose stock rose today...


RAY VENTRONE - Maybe it's just a function of the plays they were running, but he was getting open in the middle of the field and racked up some YAC. He's making it harder and harder to be a guy that they cut.

CJ JONES - A couple great catches, especially on the lobs, the second of which he was badly interfered with (no call) and still made the catch. Showed good speed and good jump ball capability.

CHAD JACKSON - 2 nice catches, one for TD, showed some great athleticism on the fade, and drew a blatant PI after badly beating his man on a deep ball.

MATT GUTIERREZ - I don't care if he's going up against scrubs, his throws were on the money, and he delivered the ball to the right people in the right places. You can't hold it against him who is competition was.

JOSH MCDANIELS - It's only preseason, but he did a great job of switching up the offense in the second half to make up for how putrid the offensive line was playing.

If "sky is falling talk" = "who's stock went down" , then you should probably consider "whose stock rose today" as "over inflated optimism talk".

Remember, these games mean nothing. At least 2-4 of the players you list will not make the 53. Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: Welcome to the Homer Thread

If "sky is falling talk" = "who's stock went down" , then you should probably consider "whose stock rose today" as "over inflated optimism talk".

Remember, these games mean nothing. At least 2-4 of the players you list will not make the 53. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Particularly that McDaniels kid, he will be cut on Monday...

 

[DefenseRules]

All the above, plus Bru and Vrabel! I know we expect good stuff from the vets but plays like they all made just proves speed and youth has it's advantages, but smarts and experience does too.

I agree. They should bring back Seau NOW. Hobson is not the answer. Did he even play last night?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I'm skipping the DOWNS section. I'm sure they'll be enough sky is falling talk that we should just focus on whose stock rose today...


RAY VENTRONE - Maybe it's just a function of the plays they were running, but he was getting open in the middle of the field and racked up some YAC. He's making it harder and harder to be a guy that they cut.

CJ JONES - A couple great catches, especially on the lobs, the second of which he was badly interfered with (no call) and still made the catch. Showed good speed and good jump ball capability.

CHAD JACKSON - 2 nice catches, one for TD, showed some great athleticism on the fade, and drew a blatant PI after badly beating his man on a deep ball.

MATT GUTIERREZ - I don't care if he's going up against scrubs, his throws were on the money, and he delivered the ball to the right people in the right places. You can't hold it against him who is competition was.

JOSH MCDANIELS - It's only preseason, but he did a great job of switching up the offense in the second half to make up for how putrid the offensive line was playing.

Sorry but if we have learned nothing over the last several seasons with Bill it is that he is well aware of who you're facing when you perform.

The only switching Josh did was he abandoned the run because running was futile and he created more opportunities for back of the roster receiver reps against the Iggles second and third stringers and bubble guys who will also be cut next week...

 

[BradyManny]

Sorry but if we have learned nothing over the last several seasons with Bill it is that he is well aware of who you're facing when you perform.

The only switching Josh did was he abandoned the run because running was futile and he created more opportunities for back of the roster receiver reps against the Iggles second and third stringers and bubble guys who will also be cut next week...

I'm not saying Gutes is making team over the Cassel, I still maintain that O'C is a short term replacement of Gutes (developmental QB) and a long term replacement of Cassel (young Brady backup for good value). But I think Gutes stock definitely rose last nite and is making it harder to cut him. If you are going to discount what he did b/c of the level of competition, he might as well not go out there, the rest of the team might as well not go out there after the first half.

And I think McD did more than just abandon the run, they started exploiting the middle of the field and went for quicker developing pass plays to counteract the rush and the OL's inconsistency in stopping it.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I agree. They should bring back Seau NOW. Hobson is not the answer. Did he even play last night?

Hobson played, not sure how much tho

 

[Sicilian]

I'm not saying Gutes is making team over the Cassel, I still maintain that O'C is a short term replacement of Gutes (developmental QB) and a long term replacement of Cassel (young Brady backup for good value). But I think Gutes stock definitely rose last nite and is making it harder to cut him. If you are going to discount what he did b/c of the level of competition, he might as well not go out there, the rest of the team might as well not go out there after the first half.

And I think McD did more than just abandon the run, they started exploiting the middle of the field and went for quicker developing pass plays to counteract the rush and the OL's inconsistency in stopping it.

You have to take into account who he was up against, but you also have to account for who he was PLAYING with. He had ALL backup linemen, plus Jackson, Ventrone, and CJ Jones as his receivers and the "threat" of BenJarvis Green-Ellis as his RB

To me, take the stats out of the equation. Guts just looks WAY more comfortable under center. When he got pressured, he stepped up and made a play. Cassel tends to panic, though he was a little better last night. I like Cassel, I was rooting for him up through last night. Now I just can't imagine him coming into a game before Guts.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Ventrone needs to make this team. the kid makes plays.

 

[Buchanty]

There was big a difference in the back field last night between the safeties and cornerbacks. All the safeties Harrison, Lynch and particularly Sanders played well. The corners never looked close to covering the receivers, who seemed to find separation somewhat easy. I know its a pre-season game, but I would have preferred the corners to tackle rather than push their opponents towards the bye line.

That was a great catch by Jackson in the corner, where I was sitting (worth the price of admission for that alone - well actually for that only) and I would also add big ++s to Ventrone and Evans.

The only other major Down other than the much quoted O'line was blocking. The run was never established because of p-poor blocking, and yes that includes the TEs, bring back Grambo!

 

[Ichiro]

UP:

Bruschi - wow, looked like he was 5 years younger. Covered well, played the run well and blitzed well. Tedy looks ready for a nice season.

Harrison - showed me the same as Bruschi. Nice to see the older vets do well.

Mayo- showed the speed at ILB we have been dying for. Played games (twists, etc) nicely with Bruschi and the D-Line.

DOWN:

Wesley Britt - looked horrible playing left tackle - does not have the quick feet necessary to play there.

Chris Hanson - punt the ball OUT OF BOUNDS. He hasn't shown distance or direction in his punts this preseason. You know BB has little patience for punters

Ben Watson - bad blocking for Ben out there. A young QB usually goes to his TE, it didn't seem like Watson got open. Will this guy ever be a consistent player?

 

[JSn]

Evans went both ways at once! Good catches, nice routes, etc...

Special Teams... yikes.

 

[SteveKiner]

I realize he was playing against the scrubs, but one offensive lineman that looked like he had a good game was number 60, Jimmy Martin?. In the second half, one of the people in our section noticed that he was keeping his man at the line when Gutz went back to pass, so we all started focussing on him. He played both right and left tackle and I don't remember his man getting a tackle or a pressure. I doubt he will make the roster, but he certainly looked better than Britt or Kaczur albeit against lesser competition. Hopefully he is PS eligible.