OK: here we go with the QB and the Wide Receivers.
I want to give Jacoby a C grade here, probably did what an average NFL QB does, I think, though that’s not great. Probably a B grade for his ability level, means he played slightly above his average play, which is not a high level but that’s all you can ask. I will do the player breakdowns and then go all nerdy with detail after that, you can skip that if you don’t care about the nuances and detail that goes into this. I will break down a couple plays in detail to show how just a couple plays/decisions can change the whole game. Also talk about what separates the best Qb’s.
Going to start with the Wide Receivers
Polk-He’s open more often than any other receiver they have. He’s not always open of course but he gets open at a level that puts him as an NFL starter, probably a #2 but we will see how he develops. He was getting separation at a 70-80% clip. Separation can just be a yard which is the standard for NFL receivers I use, since that correlates to success.
Henry-Solid TE, knows the nuances of the position, gets open regularly with smarts, good hands, you can do a lot worse than Henry. Lucky they kept him.
Hooper-Good hands, but almost never gets separation, solid blocker. Good backup but a drop in skill level from Henry and he lacks the nuances to get open. I think some of that comes from giving Henry the easier first read routes that are expected to be open. I think if Henry was out we’d see Hooper open more often but he’s a step below Hunter.
KJ Osborn: Got some good hands, laid out for a couple catches, was open occasionally but way less than Polk. He’s a 3rd/4th receiver in the NFL, he can play in a pinch, don’t want him starting. Nothing special about him, just an OK receiver, nice to have for depth, should not be a starter.
Thornton-For Wide Receivers he is just below Polk in getting open, he still is getting open quite a bit. To me it is not on Jacoby, per se, as TT is rarely the first read, Jacoby is doing what the play calls for and TT is down the line on reads and Jacoby normally doesn’t get that far down the line. He generally gets a half step or so on the go route, think he’s worth a deep shot once a game. But he gets open a lot in the middle of the field. I’d like to see him over Osborn and actually throw him the ball and see if he can catch.
Douglas-Douglas was open on tape but I don’t think he’s open as much as he thinks he is. Plenty of chances to get him the ball and see what he can do but for different reasons they did not. Very TE first read centric game. In terms of being open, Polk-Henry-TT-Douglas-Osborn-Hooper probably the order but the top 4 got open often enough.
Baker-Incomplete, saw one pass route was a good route, looked quick, got open, but might have pushed off, hard to tell. Only played 6 snaps, I think 5 were run plays, not much to go on. He does have a burst/shiftiness off the line, even on 1 play that’s just a little different in a good way. He needs to play more to see what he is.
Summary-They don’t have the #1 wow receiver, but guys are getting open enough. Osborne should not be playing more than TT and Baker needs more reps also. Polk is the #1 receiver IMO, they need to start treating him like that and see what he can do.
Onto the QB!
Jacoby Brissett
-The last drive of the 4th quarter was 100% on the offensive line and wide receivers, they gave away that drive. Otherwise, the line gave enough protection and receivers were open enough, especially in the first 3 quarters, where there was plenty of opportunity to put up 28+ points. Struggled in the Red Zone with decision making.
-First Drive, 3rd and a couple, first read is to Tight End, Hunter short, they stack Hunter behind Hooper and Hooper is supposed to naturally pick the CB, When Henry turns he’s a yard in front of the CB, the throw should have been made before he turned, a bit of a tight window but normally Jacoby would throw that, since he did not he stayed with that way too long, Polk is open on an incut in the middle, when Jacoby looks middle he looks short, again, but KJ is covered(he normally is), by time he gets off KJ he has pressure as Richards decided to help Lowe by pushing the guy he is blocking deep which just allows him to get around Lowe. Jacoby gets sacked, this sack is on Jacoby, ball should have been gone to Hunter or Polk. He has 3.5 seconds before the rusher starts towards him and he starts to roll right. This is why many sacks are on the QB. This ONE PLAY changes the sack rate to 6.67% from 10% that some people were harping on as being atrocious. Stats are Stats, analysis is analysis!
-I’ll go more quickly through the rest of the series.
-The TD drive, there were 3 of the 4 throws he had guys open deeper and threw short but ended in TD so can’t complain.
-FG drive, he had 1 play, will post photo in detail section, had Henry for TD, looked right at him, ended up throwaway later in play. Same drive went to covered wheel route which was first read when TT was open over the middle
-Another FG drive, after great call on TE screen to get near red zone at the 25, In red Zone Jacoby had bootleg and had Polk open on same side, bad throw on the move, would have had Polk down to the 5 to 6 yard line with a first. Some runs and defensive penalty gets 1st down at the 11. Nobody open good throwaway, run play then from 10 had 3rd down had TE doubled, went to 2nd read Rhamondre in flat, for some reason does not throw, looks back at TE doubled then late to Rhamondre throws in dirt probably 4th down either way but needs to make the throw right away see if Rhamondre can make a guy miss. He had 2 open guys to left including KJ for a TD but don’t blame him for not going all the way to the left side read and no negative mark to stick to the first 2 reads on the right. Great QB’s might look left, not expecting most Qb’s to do that.
-Last Drive before half-First pass play was a bad design for that part of the field, all WR”s ran deep, Henry was the 1 short guy, was covered, Jacoby tried to fit it in knocked down. Douglas was open on deep incut, not sure Jacoby had time for that as Onwenu guy was getting around edge but an anticipatory throw he could have made that throw. I blame the play design mainly, not Jacoby. Third down play Jacoby escapes right, misses wide open Henry with poor throw on the move (bad thrower on the move). I go into this play in GREAT DETAIL below. This 1 play gives Seattle 3 points before the half. It’s on Jacoby, to me, but will explain all the little nuances on this play and how others could conclude otherwise.
First Half Summary-Probably should have had 4 TD’s in first half, the TE at the goal line for sure, Polk throw gets them inside the 5 and maybe score. 3 TD’s for sure, probably a 4th. 8 points that is mainly on the QB. Did not turn the ball over, took 1 sack was his fault, solid half overall for Jacoby.
They ran 38 plays in first half, only 28 in second so not as much to analyze
First Drive 2nd half only 1 Play Action Pass followed 3 running plays with one having the Lowe Holding call. Play Action Pass Polk is at 15 yards, sits, TT has a deep pass with triple coverage, Polk has a small window, anticipatory throw gets in there, Rhamondre is the outlet, closest defender is 8 yards downfield, Rhamondre already 2 yards past line of scrimmage and Jacoby has time, scrambles to right and looks up, Polk is now coming pretty wide open, but never throws it, gains 5 yards. Should have dumped to Rhamondre, had 1 guy that he beats is a 15 yard gain, he doesn’t is 7 yards minimum, once scrambled, should not have scrambled, should have hit Polk at the 20 yards downfield. Not a good play, only pass play on drive, 3 and out. Just a bad QB play, no pressure, multiple options for good yardage, he got 5 yards, not a killer but missed easy opportunity for first down.
Quick 3 and out-They went with 3 pass plays, shouldn’t have LOL. 3rd down play was on the line, Sacked and line fault. 1st play good defense blew up a screen pass. 2nd down play almost sacked threw ball away as falling. Seattle blitzed but was Lowe losing one on one, he does have Rhamonde open in flat on side he is looking. Might be 2-3 yards but tries to avoid rusher and can’t so throws away as falling. This drive mainly on the Offensive line and play calling. Jacoby could have maybe made 1 play that still was a 3 and out. Nothing he could do this drive.
TD Drive-Lots of runs, nice throw to RB for first down, short left and then the TE block and escape play to Henry, otherwise all runs. Ends in TD. He got the TE pass off with some pressure, was wide open, most QB’s make that, same with the RB for 1st down but Jacoby made the plays that were there, good drive.
Blocked Field Goal Drive-6 Running plays and then a sack. Onwenu got beat but Jacoby had 3 seconds or so to throw, he should have gone right to the TE, short of first down, or quickly off him to Rhamondre but he never felt the pressure. Tua, Brady, most QB’s ball is gone 2.80 or under so technically he had enough time but also was not expecting a quick beat by the tackle and wanted the first down. This is on both Onwenu and Jacoby but he had the TE immediately, quick throw, would have avoided sack, still 4th down, shorter field goal, unclear if that changes it getting blocked. Since you can’t take a sack there, throw it to 1 of 2 short guys at the feet if you have to so that part more on Jacoby.
Last drive of 4th This one is on the line and wr’s. First play nobody open, steps up throw away, had some pressure from LT side, avoided that easy enough but trying to run was caught so threw ball away. Really more on wide receivers not getting open, Lowe was beat but Jacoby stepped up from that and really could have stayed in pocket but nobody was open, trying to run made sense. Good throw on Polk comeback. Good play by both. 3rd and 3 at 37. 4 Rushers, Onwenu beat right away. This play on Onwenu. Bad time for him to get beat. DD was open, don’t love the play call, RB should have helped in backfield or just run the ball. Jacoby no blame at all for this play or series.
Overtime-Had 1 pass, stepped up in pocket for no reason and threw off balance but was really nice throw, nice catch by KJ. AVP 3rd down play call was bad.
Summary-Protection was worse in second half Paly calling has been good for a game and a half but thought was below average in the second half and OT. First drive of the half Jacoby should have kept the series alive, more on him that it did not keep going.
Next 5 drives I think he was fine. Should not have taken the sack before blocked FG but was not getting first down so would it have changed anything? Think he maximized the points in second half assuming FG is still blocked. More on play calling, the line and a little bit the wide receivers. He did miss 8 points in first half and gave Seattle 3 at end of half by missing open TE at end of half, and will review that play in great detail below. Where I thought Maye played week 1 they win in a blow out this week the result is much closer. A top QB, they win. An average NFL QB, probably the same result. Would Maye have forced throw for a pick and make up for the other possible points added. The offense was bad in the second half but much of that was not on Jacoby. The first half he left some points out there but he’s expected too offset that with no turnover sand limited dumb plays. He pretty much dd that thus the C overall, an average NFL QB game and a B based on expectations.
This has taken me all morning so will add the details for the tape and QB nerds like me in a separate post later, need a break!
