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Thoughts.
Offense
One key to this win not talked about enough is the lack of sacks surrendered. Maye only gave up 1 for -1 yard. Fantastic. He threw a lot of balls away today. In part cause he had to, but that was a big improvement.
This team has now shown it is incapable of running up the middle. They don't have the players to do it vs most of the NFL on the line. They should still do some to set up play action. but we need to focus on being an outside run team.
The main weakness of this offense is a lack of consistency. They live and die by the explosive play. If they can manage to get more consistent with making small and medium chunks they will be hard to stop. Boutte will help with that. But another has to be Maye getting better at anticipating check downs. They and him need to figure out a way put in and execute the small stuff while they keep doing the big explosive impressive stuff. Part of this is looking at your team, particularly your OL and playing around what it does well as best you can.
Williams only made 1 catch. it does mean he has arrived. But it is a hell of a lot better than not scoring a big TD. They need to find ways to set up more simple plays for him and Drake. We saw the talent today. If they can't make use of that, it be a huge shame. To get to where they want to go, they will need someone who can do what he does.
Henderson, what else to say besides the man is made of some kind of super flexible rubber. I have no idea how he had a 60+ yard TD run after that hit.
Today was a rare day when it was all WRs in the passing game for the most part. It was something it was nice to see them prove they could do. But more Hunter/Hooper/Henderson be nice.
Jennings/Johnson at RB? Nah. Try someone else I think. There has to be someone better around in the discount bin we can pick up.
Maye is now first in MVP by default really. Mahomes is off and lost recently. Allen was bad today. But he is a very soft favorite. If he wants to really help his odds, absolutely pouring on the Jets would be a good start.
Defense
Not long ago everyone on this board was rightfully doing a lot of complaining about certain aspects of this D. Mostly Hawkins and whoever was in the #2 LB spot be it Elliss, Mapu, Gibbens or whoever. I want you to for a moment to throw out the first 6 or so games and look at the last 4. How bad has the safety play overall and LB play overall been? Honestly, it has been pretty solid.
Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But there has been a turn around here. Guys are at least on the same page much more often and we aren't seeing as many huge plays given up in these games. We are in fact seeing these much trash talked players do quite well. They are not stars, but they are filling their role and being on time to their assignments. Not being caught out of position. The general cohension of the D as a whole has taken a step up. They still get beat, particularly early in the game, but we are starting to see the unit as a whole come together nicely.
The Run D today took a minor L, but it was competitive and while it gave up a few bigger ones outside of those they made things hard on the Bucs
The Pass D a number of times forced Baker to hold on to the ball. When this happens the unit as a whole has done a great job, and they did it multiple times today.
No more prevent D please. This unit is not built for it.
Overall
As the saying goes, it is the hope that kills you. i have not hoped at any point for a single time this year. This entire year i have been enjoying but seeing as a spring to next year. I have to admit.... I really don't want to open myself to the possibility they could actually pull it off. Yes everyone else is flawed and they are in the mix....
They took a huge step today to solidify themselves as a potential contender... but they are so close to so many other teams. It feels more or less like they will be coin flipping as opposed to making you feel confident in victory WHEN they are in the playoffs (not if).
But... if they get that first round bye and HFA.... it will be impossible not to dream that this team most people had no making it could take it home. But the bye IMO is an ABSOLUTE must until i fully buy in personally. Beating 4 good teams in a row is a hard ask for any team this year... no one seems up to it IMO.
Offense
One key to this win not talked about enough is the lack of sacks surrendered. Maye only gave up 1 for -1 yard. Fantastic. He threw a lot of balls away today. In part cause he had to, but that was a big improvement.
This team has now shown it is incapable of running up the middle. They don't have the players to do it vs most of the NFL on the line. They should still do some to set up play action. but we need to focus on being an outside run team.
The main weakness of this offense is a lack of consistency. They live and die by the explosive play. If they can manage to get more consistent with making small and medium chunks they will be hard to stop. Boutte will help with that. But another has to be Maye getting better at anticipating check downs. They and him need to figure out a way put in and execute the small stuff while they keep doing the big explosive impressive stuff. Part of this is looking at your team, particularly your OL and playing around what it does well as best you can.
Williams only made 1 catch. it does mean he has arrived. But it is a hell of a lot better than not scoring a big TD. They need to find ways to set up more simple plays for him and Drake. We saw the talent today. If they can't make use of that, it be a huge shame. To get to where they want to go, they will need someone who can do what he does.
Henderson, what else to say besides the man is made of some kind of super flexible rubber. I have no idea how he had a 60+ yard TD run after that hit.
Today was a rare day when it was all WRs in the passing game for the most part. It was something it was nice to see them prove they could do. But more Hunter/Hooper/Henderson be nice.
Jennings/Johnson at RB? Nah. Try someone else I think. There has to be someone better around in the discount bin we can pick up.
Maye is now first in MVP by default really. Mahomes is off and lost recently. Allen was bad today. But he is a very soft favorite. If he wants to really help his odds, absolutely pouring on the Jets would be a good start.
Defense
Not long ago everyone on this board was rightfully doing a lot of complaining about certain aspects of this D. Mostly Hawkins and whoever was in the #2 LB spot be it Elliss, Mapu, Gibbens or whoever. I want you to for a moment to throw out the first 6 or so games and look at the last 4. How bad has the safety play overall and LB play overall been? Honestly, it has been pretty solid.
Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But there has been a turn around here. Guys are at least on the same page much more often and we aren't seeing as many huge plays given up in these games. We are in fact seeing these much trash talked players do quite well. They are not stars, but they are filling their role and being on time to their assignments. Not being caught out of position. The general cohension of the D as a whole has taken a step up. They still get beat, particularly early in the game, but we are starting to see the unit as a whole come together nicely.
The Run D today took a minor L, but it was competitive and while it gave up a few bigger ones outside of those they made things hard on the Bucs
The Pass D a number of times forced Baker to hold on to the ball. When this happens the unit as a whole has done a great job, and they did it multiple times today.
No more prevent D please. This unit is not built for it.
Overall
As the saying goes, it is the hope that kills you. i have not hoped at any point for a single time this year. This entire year i have been enjoying but seeing as a spring to next year. I have to admit.... I really don't want to open myself to the possibility they could actually pull it off. Yes everyone else is flawed and they are in the mix....
They took a huge step today to solidify themselves as a potential contender... but they are so close to so many other teams. It feels more or less like they will be coin flipping as opposed to making you feel confident in victory WHEN they are in the playoffs (not if).
But... if they get that first round bye and HFA.... it will be impossible not to dream that this team most people had no making it could take it home. But the bye IMO is an ABSOLUTE must until i fully buy in personally. Beating 4 good teams in a row is a hard ask for any team this year... no one seems up to it IMO.
