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- Jul 11, 2005
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What a thrilling day of football. Every game leading up to the Pats game was a nailbiter right till the end. I was hoping we'd have a laugher, but in a game where the Charger defense was as good as everyone said they were, and their OL seemed better than expected the game was tight for 3 quarters as the rest of the other games, but finally broke open a bit in the 4th quarter and we could "relax" (relatively) to the rest of the games with a 2 score lead that we never gave up.
Things that impressed me greatly
1. Throughout the year we seemed to make great adjustments both on offense and defense at half time, with the exception of the Bills game. This continued to be the case tonight. Kudos to the coaches and the operation that allows them to be so successful to so often improving our execution in the second half. BTW-by what I mean by "operation", I'm talking about how they set up and organize their individual responsibilities, how they gather the information they think is important, how they manage to quickly make decisions on what they want/need to pass on, and finally the system they use to pass that information down to the players in a method the players can absorb and use to improve their game, and all they have is about 15 minutes of useable time, give or take, to get this accomplished by the time it's time to get their minds straight and go back on the field. In other words, not much time at all.
Forget the handshakes, and pats on the back, THIS is the stuff Vrabel should get the HCOY for. For bring THIS level of structure and organization and populating it with lots of people who are good at their jobs... VERY good at their jobs.
2. Gonzo - There were bunch of people here wondering if he truly WAS an elite CB. Where were the picks? Where were the stats? "I saw a play where someone caught a ball and Gonzo was close to the ball." or some such **** like that. Well tonight, although he didn't have any picks, or "stats", etc, The man SHUT DOWN Quentin Johnson, a key receiver and the big "deep threat" down to 3 catches for 20 yds, and 2 of those catches came AFTER Gonzo went out. Gonzo covers and is not just a 'willing tackler', but an aggressive one, like the rest of our secondary and the Pats should pay him a fair, but market price for his next contract with a smile on their faces. The guy is a defense changer.
3. CDavis- This is a guy who plays tough, hurt and with effectiveness, and because he sees so many targets because Gonzo is so good, he sometimes looks worse that he is because of the comparison. He has been solid all season, and better tonight. In a night where they were in man much more than they usually are, his main responsibility was McConkey who he held to 30 yds on 3 catches (4 targets) on of which was a 20 yder in the first quarter. Not much in the way of individual stats, like Gonzo, but hit DID have a QB hit.
4. Christian Ellis and Craig Woodson - 2 guys people have been calling for their upgrades for almost the entire season. Meet the 2 leading tacklers for this great defensive effort. Woodson had 11 (7 solo) and has played pretty much every defensive snap of the 18 game (so far) season... as a freakin' ROOKIE. Think he might be even better next season?
Ellis, another punching bag for the masses, has also been improving his game the last month of the season, had 8 tackles, and spent the night chasing down Herbert all over the field, Herbert had 57 yds, but on 10 carries. Justin got his yds, but few impactful like Maye's were, and Ellis as the spy was responsible. And he along with all his LB buddies shut the rest of the LA running attack to 29 yds on 12 carries. And since the LB's always get beat up when a TE has a good day, it should be noted that the LA TE's had 3 catches for 30 yds on 3 targets, one of which was on their last gasp drive where a TD would have given them a onside kicks chance of POSSIBLY getting shot at a win. So I would infer from that sparse target number that the LB's and Safeties did an excellent job tonight..
5. The Option Play - I have been waiting for that play ALL season (well actually I think we have seen it once before a few months ago, it was also moderately successful and was never seen again). Not only was it productive, it puts a lot of pressure on defenses, and even if you use it sparingly it takes a ton out of your opponent's preparation time to prepare for it. It is just one design you can use for a QB run.
There were a lot of other things I liked, but I want to watch this game again now that I know what better to look for. Things like the special teams and Stevenson. I want to see exactly what the defenses were and how they structured it (and that's going to take a while) On the surface, it looked like a 5 under man, with 2 over the top when they went base, and a bunch of other stuff when they blitzed various combinations of LB's and CB's
Things I didn't like
1. Well, it's OBVIOUS we have to start with the left side of the OL. The ROOKIES. Lets start with Campbell. For the most part he was excellent with being able to stay in front of his man. What he failed to do while he stayed in front of him was ANCHOR at some point and time of his drop back. That ISN'T an armlength issue. It ISN'T an ability issue, it's a TECNIQUE issue. At a point in the drop back the OT has dip and ANCHOR and punch back enough to stop the rusher's momentum. That is a matter of strength, balance, and timing. For the most part he's been very good this season. Today he wasn't. But before you all relegate him to LG aft ONE game, remember this. He is only 21 and still is FAR from how strong or big he will be when he matures and gains experience, and an NFL rookie. I think the foundation is there to be an outstanding LT. This is not going to be an example of his finished result any more than this was Mayes.
Besides I saw on a couple of plays. much of Campbell's issue were being hampered, by his buddy next to him. I don't think these rookies saw this season a team which could put 2 top notch rushers right next to them get them off their games with stems and stunts as well as direct rushes. On Wilson's great fumble recovery, the glory of the play is somewhat mitigated by the fact it was his guy who made the play in the first place. Clearly an area we need to improve on even if we don't perfect it by next week. Let's see what that great coaching staff can do in one week to plug a hole.
2. Drake Maye actually looked like a 23 year old, 2nd year QB with a year and a half of staring experience tonight. The fear of the LA rush was speeding him up and it looked like he wasn't as calm and sure of his reads as he had been the last 14 games. It was like he knew the stakes got so much higher and so were the opponents, and it took him a full half to get his swagger back. It's not like it was his fault. We forget it's natural to feel this way. And we should be comforted by the fact he has learned so well with every setback before. But the fact remained that his completion rate of 58% and 2 fumbles were not highlight of his season and will cost him a game against a better opponent.
3. It is clear to me that we have ZERO edge rushers who can create immediate pressure on the rush on their own. Even Williams was pretty irregular until the end of the game. We got 6 sacks, but except for one of Williams ones, they were all the result of blitzes and stunts (Jenning's one is a good example) To me, it is our Achilles heel and will ultimately be the most immediate cause of the end of this wonderful run. We got ZERO all game from a straight 4-man rush except one play. It is our biggest off season need.
Chaisson, with his motor, will give you EVENTUAL pressure, but he isn't strong enough or big enough to get it on his own. All his sacks are coverage sacks or created by schemes or offensive errors. He's NEVER done what Mack did to Campbell all night and just bull rush him back into his QB. Again, a good guy in a rotation, but not the top guy and not one you can expect to see to get that quick pressure consistently and not one you pay big money for.
4. Gonzo getting hurt. If he can't go, I find it hard to believe we get passed the next round, regardless of who comes in next. He has that much of an impact and we really don't have anything even approaching him to replace him. We are weak tat that 3rd outside CB position behind Gonzo and Davis, and BOTH will miss at best some practices week.
Next week - Pittsburgh would be the clear preferred opponent for a ton of reasons, though I doubt very much it will happen, so watch what the Texans do next week, because it will be what we will be seeing next. But it IS the NFL and we've seen a lit if strange things happen. But next to the Rams game, I thought this would be the most lopsided. Now where do I go to get a "Terrible Towel"
This will have to do for now. I'm falling asleep at the wheel here. I'll add a few points in the editing function come morning if someone hasn't already talked about them.
Things that impressed me greatly
1. Throughout the year we seemed to make great adjustments both on offense and defense at half time, with the exception of the Bills game. This continued to be the case tonight. Kudos to the coaches and the operation that allows them to be so successful to so often improving our execution in the second half. BTW-by what I mean by "operation", I'm talking about how they set up and organize their individual responsibilities, how they gather the information they think is important, how they manage to quickly make decisions on what they want/need to pass on, and finally the system they use to pass that information down to the players in a method the players can absorb and use to improve their game, and all they have is about 15 minutes of useable time, give or take, to get this accomplished by the time it's time to get their minds straight and go back on the field. In other words, not much time at all.
Forget the handshakes, and pats on the back, THIS is the stuff Vrabel should get the HCOY for. For bring THIS level of structure and organization and populating it with lots of people who are good at their jobs... VERY good at their jobs.
2. Gonzo - There were bunch of people here wondering if he truly WAS an elite CB. Where were the picks? Where were the stats? "I saw a play where someone caught a ball and Gonzo was close to the ball." or some such **** like that. Well tonight, although he didn't have any picks, or "stats", etc, The man SHUT DOWN Quentin Johnson, a key receiver and the big "deep threat" down to 3 catches for 20 yds, and 2 of those catches came AFTER Gonzo went out. Gonzo covers and is not just a 'willing tackler', but an aggressive one, like the rest of our secondary and the Pats should pay him a fair, but market price for his next contract with a smile on their faces. The guy is a defense changer.
3. CDavis- This is a guy who plays tough, hurt and with effectiveness, and because he sees so many targets because Gonzo is so good, he sometimes looks worse that he is because of the comparison. He has been solid all season, and better tonight. In a night where they were in man much more than they usually are, his main responsibility was McConkey who he held to 30 yds on 3 catches (4 targets) on of which was a 20 yder in the first quarter. Not much in the way of individual stats, like Gonzo, but hit DID have a QB hit.
4. Christian Ellis and Craig Woodson - 2 guys people have been calling for their upgrades for almost the entire season. Meet the 2 leading tacklers for this great defensive effort. Woodson had 11 (7 solo) and has played pretty much every defensive snap of the 18 game (so far) season... as a freakin' ROOKIE. Think he might be even better next season?
Ellis, another punching bag for the masses, has also been improving his game the last month of the season, had 8 tackles, and spent the night chasing down Herbert all over the field, Herbert had 57 yds, but on 10 carries. Justin got his yds, but few impactful like Maye's were, and Ellis as the spy was responsible. And he along with all his LB buddies shut the rest of the LA running attack to 29 yds on 12 carries. And since the LB's always get beat up when a TE has a good day, it should be noted that the LA TE's had 3 catches for 30 yds on 3 targets, one of which was on their last gasp drive where a TD would have given them a onside kicks chance of POSSIBLY getting shot at a win. So I would infer from that sparse target number that the LB's and Safeties did an excellent job tonight..
5. The Option Play - I have been waiting for that play ALL season (well actually I think we have seen it once before a few months ago, it was also moderately successful and was never seen again). Not only was it productive, it puts a lot of pressure on defenses, and even if you use it sparingly it takes a ton out of your opponent's preparation time to prepare for it. It is just one design you can use for a QB run.
There were a lot of other things I liked, but I want to watch this game again now that I know what better to look for. Things like the special teams and Stevenson. I want to see exactly what the defenses were and how they structured it (and that's going to take a while) On the surface, it looked like a 5 under man, with 2 over the top when they went base, and a bunch of other stuff when they blitzed various combinations of LB's and CB's
Things I didn't like
1. Well, it's OBVIOUS we have to start with the left side of the OL. The ROOKIES. Lets start with Campbell. For the most part he was excellent with being able to stay in front of his man. What he failed to do while he stayed in front of him was ANCHOR at some point and time of his drop back. That ISN'T an armlength issue. It ISN'T an ability issue, it's a TECNIQUE issue. At a point in the drop back the OT has dip and ANCHOR and punch back enough to stop the rusher's momentum. That is a matter of strength, balance, and timing. For the most part he's been very good this season. Today he wasn't. But before you all relegate him to LG aft ONE game, remember this. He is only 21 and still is FAR from how strong or big he will be when he matures and gains experience, and an NFL rookie. I think the foundation is there to be an outstanding LT. This is not going to be an example of his finished result any more than this was Mayes.
Besides I saw on a couple of plays. much of Campbell's issue were being hampered, by his buddy next to him. I don't think these rookies saw this season a team which could put 2 top notch rushers right next to them get them off their games with stems and stunts as well as direct rushes. On Wilson's great fumble recovery, the glory of the play is somewhat mitigated by the fact it was his guy who made the play in the first place. Clearly an area we need to improve on even if we don't perfect it by next week. Let's see what that great coaching staff can do in one week to plug a hole.
2. Drake Maye actually looked like a 23 year old, 2nd year QB with a year and a half of staring experience tonight. The fear of the LA rush was speeding him up and it looked like he wasn't as calm and sure of his reads as he had been the last 14 games. It was like he knew the stakes got so much higher and so were the opponents, and it took him a full half to get his swagger back. It's not like it was his fault. We forget it's natural to feel this way. And we should be comforted by the fact he has learned so well with every setback before. But the fact remained that his completion rate of 58% and 2 fumbles were not highlight of his season and will cost him a game against a better opponent.
3. It is clear to me that we have ZERO edge rushers who can create immediate pressure on the rush on their own. Even Williams was pretty irregular until the end of the game. We got 6 sacks, but except for one of Williams ones, they were all the result of blitzes and stunts (Jenning's one is a good example) To me, it is our Achilles heel and will ultimately be the most immediate cause of the end of this wonderful run. We got ZERO all game from a straight 4-man rush except one play. It is our biggest off season need.
Chaisson, with his motor, will give you EVENTUAL pressure, but he isn't strong enough or big enough to get it on his own. All his sacks are coverage sacks or created by schemes or offensive errors. He's NEVER done what Mack did to Campbell all night and just bull rush him back into his QB. Again, a good guy in a rotation, but not the top guy and not one you can expect to see to get that quick pressure consistently and not one you pay big money for.
4. Gonzo getting hurt. If he can't go, I find it hard to believe we get passed the next round, regardless of who comes in next. He has that much of an impact and we really don't have anything even approaching him to replace him. We are weak tat that 3rd outside CB position behind Gonzo and Davis, and BOTH will miss at best some practices week.
Next week - Pittsburgh would be the clear preferred opponent for a ton of reasons, though I doubt very much it will happen, so watch what the Texans do next week, because it will be what we will be seeing next. But it IS the NFL and we've seen a lit if strange things happen. But next to the Rams game, I thought this would be the most lopsided. Now where do I go to get a "Terrible Towel"
This will have to do for now. I'm falling asleep at the wheel here. I'll add a few points in the editing function come morning if someone hasn't already talked about them.
