Your DL could definitely give us problems. Oliver hasn't had the stats that might grab attention but if you watch film you've seen a steady incline in his play all year. Very impressed w how he's handling blocking schemes/recognition. How he counters, how efficient he is on stunts & again countering any problems. Your DL loves to fill passing lanes & is pretty disciplined in doing so. One of the toughest things to do as DL is drop, try fill passing lanes etc bc It's just not as natural as going foward & attacking like they've spent their careers doing. It's like when WR show patience at the line, drives DB's crazy bc they want/used to going 100 mph.
Anyway I was impressed w some of the little things your DL does, esp for a rookie in Oliver. Lawson has played a lot better in that regard as well as Murphy. Both prepared for the run, not caught off guard in terms of what's coming at them. I'd add Edmunds as well. Dude is just a freak. Scary to see what he'll become in years ahead. I loved Milano pre-draft. Guy comes from a good family that really played a role in his maturity & ability to handle football at its highest level.
Edmunds has been key all year imo in terms of attacking & confusing the OL. I saw it a few times last game against us I believe. You'll stunt, send him on a delay or fake him & send a DB. Or send both. Brady is so good he'll either recognize it post snap & get it of it or just feel it coming as its happening.
We have the best secondary in the league imo but yours ain't far behind. Gilmore is DPOY but White ain't far behind if at all. Again very impressed w how he's progressing so quickly but man is he patient throughout the route/snap. He doesn't panic. He's having a great year. Hyde/Poyer very physical, versatile, esp Hyde. He'll be in the backfield. All McDermott guys to a T. It shows in the stuff you're able to do. Show man, show overload blitz w Edmunds coming up the A, then drop to zone while blitzing a DB. Johnson is big as he's been successful against 11. I can't imagine you guys holding anything back this week. It's a long shot but what do you have to lose & there's no better confidence booster going into the playoffs.
Your offense is actually starting to resemble a functional offense & I'm not trying to be a DH. Yea Josh is still yikes at times but he's gotten much better w his hot read(s). He's able to go through progressions, identify concepts & where to go. He's slow in doing so & his mechanics break down at times but that's to be expected, he's obviously a work in progress. One coming along a little faster then I thought (I'm a weirdo draftnik that follows closely/graded prospects)
Again I've seen go through reads on plays we've run before. Ton of nub sets. Looking vert first/reading horizontal after. Again slow w recognition on some option routes but he's got the whip & talent dig himself out of a lot of holes. I think your tied for 5th of big/explosive plays (15-20+ yard plays) so again even if things break down Allen can make it happen when **** goes sideways. I want to keep him in the pocket, but move him off his spot. Get his footwork going & mess w his first read. Take it away, give him easy looks on certain down/distance but take it away post snap. Like you said we can definitely get up on your guys (you might expect another big TE/WR this draft) & that will be key imo. We want to make Allen think, think, think bc again he's still not moving as quickly as he needs to but does get through. Just slow him down a tad & that could be the difference bc of our defense.
Your running game is obviously huge & I expect more QB scrambles this time around. Along w some off tackle runs behind Ford. I don't see you guys messing around in that regard. Although maybe a little predictable in some cases even if its not a lot snaps. Gore, Lee as an extra OL kinda advertises that for example but I suppose that might be some nitpicking? Kroft has down well blocking on power, pin/pull. Can't let you win 3rd down. Bill likes to take away your best player but also attacks you in similar ways in terms of winning those downs/matchups that you're good at & you have the most 3rd down conversions I think. Sounds obvious but he'll absolutely key on it since you're that good.
I'm expecting a big game from James White. You guys struggle against screens, will be doubling 11 as much as possible, as much as he's out there. So White is the obvious choice although I wouldn't rule out Rex/Sony either. Rex gives us a little of both so I wonder how many 2 back sets we see. Harry could be our X factor considering the circumstances w 11.
Should be a great game. Both teams should be as pumped as can be & ready to knock the **** out of each other. I don't mind these Sat games later in the year either. Gives even more of a playoff vibe.
