Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Defense---very active---didn't even play much of Dockett, Campbell and Dansby---much stronger, more physical---much more aware of where the football is----good, solid tackling---very good depth---just about everyone played well---had to adjust to Packers going to the hurry-up on first possession, and did with nice goalline stand---the deep pass was over pretty good coverage by Cason---Mathieu is all over the place---how about that sack on Harrell?...for a rookie to use body control in that situation and not go screaming right past the QB---he's just so instinctive and so quick to finish.
Props: Abraham (patented sack strip), Acho (recovery), Minter (good filler!), Arenas (good tackler, keeps everything in front of him), Peterson (nice pick), Johnson (nice pass breakup on goalline to TE Finley, good ST tackles too), same for Alexander, McCann, Bethel.
Needs work:Rucker (not in shape and getting stood up---not good for a veteran of his caliber---got influenced too much inside and gave up easy cutbacks), Curtis Taylor (got beat badly on early 3rd down play on slant over the middle), Jasper Brinkley and Reggie Walker's pass coverage (don't think they are suited to play the nickel)---some missed tackles by Zach Nash---and some blown assignments on QB contain, esp. versus Vince Young.
Surprises (long shots---but making some noise): Padric Scott (thought he was very active), Kenny Rowe (edge rush), ILB Kenny Demens, DT Jonathan Mathis (QB hurry), Tony Jefferson (solid), CB Ronnie Yell.
Offense---passed more downfield in this one game than in half a season last year---Palmer underthrew the ball some, but was on the money to Roberts, who missed a long 3rd down deep pass, but not the second time---not much push in the running game with first team line (looked to me like the o-line's splits weren't wide enough, like they were all bunched too tightly together---but second team and workhorse Stepfan Taylor started getting the it done---Taylor is the epitome of a BA workhorse RB---Alfonso ran hard, but he still lacks vision and patience---guess we see why BA and coaches have been raving about WRs Brown and Hawkins---Stanton is tough, keeps his cool under pressure---threw the ball well downfield---looked in command, still a little off, but mostly on---
Props---o-line pass pro! They all get a shout out for that!
Needs work---run blocks, obviously, TE play (not good tonight and could be a real issue), Jefferson's hands (what a nice target, though).
Disappointments: Chilo Rachal (out of shape, not good in pass pro, didn't finish blocks), the play mixups and subsequent timeouts (expected to a degree---but BA will let the players have it, no matter how early it is in the pre-season).
Surprises: RG Paul Fanaika (he's pretty dang good as BA has been saying); WRs Buckner & Toma, nice sliding catches on seam routes, Lindley (the light bulb is starting to come on---looks already more comfortable within the offense and what his role is), C Mike Gibson (except for missing one A gap blitz), LT Jamaal Johnson-Webb (looks real good---good size and balance), WR Nicolas Edwards (what excellent size and sneaky speed on deep pass---pass interference), TE Mickey Shuler (nice catch, a couple good blocks), RGs Senio Kelemete (solid) and Earl Watford (man what impressive size and strength---the roughing penalty aside)
STs---great coverage teams all night---obviously the kicking was off, all of it, FGs and punts---2 good punt returns from Hawkins and Mathieu (have we ever been that talented, deep and loaded at punt returner?).
What this game was---it was a blueprint for the BA formula for success, just as he's described it to us:
1. Take care of the football.
2. Take deep shots to get chunk yards and to put the defense on its heels.
3. Pound the rock with a workhorse RB.
4. Create turnovers and take advantage of them.
5. Win the field position game.
Sure, it's only a pre-season game and there were plenty of mistakes, but we got a good taste tonight of what BASK Ball philosophy looks like.
Dang---this is exciting because it is aggressive, physical, play to win football in all aspects of the game.
Props: Abraham (patented sack strip), Acho (recovery), Minter (good filler!), Arenas (good tackler, keeps everything in front of him), Peterson (nice pick), Johnson (nice pass breakup on goalline to TE Finley, good ST tackles too), same for Alexander, McCann, Bethel.
Needs work:Rucker (not in shape and getting stood up---not good for a veteran of his caliber---got influenced too much inside and gave up easy cutbacks), Curtis Taylor (got beat badly on early 3rd down play on slant over the middle), Jasper Brinkley and Reggie Walker's pass coverage (don't think they are suited to play the nickel)---some missed tackles by Zach Nash---and some blown assignments on QB contain, esp. versus Vince Young.
Surprises (long shots---but making some noise): Padric Scott (thought he was very active), Kenny Rowe (edge rush), ILB Kenny Demens, DT Jonathan Mathis (QB hurry), Tony Jefferson (solid), CB Ronnie Yell.
Offense---passed more downfield in this one game than in half a season last year---Palmer underthrew the ball some, but was on the money to Roberts, who missed a long 3rd down deep pass, but not the second time---not much push in the running game with first team line (looked to me like the o-line's splits weren't wide enough, like they were all bunched too tightly together---but second team and workhorse Stepfan Taylor started getting the it done---Taylor is the epitome of a BA workhorse RB---Alfonso ran hard, but he still lacks vision and patience---guess we see why BA and coaches have been raving about WRs Brown and Hawkins---Stanton is tough, keeps his cool under pressure---threw the ball well downfield---looked in command, still a little off, but mostly on---
Props---o-line pass pro! They all get a shout out for that!
Needs work---run blocks, obviously, TE play (not good tonight and could be a real issue), Jefferson's hands (what a nice target, though).
Disappointments: Chilo Rachal (out of shape, not good in pass pro, didn't finish blocks), the play mixups and subsequent timeouts (expected to a degree---but BA will let the players have it, no matter how early it is in the pre-season).
Surprises: RG Paul Fanaika (he's pretty dang good as BA has been saying); WRs Buckner & Toma, nice sliding catches on seam routes, Lindley (the light bulb is starting to come on---looks already more comfortable within the offense and what his role is), C Mike Gibson (except for missing one A gap blitz), LT Jamaal Johnson-Webb (looks real good---good size and balance), WR Nicolas Edwards (what excellent size and sneaky speed on deep pass---pass interference), TE Mickey Shuler (nice catch, a couple good blocks), RGs Senio Kelemete (solid) and Earl Watford (man what impressive size and strength---the roughing penalty aside)
STs---great coverage teams all night---obviously the kicking was off, all of it, FGs and punts---2 good punt returns from Hawkins and Mathieu (have we ever been that talented, deep and loaded at punt returner?).
What this game was---it was a blueprint for the BA formula for success, just as he's described it to us:
1. Take care of the football.
2. Take deep shots to get chunk yards and to put the defense on its heels.
3. Pound the rock with a workhorse RB.
4. Create turnovers and take advantage of them.
5. Win the field position game.
Sure, it's only a pre-season game and there were plenty of mistakes, but we got a good taste tonight of what BASK Ball philosophy looks like.
Dang---this is exciting because it is aggressive, physical, play to win football in all aspects of the game.
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