Early
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Early's Gameday Observations
Quarterbacks
1)
Heap goes in motion from the strong side to the back side, and back once again; this a general way of figuring out if the defense is in man coverage, without changing the formation and the play. The thumper LB, #55 in this case, is following the TE all the way, indicating man coverage......................
..............as it indeed showed up to be on this snapshot. The safety blitz on the weak side of the formation results in 4 receivers in pure single coverage underneath and a FS is in deep middle, preventing the big play. Kolb can throw to all four targets and every QB should be happy about a defensive look as this one. He can have many different hot reads. A blitz that gives so many opportunities to all 4 targets and since the second level is only made up of single deep safety, this can be a big play. Immediately sensing the pressure, Kolb looks at Fitz. Heap is just as good of a target here and King even more open, but can't blame him for looking in Fitzgerald's direction, the blitz comes that way, and nobody is there to help the CB. 1 on 1 with Fitz, needs to be a high percentage throw. Before Kolb makes the throw, WR is releasing inside, however Kolb throws it to the outside, over the top. IMO, a bad decision under pressure. He can anticipate this better and step up and make that slant work, he might get hit afterwards, but he needs to do that. Instead, he gets off balance just by slight indication of pressure and makes a bad read. As in the rest of the game, and from all his previous games, he doesn't deal well under pressure.
2)
Next play is more a vanilla look he gets. 4 man rush, man underneath and safeties deep covering 1/2, shaded towards Fitz. Again, a play that Warner was/is dreaming about, he would rip this defense apart. 4 targets in single coverage underneath. On the left side, Fitz is "open" because the CB plays man and has his back turned around, he is blind in this case. In the middle he has Heap in single coverage with the safety, mismatch all the way, and on the right side underneath, he has Doucet open, his man is 5 yards off man coverage. There are three high percentage throws on this play. What does he do? He runs... Runs for 1st down, fine, but with a look like this, he needs to exploit the man coverage, and keep all the running for when the defense has everything covered. Step up and throw it to Doucet.
3)
In this other situation, he audibles out to a quick screen, basically a run play to Doucet. He made at least three very good audibles, that resulted in plays that favored the offense IMO, so it could indicate that he is good at that part of the game. Nice throw by Kolb that puts it so Doucet can get YAC's. Very bad by the receiver in this case, not being able to get some yardage, if this was Anquan Boldin, this is 10 yard gain at least, if not a TD. Doucet needs to make this play since there is so much space and Huff is the only defender in vicinity, and i'm sure he will get better as he gets more playing time because he is good with the ball in his hands. In 2nd half he made at least 5 good run blocks, so that was the good part of Doucet's performance.
4)
Keeps looking down the field, both RB's are open in their respective flats, at one point he even sees one of them completely open and doesn't make the throw. What was he thinking? Gets sacked for hesitating way too much.
5)
On this play, (the long "bomb" to Fitz), the initial part shows how open the underneath receiver (RB) was in the flat, for an easy 1st down. Again, missing out the obvious dink and dunk throw underneath, instead to make a bad decision and throw down the field. You have to see what the defense gives you and take it. Especially if it is 3rd down and they give you the 1st. If the CB on Fitz was in man coverage, with the back turned, sure that would also have been a solid decision, given that it was not a 3rd down and the RB was open in the flat for 1st down conversion. But............next picture.....
.............. as you can see, the CB was in cover 3 zone, 5-10 yards initially of the WR, in zone looking at the play all the time........
........Throwing a floater like this, that hangs int the air and that the CB can see from the beginning till the end, will result in INT against a starting corner from any team and in best case scenario, a deflection. The ball is in position that favors the CB. This is not what Warner was doing. He waited for man coverage, for the corner to turn the back, and then depending on his position, he was going either over the top (if the WR was in front) or back shoulder (if the CB was in front)....This type of coverage needs to be attacked from underneath. Either underneath out to Fitz, or much smarter and easier, underneath to the RB.
6)
Next play shows again the Raiders going aggressive, playing tight man coverage outside. The RG, Hadnot, can't contain the DT and he is over to make the sack if Kolb doesn't throw it. Here, Kolb, makes the right decision to go to Fitz again, the CB has no eyes on this play, back turned, but...........
....... the timing, placement and accuracy, is completely off. Again, with the pressure coming (it's not there at this moment, but on the way), his touch and accuracy, is not really good. He needs to step up in the face of the pressure, and deliver that football where only the WR can get it, back shoulder in this case.
7)
The line was pass protecting well. Here, everyone is doing the job, but Levi gets beat eventually on the outside and the defense covers well deep again. However, once he is running outside he has an open King and needs to deliver that ball faster and also so it doesn't get deflected. Deflection almost caused an interception.
8)
Max Hall....Shows very bad pocket presence, actually no presence at all. Instead of deciding to step up in the very comfortable pocket the line created for him, and make the throw, he runs around outside and almost gets sacked. This is what is wrong with his game; not the size or anything else physically, but how he moves in the pocket, how to bye time, step up, and when and where to throw the football. I love this guys energy and heart and also leadership. But his mechanics in the pocket and mental understanding of the game are not on NFL level. Step up in the pocket and, make the read and get that ball out.
9)
Raiders run a 4 man rush with stunt up front, and before they get the pressure on Bartel, he has a very good look as seen here, two receivers are open for quick throws, the ball needs to be out at this point for an easy completion...However...................
.......he hesitates and at that point everything is covered underneath and deep, and the stunt gets to him. He makes the right throw, but way way way too late, and therefore the incompletion.
10)
In addition to the 4 man rush, they send a safety blitz again, this time on the strong side. Deja vu? Cardinals never get this, there are so many free rushers, preseason or regular season, this is just a big problem........
....LSH doesn't pick him up, free path to the QB.....
..... However, even with the protection not working, Skelton has a very good hot read and easy throw IMO. In fact, two targets are in single matchups and especially inside to the TE, that ball needs to get out in this moment. He makes a bad read, looks somewhere else, and by that time, he is sacked. The TD to Williams, was amazing. Of all the QB's , he shows the best touch and ability to step up and make the throw under pressure. However, he is so bad at reading the game and knowing where to make the throws and the timing is off, his decision making is bad, he can't be a starting QB. He does have the technique and accuracy, but lacks the interpretation of the offense and the defense.
Quarterbacks
1)
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Heap goes in motion from the strong side to the back side, and back once again; this a general way of figuring out if the defense is in man coverage, without changing the formation and the play. The thumper LB, #55 in this case, is following the TE all the way, indicating man coverage......................
You must be registered for see images
..............as it indeed showed up to be on this snapshot. The safety blitz on the weak side of the formation results in 4 receivers in pure single coverage underneath and a FS is in deep middle, preventing the big play. Kolb can throw to all four targets and every QB should be happy about a defensive look as this one. He can have many different hot reads. A blitz that gives so many opportunities to all 4 targets and since the second level is only made up of single deep safety, this can be a big play. Immediately sensing the pressure, Kolb looks at Fitz. Heap is just as good of a target here and King even more open, but can't blame him for looking in Fitzgerald's direction, the blitz comes that way, and nobody is there to help the CB. 1 on 1 with Fitz, needs to be a high percentage throw. Before Kolb makes the throw, WR is releasing inside, however Kolb throws it to the outside, over the top. IMO, a bad decision under pressure. He can anticipate this better and step up and make that slant work, he might get hit afterwards, but he needs to do that. Instead, he gets off balance just by slight indication of pressure and makes a bad read. As in the rest of the game, and from all his previous games, he doesn't deal well under pressure.
2)
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Next play is more a vanilla look he gets. 4 man rush, man underneath and safeties deep covering 1/2, shaded towards Fitz. Again, a play that Warner was/is dreaming about, he would rip this defense apart. 4 targets in single coverage underneath. On the left side, Fitz is "open" because the CB plays man and has his back turned around, he is blind in this case. In the middle he has Heap in single coverage with the safety, mismatch all the way, and on the right side underneath, he has Doucet open, his man is 5 yards off man coverage. There are three high percentage throws on this play. What does he do? He runs... Runs for 1st down, fine, but with a look like this, he needs to exploit the man coverage, and keep all the running for when the defense has everything covered. Step up and throw it to Doucet.
3)
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In this other situation, he audibles out to a quick screen, basically a run play to Doucet. He made at least three very good audibles, that resulted in plays that favored the offense IMO, so it could indicate that he is good at that part of the game. Nice throw by Kolb that puts it so Doucet can get YAC's. Very bad by the receiver in this case, not being able to get some yardage, if this was Anquan Boldin, this is 10 yard gain at least, if not a TD. Doucet needs to make this play since there is so much space and Huff is the only defender in vicinity, and i'm sure he will get better as he gets more playing time because he is good with the ball in his hands. In 2nd half he made at least 5 good run blocks, so that was the good part of Doucet's performance.
4)
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Keeps looking down the field, both RB's are open in their respective flats, at one point he even sees one of them completely open and doesn't make the throw. What was he thinking? Gets sacked for hesitating way too much.
5)
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On this play, (the long "bomb" to Fitz), the initial part shows how open the underneath receiver (RB) was in the flat, for an easy 1st down. Again, missing out the obvious dink and dunk throw underneath, instead to make a bad decision and throw down the field. You have to see what the defense gives you and take it. Especially if it is 3rd down and they give you the 1st. If the CB on Fitz was in man coverage, with the back turned, sure that would also have been a solid decision, given that it was not a 3rd down and the RB was open in the flat for 1st down conversion. But............next picture.....
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.............. as you can see, the CB was in cover 3 zone, 5-10 yards initially of the WR, in zone looking at the play all the time........
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........Throwing a floater like this, that hangs int the air and that the CB can see from the beginning till the end, will result in INT against a starting corner from any team and in best case scenario, a deflection. The ball is in position that favors the CB. This is not what Warner was doing. He waited for man coverage, for the corner to turn the back, and then depending on his position, he was going either over the top (if the WR was in front) or back shoulder (if the CB was in front)....This type of coverage needs to be attacked from underneath. Either underneath out to Fitz, or much smarter and easier, underneath to the RB.
6)
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Next play shows again the Raiders going aggressive, playing tight man coverage outside. The RG, Hadnot, can't contain the DT and he is over to make the sack if Kolb doesn't throw it. Here, Kolb, makes the right decision to go to Fitz again, the CB has no eyes on this play, back turned, but...........
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....... the timing, placement and accuracy, is completely off. Again, with the pressure coming (it's not there at this moment, but on the way), his touch and accuracy, is not really good. He needs to step up in the face of the pressure, and deliver that football where only the WR can get it, back shoulder in this case.
7)
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The line was pass protecting well. Here, everyone is doing the job, but Levi gets beat eventually on the outside and the defense covers well deep again. However, once he is running outside he has an open King and needs to deliver that ball faster and also so it doesn't get deflected. Deflection almost caused an interception.
8)
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Max Hall....Shows very bad pocket presence, actually no presence at all. Instead of deciding to step up in the very comfortable pocket the line created for him, and make the throw, he runs around outside and almost gets sacked. This is what is wrong with his game; not the size or anything else physically, but how he moves in the pocket, how to bye time, step up, and when and where to throw the football. I love this guys energy and heart and also leadership. But his mechanics in the pocket and mental understanding of the game are not on NFL level. Step up in the pocket and, make the read and get that ball out.
9)
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Raiders run a 4 man rush with stunt up front, and before they get the pressure on Bartel, he has a very good look as seen here, two receivers are open for quick throws, the ball needs to be out at this point for an easy completion...However...................
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.......he hesitates and at that point everything is covered underneath and deep, and the stunt gets to him. He makes the right throw, but way way way too late, and therefore the incompletion.
10)
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In addition to the 4 man rush, they send a safety blitz again, this time on the strong side. Deja vu? Cardinals never get this, there are so many free rushers, preseason or regular season, this is just a big problem........
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....LSH doesn't pick him up, free path to the QB.....
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..... However, even with the protection not working, Skelton has a very good hot read and easy throw IMO. In fact, two targets are in single matchups and especially inside to the TE, that ball needs to get out in this moment. He makes a bad read, looks somewhere else, and by that time, he is sacked. The TD to Williams, was amazing. Of all the QB's , he shows the best touch and ability to step up and make the throw under pressure. However, he is so bad at reading the game and knowing where to make the throws and the timing is off, his decision making is bad, he can't be a starting QB. He does have the technique and accuracy, but lacks the interpretation of the offense and the defense.
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