Drive 8 - 2:43 left in the 3rd
It's 17-14 and the game is still for the taking.
1st down. Continuing the theme of Kliff giving up on passing his way out of this it's a designed run for Kyler.
I like the play design and it should have worked well. Sadly Cody Ford is involved so it was never going to go well. Blocks his block allowing the edge to get to Kyler.
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The next play on 2nd down is an Eno run for about 2 yards. No point in showing it as it looks like every Eno run. Kliff has blatantly given up on pass now having called Fake Screen to Screen, double pass trick play, Kyler run and Eno run on 4 successive plays. There are no other sections like this in the game so far.
Now in 3rd and 8 Kliff has no choice but to go back to the passing game and we get lucky. Or more accurately Rondale does well with the very obvious checkdown they let us have to break tackles and get the 1st.
But look at Hopkins. Hell look at EVERYONE. A 30 yard pass to Hopkins could be a TD here easily. He's one 1 vs 1 with a safety with Anderson in the vicinity to block.
Ertz is also miles open on a comeback for a 15-20 yard gain if Kyler just has a little more patience or anticipation.
If you can't make that pass from a clean pocket on 3rd and 8 to your WR1 why are you playing football? We're trying to extend the drive and win the game. This is a pass Kyler made at least 20 times last year.
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1st down and 10.
You're all going to remember this play as Cody Ford sacking Kyler. But did he? It wasn't Ford's fault.
I'm sure the Stans will say "You just blame Kyler for everything" but watch.
The 1st thing you see here is that for someone that has checked the ball down all game he ignores the quick slant to Rondale. Fair enough, I want him to although this is the one time he should.
I've had to watch this about 10 times from both angles. Originally it looks like Kyler panics at Irvin on the Edge when Hump has him under control but if you watch from the EZ angle it's actually Poona Ford on Leccy Smith that causes the problem. Just ashe steps up to run through the B gap Cody Ford thinks "I'm free. I'll go help Hump with that Edge rusher" and the 2 collide.
That's not on Ford it was just bad luck. If that B gap wasn't there Kyler probably roles to his right into all that space. Which is a shame because had Leccy not had his worse rep of the game he has Ertz wide open for a big gain. He has Hopkins open for a big gain with his hand in the air shouting "WTF man. Again?"
On a side note Ertz is open all the time. He could easily have a 1000 yard season. Not just a little open. Like 5 yards open constantly. The dude spends have his snaps stood there waving his arms around.
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That puts us in 2nd and 17. Next play is a Kyler run up the middle for 7 leaving us with 3rd and 9.
What happens next isn't on Kyler. It's a bad rep by Price and Kyler is sacked quickly.
At the same time this is 3rd and 9 to start the 4th quarter with 3 points in the game. The Seahawks are going to bring pressure here and I think any QB would be thinking they need to get the ball out quick.
And there is an option. When Kyler gets to the back of his drop he starts to hitch but then curls up. Ertz is open with some anticipation on the throw. Is it there? Does he have time?
It would have been a great play had he made it for sure. But I think Brady, Rodgers, Allen, Mahomes etc are getting the ball out there and taking the hit.
Drive over.
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