For the love of god, leave Wells at RT!

[Fiasco]

I have rewatched game tivo on Seattle game so many times now it's no longerr nauseating and the suspense is over as even on the sixth time the Cardinals still lose.

Mostly I focused on the offensive line in general (bad) and then started scrubbing the plays with my video editor and started grading the OL individually on a play by play basis. Taking stills of the video to show segments of the play.

http://forums.azcardinals.com/showthread.php?p=162769&posted=1#post162769

This was really really time consuming. I've got some other video editing software that should speed this up and I'll install that tomorrow and give it another go.

However, I did do the entire first quarter and then scrubbed the 2nd quarter without uploading anymore pix or info to that thread.

Judging soley on those two quarters, Reggie Wells is hands down, far and away the best offensive lineman we have. In those two quarters of play, it isn't even remotely close. He is as close to reliable as it gets on our OL.

Liwienski (I don't even bother trying to get his name right... is it close) sucks as does Brown. Step sucks too. Davis is wildy inconsistant (sucks)

Green is a moron if he reshuffles Wells.

My grades by play on what I have up in that thread are

Wells A A A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A A
Brown F A B- F A F D+ D+ D F A
Step A A F--- B C F C+ C B+ F D
Lewlew D A+ B+ D B B F F A+ F N/A
Davis D F F D A F A C+ A+ N/A C+

Is Ross an upgrade over Wells at RT? Is Leckey actually worse then Stepanovich? Move Davis to LG please!

 

[JeffGollin]

Wells A A A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A A
I saw Wells get penalized twice and whiff on at least one run block and one pass block.

Those miscues aren't reflected in your grading. (i.e. why 100% A's and A+'s)?

 

[EndZone]

Wells A A A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A A
I saw Wells get penalized twice and whiff on at least one run block and one pass block.

Those miscues aren't reflected in your grading. (i.e. why 100% A's and A+'s)?

Did it happen in the 1st quarter?

 

[JeffGollin]

Wells A A A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A+ A A
I saw Wells get penalized twice and whiff on at least one run block and one pass block.

Those miscues aren't reflected in your grading. (i.e. why 100% A's and A+'s)?

Did it happen in the 1st quarter?
No. I just reviewed the play by play transcript (with Wolfley's comments) posted on the BRS:

2Q (5:29) Wells whiffs on run block. Edge loses 2.
2Q (4:45) Wells is penalized for lining up off the LOS
3Q (8:16) Wells is penalized for a false start
3Q (4:43) Wells is penalized for holding
3Q (4:40) After a hurried pass, Wolfley observes that Seahawk blitzing and false blitzing is messing around with Wells' head.

All 5 of these gaffes are of the "visible" variety and don't reflect how Wells did on more routine assignments. Perhaps Reggie had a much better 1Q than he did for the rest of the game. But if the impression given by all those A's and A+'s was that Reggie played a flawless game, he surely didn't.

 

[Derm]

I have rewatched game tivo on Seattle game so many times now it's no longerr nauseating and the suspense is over as even on the sixth time the Cardinals still lose.

I really do appreciate your tenacity but aren't your reactions close to a definition of insanity? Please notify us immediately if the score of the game changes as a result of your repetitive actions.

 

[JeffGollin]

I recant my previous observations re Wells.

I rewatched the 30-minute "no huddle" Short Cut video of the entire game. Wells was solid in pass pro throughout the entire game over on the right side. (Most of our problems occurred on the left). Although he was flagged for a false start, I didn't see him move.

The Cardinals seldom if ever ran to their right, so it's impossible to grade Wells as a run blocker at RT; but he looked fine pass blocking.

If there's one criticism of Wells, it might be that he seemed to "cheat" on pass plays - taking a slightly higher stance and playing a step or so back from the LOS. He could be tipping off our pass plays.

But I agree with Fiasco - leave Reggie at RT. Give the right side of the OL the opportunity to become comfortable with one another over there. Hope Wells will do OK (or at least improve) as a run blocker.

We do, however, have a lot of work to do on the left side.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I recant my previous observations re Wells.

I rewatched the 30-minute "no huddle" Short Cut video of the entire game. Wells was solid in pass pro throughout the entire game over on the right side. (Most of our problems occurred on the left). Although he was flagged for a false start, I didn't see him move.

The Cardinals seldom if ever ran to their right, so it's impossible to grade Wells as a run blocker at RT; but he looked fine pass blocking.

If there's one criticism of Wells, it might be that he seemed to "cheat" on pass plays - taking a slightly higher stance and playing a step or so back from the LOS. He could be tipping off our pass plays.

But I agree with Fiasco - leave Reggie at RT. Give him a chance for the right side of the OL to become comfortable over there. Hope Wells will do OK (or at least improve) as a run blocker.

We do, however, have a lot of work to do on the left side.

Thank you

Our left side is a total mess. No team stands for a guy who false starts every game and lets a DE go untouched multiple times for free hits on your QB's back.

 

[conraddobler]

Thank you

Our left side is a total mess. No team stands for a guy who false starts every game and lets a DE go untouched multiple times for free hits on your QB's back.

I've got the super fan thing on Direct TV thanks to some on this board, I got the new HD rec for free and the super fan for free, it's awesome, I need to record the shortcut version and just stop worrying about recording the game.

I haven't had the heart to rewatch it yet, does Big whiff that much? I know someone was.

Who's causing all the problems? Is it everyone? Is it fixable?

 

[CaptTurbo]

I've got the super fan thing on Direct TV thanks to some on this board, I got the new HD rec for free and the super fan for free, it's awesome, I need to record the shortcut version and just stop worrying about recording the game.

I haven't had the heart to rewatch it yet, does Big whiff that much? I know someone was.

Who's causing all the problems? Is it everyone? Is it fixable?

If he had only whiffed I would have hope. However in the 2 instances i am talking about he has a man lined up over his left shoulder. No one is anywhere near him so no one else is picking the DE up. The RB is going out in a pattern so he isnt picking him up. Yet BIG decides it would be much easier to help the guard block the DT and hope Warner lives.

 

[lobo]

We do, however, have a lot of work to do on the left side.[/quote]

i hope their beta max machine is not stuck on watching reruns of barney.

 

[Chopper0080]

If you were considering sticking with this move you would be best served to just move Wells to left tackle and Davis to LG. Put whomever at C, M Brown at RG and Ross at RT. This gives you a decent push on inside runs and some athletiscm on the edge on the left side. The only issue with LD at guard is that he might no tbe great on the lateral running plays as backers might be able to run by him.

 

[JeffGollin]

I need to record the shortcut version and just stop worrying about recording the game.
If you have DirecTV's non-TIVO DVR, there's another really cool thing -

You can set up your DVR in advance to record every (a) Cardinal shortcut and (b) the shortcut for the Cardinals' next opponent. On Monday, I opened up my list of recorded stuff to see and found the Ram shortcut already waiting for me (No thinking involved - it just happens).

Chopper - I believe you're dead-on with regard to Wells playing LT and Davis LG (with Ross at RT) - Except that this would represent still another unsettling move that would further screw up the cohesiveness of our O-line. (The move you propose should have ocurred before the first preseason game; not prior to Game #3).

One final unsettling thought - Maybe Wells had an easier job than Davis because Seattle brought most of the pressure from their right side (our left) and pretty much left our right-outside alone. That won't always be the case. Maybe Wells would face stiffer challenges when we play teams who more often bring it from their left.

 

[Russ Smith]

I didn't see the game let alone the replays but I'm curious if Wells played this well how come Wolfley repeatedly called him out during the radio broadcast for being confused? Repeatedly he mentioned exactly what someone else said, that Seattle was playing head games with Wells by either overloading his side and blitzing, or faking it and backing off, and that Wells was making mistakes over and over in who to block?

 

[Duckjake]

Here's the answer.

Trade BIGG to Kansas City for draft pick(s) or one of their safeties.

Put Ross at LT, the Duece at LG,and Wells at RT. MBrown and Step stay where they are.

Then leave the darn thing alone for the rest of the season.

 

[Fiasco]

I really do appreciate your tenacity but aren't your reactions close to a definition of insanity? Please notify us immediately if the score of the game changes as a result of your repetitive actions.

Newsflash! The score is still the same.

 

[Fiasco]

I didn't see the game let alone the replays but I'm curious if Wells played this well how come Wolfley repeatedly called him out during the radio broadcast for being confused? Repeatedly he mentioned exactly what someone else said, that Seattle was playing head games with Wells by either overloading his side and blitzing, or faking it and backing off, and that Wells was making mistakes over and over in who to block?

I have not specifically watched Wells in the 2nd half but during the first half he was head and shoulders over every other lineman out there. If he was given a single guy to take out of the play he did it 100%. He was pretty effective on some of the stunts as well trading off his man and picking up the stunting tackle.

Maybe he got alot worse in the 2nd half but I don't see how it would be possible to get as bad as Liw, Step, Brown and Davis were in the first half.

Step just gets manhandled but Brown and Davis frequently 'ole their blocks or Davis makes a sickening half assed attempt at a leg chuck.

 

[Russ Smith]

I have not specifically watched Wells in the 2nd half but during the first half he was head and shoulders over every other lineman out there. If he was given a single guy to take out of the play he did it 100%. He was pretty effective on some of the stunts as well trading off his man and picking up the stunting tackle.

Maybe he got alot worse in the 2nd half but I don't see how it would be possible to get as bad as Liw, Step, Brown and Davis were in the first half.

Step just gets manhandled but Brown and Davis frequently 'ole their blocks or Davis makes a sickening half assed attempt at a leg chuck.

Interesting, Wolfley was largely talking pass blocking when he called out Wells.

I looked at some of those pics I guess what's really hard is that you don't know who is supposed to do what. There's one where you wrote that my friends is a hole, and frankly I completely disagree James cut it back because the hole that was there was not "real". There was a filling LB(who Step ignored) and the guy Wells was blocking was on his inside shoulder so that if Edge took that hole he'd have simply shed Wells and hit Edge. In fact after Edge cut it back left that's precisely what happens the DE turns in, sheds Wells and goes in pursuit. When I look at that set of pics I think Brown did his job and Wells and Step didn't, but of course I have no idea who's supposed to what there I'm not at all an expert on blocking schemes.

I'm assuming the tv guys called out Wells too because that's one thing we've ALL seen over the years on message boards, if the guys on tv say something enough we all assume it's true.So you could well be right about who was really struggling and who wasn't.

 

[Fiasco]

Interesting, Wolfley was largely talking pass blocking when he called out Wells.

I looked at some of those pics I guess what's really hard is that you don't know who is supposed to do what. There's one where you wrote that my friends is a hole, and frankly I completely disagree James cut it back because the hole that was there was not "real". There was a filling LB(who Step ignored) and the guy Wells was blocking was on his inside shoulder so that if Edge took that hole he'd have simply shed Wells and hit Edge. In fact after Edge cut it back left that's precisely what happens the DE turns in, sheds Wells and goes in pursuit. When I look at that set of pics I think Brown did his job and Wells and Step didn't, but of course I have no idea who's supposed to what there I'm not at all an expert on blocking schemes.

I'm assuming the tv guys called out Wells too because that's one thing we've ALL seen over the years on message boards, if the guys on tv say something enough we all assume it's true.So you could well be right about who was really struggling and who wasn't.

On that play it's impossible to know if that was a counter by design or if James cut it back. With the camera angle, the hole is much smaller in the picture then it actually is. You're right though, it's a false hole because Stepanovich doesn't go out and get the filling LB. Had Step engaged the LB I think there would have been more then enough room (or more then James gets 99% of the time) to run through it. I think James recognized that incoming LB and cut it back.

As for the pix, IMHO it's hard to see anything! I have some other software i'm trying out and I'll sample the game video at a higher rate (higher resolution). I'm hoping that instead of 3-5 stills I can make a 10 frame animated gif image faster. You really only have to cover about 2 seconds of each play.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I need to record the shortcut version and just stop worrying about recording the game.
If you have DirecTV's non-TIVO DVR, there's another really cool thing -

You can set up your DVR in advance to record every (a) Cardinal shortcut and (b) the shortcut for the Cardinals' next opponent. On Monday, I opened up my list of recorded stuff to see and found the Ram shortcut already waiting for me (No thinking involved - it just happens).

Chopper - I believe you're dead-on with regard to Wells playing LT and Davis LG (with Ross at RT) - Except that this would represent still another unsettling move that would further screw up the cohesiveness of our O-line. (The move you propose should have ocurred before the first preseason game; not prior to Game #3).

One final unsettling thought - Maybe Wells had an easier job than Davis because Seattle brought most of the pressure from their right side (our left) and pretty much left our right-outside alone. That won't always be the case. Maybe Wells would face stiffer challenges when we play teams who more often bring it from their left.

.... like the RAMS....

 

[Russ Smith]

On that play it's impossible to know if that was a counter by design or if James cut it back. With the camera angle, the hole is much smaller in the picture then it actually is. You're right though, it's a false hole because Stepanovich doesn't go out and get the filling LB. Had Step engaged the LB I think there would have been more then enough room (or more then James gets 99% of the time) to run through it. I think James recognized that incoming LB and cut it back.

As for the pix, IMHO it's hard to see anything! I have some other software i'm trying out and I'll sample the game video at a higher rate (higher resolution). I'm hoping that instead of 3-5 stills I can make a 10 frame animated gif image faster. You really only have to cover about 2 seconds of each play.

Yeah. What those pics really illustrated to me is what I've been saying about Step for awhile now, he just completely whiffs too much. Just as you said in your dialogue for that sequence there are TWO players in front of him and it's not that he blocks the wrong one or tries to block both and can't, he literally goes BETWEEN them and blocks neither one and then turns around to look back at the carnage he left behind. If he blocks the LB filling the hole(who's on his right) Edge has a hole as long as Wells can hold his block. But by blocking nobody he essentially forces Edge to cut it back left.

Nice work, and yes that must have taken you hours.

 

[Duckjake]

Take a look at the Cardinals play at about 2:20 left in the second quarter.

Julian Peterson blows by Bergen, slides by Wells, and manages to avoid Edge coming up to block. Edge and Wells almost run into each other while Peterson heads toward Warner.

Edge quickly recovers and turns toward Warner. Kurt dumps the ball to Edge just as Peterson hits Warner and instead of a sack the Cards get a couple of yards. A real heads up play by James.

That's one way James makes our offensive line better.

 

[vinnymac]

this is something i have been preaching for a while. wells is better at the tackle position than at the gaurd position. i have been saying that since his rookie year.