The lost unit...Offense

[Russ Smith]

One of the best points made about our line IMO (bolded). After watching the replay, you can see play after play we have 3 or 4 guys blocking inside, sometimes 2 or 3 guys engaged on one linemen in the middle, and they are unable to shed and slide to even slow down the delayed LB blitz. The tackles getting beat outside isn't the whole problem, it's actually the inside rush that's killing us because Kolb can't step up at all. Quinn had several plays against Batsiste where he faked the outside move and dove inside and Batiste got no help, even though that's where his help was supposed to come from.

I agree about Massie perhaps being our best lineman, but he too is getting worked all over the field. I want the dude to pan out bad but he's getting worked, which is to be expected from a rook. I'm more disappointed in Floyd right now than Massie--I think it's easier to learn the nuances of his position than at tackle at the pro level.

One thing that nobody is talking about, rightfully so because our oline was destroyed, is that Ryan Williams is a really good pass blocker out of the backfield. Many times the RB just needs to get a piece of a rusher, or clean up a partial block, but with Williams these dudes are coming in untouched and at full speed and he's still able to square up and stone dudes. I was really impressed with RW's blocking the past few games and especially last night. It was all for naught, but it was the only bright spot for the offense in my opinion.

ANother thing that has been touched on is when we go empty backfield and they're rushing 5, we might as well just have Kevin fall down. We did that at a key point last night and he got creamed by Finegan.

We have so much trouble blocking 4 guys with 5, and a RB in the backfield that going empty backfield is just asking to get Kolb killed. Fitz was open but Kolb didn't have time to turn and look that way so if he doesn't figure out presnap Finegan is blitzing, he is dead.

Another case where he can help himself but didn't, but was put in a bad situation to begin with when the RB motioned out.

 

[D-Dogg]

Bingo! That struck me as more than perplexed last night when we had a receiver deep and open by a step and Kolb throw a dart instead of putting air under it and leading the receiver so he can just run under it or even stop and out jump the defender who would have had his back to the ball. I immediately thought to myself that Skelton would have thrown a better pass in that situation. I am shocked that Kolb threw some of those kind of passes in that situation. I am still perplexed. Was it an unusual mistake or is that what Kolb does all the time on those plays. If so, I have no use for him. Fitz likes the ball thrown high and deep.

He doesn't seem to usually throw it like that. The longer tds to fitz and roberts earlier in the season weren't long darts.

I think he was just trying to get it out asap before someone crushed him. He has to fix that, because there were sure TDs left on the field.

 

[D-Dogg]

Kolb got sacked 17 times and hit a ton more in the span of 4 days and a few hours.

OUCH.

 

[JeffGollin]

Hello, Mr. Colbe (Oh, it's pronounced Cobb)?

I couldn't help but notice Thursday night that you might be in the market for our combination accident, disability and term life insurance policy that will pay off handsomely even if you were to get hi-lo'd by a couple of opposing pass rushers.

Job protection insurance? No, we don't have that, but at least we can keep you financially solvent, given the high risk nature of your profession and lack of proper security while you're on the field...

 

[ryanshaug]

I feel sorry for any QB or RB that has to operate behind this offensive line. It is dreadful.

IMO, there is no longer any controversy behind who should start at QB other than it is anyone who can survive behind this offensive line and make plays. The offensive line is definitely the problem... not a hint of doubt in my mind any more. Kolb is lucky to still be walking. I do not anticipate the OL to improve significantly this season. I'm not against switching QBs because one of the QBs might be able to avoid the punishment more than Kolb. I don't know how much more he can take.

Kolb has surprised me personally with his toughness this year so far. If we are going to go with Skelton, the coaches better think he'd give us a chance to win. Fix the offensive line, but don't just switch QB's because you want to preserve Kolb for another season - this season is FAR from over and we are 4-1. In the NFL, it's do or die every week. Figure out a way to fix the offensive line, keep Kolb in there and lets see how far we can take this thing.