Catfish
Registered
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2006
- Posts
- 4,551
- Reaction score
- 64
For all of you who are clammoring for Derek Anderson's head-----you might want to take a step back, and draw a calming breath. I believe that you, AND COACH WHIZENHUNT will have far more to be thankful about than critical of, once Anderson's passing performance is reviewed.
First off-----Anderson was 22 of 41 attempts for the game. (53.6%) If, you consider that he was 3 of 11 in attempts to Fitzgerald, then he was actually 19 of 30 to the remaining receivers. (63.3%). Consider also that there were at least 4 passes where the receivers had two hands on the ball but dropped it and that completion rate to receivers other than Fitzgerald rises to around 80%. Now, factor in that he threw zero interceptions, and his day's work is not nearly so glaring or innacurate.
Now-----concerning FItzgerald. The fact that he was so hampered by the bad knee, caused more than concern with Anderson's efforts to connect with him. It was an exercise in futility. All but one of those 11 attempts thrown to FItz were strictly timing patterns. In other words, Anderson had to deliver the ball, (on time) to the spot where he believed Fitz should have been. Consider also that several of these were well overthrown-----but was that Anderson's fault or was it simply because Fitz, hampered as he was, could simply not get to the spot that the other receivers could, (and that he should have been), because he was only at about 75% of his ability to run and cut. Consider further, that the ONLY PASS THAT WAS NOT A TIMING PASS TO FITZGERALD, WAS THE ONE IN WHICH HE GOT OPEN IN THE CORNER OF THE END ZONE, AND ANDERSON HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO GET OPEN TO GET HIM THE BALL. The timing on this particular play had already completely broken down, therefore a scrambling Anderson found FIts alone in the corner of the endzone with a beautifully thrown pass----again THE ONLY ONE NOT A TIMING PATTERN. He simply threw the ball to where Fitz actually was, (not to where he should have been on a timing route).
Warner encountered the same problems last year, during Boldin's injury riddled attempts to play at about 80% of his ability. The results were woeful, and although Boldin attempted to man-up and play hurt, the overall effect was that it reduced the success rate of both Boldin and Warner. Only after Whiz finally benched Boldin until he was healthy, did Doucett get into the mix, and suddenly the passing game sparkled again.
Whiz would do well to remember that series of 3 or 4 games where Boldin tried to play injured, and realize that Fitz is in the same boat right now. Worse yet, by playing him yesterday, Fitz aggravated the injury, which may now prolong the real healing process. A great player, (at 75 or 80% of ability) cannot compete with a good player at 100%. That didn't work with Boldin last year, and it won't work with Fitzgerald this year. (My Opinion)
After I reviewed ALL the available information about Anderson's volume of work yesterday, I am satisfied that he is still making progress. Remember, he has VERY FEW attempts with the ones, and overall, he was not nearly so bad as it might appear on the surface. I believe Whiz will agree with this reasoning after he reviews the film. I like the pluckiness that Anderson displayed, despite the fact that he was obviously suffering from the pummelling he was taking from the Rams 'D'. Also note, that I did not feel this way when I finished watching the game. I was ranting like most of the rest of you at that time.
I believe that after further review, we have much more to be thankful for, than to be upset about concerning yesterday's game with the Rams. We are tied with Seattle for the division lead, and are a full game up on San Francisco already, something that none of us would have imagined before yesterday.
First off-----Anderson was 22 of 41 attempts for the game. (53.6%) If, you consider that he was 3 of 11 in attempts to Fitzgerald, then he was actually 19 of 30 to the remaining receivers. (63.3%). Consider also that there were at least 4 passes where the receivers had two hands on the ball but dropped it and that completion rate to receivers other than Fitzgerald rises to around 80%. Now, factor in that he threw zero interceptions, and his day's work is not nearly so glaring or innacurate.
Now-----concerning FItzgerald. The fact that he was so hampered by the bad knee, caused more than concern with Anderson's efforts to connect with him. It was an exercise in futility. All but one of those 11 attempts thrown to FItz were strictly timing patterns. In other words, Anderson had to deliver the ball, (on time) to the spot where he believed Fitz should have been. Consider also that several of these were well overthrown-----but was that Anderson's fault or was it simply because Fitz, hampered as he was, could simply not get to the spot that the other receivers could, (and that he should have been), because he was only at about 75% of his ability to run and cut. Consider further, that the ONLY PASS THAT WAS NOT A TIMING PASS TO FITZGERALD, WAS THE ONE IN WHICH HE GOT OPEN IN THE CORNER OF THE END ZONE, AND ANDERSON HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO GET OPEN TO GET HIM THE BALL. The timing on this particular play had already completely broken down, therefore a scrambling Anderson found FIts alone in the corner of the endzone with a beautifully thrown pass----again THE ONLY ONE NOT A TIMING PATTERN. He simply threw the ball to where Fitz actually was, (not to where he should have been on a timing route).
Warner encountered the same problems last year, during Boldin's injury riddled attempts to play at about 80% of his ability. The results were woeful, and although Boldin attempted to man-up and play hurt, the overall effect was that it reduced the success rate of both Boldin and Warner. Only after Whiz finally benched Boldin until he was healthy, did Doucett get into the mix, and suddenly the passing game sparkled again.
Whiz would do well to remember that series of 3 or 4 games where Boldin tried to play injured, and realize that Fitz is in the same boat right now. Worse yet, by playing him yesterday, Fitz aggravated the injury, which may now prolong the real healing process. A great player, (at 75 or 80% of ability) cannot compete with a good player at 100%. That didn't work with Boldin last year, and it won't work with Fitzgerald this year. (My Opinion)
After I reviewed ALL the available information about Anderson's volume of work yesterday, I am satisfied that he is still making progress. Remember, he has VERY FEW attempts with the ones, and overall, he was not nearly so bad as it might appear on the surface. I believe Whiz will agree with this reasoning after he reviews the film. I like the pluckiness that Anderson displayed, despite the fact that he was obviously suffering from the pummelling he was taking from the Rams 'D'. Also note, that I did not feel this way when I finished watching the game. I was ranting like most of the rest of you at that time.
I believe that after further review, we have much more to be thankful for, than to be upset about concerning yesterday's game with the Rams. We are tied with Seattle for the division lead, and are a full game up on San Francisco already, something that none of us would have imagined before yesterday.
Totally agree with this!
