What does everyone want to see tonight? 1) I will personally be watching intently to see how well the O-line is coming together. Will the run blocking improve? 2) Can Hyde and/or Chubb show improvement in the run game. 3) With not signing Dez will the WR group continue to show improvement? The current group is pretty thin even when Gordon returns. 4) NO Injuries Please!!
Big time. That running game needs a push and against a league-worst team at defending the run, you'd hope to see massive improvements from Week 1. Would like to see Hollywood Higgins continue to develop. Seems to be having a nice camp and had a nice night out against New York. Also, Damion Ratley should get some time to play. Big frame and, as you noted, a thinner area of the roster until Dez signs and/or Gordon locks in. Other things to look for would be: How does Gregggggg Williams' defense stand up against some really bad quarterback play and fewer premier receiving options Mychael Kendricks and Genard Avery. We have a deep linebacker group with a thin defensive interior. I'm not the first to float the idea of moving Jamie Collins for interior help/depth but a good showing from Kendricks and Avery would make that move easier. Would love to see Tyrod have a great game. He's downplayed the situation like a true pro, but it has to eat at him how unwanted he was in Buffalo, despite being the best QB they've had since Jim Kelly. Hopefully he can lay two scores - at least - during his time in there.
Well....last time we went 4-0 in preseason....we went 0-16 in the regular season. How'd the Steelers do last year?
Opening drive, spectacular. Rest of first half was a snoozefest offensively. D looked very good, with the starters. Fell off as 2nd and 3rd guys came in and Josh Allen came in. Baker wasn't cooking, but given the "whats his name" WRs, I'll give him some slack. I found myself wondering if there was a new rule against throwing the ball downfield in the first half. It appeared we weren't willing to take any chances at all. ???? Our punter boomed one for 60 yards then shanked one for about 30. No bueno. Special teams were horrific defensively, way too many yards given up. All in all I felt our first teamers played very well on D, but the O seemed small, and timid. Game 3 should provide a better guage, but I felt bad the hometown crowd didn't get a W to cheer for. One last thing. WTF happened one the fumble we recovered, but weren't allowed to keep?
That's Tyrod Taylor ball...I think it was on his third drive. He had a nice little 8 yard completion as he was rolling right. All he had to do was look about 15 yards further downfield, just behind the guy he threw to was a wide open David Njoku coming right across the endzone. Taylor doesn't like to throw down field. I think it's because he knows his accuracy is limited.. He also had Njoku open deep on the right side on the first drive, and he actually did take a shot, but he over threw it by about ten yards. Fortunately on that drive Carlos Hyde bailed us out with some beautiful runs... Pretty ugly game other than a real solid performance from the starting defense, and a good showing from Hyde...They got a bunch of stuff to clean up after that one....
Allen should get the week 1 start over Peterman. If I had a say in the Cardinals roster decisions, I would be pushing for Rosen to start week 1. If I'm the Jets, I play Bridgewater and Darnold as much as possible for the rest of the pre-season and then trade Teddy before week 1. Sam Darnold gets the start. If I'm the Bengals, I offer a 2019 second and a 2020 3rd for Bridgewater with the intention of him taking over as the starter in 2019 (a trade or cut of Dalton in 2019 saves just over $16mil in 2019, close to $18mil in 2020). Some other teams that should consider going after Bridgewater - LAC NO MIA NYG The rest of the rookie throwers ride the pine and develop. All of the premiere names from the 2018 class are starting for their respective teams no later than 2021 (Mayfield, Jackson, Rudolph and I'll add Lauletta).
Probably which sucks for him. He couldn't have been injected into a worse situation. Hopefully it doesn't impact him long term. Is that because you have low expectations for their season? I wouldn't rush into this. I'd be patient even if it means keeping him a few weeks into the season. .... NE, Carolina, Jax.
They are strong enough on the ground and on defense to protect the rookie (think Roethlisberger in year 1) and Bradford hasn't played a full 16 games since 2012. I like what Rosen has done so far and both he and Allen have shown me enough to give them a vote of confidence at this point. Possibly, but I think a strong net return could be made prior to the season start and it kills any potential for a controversy if there is some struggle at the position in the first few weeks.
My thoughts on the game: Avery looked like a beast and a steal of a pick. I thought we had depth at LB bc of MK but there is legit depth, 2 deep at all 3 spots. (also, Jay Crawford was doing a hell of a "sell" job on the LB corps on the broadcast) Hyde is not washed up as some suspected. Duke looked like Duke. Chubb looked a lot more decisive than week 1 but still has to find "who he was" at Georgia and run with that conviction and confidence on every play. Im not concerned with the lack of downfield plays. It seemed to me like the first game they looked for that, and this game they looked to keep everything short to intermediate and focus on that. There isn't total game planning in the PS they just pick certain things to focus on and it looks like that is what has been done. Baker has A+ pocket awareness, and the OL depth is rough. Last week misidentifying the Mike led to 'no gains', this week on a play Coleman completely disengaged from his guy to help with the outside blitz that the RB had already picked up and his guy got right to the QB. I want to see more Brogan Roback. I hope he makes it to the practice squad. (not really from this game but a thought in general) The broadcast listed Fells as the starting FB (has to b the tallest FB in history). If this is the case, I look for the team to not keep a "true fb", cut Danny Vitale, and roll with 4 TE. This will give them the ability to keep Cajuste or another TE. Ratley looked good, but so has Scott. Janis was supposed to be a special teams Ace who can contribute, but I have only seen blunders and lackluster play at WR. It will not only be interesting to see how many WR they roll with but also WHICH WR they roll with.
I’m starting to feel better about the first string O-line. They played well opened up some holes for the RB’s and Hyde and Johnson had several nice runs. If Johnson doesn’t trip himself he’s off to the races. Nice to see. I’m not feeling very confident in the depth or lack thereof on the O-line especially at tackle. Coleman’s Ole block probably gave TD a friggin heart attack. As a former ILB I loved it when I got a free shot at the opposing QB. As a fan I HATE to see my future QB get creamed like that. The former Buckeye showed that he’s still got something in the tank. Once Chubb catches up to the speed of the game the Browns will have a scary three headed monster in the backfield. Duke is still Duke, every time he touches the ball he’s a threat to take it to the House. I see Cajuste as a solid contributor. Do they keep him as a FB/TE and let Vitale go? For a special teams/WR veteran presence Janis isn’t really impressing me much. Seems he’s more of an after thought. I really hope that Haley and his assistants sit down and drill into the WR an go over the basics of HOW TO RUN A PHUQING WR SCREEN. 3 OPI running the SAME PHUQING play. Twice in the same series. The third took a TD off the Board. They’d better get that shtuff figured out. Nice to see that Gordon is returning, hope he will be up to speed by the time we take on the squeelers. None during the game, hopefully that continues. Though Gaines had a scary moment Sunday. I imagine that this drum is only going to get louder. Even if TD is the only one beating it. Ok I’ll admit how can you NOT like what you see from Mayfield. He’s showing everyone why he is the #1 overall pick in the draft. Plays well within the pocket, protects the football, can move and make things happen with his feet. All the things one expects to see, right? So glad that Taylor is in line to open up against the squeelers. As good as Mayfield looks it is only preseason, and he is a rookie with a lot to learn still. When his time comes he will be ready, of that I have little doubt.
Waiting until after PS#3 to form an opinion on the O-line (assuming Zeitler plays). We haven't seen the real one yet and time is running out for the real one to gel. Color me apprehensive.
