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Originally Posted by Brown Warrior  We aren't really to the point where any team is a team we "should" beat. Hell... we didn't even have that many first teamers together for any preseason games so it's tough to say what we have.
I'm hoping the line can hold up, because we're in pretty good health on offense now that Mo's back and we've kept Hillis fresh. Hardesty's knee seems just fine. Watson practiced full go on Friday.
I'm a little nervous about the defense and happy to be facing a rookie QB. Didn't see much flash in the preseason from either DE and giving a QB time makes for painful viewing.
I wanna see the WCO purr, man. Wanna see some points. And I'm hoping to stay dry and not get hit by lightning. |
Well put. The DEs are a work in progress. Sheard was a Conference player of the year; BUT this ain't the Big East so he'll have to get used to the advanced level of competition just like another Pitt Panther teammate Jason Pinkston will have to do.
Pinkston's biggest challenge won't be athleticism, it will be how 313 pounds stacks up against NFL girths/power coming from DT (3 techniques positions). The OTHER challenge will be experience levels leading to mental errors vrs inside x-stunt blitzes. George Warhop is a great line coach and film is a powerful teaching tool.
At DE, I think we'll see a rotation of guys early on in the season unless somebody already went Land Ho that we aren't aware of. I think these guys will get better; and I think Marcus Benard will get his weight back to where he can be an effective pass rusher off the edge. The catch 22 there is I think the extra weight will HELP him vrs the run. I STILL remember when Tony Brackens was drafted by Jax to play DE and Jauron had ALOT of fun blitzing OLB Bryce Paup from the outside. Fujita is very good at blitzing IMO. When he sdhoots INSIDE the OT on an x-stunt guess where the athletic DEs are supposed to get their fannies? OUTSIDE to combat swing passes and/or not let the run break contain. When we do an outside backer blitz, you shouldn't see the DE from that same side of the field rushing the passer or someone has a give-me for an contest big gainer.
THIS is the stuff our young guys gotta learn while our experienced LEADERS are absoultely crucial for guiding them.
As for the contesting short/quick throw passing games, did you notice how little DEs/outside pass rushers could challenge Rodgers or Brees on Thursday? Well, our DTs are going to play a crucial role in how comfortable opposing passers are going to be on 3 step drobacks or shotgun catch & fires. I, for one, am ecstatic we deep 6'd the freakin 3-4 here. Along the same lines, our OGs are going to have a profound impact on the timing of our short passing game. Against the Eagles, there was a 3rd down pass play our OG missed a block on and instead of hitting Robo in stride on the TIMING of the 3-step plant and fire, Colt McCoy got flushed out of the pocket to his and Robo had to come back into traffic to make the receptions shy of the 1st down. Significance? Protection of passer means a 1st down completion. Inability to protect passer means a completion setting up a punt to follow or worse.
There's SEVERAL ways to HELP an OG like narrowing splits between Guard and Tackle to close the size of potential blitz lanes. It may be as easy as that if there's early troubles. I'm more worried about the results of our brass never worrying about what we continue to go with at RT. RT and Safety are the ONLY complaints I have in an otherwise impressive offseason gaining us draft picks. The biggest pleasant surprise was the last minute QB change to the depth chart. When you think about it, Thaddeus actually has more experience in Shurmur's offense than McCoy without the disturbing volume of freckles.
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09-09-2011
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