(08-11-2017, 12:57 AM)JackCity Wrote: 1) Cam Robinson had some real nice blocks in the run game. He made the hole for Ivory's run on the first play. In the pass game he was decent too. Lost the leverage battle a few times but recovered well.
2) Patrick Omameh looked very solid too. I feel good with him going forward.
3) Special teams looked great. Huge emphasis placed on it in the offseason. The field position and momentum good special teams play can add in a close game is very valuable.
4) Abry Jones and Sheldon Day looked lively against the backups. Day coming on as a rotational DT is looking like a pretty nice luxury to have.
5) Only 5 penalties. Doug had a huge problem with penalties in Buffalo and they were a consistent theme of Bradley's era here.
6) Keelan Cole is too talented to let go.
7) It's way early but I think the playstyle of our offense is pretty obvious. We're going to run the stones out of the ball , set up the big playaction shots to Arob , Lee , Westbrook etc etc and the rest will be dink and dunk with some screens thrown in.
8) Corey Grant, wheeww. Still only a bit part player because he can't block but he can do some damage on gimmick plays and screens.
1. I noticed that. Question: Do you get the sense that Cam Robinson gets running game movement but is not a "destroyer?"
2. I particularly like Omameh in pass protection. I can't say at this point I am totally sold on him in the run game, but I like him overall.
3. Special teams have killed us over the years. Last night, they played a fine game.
4. Day was so disruptive, he stuck out like a sore thumb when he got penetration. Abry Jones is a pleasant surprise at DT.
5. For a first preseason game, only five penalties was a welcome surprise. I don't recall any dumb penalties either. Most seemed to be effort penalties.
6. He showed a ton of explosiveness. No freaking way he's going to stay on the practice squad.
7. JDR wanted to employ the same strategy when he was here. Part of the problem is he didn't have the receivers to do it. If he had these guys...sigh.
8. Grant had that fumble against Tampa, but since late last year, he's looked better and better. One of the things I liked was another decent run from him where he showed power, with a stiff arm and lowering the shoulder to finish the run.
(08-11-2017, 05:01 AM)MojoKing Wrote: Oh I'd also like to add that FB might've been a huge missing piece in our run game this year. The 4th down Fournette run and the long Grant run were also met with equally great FB blocks
Agreed.
It seemed Olson's approach relied too heavily on the defenses being spread out.
I think our current approach makes us better equipped to convert short yardage, sustain drives, and drain the clock.
(08-11-2017, 06:07 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: Here are some impressions I have:
We are loaded at RB and WR. We have some difficult decisions to make, especially at WR, where a couple of starters are in contract years. We're already paying Hearns $10 million per year, and we cannot afford to pay both Robinson and Lee that kind of money.
Everyone wanted to cut Henne. Wonder what they think now.
I think a lot of what we saw was the result of having so many padded practices in training camp. Guys looked like they were hitting really well out there. Usually preseason starts out kind of tentative, a lot of softness, but this year, it seems like the guys are already hitting pretty hard, especially the offensive line.
I thought Myles Jack struggled and looked lost at times. Poz was so underrated. I wonder if we have a contingency plan to put Poz back at MLB is Myles Jack can't pick it up a little faster. Another thing I noticed was that Myles Jack is only 21 years old. Wow.
And oh, yeah, Sheldon Day. Wow. You never know who's going to become a Hall of Famer.
Overall, I am very encouraged. Of course, Brady didn't play, and I don't recall Gronk playing at all, but on our side, no starting CBs, and no Calais Campbell.
Agreed overall, though I think Jack "looking lost" is a bit of overstatement.
(08-11-2017, 06:58 AM)mvannostran Wrote: Bullseye, to expand on your analysis, Fournette's vision was very impressive. Especially on that 4th and inches run. Fullback went left, he saw the hole on the right, cut back and took it what 7 yards?
Ivory started strong, but after seeing Fournette run, there's a clear difference between himself and the others.
You are absolutely right about Fournette's vision. The guys on defense have been lauding his vision, and this play you cited proves it.
To me, that play showed the line surge in the running game that excited me. If you get a chance to watch that game again, they had a ground level replay that showed inside, the OL blew the Patriots off the ball 2-3 yards. Again, not the same as doing it against the Texans starting front, but encouraging nonetheless.
Worst to 1st. Curse Reversed!
