(03-06-2023, 10:14 AM)Jag149 Wrote: We know last year TL was one of the fastest getting the ball out in the league. That helped all of our defensive linemen on their pass protection ratings. What we do not know if it was planned that way because the line couldn't hold up.  Our o-line was ranked in the bottom half of the league last year. They have to fix the o-line this year in order to take the next step. Just my opinion....

They adjusted as the year progressed into more quick release play calls - and it included more lateral ZBS stuff where the linemen are only asked to make one big lateral move - typically setting up a quick throw the other way. No dropping to form a pocket and no 2-3 second blocks on those plays.  
There were games I rewatched on the back half of the year that the line did this on 40% of the pass plays.
 You don't call that stuff so often if your line can protect. It's gimmicky, and it eventually gets shut down by better secondaries that recognize it after a while.

I thought it was very clear that Doug was mitigating the weak pass protection with play calls, blocking scheme, knowing his QB could get it to his first or second read very quickly, and knowing his QB was very evasive when pressure did reach him. 

It worked pretty well most of the time after the bye week with a few exceptions. 
Nonetheless - this is not the recipe for success you want to embrace while moving into some "window of contention" with a young franchise QB.  You'd ideally want to protect him better than that. 

I won't espouse the perfect free agency or draft formula to make this better, but I do hope it is a priority.

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