(10-02-2023, 06:16 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(10-02-2023, 05:08 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: I don't necessarily dislike the plays they are calling, but I do dislike some of the decisions that they have made.  Some of the 4th down decisions are headscratchers for me.  Like yesterday, ahead 17-0, we should have kicked the FG instead of going for the first down.  Because up 17-0, just a couple of FGs would put the game out of reach.  We did wind up getting to 23, but I still don't like that decision to go for it in that situation.  And I would add, that decision is not made by the OC.  The head coach makes that decision.  

But as for the play calling, the game plan is decided between the head coach and the offensive coordinator during the week.  The decision to run the ball off tackle is made during the week.  Press Taylor doesn't just pull that play out of his [BLEEP] during the game.  He and Doug and everyone else has had a hand in the design of the game plan, and they've practiced those plays during the week.  Then it's up to Trevor to either run the play or audible out of it, and it's up to the linemen to block effectively, and it's up to the back to run effectively.  That running play that was going for 1 yard or those bubble screens are the result of a lengthy process with many people involved in the planning and execution.  It's not just Press Taylor pulling plays out of his [BLEEP].

"Why aren't we as good as last year?"  We weren't that great last year.  We did get on a hot streak at the end of the season but we wound up 9-8.  We're starting out a little cold this year but it's a long season.

Exactly. This is the same team results we saw early from last year with a few minor differences. 2 - 2 squads after four weeks of football. The offense is turning it over less and the defense has played better. We're just seeing a lack of overall execution and spotty coaching decisions that resulted in either leaving points off the board or putting the team in a position to where the opponent scored on us. 

Some sloppy stuff here and there in a few games. It's not all on Press. It's not all on the lineman. It's not all on the receivers. It's not all on Caldwell or Doug, etc. It's a collective effort to be 2 - 2 and it's really a soup of miscues, luck and good effort. That's why the team is 2 - 2. Coulda, woulda and shoulda in the two home losses between the tinhorns and Chiefs. 

We're onto Buffalo now.

I think during the offseason, a lot of people, myself included, had selective memories about how great this offense was last year.  I think we need to remember how the Titans strangled our offense the last game of the season, and how lucky we were to win that game.  Otherwise, we would have been 8-9 last year and we would have not made the playoffs.  

I think a lot of people thought the addition of Ridley would have an immediate positive effect.  But I think it's taking some time to adjust to having him out there.   The guy hasn't played a regular season game in a long time.  It could take 6 or 7 games to get him really integrated into things with some positive effect.  

The other thing to mention is that we are missing some players on offense.  Yesterday, besides missing Zay Jones and Jamaal Agnew, we were down several offensive linemen.

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