Bear Hands

Yep ha. He's in a weird situation because his college coaches didn't bother to correct. So then, it quickly became his thing. Problem is, you can't have that as a "thing" in the NFL. So it's going to be super hard to train him out of. I've said before, it's one thing to have a unique throwing motion, but another to have your own lower body mechanics. That's something that is either right or wrong. There's no alternate style to what that is and this loose, slow-motion back stepping is killing us on the short throws. He does that, and his timing/accuracy will never be there. Add on the lack of stepping into throws with proper distribution, and the INTs will continue. I'm just astounded this has been something so shrugged aside. Kurt Warner and some of the Athletic staff have seen it, but it's surprising how many said, meh, his intangibles outweigh any possible physical traits so much, that it's whatever. And they say it about the one 2-year+ starter Bama QB that didn't win a title.

The mega concerning thing with the footwork I've started to notice (that is at a much higher volume now): Weight distribution is wonky and he's just not even setting/stepping up properly. His feet are barely ever planted for routine throws. For example on the early Mingo challenged catch, he throws that in a clean pocket, almost falling off his back foot. And he could have been able to hit an easy 12 yarder if he didn't do his weird overly skip parallel drop back. It's like he trips backwards on 80% of his throws. It disrupts timing, and he's not planted when they're at the top of routes. He's doing this on passes that are these quick outs and comebacks. If you wanna see an example of how to do it right, check out Dak and Cousins. Those two have some of the more disciplined mechanics in the league. It's just bananas this is where we're at. I can't believe this is a 1st overall pick. If I had a nickel for how many throw Bryce steps into per game, I wouldn't be to get maybe 2 pieces of gum from the glass vending ball.

At the end of the day, what's so insane is that this the 1st overall pick. The QB1 that we deemed ready enough to make arguably a top-3 biggest trade in NFL history for. We in part didn't grab much high-level WR or RB because of the trust we had in Bryce. Heck, Tepper admitted so on camera. They thought he was a plug and play (still do apparently) that you could go modern-spread with and spray the ball everywhere. Yet, they get a coach that doesn't run that offense and players that don't fit. I think us fans were concerned but still bought in because it was clear the team was trying to go all in. Also--rewatched some of the game. Why? I have no clue. But it is becoming so abundantly clear--the stuff Bryce is showing is beyond just bad OL jitters. It's truly bust-ish level material being produced. I'm honestly there at this point. The decisions, weird flinching before there's even pressure, footwork, inaccuracy, awareness, outrunning-DL abilities. It's also just crazy re-sorting stats and continuously see the same 3 grouped at the bottom. Bryce, Mac, & Wilson. And Bryce is the lowest for many. Looking at stuff like Y/A, A/YA, Success%, 1st downs passing. His performance, not the OL, not the WR, is still the biggest issue from what I see. Half our WRs will be gone anyways next year. The eye-test screams the b-word right now. It's like watching Wilson or Clausen and just knowing it's not gonna work out. There's just nothing there. And this is a guy that should be ready, everyone wants him to be (I really do), but he simply isn't and can't quite figure it out. It's going to be a short leash in 2024 with fans. And who knows whatever coach ends up here thinks of him. He's honestly not even showing much if he wants to be a backup on another team right now. This is what you should get when your backup goes down and resort to the guy with the clipboard.

This is a situation where we could use an upgrade at every position sans safety. But playmakers are key and we need the best playmaker available whoever that is. Troy Franklin, whoever.

What's unfortunate is that he seems like a genuinely good dude, but it's just not translating. The footwork is a mess. The accuracy is not there. He seems really nervous and unsure, afraid to take risks, afraid to make mistakes. That's without factoring in all of the physical things he cannot change. You trade the barn for a franchise QB. A draft's QB1 should not need this much coaching. And the fact that he does, instantly sinks all the excitement -- Especially because that translatability was what we were sold on that overrode his size limitations.

True. His move set isn’t that crafty. He does have an inside spin and swim but they’ve been getting stopped by the average tackles. He just hasn’t been able to go from this solid rusher with star potential to that star level. Fools gold. There are a lot of edge rushers I would take over him in this league.

Burns has played very poorly the past two games, not to mention the ejection. He got worked by Wirfs and was a non-impact starter. Bigger picture, he still holds a lot of value by simply being a versatile pass-rusher. But he's not providing enough for us and what we need for a guy warranted that high of share of the DL allocation. He's a pass rusher, poor run defender...so his pass rushing better be dominant, yet here it sits, in the NFCS, at 6 sacks (36th/t) I also think it's now clear that he doesn't want to play here. He didn't get traded, so then he was waiting to see the market work itself out. It reset a bit, he realized he can possible get $30 mil. Meanwhile, he got to see how good the team was this year, which as we all know imploded before even taking off. You can just see it. He doesn't want to be here and he wants the dinero. It would make sense if we did what Tepp/Fitt/Reich expected us to do this year (compete). But now, we've honestly got more to build than last season which is hard to fathom. So he's waiting, it will likely be a tag & trade. The crappy thing is that he still has leverage at this point as bad as he's been. That's again, another thing on Fitterer.

Want a walk down memory lane to make us all even more miserable? Check this out lol: The most accurate prediction in line with his current projections:

There were some smidges of improvement. Great run blocking left side of the line. Icky did well today. I can still smell 1-16 or 2-15

I can't get over how bad Burns was today before his ejection. That boy ain't got no dog in him. Just annoying little spiders posing for cameras

Some news, in 12 games: CMC: 1400+ total yards, 17 TDs DJ Moore: 1,000+ yards, 6 TDs (with Bagent & Fields)

A downfield throw. WTF did we just see? lol

A bit delayed, but I can't get over how invisible Burns has been the past few games. (Now completely gone from this one ha)

I'm nearing a breaking point. For a new QB, I can be sold that it could take some time. You may only see flashes here and there, but it is not happening at any moment. You can count with your own 2 hands, after 11.5 games, how many passes of his 366 throws this season have been even mildly highlight-worthy. And add on that this is the prospect that we traded the barn for? That's what gets me. I would be upset if this was even a 2nd or high 3rd. It is beyond concerning. Beyond. Physical constraints up the wazoo and nothing to show for. All of these other crap teams with rookies are giving their dudes just as little time in the pocket. They really are. This is not some death gap we have. The Titans in particular have had a really big issue with the OL, an older Hopkins the only option, problems all over. Heck, the Raiders OL has been pretty bad with an iffy running game and O'Connell has been pushing downfield really well. The only rookie QB who has looked worse is Clayton Tune. Yes, the team is poorly built, but you have to be able to see SOMETHING. Anything. There is just nothing to show for from the #1 overall draft pick we traded way too much for. It's becoming such a bad situation.

It's not looking good. And before the inevitable responses, and I get it, we should be patient and whatnot, but it IS possible to see through the forest that is the crap coaching, WRs and OL on this team. There's no zip, the footwork is at an untrained-level at this point, and the jitteriness is getting worse by the week. This is the first game where he looks both frustrated and nervous. It is palpable through the screen. There's just no there, there right now. It's super concerning.

It is absolutely concerning (beyond belief) and anyone not recognizing the issues, with the footwork, with the arm, with the decisions is kidding themselves. It doesn't mean we need to give up on the kid, but good lord...

Well, the game is off. No one type anything stupid and make me come back here lol

Brown getting pressure while being held by 2 guys there. Nice

Burns is getting worked a second week in a row.

What's with the spots?

Some sketchy zebras so far

This is feeling like a 17-9 type affair

Should be a first down there.

What the crap was that second down?

A few bad calls by the zebras in DEN's favor but Houston's defense never broke. Broncos stifled the Houston offense in the 2nd half.