Bear Hands

I just didn't like what I saw still in preseason play. Bennett was the guy I thought looked most capable this preseason of running a starting offense out of any of these league-wide backups.

We lived in empty sets from the gun down the stretch. You can only do that for so long. You need to be able to add some dimensions to an offense. If your QB limits your ability to do so, you've got the wrong guy under center.

Think I'd probably look at Bennett & Sitdham the closest. They could match what we're trying to do a bit better than others. Have the combination real playing time and not being some sad sack of a bust status.

I would take a guy like Stetson Bennet or Jarret Stidham over some of the suggested. Others that could be of interest would be Rattler(don’t think a NO trade is out of the cards given their state) and McKee. Kyler is not happening Lawrence probably not (but you never know) Mac Jones will be the popular one I imagine we get tied to. Hell no to Fields, Lance, Levis, etc Howell and Henicke would’ve been the types to have here instead of Dalton this season.

So, in respect to just experience, position and expectation/contract, our vet "leaders" should be: Defense: Horn, Moehrig, D Brown, Wharton, & Rozeboom Offense: Bryce, Moton, Lewis, Chuba (not playing well, but it's known w/him) - Crazy how we're not hearing much from this crowd (minus DB) Could the general lack of leadership make the team overall feel more relaxed after a win? No one is organizing and leading the groups? Then you have everyone including the depth guys acting more cocky or lazy than they usually do? Could be the case. The offense definitely needs a guy to command the unit during the week. Doesn't seem like a thing Bryce does. Another potentially terrible indictment on him (and Canales especially)

For context, the average NFL player should be around 60.0 on PFF. From my vantage point, the team was performing alright. Good enough blocking, receivers getting open, front-7 staying fairly stout. The Saints committed to stopping the run and dared us to pass with very simple looks most QBs should be able to carve out. But alas, the QB couldn't produce drives ending in points and the secondary eventually leaked from needing to hold the line all game. I wonder how Horn falling down on the huge play impacted his grade.

Trevor has accuracy problems that really stall the Jags, even when they're running well. The people frustrated with Bryce would be going crazy once they have to consistently watch Trevor. We'd need someone else on staff to help him than this DC/Idzik pair. Not sure their system really benefits Trevor at all. That being said, if they're willing to deal, he fits the prototype of the comeback/project type that people have enjoyed watching. Would be a big $$$ hit, unsure if we're the right destination but could be interesting.

I don't always like judging a QB class from this high of level. It's all about finding the specific prospect. The guy that just fits what you're looking for. In order of selected (top drafted pre-Bryce)- 2017: Trubiski, Mahomes, Watson, Kizer 2018: Mayfield, Darnold, Allen, Rosen, Lamar 2019: Murray, Daniel Jones, Haskins 2020: Burrow, Tua, Herbert, Love, Hurts 2021: Trevor, Z Wilson, Lance, Fields, Mac Jones 2022: Pickett It's all peppered in. The ones that tend to hit are well structured teams, who know who they are, identifying a guy that just fits them and they are confident in their skills and development. Less pressure, set environment, sound decision based on a balance of things. The ones that fail are when it's a crap team, at the top, taking a QB because they simply need one. Their entire offseason revolves around finding one. That can sometimes work out (Cam, Luck), but mostly, it puts a pedestal on a guy and they can't live up to it (Trevor, Kyler, Mitch, etc.) and it's pressure cooker. It's why I don't (A) care about who many wins we end up with and (B) who TF knows which of these guys ends up translating. Maybe Mateer ends up lights out..who knows.

I think there could be a group on this team that's not be as professional as you'd like or treat it like their business. Easy to spot the ones that it wouldn't be, but unsure who it is. And like some say, that also hints that Canales doesn't have the cultural baton per se. Seems like a soulless cheerleader running a bunch of kids.

This journey has been so painful, he somehow feels like forever ago.

The way everyone keeps referencing this week at practice makes me feel like something happened. Wonder if there's a player v player beef going on or something.

A dying alcoholic rebuilt his organization better than Tepper. Steichen could've been ours if DT didn't think he was "awkward". He just loves his motivational hard-sellers.

Just kind of bland. Nice and bland. Mayo and Bolognese Sandwich bland with a splash of Peloton instructor

He doesn’t look as emotionally crippled after a loss like Rhule so I’ll give him that. But yeah, it’s just hard to see when you have a QB that limits so much of what you can do. Although, he’s a far cry from the KOCs and McVays of the world. He’s a bit annoying but not grating. Tolerable but nothing special.

He doesn’t have the charisma lol

There's nothing more to prove. His back is against the wall, career is on the line, the team had somehow got a winning record with a strong supporting cast... and he can't break 150 passing yards or lead any competent scoring drive against the 1-8 Saints led by the Second rounder oyster shucking Tyler Shough. Not to mention you just needed 18 points today. He's done. There's nothing more to say really. He can't do it. Tepper needs to own it and just move on. It's a MISS. Another big, loud, heavily-advertised miss.

The game winning drive thing -- If nearly all of his wins have to be game winning because we can never win by more than a score, that's not clutch. That's just playing the odds. He's 8-9 in one score games, those 8's final drives were classified as GW. But when you compare to the games when he had the same amount opportunity presented, it's a sub-500 metric.

Pretty much. His mechanics have never changed. Shallow, slow shotgun drops, stays parallel to the LOS, with the abrupt hop-turn flick that deflates any decent velocity. QB-101 stuff that he's never done because he plays all "loose". The biggest thing I've realized this year was something that came from seeing people praise him when he finally does show some anticipation (like that one XL TD) -- He really can't layer a throw. He can understand where a guy will be and smartly place a ball with anticipation, but it's in the design/him knowing the spot. But if he needs to make a live read and lead a guy, drop something in with velocity for a guy in stride...that, he can't do. He absolutely, just can't, and he's never figured it out. He can't reset in the pocket and layer a throw in. I really can't think of a single deeper throw he's made since we drafted him where he led a guy in stride beyond 20 yards where he gave the WR the field to make a TD. It's always these mid-air adjustments they're making that completely loses their momentum since he can't get that deep placement right. We were spoiled with the Jake/Smitty days and Cam's legs letting guys break open. But it just doesn't happen with Bryce.

I would not and don't think it will take him for the 2026 prospects. We may just need to stay put or go from something like spot 12 to 8 to make something happen.

For sure. He's been pretty terrible under pressure but Peyton helps him out a ton.

It looks like the locker room was not friendly after this one.

I'm speaking to when a guy matches NFL speed and has the intangible feel at this level. Dart has it. You can have those traits and still not be a world beater. He has a lot of stuff developmentally to work on, but it's clear he's able to play at this level. He's easily a minimum good backup long term. Already looks better than Bo Nix has for example.

If the 49ers can move on from Lance, the NYJ can move on from Zach Wilson, we can sure as hell move along here. The 2 Daves and 1 Dan need to move TF along. The trade for #1 is in the past. Just move on. Get this over with. He's not happening. You can just see when a guy has that NFL level ability when he starts playing. It's an inherent thing, you just see it. Something clicks. Dart is the super easy example this year. Bryce just doesn't have that. It's not something you just get.

Also the YPA has plummeted the past few weeks to that mentioned 5.7 YPA. He's back to the all-time historic lows. Any even moderately respectable struggling rookie should be above 6.0. It's insanity. He can't move the ball. Getting stuff batted, can't see around the line, can't set and step up in the pocket. Basic f*cking fundamentals. Still. Since day 1, throughout year 2, it's year 3. He's the same guy he's been even since Bama. Wayyyyy too many stalled drives. Can't do anything. No vision. Terrible decision making. Can't extend with his legs (only looks good relaitve to 38 year old over the hill QBs) Can't lead guys on even intermediate throws most of the time. And this kid ain't growing. And when he does put some touch on a pass beyond 10, are we really supposed to just gaze in awe? It's f*cking terrible. Always has been. It has been mind numbingly clear we've won despite him. He's done a few minor things in clutch time any middling QB could eventually do once or twice. My patience is over. I was off the train, but I'm now off the reservation. Sean Glennon/Kyle Orton territory with how bad his advanced metrics are. It's atrocious.

And we're talking 250 yards in today's NFL.