Bear Hands

1 minute ago, falconlynx said:

More than just respectable. 

Nah

243 first half, 325ish total.  Incredible game from the IOL & RBs.  Regardless of opponent.

Looking we'll wind up right around 322 

1 minute ago, WUnderhill said:

I guess we can run the ball against the defense allowing the second most points in the league, so that’s something, but it doesn’t make me feel that much better about the 1.3ypc against an average defense last week.

Incremental improvement.  But should note PIT's run D is 7th in the league.  We have our good matchups and our bad ones.  

Just now, Proudiddy said:

Agreed.  I really love what we've seen from TMJ, post-Rhule, and it gives me a lot of hope for his future again...  but those occasional body-catches are still frustrating.

Was kind of behind him but it was more catchable than not.  

Extend Bozeman tomorrow

(edit) actually, extend Bozeman yesterday

Ground and Pound babay

Never felt this aggressive of a running game since prime Double Trouble.  

Only rivals the Bengals-Ravens 2 years ago and the Bengals-Broncos in 2000.  On pace to break an NFL record. 

Trade up:

1-QB Bruce Young QB

2-WR Zay Flowers WR

2-TE Dalton Kincaid TE

3-DT Jaq Roy LSU

3/4-LB Jack Campbell Iowa

4-EDGE KJ Henry Clemson

5-RB Chase Brown Illinois

5-QB Aidan O'Connell

What a find.  The Athletic had a great piece on him

https://theathletic.com/3978713/2022/12/08/tyson-bagent-2023-nfl-draft/?redirected=1

Quote

Bagent certainly checks a lot of boxes that scouts are looking for at the position, hence the heavy interest from NFL scouts. He has a projectable body at a verified 6-3 1/8 and 220 pounds, with 9 3/8-inch hands. He isn’t a dynamic athlete, but he can create with his functional footwork and a live arm. Shepherd runs a spread, RPO-based offense, and Bagent is able to threaten every inch of the field, showing the accuracy and efficiency to hit his targets in stride.

He could've gone to WVU or Maryland but stayed at Shepherd.

Would be one hell of a story to get drafted.  He's got the Senior Bowl invite and will have a pro day.  

2 hours ago, ForJimmy said:

Haener is solid, but looks a little undersized and already has an injury history now. I’m interested in O’Connell and need to do some research on him. He is interesting, because he his team was probably outmatched from a talent standpoint vs other Big10 schools and he is still getting some attention.

Haener & O'Connell probably lead the class behind Bryce in the competitive toughness category but Haener no doubt needs to fill out his frame.    

Comparing the two, both have a ton to like but their arms and athleticism hold them back.  Haener has the edge over Aidanin both those depts, but Aidan has been a proven record coming back and having GWDs against top competition.  He stands tall and really sees the middle of the field well.  David Bell at WR helped but still, he's shown a lot.

Buut I just love Haener's vibe on the field--pocket feel, accuracy and placement.  That was a different team all together when he was out.  Fresno State's offense wasn't some machine that kept running without him.  But 6'1 195ish, you need some Young level intangibles to be considered R1-2.  

Both strike me as 3rd-6th rounders that could become a starter for the right team down the road.  Kind of the Cousins path.  

I just look at them compared to a Duggan, Hall, Hooker, or Rattler and they're just so much better refined as a passer and really live in that QB mindset.

Tune has even more traits than those two and the Senior Bowl could catapult him.  Time will tell on that front but he's the one to watch that could sniff QB4, more than likely QB5 in this class.  I can see teams buying in on him over any of these guys mentioned once Richardson is off the board.

Tune and Haener both stepped up in their bowls. I typically don’t attach to mid to late rounders but those two really interest me. Especially Tune.

He could legit rise through the process to QB4-5

Clayton Tune looked pretty solid tonight.  He’s going to have teams peeking interest. I see him, Haener and O’Connell rising on boards from here on out.

I think people need to brace for Corral not even sniffing QB2 on this team.  There's a chance he's like Hackenburg level.  Not saying that's the reality, but it's far more likely the reality than not with 3rd rounders. And yeah, good situation or not, he looked way far behind developmentally from what I expected.  Just prepare thyselves for this not even being teased to workout folks.

I do see a possibility Darnold is retained in some capacity but he's not our long term answer.  If this is how he'd play as relief, I am actually totally cool with him as a backup compared to some of these other situations I've seen around the league like Rypien, McSorley, etc. 

Answer is OFF the roster.

37 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

holy poo

Matty Ice is actually Matty Choke Artist

I mean, I'm not one to usually single out individuals on stuff like this because a lot of things have to go wrong to blow commanding leads but damn... when one individual is connecting to so many historical chokes it can't be coincidence.

It's karma for what he did to the Hokies in college.  

I thought this would be the more obvious line:

He now owns the record as the losing QB in BOTH the largest comeback victory in the NFL regular season and SB history.

21 hours ago, jayboogieman said:

Not super hyped about the first pick, but I feel it's something the Panthers would do.

Haha, was thinking the same with this one.  

I like Stroud for all the ability and tools, but something about his crunch time work is what gives me pause.  

But that being said, a higher pick helps lol

Need to find the right guy for the right coach, round shmound indian burial mound.

Another prospect returning is Michael Pratt.  One to watch next year IMO.  And that USC-Tulane game could surprise some people.

https://theathletic.com/4023121/2022/12/20/tulane-michael-pratt-return/

I am so happy that guy is gone.  His farse of a football mind is so apparent and you can just smell this awful combination of entitlement, narcissism, and now resentment all packaged all into one.

If he would've just shut up and left that would've been fine but his whole "I was never wrong" tour was cringeworthy and so freaking unprofessional.     

Questionable QB rankings by PFN in my view, but very nice consolidating everything here.  

Nix is out (& not top-10 anyways), Haener & O'Connell are both in a solid conversation with Tune, ahead of Thompson & Hooker IMO.  Ward may stay in school still, sounds like he is.  

I do love Tune.  

9 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Matt Rhule insisted playing Pat Elflein over this guy. 

That dude was a walking shart

9 minutes ago, ForJimmy said:

I think people get way too caught up on who won the Super Bowl and how to imitate that.  We need a staff that can develop a QB since we don't have one and get the most out of our players to get our team to be a constant playoff threat.  Once we are there we can tweak the roster/assistants as needed to make a deep playoff run.  Step 1 is making the playoffs, 2 is making them consistently (which usually requires a franchise QB), 3 is making a Super Bowl run.  It's though to go from constantly picking in the top 10 to Super Bowl run in the blink of an eye.

It's just like the QB situation.  

People are wanting such an idealized person in the spot when you simply have to look at the reality, and take a chance on the one you like the best for the role out of what's available.