Observations from PS WK1 + The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

[Proudiddy]

We obviously can't read a lot into PS, as we know there is no gameplanning and everyone runs generic, basic vanilla schemes on both sides of the ball.  That being said, one thing I do take stock in during PS is demeanor and physicality.  When our starters were out there, it was as if we just continued the 2015 season from the Cardinals playoff game.  We haven't missed a beat, and we actually look like we are even scarier, imposing, faster, stronger, and better on both sides of the ball.  When it comes to our starters, the level of physicality and eagerness to impose their will on the opponent is unreal, but if you look at guys like Cam and Luke on each side of the ball, it's easy to see why.  Now, we're adding (or re-adding/further implementing) physical specimens like KB and an improved Funchess on offense, and Shaq, Bradberry, and Worley on defense.  We are big, fast, strong, and flat out nasty...

But then my wet dream was abruptly ended when our starters exited the game.

Good Lord, those backups were a marked difference from their superiors.  The drop off was immediate and obvious.  Now, if we know our starters looked dominant, why should this be a concern?  Because the depth guys will be the ones most heavily involved on STs, and they also will be comprising a good portion of our locker room.  Now, at least 37 of these guys won't be on the opening day roster, but we need that final third of the roster to nut up and get physical to keep the nasty mentality uniform and pervasive going into the season.  There's 3 more weeks to sort that out, so I'm not worried at this point...  just an observation.

Now...

The Good:

*Damiere Byrd - had a bad finish to an otherwise good night.  It's a shame because imo, there's no quicker way to lose your job as one of those final-third roster spot guys than to not take care of the ball when you're given chances to handle it.  So, that muffed punt could prove very costly for him.  Riverboat transformed into a Steamboat, preseason be damned.  I hope we get to see more of him on offense, as the speed and quickness that was missing last PS was on full display last night - his KRs were a thing of beauty.

*Funchess - A season in, and it's apparent reps + confidence can do wonders.  He looked intimidating, reliable, and legit as a threat last night.  There is just a different presence about him as I'm watching him this year.

*Cam - Flawless.

*Baby Backs - Bradberry, Worley, and Sanchez all held their own last night.  I don't have the stats on PD, but from watching, they made a positive impact and despite their lack of experience, our defense seemed more physical and imposing with them on the back end, compared to where our defensive backfield was to end 2015.

*Bersin - Was the most productive receiver on the field last night.  If Byrd redeems himself for the muffed punt, the battle for that last receiver spot will be very interesting.

*57, CashMooooney - Despite having to run all over the field due to lack of contain from backups on the line, Cash was seen early and often around the ball.  When I first saw #57, i thought, "damn, Glanton is out on a mission this season," lol...  except it was Jeremy Cash.  The nose for the ball is obvious, and that hustle and heart are invaluable for a team.  And he looked to be among the more physically gifted guys out on the field.  I like what I see.

The Bad:

*Line Depth - both sides.  Again, they shouldn't be executing plays better than the other team in PS, but they damn sure better be outworking them and be more imposong physically.  When our starters went out, the Ravens were the ones imposing their will, and it wasn't even close.  With draft picks like Daryl Williams on the OL, they shouldn't have looked that bad.  And with experienced guys like Delaire and Addison out there, the defensive line shouldn't have either.  Can't say too much about Big Vern yet, as he looked to get some push when he was in there, but he wasn't getting much help.

*Mayo and Norris - A huge reason the Ravens were able to assert themselves once the starters went out was 1) the dropoff in defensive line talent, allowing blockers to get to the second level and 2) the second level guys, namely Mayo and Norris, inability to avoid blocks, shed blocks, and shoot gaps.

*2nd Unit Safeties - Although they were getting to the ball, it always seemed a second too late.  But, seeing as how the problem was systemic from the dline back, this wasn't a huge problem.  I just hope we see more physicality out of the backups going forward, and it should eliminate the vast majority of "the bad" here.  Easier said than done...

The Ugly

*Ryan Delaire - Was quite an embarrassing night.  Couldn't keep contain at all.  Game blouses.  Pancakes are served.

*Daryl Williams - Didnt look like the same guy we saw occasionally last year.  But, as the job entails, we generally don't notice OLinemen unless they make a mistake, and he made several last night.  But, anyone can have a bad game, and hopefully that was his.

*David, "GET THE" FOUCAULT! - This guy sucks.  Bye.

 

 

[AppHeel]

I agree with most all of this. However, I though David Mayo had a really good game. He may not have been in the backfield or anything, but he was flying around the field and for a while he was the only one out there that could make a tackle on that second unit. I thought Mayo was much better than Klein last night personally. Not that he'll supplant him or anything on the depth chart, but I have 0 reason to believe Mayo's stock dropped at all last night.

[CRA]

I would also add to the good and I don't think it has been mentioned....but I didn't notice Kalil was off until they showed him on the sideline.  Kalil's backup had a solid showing with the 1's.   Not a sexy position but he did good job on the opening drive 

[Spaceballs83]

Man that 2nd and 3rd team defense against the run was horrible. 

[Proudiddy]

4 minutes ago, AppHeel said:

I agree with most all of this. However, I though David Mayo had a really good game. He may not have been in the backfield or anything, but he was flying around the field and for a while he was the only one out there that could make a tackle on that second unit. I thought Mayo was much better than Klein last night personally. Not that he'll supplant him or anything on the depth chart, but I have 0 reason to believe Mayo's stock dropped at all last night.

I can see that, but he was getting swallowed up a lot.  I do recall him making some good plays/tackles early that I was impressed with, but the memories that stand out the most from his unit were the amount of times runners and blockers were getting up to that second unit unimpeded.

But, that's why I put him in "the bad" and not "the ugly," lol.  His issues weren't necessarily his fault.  Even with where I mentioned him here, i have to admit, early on I thought to myself that he has come a long way from last season.  

Also keep in mind, this list is based on a conference champion with a historically good offense and defense, so these categories are all relative to that.  Purely for discussion, someone has to go in the bad and the ugly, lol.

[top dawg]

People, let the muff go. Rivera has already said that he is not going to hold that against Byrd. So, no, that muff is not going to prove costly. 

 

 

[Proudiddy]

Just now, top dawg said:

People, let the muff go. Rivera had already said that he is not going to hold that against Byrd. So, no, that muff is not going to prove costly. 

 

 

Good to hear.  I didnt know that.  I caught part of Ron's postgame presser in between nodding off, but I missed that part.  I was just going off his immediate reaction on the sideline.  Even then, i thought, "if ee let Bersin do it in playoff games, let's give Byrd some wiggle room for the preseason."

[TheRumGone]

6 minutes ago, CRA said:

I would also add to the good and I don't think it has been mentioned....but I didn't notice Kalil was off until they showed him on the sideline.  Kalil's backup had a solid showing with the 1's.   Not a sexy position but he did good job on the opening drive 

who was the center that got absolutely destroyed when Webb was qb. It was a really bad 1 on 1.

[Proudiddy]

13 minutes ago, CRA said:

I would also add to the good and I don't think it has been mentioned....but I didn't notice Kalil was off until they showed him on the sideline.  Kalil's backup had a solid showing with the 1's.   Not a sexy position but he did good job on the opening drive 

I meant to mention that as well.  Good point, CRA.  Gradkowski looked great out there and I recall seeing him pulling and hauling ass to get to the edge several times, and as i said, our offense looked incredible to me.  Had we actually been gameplanning or allowing Cam to run on the option, we would've punched it in with effortless ease.

I also think this is a good point to bring up as to why the line depth looked so bad.  I believe Ron mentioned it in his presser...  I'll have to go back and watch it, but I think in regards to Gradkowski staring with Kalil having the night off, he said it kind of had a domino effect on the rest of the game.  Because Gradkowski played early, the guy behind him who normally wouldn't get many, of any reps, played a lot more and I guess it had a systemic effect on the entire line.

[top dawg]

8 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Good to hear.  I didnt know that.  I caught part of Ron's postgame presser in between nodding off, but I missed that part.  I was just going off his immediate reaction on the sideline.  Even then, i thought, "if ee let Bersin do it in playoff games, let's give Byrd some wiggle room for the preseason."

He said that Byrd was just trying to make a play, but that it's a learning experience. He said maybe if Byrd caught it on the fly (like he was attempting to do), maybe he puts them in a better position to win the game. He also mentioned that maybe if the blocking was better, the gunners would not have been able to put that pressure on Byrd. He said that he basically gave Byrd a pep talk and to be encouraged and prepared to make plays for the next game. And, yes, he actually said, he would not hold that against Byrd.

[top dawg]

Absolutely no one has mentioned him, but I think you'd probably have to give Gino Gradkowski a thumbs up.

Edit: OK, you just did. Rivera mentioned him also.

[top dawg]

For what it's worth, KG made a couple of grabs, so maybe the practice squad is a possibility (or more...maybe...no?). 

[tiger7_88]

58 minutes ago, Proudiddy said:

Good Lord, those backups were a marked difference from their superiors.  The drop off was immediate and obvious.  Now, if we know our starters looked dominant, why should this be a concern?  Because the depth guys will be the ones most heavily involved on STs, and they also will be comprising a good portion of our locker room.  Now, at least 37 of these guys won't be on the opening day roster, but we need that final third of the roster to nut up and get physical to keep the nasty mentality uniform and pervasive going into the season.  There's 3 more weeks to sort that out, so I'm not worried at this point...  just an observation.

The saving grace of backups (including these backups) is that they usually (hopefully) don't come in as a unit... only as needed.

What that means is if Williams has to replace Oher or Remmers, he'll have Norwell/Turner and Olsen beside him, not Yankey/Scott/Simonson.

Or if Yankey or Scott have to replace Norwell or Remmers, they'll have Oher/Remmers and Kalil beside them, not Williams/Focault/Gradkowski.  (Or maybe even Gradkowski slides over and is 1st sub for the OG?)

Which is to say that in a real in-game sub situation, it will be better than we say last night.  (At least I'm pretty sure it would be.)

Now the back-up DEs?  They have to do what they have to do (pass-rush, contain on the run game) no matter what.  THAT is the position that worried me more than any last night.

[nctarheel0619]

1 hour ago, Proudiddy said:

Daryl Williams - Didnt look like the same guy we saw occasionally last year.  But, as the job entails, we generally don't notice OLinemen unless they make a mistake, and he made several last night.  But, anyone can have a bad game, and hopefully that was his.

When they moved him to the right side he was much better.  But when he was on the left, yeeeeeeeeeeeeeshhhhhhhhhhhhhh