Impressions - Preseason 3

[Mr. Scot]

First and foremost, leave the left side of the offensive line as it is now. Much as I hate The Injury Bug, he deserves credit for some of our better depth chart decisions over the last few years. Moton Van Rooten Tooten Roten is a solid combo (Yosemite Sam would be proud).

Wish I could say the same about right tackle, and honestly about center. No, I wouldn't replace Kalil but he looks like he's lost a step. I don't doubt he's still the best choice available on our roster, but I hope he looks better in the regular season than he has in preseason.

I still prefer Garrett Gilbert as the backup quarterback because he's the better passer of the two. if I were making a prediction though, I'd say the team is going to choose Taylor Heinicke.

I get the sense that if Torrey Smith makes the roster this year, it'll be based on leadership, not performance. On the field, I'm not convinced that he offers anything better than his younger, less expensive backups. Rivera loves high character veterans though, so we'll see how that plays out.

It's not exactly groundbreaking to say at this point, but Norv Turner...yeah. Boy, do I wish he would have chosen us over the Browns a few years back. Would love to ask him what the hell he was thinking on that one. And oh, how different our history could have been.

On the defensive side, we're probably going to have to keep in mind that Eric Washington is a rookie at this and still learning. Stuff like having the corners play way off the line on third and short is gonna happen, just like mistakes by Taylor Moton and Donte Jackson are gonna happen. We should all be prepared for that.

I don't remember the last time I went into a season feeling better about our offense than our defense. Might have to go all the way back to 1999 under Seifert for that.

Bottom Line: I know we call Preseason 3 the dress rehearsal, but this didn't really feel like a dress rehearsal tonight. It felt more like a normal preseason game. I still believe there's a lot we don't know yet and probably won't find out until Week 1 or later.

Here's hoping we can get to that point without getting anyone else injured.

[t96]

We haven't shown anything at all on offense while still flashing some big potential on that side of the ball. Very well done Norv. Defense held Brady to 3 before half so I'm not worried about them at all. Pumped for this season.

[TheSpecialJuan]

Noticed that we barely blitzed, at least when Brady was in there. 

[ncfan]

Moton needs to be our LT, just get the feeling he is going to be a stud.

 

Agree with Smith and at the same time I hsve become Really Really impressed with Samuel the last 2 weeks and think he is ahead of Smith at this point.  Samuels hands look Great and you can tell he's qorked witht that jug machkne he bought this offseason

 

Norv's playcalling.  Whyyyyyyy couldnt we have this the last 5 seasons!

[Moo Daeng]

I thought Heinecke separated himself from Gilbert but who knows.

[ecu88]

QB Beer Man will win

RB Barner will make it as the 3rd RB.

TE Manhertz will be no 3.

OL wip; Moton will surpass Kalil no matter what. RT is the biggest question mark.

WR; T Smith will be here for only 1 year but Byrd will make the roster as the designated return man. The future is Fun, DJ, Wright, Samuel, and Byrd.

DE: Addison, Peppers, Horton, Haynes, Cox. Hall has been disappointing and Obada should imo make the roster but 1 more year under the program as a protected PS would help develop a little further(if no protection sign him even if he is not activated). 

DT: obvious 4

LB: Norris over Jacobs, Carter Jr makes it, Andre to PS

CB: Bradberry, DJax, Capt, Elder, Doss, Seymour

S: Gaulden, Adams, Searcy, Jones

[LinvilleGorge]

The Kalils are a huge mistake on this roster. Ryan has been a great player for us, but I honestly don't think Larsen is a downgrade at this point in his career. The biggest difference is that Larsen is over $9M cheaper against the cap. Matt Kalil is Byron Bell level bad and we're going to have to take a beating against the cap in '19 and '20 to make him a post June 1st cut next year.

[ncfan]

Just now, TheSpecialJuan said:

Noticed that we barely blitzed, at least when Brady was in there. 

With the patriots, the best way to beat them is pressure with your front 4.  Thats what the Giants showed everyone when they beat then in the superbowl.

Belichick's offense, is built around the quick short passes with setting up for a couple deep shots.  You start blitzing, they just carve you up with the open holes in the field where the blitzer would be covering.

 

So the lack of blitzing didnt strike me as odd.  The playing 10 yards off zone was though.  Its 4th and 3, and you have you CBs 10 yards off the man.  Thats a gimmie 1st down, your just wishing they drop the pass. 

[jimfear]

- Moton is going to be an anchor for us. I'm very impressed with his play so far.

- I fear that Ron will move Van Roten for Amini, and he has zero reason to do so

- Bradberry needs to step up or Jackson will become the defacto # 1 CB. That speed is something else.

- RBs will be CMC, Anderson, and Barner. Hood will be on the practice squad.

- Vern - where are you?

- Same for you Hall.

- Luke is a HOF LB and we're all lucky to watch him play the game.

- If Cam stays healthy, we can make some noise this year.

[Moo Daeng]

I wish I understood the Ryan Kalil criticism.

[Saca312]

1 minute ago, Moo Daeng said:

I wish I understood the Ryan Kalil criticism.

Tbh it wouldn’t be that hard. Got beat handily on the first drive.

[ecu88]

Just now, Saca312 said:

Tbh it wouldn’t be that hard. Got beat handily on the first drive.

Not playing for 2 years sure adds rust

[Snake]

5 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

The Kalils are a huge mistake on this roster. Ryan has been a great player for us, but I honestly don't think Larsen is a downgrade at this point in his career. The biggest difference is that Larsen is over $9M cheaper against the cap. Matt Kalil is Byron Bell level bad and we're going to have to take a beating against the cap in '19 and '20 to make him a post June 1st cut next year.

I blame the Kalils on JRs buddy network that will never happen again. 

[Moo Daeng]

If 2 bad plays is the justification then literally every player needs to go.