2 key players–keys to the season

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  • #6052
    rfl
    Participant

    Britt and Quick … and Bailey after Game 4

    I really think they are the key to the year.

    I am unconvinced that this D will be top 8 or better. The DBs are very young, the run defense is not established, and you know Williams will both win and lose gambles out there. I will believe we are a truly elite defense when we can stop the run and get off the field on 3rd down.

    I think our D will knock on the door of the Top 10, but will average about 20 points conceded. And I think it will struggle to limit opponents’ time of possession. (Love to be wrong.)

    Which leaves the offense. The standard narrative is that we will run and run and run. There’s truth to this, but defenses routinely stack the box against us and I have yet to see evidence that we can consistently move the chains against a stacked defense.

    In my read of the team, offensive success has to come through the passing game. Much of what we accomplished this summer came through conversions of 3rd and long situations. Lee Trevino said, “2 things don’t last: dogs who chase cars and pros putting for pars.” Well, relying on long 3rd down conversions doesn’t last either unless you have a historically great passing game. And not always then.

    I’ve said it a million times and I think the PS proved it: to be productive, our O has to drive opposing LBs and DBs back off the LOS. That means we have to throw the ball effectively to WRs on the perimeter and in the intermediate middle of the field. And we have to do it often enough on 1st down to force opposing secondaries to adjust.

    Well, can we do that? We have a good back up but a back up nonetheless with a limited arm. We have a strong OL, but not necessarily the best pass blocking unit, especially with Long at LOT. What chances do we have to be effective passing?

    It comes down to our WRs. Through last year we had no one who could get open promptly except for Bailey in a few late games. That increases the pressure on the QB, the pass blocking, and the running game.

    This year we have Britt, a resurgent Quick, and Bailey after 4 games. IF … if … they can make themselves available quickly, either through Bailey getting open or Britt or Quick using size, then they can make QB, OL, the RBs, and Tavon look really good.

    If they can’t, I see an offensive malaise that our D won’t be good enough to offset.

    And consider the effect on the defense. Our strength is in our pass rush. Our DBs are young and green. Our D will look far better playing with leads and time of possession than it will if the offense sputters and sits on the bench, allowing opposing offenses to run the ball and throw darts too quickly to be affected by the pass rush.

    To me, Britt and Quick are the key to a good season. If they are the real deal, the whole team will soar. If not, I think it will flounder.

    That’s my key for the season.

    By virtue of the absurd ...

    #6056
    Winnbrad
    Participant

    Agreed. It’s Britt and Quick. If they can beat man coverage, just every now and then, this offense can move the ball.

    Now add in some Austin, not a lot, just a “biggish” play every now and then. Plus a play or two from him on special teams. We’d have something special on offense.

    This team could win 10. I’m not gonna bet the farm on them winning 10, but I think they have a good chance.

    #6064
    wv
    Participant

    Well, Trevino also said:
    “You can talk to a fade but a hook won’t listen.”

    I dunno what that means, but the point is,
    yes, Britt and Quick (and Stedman) are the
    guys who are gonna have to make that
    critical medium passing game work.

    Is this the year we finally see
    an effective medium passing game?

    w
    v
    “If you are caught on a golf course during a storm
    and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron.
    Not even God can hit a 1-iron.”
    Lee Trevino

    #6079
    Dak
    Participant

    I can’t argue with Britt and Quick.

    On defense, for me, it’s Ogletree, McDonald and Jenkins. They could be impact players … or, they could be somewhere in the area of mediocre. Is Ogletree going to be effective in the run D? Will Jenkins improve his cover skills? Will McDonald be that all-around safety who can make plays all over the field? Or, do they make too many mistakes to be consistent forces on defense?

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