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alyoshamucci
As usual, the initial reviews I read before watching the game were totally different from the game I saw . . . but they got closer to what I saw after a day or so.
Of course there was no gameplanning, 1 starter on the D line playing, and 0 of our top 3 CBs. Also, the biggest thing, JL, the General of our defense was not on field to make the calls . .. I am pretty sure thats why we were a step late in our run fits.
The Good
1) Aaron Donald was putting on a show . . . his ability to get through around and under starting O linemen was pretty stunning. The opposing coaches are going to have to design run plays with him in mind, because he’s coming through one way or another on most plays it looks like. I put his TFL over under at 20 (including sacks) . . .Donald has the hard part down. The hand play, strength and speed. He will need scheme help in our defense to not take himself out of plays, but thats on GW to ensure
2) G Rob is a freak. He has excellent balance, and seems to be setting up just fine for passing plays . . inside and outside (though outside he was against 2nd teamers). His drive blocking and ability to shoot out to the next level was pretty insane . . he didn’t look like it was more of a physical challenge then college, though the game was moving faster for him, that was obvious.
3) EJ Gaines was what I expected. Professional and ready to play at this level. He was a tackler in the SEC, and he forced 2 fumbles during the game. He was patient. there was a play where Michael Sam was giving chase and the QB was rolling out . . Gaines didn’t play to the ball until the QB let it go, ensuring he got the breakup, no first down, and no PI. That was pretty savvy. If you can make the team in one PS game, I figure he did it. The play aginst the fullback on the goal line sealed it for me.
4) Tavon looks really comfortable. He seems to be running his routes at a different speed.
5) Stedman Bailey is really a quality receiver. The back shoulder TD showcased his body intelligence. As he started making his turn to get the ball, he gave the defender a light tap on the shoulder, BUT DID NOT EXTEND HIS ARM. He got the push off with no Offensive PI by doing that. That was pretty awesome.
6) Our TE group is pretty impressive and specialized. Harkey is impressive and rumbling boulder of a person, Kendricks has gotten so smooth in his routes I no longer hold my breathe when he rolls out for the ball. Bayer is ready to play. He was more showcased at Bowling Green than any other receiver (except maybe Gallon), so he’s used to having the ball come his way…. he makes the final 53. If Kendricks leaves he’ll likely be the replacement. He has a good tool set.
7) Emory Blake and Austin Franklin made cases for themselves. If not here, then somewhere. Franklin’s route running is special.
8) Michael Sam looked better than Westbrooks . . which I was not expecting. Guess the stage kinda scared him. Between the D line and the DBs, Im not sure we keep everyone, maybe we can trade rather than just cutting, but I want to keep 10 DBs and 10 Dline.
9) Pettis is going to be tough to cut.
10) Zac Stacy was a vision. He makes his cuts so effortlessly with those ballerina feet. I think many do not give him credit for how hard he hits the hole. Tre Mason may have better lateral agility . . but he is not the runner that Benny or Zac is yet. I think besides KC, we have the best running attack in football (I am counting Tavon). I picked Cunningham as my surprise player this year. He does not have the feet or vision to get 7 yards where there is only 3 like Zac does, but he has the ability to breakaway if the D makes a mistake, and I believe we will see it couple times this year.
11) The young LBs fared fine, and I really like them blitzing Steward.
12) Joyner isn’t going to have any trouble tackling at his size.
13) The backup QBs are an upgrade for sure. [Gilbert]…I thought showed poise and calm I was not expecting. He has a solid throwing motion that will give him an edge when he gets flustered. Overall I scored him pretty high. Want to see more though.
The not so good.
14) Givens may wash out this year. He is not dynamic or trustworthy.
15) Barnes upset me a couple times. He may practice well, but I am going to be stunned if Barrett Jones cannot take his spot.
16) Cody Davis is going to have a hard time. He is playing kinda francic, and if he misses tackles like that he wont make the team.
17) Jo-Lonn Dunbar is too old to miss tackling high.
18) Carrington, Conrath, etc . . . no push. Carrington did get through one play and then didnt have the burst to get to the ball carrier.
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didn;t see too much from the safeties, they seemed to be playing deep like Williams likes. TJ covered Graham pretty well at the start of the game, and Mo showed up at the back end of plays . . and showed up bringing heat. he also impressed me by pulling up short of a roughing call on a receiver.
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RockRam
It was ridiculously easy for NO to run the ball.I recognize that our starters at DT didn’t play, and it was the rotation guys mainly. But it was like they’d never been blocked before and didn’t know what to do.I saw Donald get engulfed several times. Our LBs didn’t hold up. Again, I realize who played and who didn’t. But just terrible tackling and run support. Again, can’t seem to get off blocks.
TE Cunningham simply doesn’t belong. Hands of stone, too much time on the ground, misses blocks.
Is it me, or does some our 2nd string Oline look anorexic?
I think Blake or Harris can beat out Pettis this year. They have more speed, and while Pettis is good in the red zone, with our TEs and Brit and Quick we have plenty of size. I just don’t think he’s gonna make it. But he’ll play somewhere.
I didn’t think either starting Safety was particularly effective.
Positives:
GRob played LG and LT and did quite well on both. Made a few mistakes that were easily seen, but physically could move his man at Guard, and handled pass rushers well enough at LT.
Hill is a great pick up at backup QB. Very good command of the huddle, the plays, and is accurate and confident in where he’s throwing it. Takes calculated risks and throws 50/50 balls trusting our WRs to make the play. Looks to throw downfield. Garrett looked like a rookie, and Austin looked like he had 3 training camps. Nonetheless Garrett is more talented than Austin. But I have to believe that he’s a PS guy. Hard to imagine that they use one of the precious 53 spots on him.
That said, our WRs looked a lot more like NFL WRs. Ball awareness, position, making plays when contetested.
Bailey is going to be outstanding this year.
Austin in space can get us 5 yards anytime we want it, and is versatile.
Not enough of Quick or Brit to tell much of anything.
Mason got his sea legs and started to look like he was playing at Auburn.
If Cunningham isn’t Stacy’s backup I’ll eat my hat. Tough little sucker who knows what he’s doing.
TE Bayer is a keeper. Soft hands, runs good routes, just looks the part of a good all around TE. I have little doubt that barring injury our TE corps is Cook, Kendricks, the underrated Harkey, and Bayer.
I watched with interest an obscure DT named Harlan; really like what I saw. Not real big (yet), reminded me a lot of Hayes.
It was clear that only sometimes did GW ask for tight coverage; and when he did EJ Gaines looked quite good. Alexander has no idea what he’s doing but when he arrives, he makes plays. Joyner was up and down, but man can he close and when he gets there the size of the guy he’s tackling just doesn’t much matter.
Yeah, lots of errors, flags, etc. But no fumbles, no INTs by the Rams. Saw some guys who looked overmatched, but also have to accept that this is preseason, many were rookies or 2nd year guys, and everything was pretty vanilla.
I would NOT want to be some of the front 7 back-ups this week; GW is going to be brutal on them.
I also would not be surprised to see the Rams pick up a vet OT cast off. They look scary thin there. It’s not the best situation when your back up OT is your starting RG, and then your starting LG. You need to be able to insert a bench guy at OT if a guy goes down even for part of a game. You need to be able to dress a C/G and an OT or OT/G on game day. And as of yet I just don’t see a development guy that can be trusted. But, admittedly, it is early.
I never thought Fisher intended to roll back the clock. Rather I see him taking the NE approach. Pass and run with equal efficiency, adjusting your game for the opponent, and then understanding the pass scores points, the run controls the clock and prevents the D from just pinning their ears back and rushing the passer. But the run game HAS to be real. Because the D will then just take away the pass and let you run yourself silly knowing that the odds are you’ll cough the ball up in the 12 plays it takes to get to the goal line.
In watching the routes run by the Rams last night, they were intermediate and deep for the WOs. Used the slot and TEs underneath mostly.
This isn’t going to be 3 yards and a cloud of dust. If it was, Kendricks, Cook, Austin, Bailey, Givens, are all bad fits. And the Rams have been too deliberate to just throw darts at the board.
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