We mailed it in this preseason because, paraphrasing, 'it wasn't that important'. Then we came out here tonight and looked like shit. Most notably the defense didn't seem to have its edge and almost all of them sat the week 4 game.
Well guess what, the Pats took the same approach and looked like shit on their opener as well. A number of other teams faced the same problem. The Seahawks and Packers both looked pretty bad in their games and they will both be competitive at the end of the season.
We were very clearly not ready to go tonight. We were unprepared for football and it showed in Eli's play in particular.
Hopefully this gets sorted fast. But in the same light I don't think it places any sort of hard limit on our season if it takes us until week three to hit our stride. This was a game we could have lost playing a lot better and still not lose a great season to come over it.
How we handle this loss will and come to play over the next 3 weeks will determine the season. I am hopeful for the best.
P.S. Before I get lit up, Jackrabbit had a monster game and the PI was horseshit. MVP of the game by a mile.
I just would like to see what happens if BM gives the headset to Sullivan for a few games. If things don't improve, fine. Hard to believe they could get any worse, the offense has been putrid.
I don't disagree with OBJ point. If the poor offensive play corrects itself, than it is something we should have seriously committed to fixing through better prep in the preseason. If it doesn't we are a legitimately bad team and that needs to be addressed going forward.
With respect to OBJ, like I said I can't disagree but it is an indictment of the coaching staff that they can't figure out how to be competent without him. Maybe we still lose the game, but we looked incompetent. By comparison, Jackrabbit put Dez on an island for most of the game and was mostly successful. They beat us with their other 10 guys. Assuming the guy who replaces OBJ gives us an equivalent impact to that, drawing single coverage, our other 10 guys gave us nothing. Not a fucking thing. Either they suck, they were unprepared physically and mentally or they weren't put in positing to succeed.
And you think they lost their edge? What game were you watching?
And you think they lost their edge? What game were you watching?
Yeah I think you took that the wrong way. I actually said on another thread that it was a testament to just how talented and great this defense is that they played as well as they did. By edge I mean the thing we all hope is going to elevate them to being really special. The way they looked against teams towards the end of last season, where they seemed to pick up this preseason. I also didn't say they "lost" it, I said it wasn't there tonight specifically because as a whole I don't think this team offense/defense/specials was ready to play football tonight. I certainly expect them to have it this year.
Knowing your shit and being ready to lace it up and go play football are two very different things. Also there have be enough completely lackadaisical or otherwise lethargic performances from the giants over the years that I am almost positive if you've been on this site you have heard exactly what I am describing from someone else as some point ;)
I also think those guys that say "it's only preseason" would shut the fuck up. When the O-line looks like shit in the preseason, it looks like shit throughout the regular season. The same shit was said this preseason, the last preseason and the previous preseasons before...
Let's talk about dirty pockets, which was a subject that McAdoo broached during the off-season. Nobody wanted to hear about it. Listen to the HC. Last night , Prescott faced some dirty pockets as well. He completed passes against them. In my mind, Eli made one quality throw all night. This was the sail route to Lewis on the 3rd & 12 during the first drive of the second half.
I watched the 2 NY teams yesterday. What's amazing to me is both of the quarterbacks had essentially the same game. And Eli was very skittish, yet again, last night. Look, there are going to be pressures. Make book. He's getting paid to stand tall back there. He's getting paid lots.
They never take shots down the field to loosen up the defense. There are almost no vertical routes everything is shallow crosses. Eli is not a west coast offense quarterback. He had his best years under Kevin Gilbride. It's a shame because they have a terrific defense and a horseshit offense. You can't tell me this head coach and this coaching staff can't get a better result out of this offense.
They never take shots down the field to loosen up the defense. There are almost no vertical routes everything is shallow crosses. Eli is not a west coast offense quarterback. He had his best years under Kevin Gilbride. It's a shame because they have a terrific defense and a horseshit offense. You can't tell me this head coach and this coaching staff can't get a better result out of this offense.
Totally agree with your post. The offense could not have beaten a college team last night. Yes, Eli is always prepared but in order to be effective with vertical plays we need aQB that can buy some time. Right now, Eli is listening for footsteps and will not be effective unless we can protect. This was the same story last year and I do not see that changing.