ctk232

I get Allen's issues with pre-snap reads, adjustments, and protections, and certainly don't disagree. But the OL aren't mindless pions who will only do what the QB dictates. The Center can call out protections and shifts that he might see as well, and NFL lineman aren't just awaiting the QB to tell them what to do. They also play positions that demand immediate recognition and adjustments to cover free rushers, fill gaps, and be self-aware of the pocket protection being created. I also don't get how anyone can think that Allen can come in as a rookie, regardless of what conference he played in, and be solely responsible for calling protections. Since when have we had a QB that can do that since Jim? Guaranteed Wood and previous Centers were anchoring those lines of the past. For Allen's sake of development, we need the line to be able to call out and cover protections more than the QB. To be honest, I can't remember too many times where Taylor didn't just walk out of the huddle and immediately start the cadence while wood and richie pointed out pressures. You're seeing a combination of a rookie QB, and an otherwise hapless Offensive Line which shows more disconnect with Castillo and Daboll than true fault on Allen's part.

I think Minnesota had to dial back the pressures after going down 17-0 in the first quarter. They still managed pressure regardless, but it doesn't hurt when most of our offensive drives started within 30 yards of their end zone. Technically, this wasn't even a blitz - 6v6 pre-snap and GB #93 peels off in coverage on the TE, leaving 5v5 pressure. That's what makes me so upset. And while you may be right about missing protection assignments here, it's hard to call without knowing the set. It's a delayed rush from both LBs (which I'm not sure both were even supposed to rush here through the same gap, but let's assume it was planned). Unless there were safeties up on the line off-screen in the above images, I have NO IDEA why Miller moves to block the DE when the DT is lined up to the right (QB's left) of Bodine. Mills should seal the edge rush and Miller can stay interior. Ducasse is left holding his jock because of the offset pressure and has nothing to do. Both backers overload and shoot the A gap and Miller is too far out of position and late to the play to do anything. If Miller was in position here, it may have given Allen time to set and follow through on his throw. I can't see this being a QB issue, if it's on any player here it's the C for maybe not making these adjustments pre-snap, but boy wtf were Miller and Ducasse doing? This to me screams Castillo/Daboll issues, more so the former. The actual players don't help much either.

Don't forget our top DB, too. In all honesty though, you can retain all of these players if handled appropriately, and contracts are tiered accordingly. The more terrifying thought is not having a dominant player at any of those positions...

We've arguably had exceptional drafts this season and last, compared to previous years. White, debateably, should have been DROY last year. Milano isn't premier but for a sophomore the kid is a solid backer, and Dawkins is currently graded as one of the top tackles in the league (especially with ESPNs new fancy OL grading...). Our current draft class is already the top contributors on our roster beyond many vets. While that isn't saying much given our team at the moment, it bodes well for the future if these guys continue to develop. Do you really want them to get rid of Taron and Neal as well? Those guys are steals for the picks we got them at and there sophomore contracts will be levied appropriately pending they don't have a breakout year and lead the league in INTs. But I agree, teams that draft well have issues retaining all players due to cap constraints and player contract demands.

Haha, sounds awesome to me - much better than watching a tie in a league where one game makes a considerable difference. While it's not a loss, it's not like you get a point for OT like in hockey.

That actually put to words my own confusion with him...I hadn't given it much thought beyond the occasional head-scratcher of a play call, mostly due to the fact that I'm too focused on the actual play of our OL or WR, or on watching Allen at all times. But specific to the decoy play, I see what you're saying, and it's absolutely true. Daboll may in fact be playing into his schemes too much, and we're all left sitting here saying "Inconceivable!" The issue becomes this combination of overly-layered play calls with Allen's lack of NFL level exposure and understanding of the game. But it is maddening, because sometimes it works, and when it does, it works well. The one thing I also wonder whether Allen would benefit from would be pre-snap motions helping him to read and setup defenses at times. Just by virtue of seeing the Pats do this every season, manipulating defenses pre-snap can equally help counter pressures and blitzes as much as identifying protections and calling assignments can. I've seen it employed a few times so far, but dare I say even just motioning backs out of the backfield a couple times could go a long way. Even though we need them for protecting Allen... I need to read that article still - Erik always has great insight to x's and o's that I appreciate reading more than most 99% of sports media like ESPN.

It's DeMarco...a fullback, since when do we have fullbacks primary role be pass catchers. It's not going to be the best run route or option, but he made a play.

That's a very valid point - and certainly provides parallels to how I'm seeing Allen's first year unfold so far. I would still be cautious to credit Dilfer's success more so to his performance considering the coaches and team around him. But I would be curious how Allen's inherent traits and ability change his early development and experience from Dilfer's. Not that I'd like to witness any such experiment on our potential future of the franchise... He's had very questionable play calls at times, specifically in agreement with the two examples you provide. I've also seen examples of some great playcalling (mostly from the Minnesota game) thinking about the 5 yd slant to KB off rightside pressure (dropped albeit), and the Croom TD with an optioned Ivory to the flat. Daboll still very much needs to prove himself in the NFL, but how much he feels he has to compensate at present for max protect in situations where it doesn't call for it might be symptomatic of a larger offense issue with lack of options/ability. Where I have a bone to pick with Daboll, and the WR corps as well, are the typical routes we are running, but especially on downs when we know pressure is coming. We see very little separation, and especially to your point of Zay taking three extra seconds to complete his route. Even with his strong arm, it would make sense that Allen could appreciate and develop more from a focus on 5-10 yard passes emphasizing quick reads and releases. While I doubt McD has oversight on offensive playcalling, I wonder how much of what we're seeing is Daboll attempting to respond to our current personnel, and how much is simply just his playcalling style... If all you want is a punching bag, Peterman is the cheaper option then still. Especially if wins don't matter

Muy valid, cutting them mid-season wouldn't be very prudent - more so comparing their actual impact at present in proportion to their cap hits...

1) Daboll needs to step up and prove he's still an OC of NFL caliber. That being said, what exactly does he have to work with? A rookie QB, an average yet porous OL, handless receivers, an aging East/West RB, and a broken TE in Clay. Let's have the Daboll criticism start next year. That being said, Daboll could use this year to really help Allen along. We all know teams will blitz on 3rd down until we demonstrate we can pick it up - so plan for that, have the playcall in early, let Allen get to the line and see the defense. Give him 2 short hot routes on either side of the line and let him diagnose and execute. 2) Agreed - you think he's letting the pressure of starting and being QB1 get to him a little? I think he'll learn this eventually, but I see a kid so desperate to prove himself and wants to win so badly that he'll make these in the moment mistakes. But yes, hopefully he learns. 3) See 1 - we all know teams will blitz the bejesus out of Allen until he beats it. So give him playcalls and packages that let him do that. Hell, develop a whole new offensive blitz prevent package if you have to. But this is something that can be prepared ahead of time and developed in practices.

AJM is not the QB people think he is, even if Peterman is the other option, at least he's cheaper. Also, wherever did learning from a vet QB become a prerequisite to succeeding in the league? Maybe if you get to learn from Manning, sure, but Favre did everything in his power to not teach Rodgers. Who did Brady learn from? Bledsoe? How about Manning himself? While it has the potential to help, it certainly isn't something we need. I'm so tired of the argument "have a vet QB to help him learn the game." DO YOU MEAN A QB COACH? BECAUSE WE HAVE AND ARE ALREADY PAYING ONE. We just need to find a QB coach who has actually played the position, though...

I don't mean this to be the chicken little pessimist post - but let's just build the cap; cut Clay, Shady, and KB. Kyle deserves a better send off than this, but should he retire there's some more ammo heading into the offseason rebuild. I can't believe I'm actually saying let's offload our TE1, RB1, and "WR1" and don't feel the least concerned for how many holes we'd need to fill. There aren't many, if any at all, that aren't already there with them on the roster at present.

For as often as I disagree with Dilfer, his personal philosophies in addition to some of his football commentary, I can't argue with his analysis of Allen. That being said, I agree that he was never pessimistic about Allen, just simply critical of how he should be treated in his freshman year(s). I've seen the argument used many times on this board that, "it doesn't matter - there's no way you can ruin a QB, if he's meant to be great, he's going to be great." It's a very realist perspective of binary opposition; black or white, clear cut, sink or swim. Each player's potential in the NFL is anything but that, and their ceilings can be determined by much more than just their own mental capacity - a lot of it is exposure. The reason for this tangent being, no one here disagrees Allen is a project of a draft pick, and was one of, if not the most, raw QB prospect in the draft for the reasons Dilfer identifies. Because he is such a raw prospect, and the football he has played and experienced to date is clearly not representative of the NFL, or even close to other NCAA conferences, the kid will be learning everything new for the first time. How he engages and assimilates into the NFL level of play is absolutely vital to his future success, and giving him a foundation to build from rather than having him be the foundation in his first year can easily change his trajectory and mindset for what he normalizes after a year with this pathetic af offense. While Dilfer may see a lot of himself in Allen, there is very little the two QBs actually have in common. Dilfer was never a great QB, nor was he the foundation of the franchise (a.k.a Ray Lewis). He was just on the right team at the right time and did a job. Allen may never have half the team the Ravens did during those years.

These sound like OC/OL Coach issues to me - every blocker needs to know their assignments. While Allen should be recognizing pressures and calling out protections, the OL still looks lost on their assignments. While this could also likely be due to Allen's calls or lack thereof, it seems more systemic than simply having a rookie QB on the field a full season before he's ready.

Pretty much - I like the College OT of starting at the 20 and having four downs to score. And each team gets one chance regardless of how the first team did on offense. This one full extra quarter with sudden death, but not really, is pretty terrible - even though it's just an extension of the game. I'm curious what the stats would be on this, but I wonder if there have been more OTs since the rule changes were implemented to favor offenses scoring, and limiting defenses. A tie in football is pretty terrible given the nature of the game week-to-week, and that you only have 16 of them.

If we end up on this track for a high draft pick, and the entire answer to our roster problems isn't something we can address with a single pick, I'd love to see us trade down, even if the extra picks come in the next year's draft.

So far so good! A lot can happen, but for the picks that they were, both are currently performing with value greater than what we gave up. This draft class is actually looking great so far, as are some of last year's key additions in Milano and Tre. Just wait for this defense in about two years time if all goes well. It's hard to identify priority right now for needs. I agree we need more help along that DLine, especially opposite of Hughes, but boy do we need a standout WR1. It's being discussed in Sal's post about his 2019 fixes, but funny enough, I agree that if we get our "elite" WR1, KB will see more favorable matchups (and hopefully relearn to catch), and Zay will be able to fill the slot role he was always meant to play. Allen needs weapons that will create separation so he can learn the rhythm of quick release throws and getting the ball out, and also just learn that on his own. Can't forget about the OL needs here either. Fortunately, we should be able to address these in the draft, not to mention FA.

The one time we played with a lead sure. And without question they would perform better with a more competent offense moving the ball - the fact our secondary is 16th at the moment in PYA is something to consider. But the point is this defense is more than just one corner away from being a top 5 defense...the entire unit needs about 1-2 years development before we can enter that conversation. Should the young players we're seeing flashes of now (i.e. Edmunds, Phillips, Milano, Taron, Siran, even Tre as a sophomore) develop progressively, this defense could really evolve and take that next step. But beyond securing a starting DB2, this defense needs a year or two before you will start to see the plan take shape. For now though, I think we're right on track should each young player develop accordingly. So in short, the "Top 5" or "Top 10" defense will arrive, in about a year or two at the earliest, and it won't have the same players we do now, possibly even in the secondary.

While Taron is the clear steal, I hope Siran is equally the steal at the safety position. Hyde won't be there forever, and this kid can tackle...don't know too much about his ball skills, but I remember reading the articles around draft time where both were reported to be under the radar steals. I hope they both pan out, if nothing at least for depth in an otherwise depleted secondary. But with a couple years of progressive development, we have a lot of promise coming our way from multiple positions, not just the secondary. I would love to see Taron rise to start opposite Tre and become a shutdown duo grown from within the organization through the draft. That in and of itself does wonders for a franchise.

I'm all for it. Kid hits hard, and our tackling has been awful outside of the Vikings game. Don't think he'll be a stud safety in the league, but I'd like to see him get more rotations. Couldn't care less for Bush outside of the fact that he's our next best player at that position.

Same with the Kubiak article. It's pretty simple, you don't want sacks? Counter the blitz. How do you counter the blitz? Reads, OLine executing, and quick releases to hot routes. The case and point of this was in the Vikings game on the quick slant to KB just outside the endzone. It should've been caught for a TD with any other receiver right now, but that play in and of itself is where Allen demonstrated that he read the blitz package off the right side, knew KB was running a quick slant to the hole in coverage left by the blitz and got that ball out in 2-3 seconds. It's not rocket science, but it's something we all knew Allen needed to develop. The difference is instead of giving him a Mahomes first year, we're having him learn this on the fly and it's showing. It would help him to have an OLine, receivers who want to catch, and an OC who understands protection coverage and hot route adjustments and responds to his QB. And maybe an offensively minded head coach, but more so the former.

My biggest worry was actually what I emboldened from the quoted post, "develop bad habits of feeling phantom pressure and reverting to poor mechanics." My comment about using draft capital has nothing to do with wanting a different starting QB, but simply making the case that if we were okay with spending that to get him, we should be equally mindful of the environment in which he is developing, and what habits he is forming. I don't care if you're Brady or Rodgers, every QB adapts naturally in addition to learning the game. While Allen is learning, he's also adapting to the play he is seeing, and with this offense, he isn't adapting to anything good worth building on long-term for the development project of a QB that he is.

We're practically the definition of instant gratification and emotionally charged. 18 years of drought will do that to you. But you're absolutely right, this is not getting fixed overnight, and it was never intended to be fixed. Take the playoff berth last year out of the picture and everything we see now is right on track. Again, ending the drought was most necessary for getting the monkey off the back, but we rode the coattails of a turnover differential through the early stages of the season. What's crazy is with a competent QB/offense last year, we could've easily beat the jags in a 10-3 game...but none of it was planned and honestly probably gave Beane more obstacles in helping the rebuild process along. This team is not built to compete right now and that's something we should not be panicking about.

Biggest worry - we gave up valuable draft capital to draft this kid, who we all knew wasn't meant to start this season. He'll adapt as well as learn, and what he is adapting to right now is concerning. But in reference to the quoted above, give the kid credit for playing in games with an incomplete excuse of an offense, who was never meant to start until the 2019 season. Allen has shown great instinct and reads at various points, most notably in the Minnesota game. He's learning and adapting now, but how he's coached through this initial year will very much affect his overall timeline to get to where we'd like to see him perform. We have 12 more games to see how this all plays out, we (likely) aren't making the playoffs this year so let's at least enjoy the ride and watch how this kid (and other young players) develop.

Maybe top 5, maybe. We need DB depth period. Johnson has performed well in that regard, as has Lewis for depth purposes. We are one stud DB away from competing imho. We're talking about a total defense who was blown out the first two weeks of the season, had an exceptional game week three, and regressed closer to where we started in our week four game, but with general improvement in performance at each level. This defense is a couple years of development away from top 5. And while we don't exactly have an offense right now that keeps our Defense off the field, our secondary has been giving up enough yards to land us at 16th in passing yds allowed. Our run defense has been surprisingly stout overall with the exception of week 2. Collectively, however, much improvement is needed at all three levels before we can even start talking about top 5 much less 10.