GunnerBill

He was inactive

Fair enough, it felt like more. But overall they definitely second half got to grips with those off tackle runs and forced Arizona to try and switch to running up the gut which is less their strength. Yes.

Monday morning afternoon reflections: 1. I think this was two credible teams. I saw less sloppy football than in most of the other week one matchups I've watched. The Rams might lack a bit of true elite talent compared to their Superbowl winning heyday a couple of years ago, but they have a solid young roster and a re well coached. The Lions on the other hand look like they are contenders for a deep playoff run again if they can clean some things up. 2. The Kupp - Nacua dynamic bears watching as we move forward I think. Kupp struggled to be properly healthy last season and I always felt a bit like Nacua was benefitting from some vacated targets - he averaged over 100 yards in games Kupp was down for example. Nacua can play from the boundary more than Kupp but they tend to win in very similar ways and how they balance using them both while keeping the offense sufficiently varied / unpredictable is a point to track throughout the year. 3. The Rams offense needs to run game to work to be seen to full effect. It always has. Williams didn't have a great day but his oline really seemed to struggle opening holes. AJ Arcuri in particular really struggled. It's going to be hard to generate those downfield throws off play action without defenses feeling they need to prioritise stopping the run. 4. Jameson Williams breaking out, finally, would be such a significant development for Detroit. Behind St. Brown they, to say the least, are not a great receiving corps. They, have been waiting to get something from Williams and if that is now going to happen it can be a significant difference maker for them. 5. I still say Jahmyr Gibbs was a poor use of a 1st round pick. The argument about why running backs are not wise investments in the first round has been done to death but the are certainly not wise investments if they are still stuck firmly in a time share in year two and when the team really needs yards on the ground it goes away from you to the "solid vet." Detroit has generally drafted very well to super charge its revival. But the 2023 first round was a misstep IMO.

Correct. The play he hurt himself on was NOT a Quarterback draw. That was Josh Allen seeing an opening and being Josh Allen. You will never take that out of his game. It was a called pass play, the defense defended it like a pass play, Josh saw a lane and took off. Does the Bills lack of separators down there impact how often Josh plays it that way? I think so (15 rushing TDs last year a career high, 2 already this year) but that isn't on Brady or Dorsey last year. That's on Brandon Beane if anyone.

I need to look properly at the film. I think a few things happened: 1. They calmed down a bit. The defense was frantic every snap first half.... defenders still sprinting across the formation as the ball was being snapped, desperate waving hand gestures. That loss of experienced heads in Hyde, Poyer, Milano and Taron was really visible and there was a sense of panic. I think part it at half time was probably just settling them down a bit. 2. They got a bit more aggressive on passing downs. 3. They definitely managed to slow the Cardinals off tackle run game down a bit. First half it was consistently picking up 5 or 6 yards per attempt. They slowed that and 2nd and 8 is a smaller playbook than 2nd and 4 which they seemed forever in first half. Need to see the all22 to see exactly what the tweaked to do that but in the past (certainly under Leslie) their approach to teams attacking that way was to ask their DTs to focus much more on establishing the line of scrimmage rather than penetrating upfield.

It's absolutely fair to discuss. I just think you are off base WRT Brady.

I'm less critical of Brady. The Bills moved the ball on every drive and he had some great designs. The play that ended in the Hollins TD was an audible built into the playcall (confirmed by Josh in his presser) and the design on the Shakir TD was excellent. He also had a couple of really good creative plays in there - the one that got Knox open for a nice gain for example. I think he had some calls you'd want back. The fade to Coleman right after he had the big catch felt forced (and Josh didn't throw it great) and the series at the end the runs on 2nd and 3rd down were both kind of the obvious play call. If you are going to run Josh there I prefer you do it on second down when the defense is playing for other things more. I do wonder how limited they were throwing because of the hand (I know non throwing hand etc) but those plays felt really too safe. As for did he run too much on first down.... I kinda felt that in the game too, but I struggle to argue with the results of it too much. It is something that bears watching as the season ticks on. And on Kincaid this is where I defend Brady. It looked to me like there was a concerted effort from Arizona to take Kincaid away. There were multiple plays where I saw they had a defensive back on him rather than a linebacker. He was the guy the Cardinals had decided was not going to beat them. It goes back to my point about why you do need guys who win outside. If I want to take away a tight end or a slot receiver who works mainly inside I have a lot more options as a defensive coordinator. It is much harder to actively double a guy who plays outside without affecting the overall structure and coherence of my defense. Basically to do it I have to move a safety out of the middle of the field to come and support a corner over the top. Whereas I can double and bracket a tight end while still having the guys I'm asking to do it be broadly in position to play their responsibilities in the defense because that area is just more congested. I'd give Brady a 7/10 for yesterday. Not perfect, but pretty good. I'd give Babich a 5/10. The defense was really struggling to get lined up first half. The communication was tough for them. I know the safety injuries in the summer haven't helped, and then losing Milano late and Taron within the first defensive series. That is a lot of turnover in the back seven. But I didn't feel that unit was particularly well coached. They buttoned it up a bit second half, but they need a lot of work. Smiley a 1/10. Never understood how he got that job. He is in over his skis.

Was interesting McD said in his presser until Smoot went down Ingram was not going to be up. Wonder how that worked out. I doubt it is as simple as Smoot out, Ingram in, because that would have been 6 defensive ends up and only 8 DBs. So it likely came down to STs balance and I wonder if that meant that Ingram as another corner was preferred over Bishop as an extra safety.

I'm not sure if it has been said already but it's because the role Ingram was playing was the Dime. Lewis was out starting Dime then he had to slide into Nickel when Taron went out and with his injury issues this off-season my guess is that Edwards hasn't had time to learn the Dime role as well as safety in this defense so Ingram was next man up. Elam can't play inside. He is strictly a boundary corner only. If Benford or Douglas came out I think Elam would have gone in. But Ingram has some inside / outside flex.

They have been underrated in the offseason IMO. They still have a very good Quarterback, an elite receiver, a solid oline and 3 or 4 playmakers on defense. Are they short of weapons around Lamb? Yea, they are. But as long as he is healthy they are a legit team.

Agree. Bass was trying to kick to the endzone. The kickoff on the return was wind affected.

Same. I think he has been scapegoated beyond what is fair.

And hiw many outside throws were there that were not laterals / screens? I can only think of the one to Keon where he didn't separate but bodied the defender out and made a good catch and the comeback to MVS. They mainly focused on winning inside. I like that but there are times you are going to have to threaten more outside, especially against better defenses. So while there were signs of encouragement today it isn't time for any victory laps yet. EDIT: the pass map on next gen suggests there were 3 outside throws that went past the line of scrimmage.

Bengals are 1-10 in weeks 1 and 2 under Zac Taylor. For the team to be so unprepared every season is on coaching.

Cam Lewis was our second best defender today after Groot.

I tend to believe it is this. But I do think McD was much more involved on the headset 2nd half.

Josh Groot Lewis Cook Shakir

McD? Seriously?

Oh theyv used one time out so its over. Sorry thought they had all 3.

Thank ***** for that. Now can we get one first down to ice it??

Jesus special teams have been awful.

Yea Groot and Ed won. Von did push his guy back some. So there is that. But he didn't beat the block.

Don't like either play on 2nd and 3rd down.

Von will get the credit I think for that.

***** hopeless special teams.