Maine-iac

Also like to add that we needed to stop calling gimicky QB runs. Just call a pass and let Allen escape up the middle if we need a QB run. Definitely needed to throw the ball or head up field. Running sideline to sideline against the Steelers was not the answer.

Going for it twice got the Steelers going and killed us. Offense was mediocre all day but giving the Steelers great field position twice in the second half got them going and hurt our defense. We need to do a much better job with our run game and the play calling that goes with it. I'm sure our passing game will be fine but the run game calling was horrendous until the Steelers took the lead.

and they're talking like old friends by the end of the play.

No I get that. A rule is a rule, penalty is a penalty type thing. That said Smith lowers his head and blasts him and I'm thinking dumb play. He goes in head up and makes a play on the QB and I'm thinking dumb rule.

Their helmets might have hit but it was effeminately more face mask to face mask. Smith didn't lower his head and blast him. auto correct for the win ............ I'm leaving effeminately in there just because.

Have to remember to not complain that we don't run the ball. We have 41 points.

Guess we get to see more of Fields vs our pass rushers.

Not a fan of running first, and second down, then throwing on 3rd likes it's a pre written script but ever there was a time it would be up 20 something in the second half. Would like to see if we can line up and run the ball not just call a draw play once in a while.

Would still love to see us develop a real running game. Passing offense looks ready to go. Haven't watched his blocking but Hollister looks legit.

McKelvin was notorious for being there but not making a play.

If you can't look back for the ball watch the receivers hands and knock it out.

All game long I was thinking our best tackler is probably one of our CB's and our best hitter is Milano when he's out there. I don't think I felt that way before this season. Alexander, Kyle, and Lawson knew how to knock people down.

No joke Hulu (I have the live streaming service) cut out for the 10th time and all I saw was Hopkins running out of the back of the end zone with a TD. First post here now because I've been sending Hulu hate emails for the last 10 minutes. ps When I say cut out I mean Hulu puts up a blue screen that says the channel is unavailable and then it comes back a minute later. It's not my internet.

Just out of curiosity I looked at last years tackle for loss stats (on espn for what it's worth) and the team leaders were Lawson with 17 and Phillips with 15. Edmunds was after that with 11.5. This year we have Poyer (a DB) with 6 and no one else with more than 4 meaning that outside of Poyer no one is on pace to have more than 8. Just more numbers saying how much weaker our front 7 is this year.

I don't think Edmunds play will get better until the line in front of him can hold up better. He's more coverage and chase then blow through blocks and destroy the RB type. Last year's defense is a good idea of how he is best used. It was nice to see our running game show up.

I'd have to watch it again but Phillips appeared to be doing a better (than the last two weeks) job of filling the middle. It looked like off tackle running with bad tackling by our pursuit.

I liked Bojo's hit on the punt returner. That was a pretty legit attempt at a tackle for a kicker.

He was second in sacks from the DT position and my guess is the front office thought he was playing over his head and didn't want to pay him. His contract isn't proof of his production or lack there of. He signed a 3 year 30 million dollar deal because Beane people didn't trust his production but I've watched a few cards games and guess what he's making a difference for their D. I'm not calling him a top five DT but he's better at penetrating than anyone we have on our roster currently. What seems to be concerning is that we keep paying people who can't get to the QB consistently who's main selling point would be getting to the QB (ie Murphy) and we keep letting people go who were actually productive. Hopefully this is in part to the coverage being off with so many injuries and as we get people back we will have people covered and get to the QB more but I have to say I'd trade Murphy and Hughes for Lawson in a heart beat.

McDermott plays a coverage defense that without the starting CB's and probably our best coverage LB is going to be suspect. WR's catch TD's on DB's every Sunday but with that said Norman looked to be totally in position to knock the ball away on that first TD. It looked almost McKelvin like the way the ball just went by him. As for the D-line people keep talking about space eaters or drafting a DT but really we miss Kyle and Phillips who were both incredibly disruptive with penetration. Oliver doesn't look bad but he's not in the backfield on every play or even a good number of plays. Add to that Murphy and Hughes who are basically OLB's in most 3-4 defenses and we are getting run on and having contain issues and not just this week, every week. By the end of the game I was actually thinking, go ahead get it all out of your system and come back and play mistake free football next week.

Our kick coverage blows also. I am happy (very) happy to say at least we have an offense that can carry us but McDermott has some work to do.

Hughes and Murphy are basically LB sized if they can't get to the QB in the pass rush they are not worth having out there every down.

... and the Titans starting tackle is sitting on the sidelines.

Am I wrong in saying Murphy is overpaid? I feel like we could get more production out of almost anyone. Speaking of which what defenses are still scared of Hughes? Remember when he used to be constantly in the backfield?

We miss Jordan Phillips and we miss Lawson. Both were considerably better than who we have replaced them with. With the injuries in the secondary we might still be struggling but we would have a penetrating DT and a DE that could set the edge and collapse the pocket even if he wasn't a speed rusher.

I'll take a win but I'd like to have our defense back sometime soon. Two games in a row where we are being carved up and giving up a ton of points. Also Allen is putting up huge numbers but he is still sloppy with ball security and despite all the great things he's doing it will bite us in the butt someday if he doesn't fix it.