Good Night / Bad Night - Pre-season game 2

[NewEra]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:11 PM, HappyDays said:

Good night for Van Denmark. He played LT the entire 2nd half. I specifically watched him on every snap and I didn't see him lose a single rep. That's two weeks in a row that he looked solid at LT, albeit against 2nd and 3rd stringers.

 

Bad night for Elam. Somehow he has regressed even further. Last night was the worst performance I've seen from him. Way too grabby and looked lost in coverage a couple times. Maybe the all-22 will show some favorable reps but what I saw on broadcast footage was bad.

 

The whole 2022 draft class is trending towards throwaway status. Hopefully Cook can salvage it a bit. Luckily the 2023 draft class is looking like a possible home run.

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Maybe we can start VanDermark and Jason peters!  There’s hope!

[HappyDays]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:14 PM, GunnerBill said:

I think Van Demark should be on this roster.

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He is practically a lock now, right? He is the first in at LT after Dawkins and has played well. Plus he has no competition. Shell retired, Doyle is likely done for the year, Quessenberry has been awful.

[Einstein]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:14 PM, BADOLBILZ said:

Also, the 3rd down where Allen rolled right allowing a well blocked TJ Watt to get a pressure on Brown's side was entirely on Allen.

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Agree on that. Allen bailed for absolutely no reason.

[Jukester]

Yep as much as he is our savior,  he does need to start playing with more composure. This video is telling. 
 

 

[Doc]

  On 8/20/2023 at 5:24 PM, Herb Nightly said:

Williams is not proving he can play MIDDLE linebacker in this defense 

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Is he?  And the other guys are proving they can?

 

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:05 PM, 4merper4mer said:

Williams is a pipsqueak.

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He's the same size as several top MLBs in the game.  So that dog don't hunt.

[HappyDays]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:14 PM, BADOLBILZ said:

It's second down and 20 something..........a good pass rushing defense isn't giving you 3+ seconds to throw there.

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Brown needs to hold up better than this against the likes of Markus Golden:

 

He was immediately knocked off balance and never recovered. The best thing he did on that play was take the holding penalty to ensure Allen wasn't walloped in a meaningless preseason game.

 

Agreed that Allen left the pocket too early on the other pressure. In preseason I'm fine with it as long as it is for caution and not a genuine mistake. There were times last year that Allen clearly did not trust his OL and made mistakes leaving the pocket early because of it.

 

In general I was a little dismayed by the starting offense running the "bombs away" offense that most fans agree we need to see less of coming out of last year. Especially in a meaningless preseason game against a ferocious pass rush, I don't understand the reasoning behind that plan. I would have much rather used that game to focus on running and getting the ball out of Allen's hands quickly. I'm not going to read too much into preseason play calling, I just hope last night is not a sign of things to come. Kincaid should be a high volume passing target right away. That will keep the offense more on schedule and less boom or bust.

 

Edited August 20, 2023 by HappyDays

[BADOLBILZ]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:27 PM, Jukester said:

Yep as much as he is our savior,  he does need to start playing with more composure. This video is telling. 
 

 

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Hopefully the Saffold induced PTSD will dissipate now that it appears that they have some blocking inside and Allen will start climbing the pocket and taking those easy completions back.

[No_Matter_What]

  On 8/20/2023 at 5:21 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea I just don't agree. I would agree if I thought they were getting mediocre MLB play. At the moment they are not even getting that. They are getting liability MLB play. You probably have to go back to Adolphus Washington on the Dline in 2017 to find a guy who is starting who is at that liablity level. 

 

If they find their way to mediocre I agree they will work their way around it. And obviously I agree on the oline. Particularly the tackles.

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Ok understood. If you think Dodson was that bad then it makes sense.

 

I didn't see 2nd half and did not realized he played after he was replaced by Klein in Steelers 3rd drive. SO I guess he was really bad. Which is weird since I remember him being servicable when he started 2 games last year (albeit he was instantly replaced by Klein after he was signed midseason).

[GoBills808]

  On 8/20/2023 at 5:29 PM, NewEra said:

He’s the real deal regardless if he can block or not imo.  He can get open, catch and rac

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I'm just thinking if he isn't on the field as much as he should be, it's probably something like that being the issue

[BADOLBILZ]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:31 PM, HappyDays said:

 

Brown needs to hold up better than this against the likes of Markus Golden:

 

He was immediately knocked off balance and never recovered. The best thing he did on that play was take the holding penalty to ensure Allen wasn't walloped in a meaningless preseason game.

 

Agreed that Allen left the pocket too early on the other pressure. In preseason I'm fine with it as long as it is for caution and not a genuine mistake. There were times last year that Allen clearly did not trust his OL and made mistakes leaving the pocket early because of it.

 

In general I was a little dismayed by the starting offense running the "bombs away" offense that most fans agree we need to see less of coming out of last year. Especially in a meaningless preseason game against a ferocious pass rush, I don't understand the reasoning behind that plan. I would have much rather used that game to focus on running and getting the ball out of Allen's hands quickly. I'm not going to read too much into preseason play calling, I just hope last night is not a sign of things to come. Kincaid should be a high volume passing target right away. That will keep the offense more on schedule and less boom or bust.

 

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Yeah Brown got torched on that play.

 

Otherwise he was solid.    Guys are getting 8 figure aav contract extensions at RT for playing at that level.    It's not a premium position and I'm not going to get too worked about losing a rep to a crafty vet like Markus Golden when he's holding his own against the best pass rusher in the entire league in TJ Watt.

 

I have concerns about Brown but they are mostly injury related.   Lane Johnson is a LT quality RT for Philadelphia but otherwise most good teams have big stiffs like Brown at RT.   Some even used earlier picks on them.    It's not going to look great if they play that "bombs away" style........they need the short passing game to work.   

[Dr. Who]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:46 PM, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Yeah Brown got torched on that play.

 

Otherwise he was solid.    Guys are getting 8 figure aav contract extensions at RT for playing at that level.    It's not a premium position and I'm not going to get too worked about losing a rep to a crafty vet like Markus Golden when he's holding his own against the best pass rusher in the entire league in TJ Watt.

 

I have concerns about Brown but they are mostly injury related.   Lane Johnson is a LT quality RT for Philadelphia but otherwise most good teams have big stiffs like Brown at RT.   Some even used earlier picks on them.    It's not going to look great if they play that "bombs away" style........they need the short passing game to work.   

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One hopes Dorsey has the minimal intelligence requisite to figure that much out and also that Josh abandons the need to emulate Brett Favre all the time going for the long ball. It's just not smart. When we destroyed the Pats* in a near perfect playoff game, he was taking the easy stuff and the offense was unstoppable.

[BADOLBILZ]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:49 PM, Dr. Who said:

One hopes Dorsey has the minimal intelligence requisite to figure that much out and also that Josh abandons the need to emulate Brett Favre all the time going for the long ball. It's just not smart. When we destroyed the Pats* in a near perfect playoff game, he was taking the easy stuff and the offense was unstoppable.

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It's a fight..........work the body and soften up the defense and then that creates time for the big punches.   They throwing too many haymakers and making it easy to defend and some of that is definitely on Josh.   Not stepping up in the pocket.   Not putting the ball where it should be(like on the play where somehow Diggs got a pass knocked away by OLB Highsmith).   Josh may be the most dynamic guy at the most important position.........but he still has a lot of room to improve as a QB.

Edited August 20, 2023 by BADOLBILZ

[JerseyBills]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:34 PM, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Hopefully the Saffold induced PTSD will dissipate now that it appears that they have some blocking inside and Allen will start climbing the pocket and taking those easy completions back.

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Not seeing Diggs there is inexcusable 

[HappyDays]

  On 8/20/2023 at 5:06 PM, JayBaller10 said:

We haven’t seen Bernard, but at this point Dorian is looking like the second best LB on the team, albeit playing against lesser competition. If Bernard shows no better than what Dodson has been doing, start force feeding Dorian and take your lumps.

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Dorian looks great flying into the picture and making the tackle, but if you watch him on reps where he isn't involved in the tackle he is frequently getting driven back 5+ yards by a blocker. It's hard to function as a  MLB if you can't ever take on and shed blocks. I am sure that's why they're only giving him run at WLB right now. Maybe after a full offseason of NFL conditioning and strength training he will be ready for MLB next year. This year I'd be surprised.

 

But hey I understand why fans are grasping at straws right now. My mind is doing the same thing. We don't have even a replacement level player for a full time position in our defense... It's a terrifying thought. I supported and still support our decision to let Edmunds walk for that contract, the problem is the moves they made to replace him have been a complete bust. They might have to make a desperate trade just to get a capable player in the room but I can't think of any realistic trade candidates.

[GoBills808]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:49 PM, Dr. Who said:

One hopes Dorsey has the minimal intelligence requisite to figure that much out and also that Josh abandons the need to emulate Brett Favre all the time going for the long ball. It's just not smart. When we destroyed the Pats* in a near perfect playoff game, he was taking the easy stuff and the offense was unstoppable.

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He wasn't only taking easy stuff that game, he was taking everything

 

some of the throws were 10/10 difficulty type, holding the ball for a long time...it's just who he is. I think there's a tendency to remember his 'good' games and think 'well he was just taking the easy throws' because folks equate easy completions w efficient offense

[Dr. Who]

  On 8/20/2023 at 7:03 PM, GoBills808 said:

He wasn't only taking easy stuff that game, he was taking everything

 

some of the throws were 10/10 difficulty type, holding the ball for a long time...it's just who he is. I think there's a tendency to remember his 'good' games and think 'well he was just taking the easy throws' because folks equate easy completions w efficient offense

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Oh, I wasn't trying to say it was all short stuff. It was a diverse attack, but it was diverse because it did not neglect the entire field and always try to swing for the home run.

[GoBills808]

  On 8/20/2023 at 7:08 PM, Dr. Who said:

Oh, I wasn't trying to say it was all short stuff. It was a diverse attack, but it was diverse because it did not neglect the entire field and always try to swing for the home run.

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We have the playmakers for it w Kincaid, need better cohesion from oline and some self reflection from Dorsey/Allen to put it all together

 

But as I always harp on, even at half throttle this offense is still better than 95% of the league

[Mr. WEO]

  On 8/20/2023 at 4:54 PM, GoBills808 said:

I did not appreciate Poyer unable to find the angle vs. 4.5 RB

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Exactly--he sure had the angle on him, but too slow at full speed.

[Maynard]

I think there was a post awhile back that asked who your surprise cut would be and I said Poona Ford. I still stand by that unfortunately. 

[NewEra]

  On 8/20/2023 at 6:39 PM, GoBills808 said:

I'm just thinking if he isn't on the field as much as he should be, it's probably something like that being the issue

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I hear ya.
 

I just think he’ll be one of the better run blocking slots in the league.  His effort as a blocker is there.  Just continue to work on his technique and strength like knox did.