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O-line Grades: Week 8 vs. JAX


Tour2ma

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O-line Grades: Week 7 vs. JAX

 

Toughest grading session yet... hope y'all are ready...

 

15 series with 42 1st-half plays and 34 2nd-half plays... 76 total. I believe this is a season high for both.

 

1st Half: S1 15:00; S2 9:41; S3 - 7:52; S4- 3:52; (Q2) S5 13:45; S6 9:37; S7 - 2:59; S8 - 0:22

2nd Half: S9 - 13:10; S10 - 10:00; S11 - 6:22; S12 1:37; (Q4) S13 - 10:42; S14 - 5:58; S15 - 4:35

 

Revelation of the week: Defensive line play can be beautiful.

JAX ran the most looks and stunts of any D to date. The choreography of some of their rushes was nearly jaw dropping. At one point they literally ran a Basketball-style, 3-man weave (S6P6). Picking it up was actually one of our line's finer moments.

 

Rant of the week: What to rant about since Agnew is no more... McQ? Later... How about Shanahan?

How can you go to an I-formation variant so often when your FB is so bad that he is halfway out the door?

How can you not tell your RB coach you want the guy who is running hard to get more snaps?

How can you not tell the O-line coach that his RG is killing your Offense? That he needs to tell his C to help the guy on his right first?

How can you continue to call tight formations to allow a team that clearly wants to load the box to put even more players at the edge of, if not in, the box?

The hurry-up is great, but how can you call plays that ask small WRs to play the role of a 240+ lb. TE?

 

Here's all you needed to know, young Shanny...

Our longest pass, 64 yards, came out of an empty backfield spread (S13P2).

Our longest run, 17 yards, came to the right out of a Single-Back, Pistol formation (S6P2).

 

By the 2nd Qtr I was groaning when I saw an "I"... by the 3rd QTR I was muttering things.... by the 4th I was yelling at the TV...

 

General Notes:

  • Not surprisingly the net grades are the lowest to date: two were positive (single digits), one was net 0, two were negative with one in double digits... care to guess who?
  • Also in the not surprising category was the quality of the JAX D-line play. It created lanes to pressure the passer. It disrupted the flow of our zone run scheme. In the latter case there were times that the D line flexed bringing Tom Landry's old D to mind... not preset, but on the fly.
  • The above mentioned flexing of their D-line (and subsequently our O-line) created all kinds of issues. It limited our linemen's ability to "pass" Defenders to each other. It also created the appearance of "false gaps" to our runners.
  • Largely due to the above factors our line scored only one dominant play (S10P2) where most received +'s.
  • We had two O-linemen on the field Sunday that were quick enough to replace Mack; neither of them played Center.
  • It's bad enough for a single O-lineman to allow his D-line counterpart to stand in front of them and raise their hands, but for a double-team to allow it is unforgiveable... We had unforgiveable double-teams this week.
  • Not to play the penalty card, as we got away with a couple no/ missed calls, but there was a low hit (S14P2) of Hoyer not called as he launched his late INT and a face mask of Hoyer (S15P4) not called on our last offensive play. The latter was not only minor mask grab, but came too late to matter. The former on the other hand...
  • I offered someone a "men in the box" count this week... Here it is:

    1st : 8 - 9; 7 - 16; 6 - 12; 5 or less - 5

    2nd: 8- 4; 7 - 09; 6 - 09; 5 or less - 11

    Ttl: 8 -13; 7 - 25; 6 - 21; 5 or less - 16

    Of course for a base D, 7 is the normal count. At times tight WRs gave the appearance of more in the box than there really were. Why did we draw them in? Ask Shanny...

Joe Thomas: 1st +7-6 net +1 w/ 1D-& 1?; 2nd +9-4 net +4 w/ 1D+ & 1D-- ; Game Totals: +16-10 net +6

 

With a net of +6 Joe stands as our Week 7 Valedictorian. That should give you a hint of what's to come...

 

Early Joe failed to get to his 2nd Level block (S1P3) for his first D-. He earned his 2nd on our last play (S15P4) when he chose the inside of two blitzing LBs leaving Bito with no one to block while the outside LB blew up Crow on his way to a sack party.

 

Joe's lone + came for a pretty turn and seal of an outside defender on late run left (S14P1). I originally did not grade it a Dbl as the play went nowhere (-2 yd), but that result was not on Joe.

 

Joel Bitonio: 1st +7-8 net -1 w/ 1D- & 1?; 2nd +8-7 w/ 1D+ & 2D- ; Game Totals: +15-15 net 0

 

Last week I said Joel looked "laxidasical"; there was no such issue this week. . This week he simply looked like a rookie. That's not to say he played poorly; it's that at times he did not look polished.

 

Joel earned his lone D+ for a nice reverse seal (S10P2). His first D- came when he was absolutely stoned on a run right (S6P6). His second came on our late screen when he failed to block #50 (S15P2); #50 was simply too fast. His third came on our draw, three plays later (S15P5) when he and Greco both released the NT to get downfield blocks... of course the NT made the tackle. Bought to mind the "you got it" call any one who has played volleyball has heard... just before the ball hits the floor.

 

Bito pulled once this week in what was both our first draw play and the last play of our first half (S8P2).

 

In general Bito looked to Joe's side too often. It appeared he got away with being downfield on one PAP (S3P1).

 

John Greco ( C ) : 1st +9-11 net -2 w/ 1D+, 2D- & 1?; 2nd +7-11 net -5 w/ 2D+ & 2D-; Game Totals: +16-22 net -6

 

John's limited athleticism showed in his Center debut. Sometimes to get to his 2nd level block he cheated on chips to set up an OG and sometimes even that was insufficient. Twice moves beat him soundly... one rip and one swim. The latter was on a middle run (S2P2) both blowing up the play and earning JG his first D-.

 

Other D-'s came for a spectacularly blatant chip skip (S6P3), letting a dbl-teamed NT go (S15P5) along with Bito, and, of course, "the snap" (S12P8).

 

John's D+'s came for handling the JAX "weave", sliding twice to new rushers (S6P7). His 2nd came on a very pretty chip and 2nd level block (S10P2)... proving he was capable given the right circumstances.

 

But John's shining moment, and final D+, came late (S15P7) when he blasted a JAX D-lineman that had been mouthing off much of the half. After helping dbl-team lineman to his left with Bito, John released to blast the rusher to his right engaged high with McQ. John hit him high and clean, but hard under his raised arm and buried him. It was the nastiest I'd seen any of our O-line get this year... and while it was both late and immaterial, I loved it just the same.

 

Paul McQuistan: 1st +7-17 net -10 w/ 1D+, 8D- & 1?; 2nd +4-19 net-15 w/ 1D+ & 6D- ; Game Totals: +11-36 net -25

 

Where to begin... the positive? Firstly, while it was bad, his 1st half was nowhere near as bad as his 2nd half. He had moments here and there where he looked viable.

 

He had a pretty chip and 2nd level block combo (S7P2), and immediately followed it by getting blown up for a D- (S7P3). At least in the second half he reversed the order getting blown up (S10P1) for a D- and immediately following it up with a D+ worthy, strong, drive block (S10P2).

 

But then there were the negatives. I was almost compelled to create a new grade for McQ, the double D-. And while double D's can be good things, they are not here. The play (S13P1) was one where McQ completely avoided a much needed chip while hurrying to miss a 2nd level block. I was dumbfounded.

 

Blah blah blah... McQ was net -25. He lost in every conceivable fashion... bulled... ripped... swimmed... leveraged. At times he looked slow... confused... tired... Veterans are supposed to be "cagey", "wiley", using experience to offset diminished athleticism. But any vet who fails to "invite" a Defender to rush away from the path of a delayed draw (S15P5) deserves neither of those descriptives.

 

I was left longing for his mediocre, 2nd half vs. PTG and hoping another option emerges before OAK...

 

Mitchell Schwartz: 1st +9-8 net +1 w/ 1D- & 1?; 2nd +5-5 net 0 w/ 1D-; Game Totals: +14-13 net +1

 

Mitch by and large did not succumb nor contribute to the mayhem going on around him. He started slow with an early D- for getting bulled into allowing a pressure (S2P3), followed by then missing a cut and getting beat by a low, speed rush.

 

For the most part Mitch's pass blocking was again decent. His initial kick step is again looked better than it did early in the season. While he had no great, D+ worthy plays, he had more than enough positives to grade out on the plus side.

 

Mitch's other D- came when he found his way to the ground, and next to McQ, when both were beaten by halves of the same stunt.

 

Again the big thing here is Mitch did not crumble.

 

Other Blockers:

TEs

  • Cameron: +3-7 net -4 w/ 1D+ & 1 D- Not even our TEs were immune... Cam's D- was a failed backside pursuit seal (S4P4). His D+ came on (S9P2) for a nice KO.
  • Dray: +1-2 net -1 w/ 1D- After a great, net +7 game last week, I think it is safe to say that Dray was under utilized this week. His D-
  • Barnidge: 0... nada... zilch... Had one note that he had a dbl team w/ Dray and that's it...
RBs
  • Agnew: +3-5 net -2 w/ 1D- No need to pile on... Even this improvement from last week could not save him. NEXT!
  • Tate: +0-4 net -4 w/ 2D- Tate missed two blitz pick ups in short order. The first (S7P4) of a DE was instrumental in killing our ill-fated intial 4th down try. The second (S9P3) allowed the "strip" sack of BH.
  • Crow: +4-0 net +4 w/ 1D+ His D+ came on a nice stunt pick up (S10P5). He also had a couple of more straightforward blitz pick ups (S12P7 & S15P8).
WRs
  • We have one new member of our D+ Club this week... Hawk. Unbelievably in a HurryUp he was asked to take a TE role and cut/ seal a DE from pursuing a run (S6P2). While he did negate it later with a holding penalty (it was a good hold), still...
  • Hawk: +2-2 net 0 w/ 1D+ & 1D-
  • Gabe: +1-0 net +1 Nice shielding off of an LB on an early run (S4P2).
  • Austin: +0-2 net -2 w/ 1D- He olayed an LB on his way to a tackle (S7P3), but TBH he should not have been put in that position... it was a strange play call/ formation to say the least.
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Sounds like we need to get the McDonald kid ready to play center and slide Greco back to guard. I remember McQ was rated one of the worst guards in league last year in Seattle, we can't afford to keep starting him. Of course I know nothing about McDonald ... but we know Greco is a better guard than he is a center, and we know McQ stinks.

 

And the less fullback the better.

 

Zombo

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This is why we paid Alex Mack so much money... he's worth it. I couldn't believe how much worse our offense looked by missing one player... a Center at that, but there's a reason the guy was a pro bowler last year.

 

Our team is built to run the football and protect the QB. O-line is everything. We're not going to be able to win the way we want until we improve the C/RG situation.

 

Agree w/ above... Greco needs to get back to RG, BUT bringing in a new C mid-season is asking for trouble... I hope Shanahan can pull something out of his a** this week to improve our production or else we're going to be in trouble...

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Interesting catch about the tight WR making the box appearing stacked. That seems to make sense as to why a lot of times it seemed that way. Either way the Jags beat us because they dared Hoyer to throw and it worked extremely well. Hopefully Hoyer and all the O-line go back to the drawing board as I'm sure other defenses will note that.

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Tour-now that the Jags have figured out how to stop the Browns O, do we see more of the same from everyone until we find a correction?

Without a quality center this could turn into a nightmare season for Hoyer and the Browns. This whole scheme is based on top notch OL play.

I know we are both believers that line play is the heart of a team. This injury to Mack seems to threaten everything planned for the season. It's

far more worrisome than who plays QB.

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Interesting catch about the tight WR making the box appearing stacked. That seems to make sense as to why a lot of times it seemed that way. Either way the Jags beat us because they dared Hoyer to throw and it worked extremely well. Hopefully Hoyer and all the O-line go back to the drawing board as I'm sure other defenses will note that.

 

I'm sure Oakland will try the same defensive front, provided that they have the personnel to pull it off.

 

BTW, great analysis Tour.

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Tour-now that the Jags have figured out how to stop the Browns O, do we see more of the same from everyone until we find a correction?

Without a quality center this could turn into a nightmare season for Hoyer and the Browns. This whole scheme is based on top notch OL play.

I know we are both believers that line play is the heart of a team. This injury to Mack seems to threaten everything planned for the season. It's far more worrisome than who plays QB.

Ag,

I honestly cannot answer that question... at least not substantially differently than I did a similar one in a different thread.

 

There's been a blueprint for beating every offense in the league. The questions are once the blueprint is established does:

1. The next opponent have the D to carry out the mission?

2. Does the OC devise an effective response to the blueprint?

 

Certainly our O-line's injury induced, performance drop makes the former more likely. That only increases the urgency of Shanny's response. I think that Shanny overlooked one, in-game against JAX... the spread.

 

As for the impact of the center... I want to say that starting a more athletic one is the simple answer, but I don't know for sure. This line had been building its game for months. To replace its fulcrum is a tall order for anyone; obviously our first attempt was not successful.

 

One thing for sure, our Offense cannot sustain the long drives it is designed to produce, if two or more O-linemen are going to take turns earning D-'s...

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One of the 2 first-rd picks next year should be OL.

We're seeing this year the benefit of OL investment.. that's why Dallas is dominant.

Hopefully the other will be DL.

 

It really is too bad we had not promoted Lewis off the PS. But then who knew we would suddenly need a replacement for the key guy? I agree OL is first priority, preferably someone versatile enough for any position along the line. Dallas did it the right way despite Jerrah's personal hopes to snag JM.

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