Quick thoughts on Colts-Raiders

[GoBigBlue88]

Originally Posted by Dam8610

Hunt was very close to having a 2 sack game. Was he otherwise a non-factor? Because pressure on the QB is a big part of what's expected from the 3 tech in this defense.

He was pushed off the line pretty easily (Colts run defense wasn't exactly encouraging yesterday), and "he had a hand on his shoulder pad twice" isn't any endorsement of good play. It's the same thing we slaughtered Tarrell Basham for. Not putting Hunt in that same category, to be clear, but whereas he spent the CIN/WAS/PHI games living in the backfield and bullying the OL, he's been consistently stymied or pushed off the line ever since his knee injury.

[1965southpaw]

Originally Posted by rm1369

I can’t really comment much on individual technique, but play design and the overall offensive concepts have certainly helped the OL tremendously. With the last regime they had the worst of both worlds - lack of talent and schemes that didn’t compensate or acknowledge that weakness. Addressing one without the other would have improved the situation, but addressing both has turned a weakness into a strength. Good to see the GM and coach appear to be on the same page.

Yes, agree x 1000....I didn't see the post game presser but heard that Gruden said the colts oline were "imposing their will on us".

[FatDT]

Originally Posted by GoBigBlue88

He was pushed off the line pretty easily (Colts run defense wasn't exactly encouraging yesterday), and "he had a hand on his shoulder pad twice" isn't any endorsement of good play. It's the same thing we slaughtered Tarrell Basham for. Not putting Hunt in that same category, to be clear, but whereas he spent the CIN/WAS/PHI games living in the backfield and bullying the OL, he's been consistently stymied or pushed off the line ever since his knee injury.

Hunt and Sheard have to play at their talent ceiling for this DL to be good. Both are good players that should be parts of a rotation, not featured. We need a #1 pass rusher, a better NT, and another Sheard/Hunt-level player. Lewis might be that, hopefully he is.

This line would be better if Hankins, Anderson, and Simon were still on it.

[omahacolt]

Originally Posted by Chaka

Excellent analysis GBB, thank you. The above comment struck me as particularly notable. Would anyone have imagined that people would be saying “anyone can succeed with this OL” even a year ago? The transformation of the OL is just staggering.

And partly accidental considering the right side

[FatDT]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

And partly accidental considering the right side

Yeah I've thought about that. Everyone's going on about how Ballard fixed the OL. Reich figured out the OL. Etc. I've said it too. But the intended RG and RT were Slauson and Good, right? It would've been better if they'd figured out the best combo in camp. But whatever, it's working now and it's fun to watch.

[rm1369]

Originally Posted by FatDT

Yeah I've thought about that. Everyone's going on about how Ballard fixed the OL. Reich figured out the OL. Etc. I've said it too. But the intended RG and RT were Slauson and Good, right? It would've been better if they'd figured out the best combo in camp. But whatever, it's working now and it's fun to watch.

I’d agree, but considering the injuries it’s hard to knock them. To me it actually makes it more impressive.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by omahacolt

And partly accidental considering the right side

I’ll only agree with you to a limited extent on this statement. There’s no denying that Ballard selected Smith and signed Glowinski, so there’s no accident there. Someone posted a quote a few days ago, however, that he feels he got “lucky” with regard to Smith because he didn’t really view him as RT. So you’re right to this extent.

On this last point, did anything during the Raiders game change your view at all that Good or Clark would be a better fit at RT?

[sherck]

Originally Posted by FatDT

Hunt and Sheard have to play at their talent ceiling for this DL to be good. Both are good players that should be parts of a rotation, not featured. We need a #1 pass rusher, a better NT, and another Sheard/Hunt-level player. Lewis might be that, hopefully he is.

This line would be better if Hankins, Anderson, and Simon were still on it.

Hankins was abusing our O-Line on a couple of running plays yesterday. Just crushing gaps or getting off blocks to make the play.

You cannot tell me that he would not have fit in our 4 - 3. If Woods and Hunt fit, Hankins would have too.

Spilled milk but I agree that our D-line roation would be better with all three those guys.

Walk Worthy,

[rcubed]

These are nice numbers

-Marlon Mack: 5.3 YPC (25 carries for 132 yards)
-Nyheim Hines: 7.1 YPC (11 carries for 78 yards)
-Jordan Wilkins: 7.0 YPC (2 carries for 14 yards)

[GoBigBlue88]

Originally Posted by sherck

Hankins was abusing our O-Line on a couple of running plays yesterday. Just crushing gaps or getting off blocks to make the play.

You cannot tell me that he would not have fit in our 4 - 3. If Woods and Hunt fit, Hankins would have too.

Spilled milk but I agree that our D-line roation would be better with all three those guys.

Walk Worthy,

I'm going to have a hard time giving any Raiders defender (ESPECIALLY defensive linemen) props for that performance.