Quick Thoughts - Week 5

[ChaosTheory]

Good game. Definitely want to re-watch since I was in a noisy bar for 3 quarters, but I actually felt like they played better than the final score.


RICHARDSON:
----------------

-Elephant in the room out of the way... In five games, AR has finished one game, missed one game, and been knocked out early in three games. Yes, he needs to protect himself better... but this is something that just comes with the territory.

He's a running QB. Yes, he has arm talent and can make some impressive throws. But we drafted him at #4 because he 250lbs. and runs a 4.4. If you're going to build around that skillset, you don't stop calling plays for him because you (or he) is scared.

I don't want to hear that running QB's aren't any more likely to get injured. I understand pocket QB's can also get injured, but it's simple math... there are more opportunities for a QB like Richardson to get hurt. Not just big hits, but awkward falls, twisted limbs, non-contact injuries, etc.

Again, he absolutely needs to protect himself better... but it is what it is. Glad the X-Ray was negative, but that doesn't mean he'll be back soon. Hopefully, because he always looks good while he's in.


OFFENSE:
-----------

-Zack Moss is a fucking football player. I'm glad the JT stuff is behind us, but Moss once again made the case that Ballard could've not paid JT (yet) and I'd be ok with it.

-Water under the bridge, and now that we have both JT and Moss in the backfield... if/when JT returns to form, how scary is that? That's not even considering AR when he hopefully stays healthy. Dangerous backfield.

-Offensive line so far has made some of those off-season conversations seem ludicrous as I'd hoped/expected. The vets look better, Raimann (pre-injury) and Fries improved, and our backups have been a pleasant surprise. French and especially Freeland have impressed stepping up.

-Minshew continues to be a nice (and needed) luxury. Super efficient again and thankfully mixed in some deeper shots. This caliber of QB play is all this team has needed for a couple years.

-That final drive was fantastic, 14 plays, 7:03, end with a FG, and go up by 7 with 1-minute on the clock.

-Downs was the standout today. Kid looks better and better. A very Manning-era type receiver. MPJ had a couple good plays, Pierce didn't do anything until that final drive where he had a two big 3rd downs (PI and first down catch).

-I like Steichen's calling. I know people didn't like the 4th down at the end of the half, which I don't dispute... but it's hard for me to criticize because I like the aggression, and the play was there all day (Granson was held a bit which led to Minshew leading him too far).


DEFENSE:
-----------

-Overall pretty good, aside from that shit coming out of half time. I feel like the biggest thing I noticed was just solid tackling. Am I wrong about that?

-Front 7 still super solid. Henry was 13 for 43yds. Solid tackles, never let him spring one. Only one sack, but 8 QB hits and felt like much better pressure in the 2nd half.

-4th down stop was tremendous. Buckner and Franklin absolutely stonewalled Henry.

-Need to re-watch the secondary, but I thought they played fine mostly. Hopkins made it look bad at times, but he's good at beating zones and a couple times the pass-rush just allowed too much time.


What else?