While the numbers look bad ARs performance was actually encouraging. I can see the incremental improvement. The accuracy wasn’t perfect but it was better than it was early in the season. That dime to AP was an absolutely perfect throw and he had a dart to MP that just as impressive. He had a few others that were very well placed. The throw aways show me growth. And he ran the ball hard without injury. He even got down a time or two when the contact would be unnecessary. He saved the OL multiple sure sacks on nearly any other QB. Ball security is still a concern though.
D also had its issues and the scheme is fucking awful, but they played well early. They wilted but that’s not surprising considering the offensive struggles.
OL sucks - the rookies are getting destroyed (especially Tucker). Nelson and Smith have been mediocre as well - constant stupid penalties and getting beat more often than they should. I get the unit aspect of OL play but individually they should be better than they’ve been.
We are in the Ballard “we have to draft it” mode at TE and the team is paying for it. Just as we have several other positions over the last 7 years. I’m fucking tired of it.
JT is overrated. Yes, he maximizes the creases the OL gives him better than most RBs, but if the OL isn’t providing decent creases he’s below average. He’s not a bruising “turn no gain into 3 yds” consistently back. He’s not a “scat” or Barry Sanders “ready to turn a missed tackle into a huge gain at any moment” type back. He’s mediocre as a pass catcher and a negative in pass pro. Basically he’s a luxury back.
Steichen seemed better situationally - no time out before half and accepted the punt when pinned deep in on 3rd and long. Both are encouraging. I’m still not a fan of the overall play calling though. With the OL struggles they should be moving the pocket more with designed roll outs that also let AR threaten the edge with his legs.
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