This is the last straw

[trace2001]

I have been a fan since the beginning but usually just hang back and read everyone’s comments. I could not see the game but listened to it on the net and man was this painful. I was in Carolina when the Panthers started up and what Capers can do with great players is only mediocre and we do not have to many great players any more. Capers has shown to be a good defensive coach and maybe he should stay there. As far as Palmer I don’t think he has shown to be good at any level. It is time to make some changes and if any one thinks that a 5 year plan will ever happen they are crazy.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by Runner

No, we replaced the young and improving LT with an equivalent LT who is older, peaked, and declining. Wand wouldn't have saved this game by any means, but at least he may be building for the future. In any event, Riley isn't a "win now" replacement.

I've been saying keep Wand in the line-up, but maybe this game shows that he wasn't the root cause of our offensive woes last year, as many thought.

Pendry has now replaced him twice with inferior players, and Pendry can't improve what talent he has.

I thought Riley played well. Why just bash the LT? most of our pressure was up the middle like last year. I saw Wells and DD miss critical blocks as well.

[PapaL]

Does the 5 year plan include starting over at year 5? The players obviously have talent and are attempting to execute the coaches plan. Seems like the plan is setting them up for failure.

[NederlandTexan]

Originally Posted by LCROD

Does the 5 year plan include starting over at year 5? The players obviously have talent and are attempting to execute the coaches plan. Seems like the plan is setting them up for failure.

That just about sums it up.

[baytoniantexan]

I would say a good start would be replacing the o coordinator. If you're able to sit at home and be able to call the plays the same as he does, then what is he there for? I mean they are supposed to know more than we are right? I think the defense did the best they could with the amount of time they were forced to be on the field (offense gaining a little over a hundred yards). It's still early enough to make some small changed in personel. They have speedy receivers, a great runningback crew, and a quarterback if given a little more than average time to throw can be great.

[baytoniantexan]

Originally Posted by NederlandTexan

That just about sums it up.

I agree!!!!

[trace2001]

Maybe if we start over after 5 with a good coaching staff we could see the same results as Carolina.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Vinny

I thought Riley played well. Why just bash the LT? most of our pressure was up the middle like last year. I saw Wells and DD miss critical blocks as well.

I'm not bashing only the LT, or saying it was all his fault. The whole team seemed mired in something. I thought it was ridiculous last year and this pre-season when people claimed Wand was the whole problem last year. I've certainly taken my fair share of bashing when I claimed Riely wasn't an upgrade. I think he was no better than Wand would have been this game, and maybe worse. His guy chased Carr a lot too.

As far as Riley playing well, I wouldn't go that far. I do think that sometimes he isn't running the same line call as Pitts. I saw that in the last pre-season game on one specific play, and maybe a couple of times today. I don't claim to "grade tape" like some around here and come to simplistic solutions. For instance the first sack (on the 3rd offensive play!) was on a stunt where the end made the tackle. I don't blame Pitts or Riley individually, I think they aren't familiar enough with each other to know what they each were going to do. Wand and Pitts would have made that block.

I've been lambasted frequently on this board when I've given my opinion that Wand was not the problem with the line, and I'm just pointing out that the guy they replaced him with isn't better, and with Wand gone the line still played poorly. So now we're wasting Wand's learning curve of last year, stopping him from making that 2nd to 3rd year improvement that Pitts made, and messing with line cohesion - all for no reason, since Riley isn't better.

You've got to go with the guy who can improve and get play longer if they are the same skill level. C'mon - Riley can't even keep the wieght off!

I think Coach Pendry:

a) makes poor personnel decisions
b) can't make his lineman any better

I've seen at the training camp practices I was lucky enough to go to that he's a good yeller; I've yet to see he's a good coach. I think he, rather than any individual player, is the biggest problem with the O-line.

There are already posts saying that we'll get a stud left tackle next year. How much improvement would that bring, given the coach/players/schemes we saw today?

[Vinny]

I didn't think Wand was the 'big' problem last year either. I do think Riley is a superior run blocker than Wand is right now though. Pass blocking may be a push, but Riley has a ton of experience and has a more temperamental disposition from what I can see. I don't think Riley is anything but a short term patch at LT though. I have to watch the game again but I don’t think I saw much breakdown on the edge. Most of our problems were up the middle and switching when blitzed. That’s a combination of problems from coaching to poor execution/talent.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Runner

As far as Riley playing well, I wouldn't go that far. I do think that sometimes he isn't running the same line call as Pitts. I saw that in the last pre-season game on one specific play, and maybe a couple of times today. I don't claim to "grade tape" like some around here and come to simplistic solutions. For instance the first sack (on the 3rd offensive play!) was on a stunt where the end made the tackle. I don't blame Pitts or Riley individually, I think they aren't familiar enough with each other to know what they each were going to do. Wand and Pitts would have made that block.

So now we're wasting Wand's learning curve of last year, stopping him from making that 2nd to 3rd year improvement that Pitts made, and messing with line cohesion - all for no reason, since Riley isn't better.

I've quoted myself, and now Victor Riley:

"There are so many (blitzes) and there is so much communication," said left tackle Victor Riley, the only new starter on the line this season. "When you're in an away stadium, you might miss a call, and if one person misses a call then it messes up the whole protection."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3349457

I'll give Riley credit - at least he'll step up and admit a problem and take responsibility. That's more than I've seen out of others. I'd heard he was decent guy.