Just my evaluation of Matt Leinart

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by b0ng
I would say that a lot of the stuff he showed in the Saints game is what gave me this general opinion. He only tried a few deep throws (Which were a little off) and the short stuff wasn't really that impressive to me. He did look better against the 9'ers, and respectable enough vs the Vikings, but that Saints game bugged me about him.

I will say that I feel way better about Leinart being here as the next backup than Rex Grossman or Dan Orlovsky.

Originally Posted by 76Texan

I've finished taking all the screenshot of the 18 pass attempts by Leinart in this game. (There was also another attempt that was not recorded as the CB was called for holding.)

I don't have time to disect the plays until maybe tomorrow or Friday, so for now, just let me post the link to the photo album:

http://s1217.photobucket.com/albums/...%202%20Saints/

Don't have much time so I'm just gonna throw out a quick analysis of Leinart's play against the Saints in the PS.

IMO, he played quite well, especially given the circumstances.
See the link above for screenshots of all the plays.

..

Texans were playing with a make-shift line:
63 Barbieri, 79 Wallace, 70 Pemberton, 71 Smith, and 75 Newton

The Saints were still playing with starters like:
#90 DT/DE McBride, #58 LB Shanle, #56 LB Dunbar
2nd stringers:
#93 Galette
#94 Jordan
Reserve:
#76 King
...

2nd Qtr (1 min drill)

1-10-HST 14 (:59) (Shotgun) B.Tate up the middle ran ob at NO 43 for 43 yards (T.Lambert). R17


1-10-NO 43 (:50) (Shotgun) M.Leinart pass to J.Jones to NO 35 for 8 yards (S.Shanle).
With the Saints playing Cover 2 to prevent the long passes, the Texans looked to move the ball with short passes.
There were only 50 secs left in the half.
If we can't get a TD, we'd like to be in range for a FG here.
On this play, they ran a Hi-Lo with Dreessen ran his up-and-out route such as to "screen out" the nickel back (I marked him here as the SAM by mistake).
JJ cut underneath on a quick slant for 8.
This is Leinart's first read, and since JJ was wide open, Leinart quickly found him.


2-2-NO 35 (:36) (Shotgun) M.Leinart pass short right to J.Dreessen to NO 21 for 14 yards (M.Parson). P18
Timeout #2 by HST at 00:29.
The Saints were in cover 2 again, with 5 underneath zone.
Seeing that the SAM 58 shaded too much to the inside while Dreessen was going to run the quick up-and-out route like in the previous play (and should be open in the zone), Leinart quickly found him for a 14-yd gain.


1-10-NO 21 (:29) (Shotgun) M.Leinart pass incomplete deep right to D.Darling [J.Galette].PENALTY on NO-M.Parson, Illegal Contact, 5 yards, enforced at NO 21 - No Play. X19
Texans were in single back shotgun spread.
The Saints came with an all-out blitz (7 men).
Leinart wanted to go with his first read #86 Casey, but one of the DT beat a block and was ready to bat the ball down.
Leinart smartly pulled the ball down.
With pressure from 3 sides (frame #12), Leinart did all he can to avoid the pass rushes and managed to step up (to the right).
A throw to his left (Casey) would be very awkward for a lefty so Leinart looked for Darling along the right side line (frame #18).
Darling should have cut short his route to come back to help out his QB, especially since the LCB already turned his head to go back deep.
This was the best throw that Leinart can make under the circumstances.
He did several things well here, including not trying to run with the ball (time constraint) as one of the D-linemen (93 Galette) pound on him and put him down just as he released the ball.


1-10-NO 16 (:25) (Shotgun) M.Leinart pass incomplete deep right to J.Dreessen [Turk.McBride].
Leinart made the correct decision to throw the ball away here.
SDE Galette beat Newton and almost pulled Leinart down by Leinart's left arm (his throwing arm.)
Leinart did a good job holding on to the ball with both hands
He stepped up (and in the process, avoided a blitzing LB who came in free on the right side of the offense) but there was no room in the pocket.
Leinart got rid of the ball as DT McBride pound on him from behind.

2-10-NO 16 (:20) (Shotgun) M.Leinart pass incomplete short middle to J.Jones.
The nickel back left JJ to come in on a blitz.
Leinart's throw was just high (very slightly behind but within arm reach).
What the Texans broadcasters (Spencer Tilman and ??) didn't mention was that the ball was tipped by the blitzing CB - by a fingertip.
I learned this fact from Wilcott Solomon, the analyst on the Saints' feed.


3-10-NO 16 (:17) (Shotgun) M.Leinart pass incomplete deep middle to J.Dreessen.
Another 6-man blitz. A LB came in free, forcing Leinart to throw the ball away as there was no hot route in the pattern. Leinart was decked as he got rid of the ball.
For the drive, Leinart made all the right decisions, didn't take any sack, and moved the ball well within FG range for Rackers.


4-10-NO 16 (:12) N.Rackers 34 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-S.Albritton, Holder-B.Maynard.

[76Texan]

Third quarter

Houston Texans at 15:00, (1st play from scrimmage 14:56)

1-10-HST 14 (14:56) M.Leinart pass short left to J.Dreessen to HST 23 for 9 yards (S.Miller).
On the bootleg, Leinart looked first to Lester Jean and Graham downfield, but neither was open (both were double-teamed).
JJ was running a quick out as Leinart rolled out; the RCB played underneath; there was no throw. If there was a "sight-adjust" call here, JJ would have turned downfield (but he didn't.)
Leinart did well to find Dreessen for a 9-yd gain (Dreessen had fallen down on the block, but got up to finish his route.)


2-1-HST 23 (14:17) C.Ogbonnaya up the middle to HST 25 for 2 yards (Turk.McBride, M.Wilson). R20
1-10-HST 25 (13:41) C.Ogbonnaya right guard to HST 28 for 3 yards (S.Miller; M.Wilson).


2-7-HST 28 (13:05) M.Leinart pass incomplete short middle to J.Jones (C.Jordan).
Against a 7-man blitz (only 6 blockers), Leinart quickly went to the hot route (JJ) but the ball was tipped by Mitch King.


3-7-HST 28 (13:00) (Shotgun) M.Leinart pass incomplete short middle to J.Jones (J.Dunbar).
On a 6-man blitz, MLB hurried Leinart's throw.
The pass was a little high and in front of JJ (which is where you'd want the ball to be such that the receiver is the only one who has a chance at it.)
Leinart was decked by Dunbar just after he released the ball.
On 3rd and 7, going with JJ was a good idea (trying to get the first down.)

PUNT

[76Texan]

Houston Texans at 10:42

1-10-NO 27 (10:42) C.Ogbonnaya right end to NO 22 for 5 yards (M.Parson, S.Miller).
2-5-NO 22 (10:05) C.Ogbonnaya left tackle to NO 22 for no gain (J.Dunbar).

3-5-NO 22 (9:23) M.Leinart pass incomplete short left to T.Toliver.
Against a 7-man blitz, Leinart quickly found his first read that would have converted the third down had he (Tolliver) not dropped the ball on a quick hook.

4-5-NO 22 (9:19) N.Rackers 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-S.Albritton, Holder-B.Hartmann.

[76Texan]

Houston Texans at 6:14

1-10-HST 34 (6:14) M.Leinart pass incomplete short right to L.Vickers.
Leinart's first read (Dreessen) was running toward coverage, so Leinart went with his 2nd read (Vickers) who promptly dropped the ball. He was wide open and would have gained at least 5 yards in the flat.


2-10-HST 34 (6:08) M.Leinart pass incomplete deep left to J.Jones.
Leinart's pass was just long to JJ on the side line.
The LDT didn't allow Leinart a whole lot of time to sit in the pocket.


3-10-HST 34 (6:02) M.Leinart pass short right to D.Dickerson to HST 47 for 13 yards (M.Parson). P21
On third and 10, Leinart correctly identified the open man (his second read) Dickerson for 13 and a first down.

1-10-HST 47 (5:28) C.Ogbonnaya left end to NO 47 for 6 yards (Tru.McBride).
2-4-NO 47 (4:50) C.Ogbonnaya left tackle to NO 45 for 2 yards (C.Jordan).
3-2-NO 45 (4:12) C.Ogbonnaya up the middle to NO 40 for 5 yards (Tru.McBride).
PENALTY on HST-C.Pemberton, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at NO 45 - No Play.


3-7-50 (3:45) M.Leinart pass short middle to D.Darling to NO 42 for 8 yards (J.Amaya) [J.Dunbar].
On third and seven, against a 7-man blitz, Leinart played it well drawing the blitzers in before hitting Darling on a shallow cross for 8 and a first down.


1-10-NO 42 (3:05) C.Ogbonnaya left guard to NO 39 for 3 yards (M.King).

2-7-NO 39 (2:26) M.Leinart pass short right to J.Jones pushed ob at NO 33 for 6 yards (M.Parson).
On another all-out blitz, Leinart found JJ for 6 on a smashed pattern (Graham deep, JJ cut underneath on a quick out) to make it 3rd and one.


3-1-NO 33 (2:00) C.Ogbonnaya right tackle to NO 35 for -2 yards (M.King; J.Amaya).
Timeout #1 by HST at 01:14.

4-3-NO 35 (1:14) M.Leinart pass incomplete short right to G.Graham.
On 4th and 3, Leinart found the right target Graham on a bump and run quick out.
Graham knew that he should have caught that ball (he was clapping his hand to acknowledge it right after the play.) It was a very catchable ball for a NFL TE.

[76Texan]

4th Quarter

Houston Texans at 14:48
1-10-HST 19 (14:48) C.Ogbonnaya left tackle to HST 21 for 2 yards (J.Amaya).

2-8-HST 21 (14:13) M.Leinart pass short middle to D.Darling to HST 27 for 6 yards (M.Parson).
Against another all-out (7-man) blitz, Leinart quickly found Darling for a 6-yd gain to give the Texans a very manageable 3rd and 2.


3-2-HST 27 (13:36) C.Ogbonnaya left tackle to HST 28 for 1 yard (P.Prioleau).

PUNT

[76Texan]

Houston Texans at 10:02

1-10-HST 10 (10:02) M.Leinart pass short middle to A.Hill to HST 15 for 5 yards (M.Wilson).
Leinart did well pulling the ball back to avoid a possible batted ball by the DE Jordan.
The pump fake also drew two defenders toward Vickers in the flat.
Leinart bought some time and threw the ball to TE Hill for a 5-yd gain.


2-5-HST 15 (9:24) C.Ogbonnaya right guard to HST 22 for 7 yards (M.Wilson). R23
1-10-HST 22 (8:43) C.Ogbonnaya left tackle to HST 29 for 7 yards (D.Roberson, Q.Butler).
2-3-HST 29 (8:01) C.Ogbonnaya right guard to HST 31 for 2 yards (D.Roberson, C.Reis).
3-1-HST 31 (7:20) C.Ogbonnaya right end pushed ob at HST 44 for 13 yards (N.Bussey).
1-10-HST 44 (6:48) C.Ogbonnaya left tackle to HST 44 for no gain (C.Reis)
.

2-10-HST 44 (6:07) M.Leinart pass incomplete deep right to D.Townsel.
On a 7-man blitz, Leinrart went for it and threw the ball long toward the side line.
There was a miscommunication here as the receiver Townsend didn't adjust to the outside throw.


3-10-HST 44 (6:01) J.Williams right end to NO 49 for 7 yards (D.Roberson).

[76Texan]

Don't forget that the Texans put another scrub on the O-line in the 4th Qtr (#77 G Morris) while the Saints still have some 2nd stringers in there (Jordan, Galette, Wilson)

Starter McBride played all of the third quarter, while starters Dunbar and Shanle played through the first series in the 4th quarter (the first of 2 series for Leinart in the 4th).

Leinart faced a lot of pressure and made all the right decisions.
If he continues to do this, I see no reason why the offense would stall.
That is unless our O-line stinks it up or the opponents' D play light out.

[steelbtexan]

76, You're giving me hope. LOL

Looks like Leinart will be able to make the plays necessary to keep the offense moving. He seems to make good decisions with the ball.

The only throw he cant make is the deep out to the far hash. (Schaub doesn't do this well either.) This could be that he lost some arm strength after his surgey.

[Playoffs]

If you were to put a speed gun on Leinart's in game passes versus Shaub's, what would it say ... ?

Subjectively, just watching pregame comparisons, it looks like Leinart's would be clocked slower/lower m.p.h.?