Watson provided the only exciting plays yesterday but he was all over the place - without checking out the ALL 22 and watching the routes develop I wonder what the hell was going on in the intermediate passing game - it feels like we were back to the OBrien EP - you guys can even go back to the TD to Hopkins for an example of a typical OBrien route deployment. It was successful yes due to the defensive lapse, but look at the 3 streaking guys .. how long before they even look back for the ball? you telling me you need to help out our shiny, new "all pro" LT with max protect to his side? Coutee is trash. Why cant Stills play Fullers role? Whats so hard about running fast down the field and keeping the D honest? What happened to Duke Johnson in the passing game? "Deshaun holds the ball forever" -- yup. Tell the receivers to make their breaks quicker. Add a drag. Where was the presnap motion? Hardly any of what we saw last week.
Coaches also looked past Denver, they didnt think that a rookie QB would come in there and do that to them. Until this team implements true layer passing consistently, defenses will always be able to pressure Deshaun and force the team out of sync and it goes way deeper than the surface level "Deshaun cant read a defense" .. a hyper attacking D is crushing the very tenet of what the "OBrien EP" wants to do - long developing, deep passing. Saying "there is a guy open" out of 5 is not saying much, because the progression in the scheme has Deshaun looking downfield first (or his own HERO BALL), well its up to coaching to say at the meetings "this week we want to attack Denvers flanks, with methodical mid level passing and the RB flats/screens" whatever ... what do you think could have been the approach yesterday? HOw often do we see OBrien/Watson meetings on the sideline? Its almost like we're starting to see some cracks in the foundation so to speak by the body language of everyone involved during the game and during the post game press conferences.
KJAX was the XFactor - he knew exactly where OBrien/Watson would go with the ball and he showed up to the ball full of piss and vinegar - he versed his new team well and they kicked our ass all over the field. Where the hell was Roby? Didnt he want to "show up his old team" especially versus a ROOKIE QB?? These guys should have been licking their chops, instead they were left licking their wounds. KJAX >>>>>> Roby. We picked the wrong guy. Again.
Watson was bad. He took some unnecessary hits, didnt see the field well. going through the motions. He was still our best player on the field. If you take away the 7 points OBrien gave away right before the half (already questionable to go for it there, and then compound that by calling a pass play??? ouch), and the "is he down" KJAX lateral return TD then it becomes a coin flip game. Coulda, shoulda, woulda. I was so excited too, I saw some wrinkles at the beginning of the game that were really good implementations, but it went all for not because most of the team was just staring at butterflies all afternoon.
Distressing part is that starting off slow is not relegated to these types of games. Starting off slow is almost the OBrien hallmark and what his "offense" is known for. If designing great plays isnt his job, and the players execution is not his job, then surely getting them ready to play IS HIS JOB right? This team looked like a team that was rolling over on a lame duck coach.
As far as jumping on Crennel, he's doing the best he can with the assortment of JAGS he's been given. Who the hell on that side of the ball is a difference maker? Seriously, I get being mad over running cushioned coverages, but what would you guys like better, giving up deep TD after deep TD because these "great new CBs" we just acquired arent really all that great? #potential. Denver has solid receivers and when that happens our 1st round defensive backs tend to struggle. Another game, another TE lights up the D. So much for having a "TE Whisperer" ... it was 21-0 real fast and the defense was reeling, yet the offense couldnt stop some of that momentum, couldnt help their "scrappy, bend but dont break" defense when they have all the talent on their side of the ball.
Enough blame to go around.
Feels like the Tacks are just going to trounce us and make us look like fools, so surely we will win by 21. Thats the MO of this team, and some of my longtime PSL friends are already talking about "hating the 2 game playoff invoice" with this squad. Sad state of affairs when all hope is lost knowing precisely what your limitations are.
I came here this morning expecting excuses for WatJICson's poor game. Thanks for not disappointing me.