Copy cat league changing thoughts on QB prospects

The success of RG3, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and even Andrew Luck has teams reconsidering the way they rate the QB coming out of college.

I find this absolutely ridiculous, does a QB need to be a runner, no but does he have to be athletic to side step the rush?  Yes most definitely.

There is a difference between the two.  The NFL has taken so many steps to protect the QB to ensure offenses continue to succeed to put points on the board which keeps butts in the seats as well as viewers watching on TV. Fact

All bets are off when it comes to protecting the QB as soon he becomes a runner. Yes, they can still slide to avoid a tackle but if you are running inside consistently, you are going to get your guy roughed up. It takes a toll on your thrower and can impact the entire team, ask Phildelphia.

Personally, your QB needs to have the athleticism to extend a play with his feet but complete it with his arm. Teams mortgage their future to hit on a franchise QB (Washington) and why in the hell would you put your most prized and valuable commodity in a position to take more hits.

A QB prospect that cannot extend the play with his feet and beat you with his arm should be not be a high prospect regardless. A QB that can only run the ball but struggles to beat you through the air can be easily defeated in the NFL.  They can get away with it in college but not in the pros.  Fact until proven otherwise where it counts, Super Bowls son!

The count is still at zero!  Ask Philadelphia (Vick, Randall Cunningham), Denver (Tebow), Minnesota (Tavaris Jackson), Dallas (Quincy Carter), Tennessee (Vince Young) and Pittsburgh (Kordell Stewart). The arguement can go on forever debating whether or not the likes of John Elway, Steve Young, Steve McNair and Donovan mcNabb were running QBs or QBs who could extend plays with their feet but beat you with their arm.

Fact is there are about 15-20 great to quality quarterbacks capable of handling an NFL offense and beating a defense consistently on Sundays, that means there are less than one for every team in the NFL. With the hopes of a championship riding on keeping your quarterback in the game, again I ask, why in the hell would you put them in that position to take more hits?

I am not changing what I look for in a NFL QB prospect, a good arm, anticipate your throws with accuracy, plus footwork, progress through your reads, find passing lanes and extend the play with your feet but beat the defense with your arm.

Cowboys vs Seahawks recap

Cowboys vs Seahawks recap

- Dallas once again could control the line of scrimmage offensively, the tackles Tyron Smith and Doug Free did not perform well. Smith had his worst game of his short career but was abused in pass protection as well as blitz pick up. Free was better than his Giants performance but if you are happy with a C- grade I suppose you can be happy about that.

Factor in all the drops by Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, simply could not get any rhythm offensively. The offense flows through DeMarco Murray and since they could not run the ball consistently, and receivers not help Romo.

Defensively, the gameplan was to play coverage vs Russell Wilson and force the rookie to throw into lots of coverage where Rob Ryan figures is the strength of his unit. He did not want to blitz Wilson due to the fear he would beat the Cowboys with his feet where he is most comfortable. It is a good theory unless you spot your opponent 10 points before the fans get to their seats. Factor in that the Cowboys D could not control the defensive line of scrimmage either and that let Marshawn Lynch to pound the ball consistently especially in the second half.

Then to complete the recipe of defeat, the special teams unit fumbles the opening kickoff and gives up a blocked punt which was Dan Connor's screw up for a touchdown. Game over

How good is Ranger pitching?

The Rangers are poised to make a 3rd consecutive postseason appearance while at the same time completely re-loading their starting rotation. 

2010 did it with Cliff Lee, C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis with a rookie Tommy Hunter as well.
2011 They almost won a world series with a very shaky rotation, C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland Matt Harrison filling out the rotation.

Introduce the 2012 rotation and the entire 2010 postseason rotation is gone, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Ryan Dempster and rookie Yu Darvish.

That is unbelievable to reload a rotation like that without breaking the bank or your farm system, are they even better?  Check out these numbers.

The Rangers projected postseason starting rotation since the middle of August.

Ryan Dempster
Since August 20th
36 1/3, 31 hits, 13 walks with 36 strikeouts. ERA of 2.97

Derek Holland
Since August 22
42 Innings Pitched, 33 hits, 9 walks with 38 strikeouts. ERA of 2.78

Matt Harrison
Since August 14th
46 2/3 IP, 40 hits, 11 walks, 33 strikeouts. ERA of 3.09 and its 1.96 if you take out his 5 & 1/3 inning start where he gave up 7 runs to Tampa Bay.

Yu Darvish:
Since August 17th
41 Innings Pitched, 17 hits, 9 walks with 48 strikeouts. ERA of 1.76
Only given up 8 hits in month of September.

Does this team have an ace? No they do not, what they do have is depth and that gives them an edge in a long series. Texas will be at a disadvantage in a elimination game versus another teams No.1 starter as this offense has failed to consistently produce in 2012 especially with Josh Hamilton and Michael Young in the heart of the lineup.

Cowboys vs Giants using coaches film (Part V)

5. So much of the talk in camp and preseason was the rebuilt offensive line but most forgot the secondary was almost rebuilt returning only one starter in Sensabaugh. We had to expect some mistakes from Claiborne but had to be pleased with his performance not giving up easy receptions and especially no big plays surrendered either. However there were a few technique flaws to his game that can tip their hand to the opponent especially with his footwork

He got schooled by Bradshaw on a running play to give up a touchdown, a corner has to make that tackle or find a way to force him back inside to his help. He can't do what he did and give up an easy score.

Church was also making his first start, very impressed with his style playing a downhill aggressive safety who is not afraid of contact. I showed earlier his ability to get in the passing lane and be in position to make a play on the ball and just miss on it. It sure seems Rob Ryan has faith in the kid playing him close to the line but his aggressiveness will be used against him at some point this year.

Just for fun. I want to post my favorite play of the game, the Miles Austin touchdown to seal the game.  I marked it as a negative read by Romo but sometimes great players just make great plays regardless.

6:26-4Q-1st and 30. Obvious pass play, this is not a good read by Romo. Austin is double covered but the trust they have makes him throw it.

Pays off as Austin goes for it at the highest point inside the coverage. Touchdown Dallas. All but seals the game.

Cowboys vs Giants using coaches film (Part IV)

4. Dallas is going against the sound idea that the Giants have used to two superbowl championships, superior pass rush can cover up a suspect secondary. The Cowboys are trying to win with superior coverage and move Demarcus Ware all over to generate consistent pressure as well as confuse opposing quarterbacks with pre-snap movement.

Historically, Dallas blitzes Eli often almost 40% of the time without success, he has proved to be one of the league's best when pressure as he trust his receivers to go up and get the ball.

The gameplan was to show different looks with the safeties in the box, show blitz and then occasionally back out into deep half coverage. Then allow Brandon Carr and rookie Morris Claiborne to get physical at the line jamming the receivers and not give up the easy reception. It helps a lot when you don't have Terence Newman and Alan Ball as easy targets for Eli.

Throughout the first quarter either Church or Sensabaugh lined up in the box showing blitz but backed out of it. This time he would be coming and obviously Manning thought pre-snap he was going to back out of it.

15:00-2Q-43 in box but previous times had darted back into deep half coverage. This time 43 blitzes off edge, misses sack but 94 finishes the play. Sack

 They catch the giants in a playaction with the fullback releasing up the middle. Sensabaugh has to finish the play but Ware is there.

Fast forward to the third quarter, pre-snap suggest two safeties back in deep half coverage, Manning is so good looking off his primary receiver then coming back. Dallas has seen it for years and beaten so often. However Barry Church is an aggressive safety who also hasn't been beaten badly in coverage yet. He is sitting in zone just playing the 10 yard curl and then undercut the route. He is in perfect position to make a play on the ball but just misses it. Play call was perfect.

10:19-3Q-Giants 1st and 10. Play is 10 yard curl to 80. Cowboys show man, 2 safeties deep. Both LBs in tight. 42 is playing that curl to make a play on that ball.

 Dangerous to double move since he's playing aggressive like that. Here it works and almost gets a INT.

Carr's debut in Cowboy blue was good but by no means perfect. He is a smart corner who understands times when to be aggressive and when to back off to just not give up the deep ball. He was not a shutdown corner nor the aggressive tackler but he is the efficient corner who just does not give up many receptions especially deep ones.

13:43-4q-3rd down, giants in shotgun. 42 lines up in box, then just prior to snap backs out of it. Historically Dallas blitzed and pressured Eli a lot in passing but left secondary vulnerable. Rob Ryan used this history against Eli and it worked most of the night.

No blitz, coverage sack as Eli with no where to go with ball. Unlike last year, there is no Alan Ball or Newman to easily target for completions in secondary. 31 Butler sticks like glue to underneath route, 93 with inside pressure and 97 finishes the play with sack.

It wasn't all good as the Giants still had opportunities.  The first one is one play Carr would like to forget.


6:31-3Q-3rd and 4 for Giants. Cowboys in nickel D appear to be playing cover 3 with Mana Silva responsible for the middle of the field. Carr is playing off. Play goes to 87 runs a go route inside of Carr. Manning fires as soon as 87 clears 43, Carr is in perfect position to undercut the route and at the very least knock the ball away.

However he times his jump terribly and Silva cannot close fast enough to knock the ball away. The scheme worked but player execution failed Rob Ryan's team.

10:50 in the 1st quarter brings up a Giants 3rd and 5.  Victor Cruz is the slot on Eli's left side.  They will be running a pick play with the outside receiver cutting to the inside hopefully to "accidentally" pick off the defender lined up on Cruz.

 The Giants tried this route several times throughout the game but Dallas was either in off coverage or seamlessly picked up the receivers not giving the instant separation as on this play.

Cowboys vs Giants using coaches film (Part III)

3. For the second year in a row, most draft freaks were screaming for Dallas to draft a powerful run stuffing nose tackle and push Jay Ratliff to end. The logic was allow Ratliff to become a dominating end in a 3-4 and improve the run defense with the giant nose tackle to stuff the inside run. Josh Brent would get that chance along with versatile Sean Lissemore with Ratliff recovering from the high ankle sprain.

I wrote during the preseason that Jason Hatcher got off to a great start in 2011 before cooling off down the stretch but should be Dallas' first excellent 3 down interior lineman outside of Ratliff. Hatcher had a dominating game just having Giants lineman Kevin Boothe #77 at his fingertips most of the night. He made plays in the running game, keeping separation then locate the ballcarrier to make a play on the ball. Josh Brent did an excellent job as a two gap nose tackle allowing Sean Lee & Bruce Carter a clean route to the back. Lissemore cooled in the preseason after a red hot training camp but showed the ability to be stout at the point of attack and finish plays against the run.

14:49-4Q-92 plays two gap nose well. 54 unblocked as mike backer and fills hole vs back, jukes to outside and 54 speed allows him to still stuff the run.

 Kenyon Coleman did not allow the pulling guard to create a huge hole and Brent is crashing down from his nose tackle spot. Carter is in position to stuff whichever hole Bradshaw decides to take.

I wrote in the preseason that Dallas would have quality depth along the defensive line and their performance in week 1 to withstand a injury and control the line of scrimmage vs the Giants backs up that claim. A long way to go for sure.

Cowboys vs Giants using the coaches film (Part II)

2. I am not a fan of Kevin Ogletree, did not want him on the roster prior to training camp nor any shot at the 3rd receiver job. I felt he had been given several opportunities and failed them as well as a poor special teams player just gave no value to this team. I am happy to be proved wrong at least for one week.

He has a ways to go to make people forget about Robinson but a good start for sure not to mention starting a gigantic wave of waiver claims in the fantasy world after his performance. Folks do need to tape the breaks slightly when it comes to Ogletree, the Giants focused their attention at Miles Austin with double coverage and their other experienced corner Webster against Bryant. Ogletree had the benefit of working against the backups of an already depleted secondary so he should have had a good game. Most of his first half receptions came on slants in which he easily got a inside release off the snap for a simple slant catch. The ability to work himself open for the touchdown.

10:32 in the 3rd quarter. The pre-snap read shows cover 1 meaning one safety in the middle playing center field. Ogletree is lined up on an experienced corner #23 Corey Webster. Ogletree is going to run a double move which takes a while to develop. Romo gets pressure from the right side, Doug Free's man gets inside on him thanks to a counter move. However one of Romo's strengths is extending plays and fires the ball with Ogletree even with Webster which means he is beaten.  The ability to get find the open spot in the redzone and run good routes downfield without blazing speed are Robinson traits and a good start for Ogletree.

 Webster bites hard at the 30 yard line, Romo fires with no hope for the safety to get over nor the corner time to recover.

 Here you can see Uymenora setting up Free outside then knocking him off balance with the right arm jumping inside.

Cowboys vs Giants using the coaches film (Part 1)

Dallas surprises the football world beating the Giants on the road on opening night for a big division win.  How did they do it?

It took me several days to watch all the film and analyze what it means.  I had to a few questions I started with and find the answers.

1. How did the new offensive line do against perhaps the best pass rush in football?
2. Is Kevin Ogletree the new Laurent Robinson?
3. How did Dallas defensive line consistently stuff the Giants running game?
4. What did Rob Ryan do to keep Eli's passing game in check?
5. How did first year starters Barry Church & Morris Claiborne in their debuts?

I will post in five sections addressing these questions.

Lets get started.

1. The outlook was not good heading into this one with Jason Pierre-Paul vs Tyron Smith at left tackle, his first career start on the left side. Nate Livings coming over from the Bengals, known as a better pass blocker than in the running game, highly suspect Phil Costa, Mackenzy Bernadeau who wasn't a full time starter with the Panthers and Doug Free hoping for the 2010 Free vs the 2011 one.

The right guard Bernadeau is supposed to be a power run blocking guard with poor footwork and hand placement in pass protection.  He doesn't do much to change that thinking as early on in the first quarter, he gives up almost immediate penetration, Murray doesn't react quickly enough to help his guard and down goes Romo. He let the defensive tackle get his hands into his body and all his upper body is for not.

 

Phil Costa does not make it out of the first quarter with a back injury, I did not see the injury on film but honestly Costa gets knocked on his tail so often from last season it doesn't surprise me. Insert newly acquired Ryan Cook, #63, to play center with less than a week of practice in Dallas.


10:45 in 2nd Quarter.  Cook gives up pressure back into Romo who can't get the ball off like he wants. Kevin Ogletree is coming across the middle but runs behind the linebacker. By this point the ball has already left Romo's hands for the interception. It was a extremely small window for Romo and the ball should not been thrown here but Ogletree did not do any favors to his quarterback.

This is the window Romo was throwing into when he fired the ball, the linebacker in red just sitting in the middle of the field drifting toward Ogletree.

As the ball arrives, he has extended his route 4 yards downfield which gives the defender perfect room to jump in front for the easy pick. Bad read by Romo, pressure by Cook and receiver not helping matters with the route.

Doug Free is the weakest link on the team, keeping in mind that he had to keep the Giants pass rush at bay but keeping in mind the preseason and training camp, Free has not improved.  He is extremely susceptible to counter moves and Uymenora defeated him regularly as did Pierre-Paul. The competition will get easier in week 2 but the 2012 version of Doug Free is far too much like 2011 than 2010.

Free was not alone in his struggles at tackle, Tyron Smith had a hard time keeping Pierre-Paul at bay but the younger player who's a first round pick will get the benefit of the doubt. He did get better in the 2nd half as did most of the line as well, running the ball with success can do that to a pass rushing team. I graded Nate Livings as the most consistent lineman, as expected better in pass protection than getting push in the running game but was plenty serviceable.  Neither of the guards were good at pulling either missing the moving target or getting no push once they locked on.