CRA

Well, I think Sam will be Sam. But I am rooting for us to win as many as possible. The opening of our schedule is where those winnable games are. I still find value in real live reps. Getting hit. Sam learning how much he can trust and expect from different guys upfront. OL getting reps to work on chemistry. All that. Which preseason game reps give you. The controlled scrimmage reps don’t put guys under them same pressures because of the rules for those reps.

Last year no one had preseason though. Made it an even playing field in terms of prep. And it showed early. Teddy didn’t work out for all the reasons that were said before he took a snap. He was a Checkdown QB. He came here and was exactly what he always was….some people just claimed he wouldn’t be what he was because we have Rhule. This season is basically a repeat.

So Mike Tomlin had Big Ben out there for no reason for multiple series? or do they have a bunch of OL issues up front they wanted to rep so they are going into week 1 as prepared as possible…for what they can and can’t do and build chemistry.

Yeah, he didn’t actually say that though. Said he could. Said he would like to. Then went into detail about how he could not see the field. That’s the double talk. it’s like playing a half vs the Steelers. He starts off by saying playing Darnold about half is the goal. Then goes on to say he didn’t say he would play a half. Then starts rambling about why Darnold’s night likely is not going to be half.

QB league. And we had a dirt cheap top tier prospect fall in our laps. if Darnold doesn’t work out. The cost to add a prospect like Fields will likely come at a very steep cost. Because one most likely wouldn’t fall in our laps twice.

If he completely shits the bed I’ll largely talk about Rhule not drafting a QB. And that Darnold as the only option was just a mistake anyone could see coming… if he plays meh and we lose because the offense looks like it is out of sync doing dumb stuff ….yeah, Rhule could of worked on that in the preseason.

shits the bed? I’ll blame Rhule for just botching management of the QB position in general. That going all in on Darnold was silly from the jump and talk about the obvious mistake in the draft. Fields

Matt Stanford isn’t a 24 year old bust redemption project. He is a good 13 year veteran QB brought in to be the piece that puts the Rams over the top this year. That isn’t a Darnold comp

If it’s totally nothing. Find a comparable to Darnold across the league. if it isn’t coddling. Than Matt Rhule is just smarter than every NFL coach in his first preseason

Rhule hedged his bets and comments going in. I listen to Matt Rhule bullshit around and make my assumptions off his double talk. He was hedging for Darnold immediately post game in regards to the Steelers too. and no, I don’t think he feels comfortable with people seeing a lot of Sam at this stage and dealing with that. And reports from camp have been all Sam has largely done is dump it down with all these Indy/Balt reps. I said going in I thought it would be the Will Grier show early and we would see the defense for a series. That was based off Rhule. I think a perfect scenario for Darnold is what got him in and only that. Worse case scenario was most likely a 3 and out and 3 points on the board. So he opted to check the box. that’s my tea leaf reading. Nothing more. And it’s going to be something people do….because of what Rhule does. and Sam might need Rhule coddling him. That could be the right call right now. Sam might not be ready. But if so….it’s why going all in on Darnold was criticized as THE plan.

Yeah, NFL coaches are full of bologna to the press and fans. Rhule does nothing but double talk these days IMO. It’s just my belief. But yeah, I think if we didn’t have the INT….the plan in the post game presser would have been….well we told you wouldn’t play him without his full cast and we never see him.

I mean in fairness to him, he has had decent games before. he had a winning record in 3 out of 4 seasons. Made a Pro Bowl. and somehow Sam Darnold is the one getting another shot

QB is the end all be all in the NFL though. If the only thing you have a your roster is a redemption project….that seems like a problematic plan.

They will get the pocket mobility and containment reps though. Which to me, outweighs whatever difference there might be between Grier and PJ in terms of accuracy. Plus, PJ presents more threats on where and how a ball can get there. They are just defense reps. So the ball placement doesn’t matter to me in that setting as much. D either did there job or didn’t. if he is practice squad eligible then I really give 0 shits. Doesn’t matter to me then.

I wouldn’t expect Sam to play a half vs the Steelers either. My personal belief is that is that if it wasn’t for the INT having them in scoring position he wouldn’t of played at all last night. Rhule was already hedging his bet on having him out there long vs the Steelers post game.

Biggest selling point for PJ over Grier IMO is for PJ to play the role of opposing QBs in practice for our D. and I didn’t think he was practice squad eligible CMC and our D are the key this year. And we play a lot of mobile QBs.

I’d give PJ the slight edge. But I certainly don’t have a problem with someone thinking Grier edged him. Either would be a fair take. I have a problem with someone thinking one has been significantly better than the other this preseason. And that it isn’t close. Gantt also said Grier might be making it a competition now. Which means he had PJ ahead going into last night.

There are more stats than that my guy. compare the first half of each against each other. TDs, passing yards, sacks taken, number of scoring drives, number of long drives. PJ edged him in all those. Now if you want to compare 2nd half reps? Grier gets him there.

Some more preseason stats PJ - 0 sacks Grier - 3 sacks PJ - 2 80 yard drives in his first half Grier - 1 50 yard drive in his first half

Both have basically one NFL start/game to their name. Carolina was able to blow a bad Lions team out with PJ and without CMC Carolina got blown out by a mediocre Indy team with CMC putting up 170 yards neither are going to win games if called to be our starter. Not enough to mean anything at least. PJ Walker can offer more to the team during the week as our D preps for mobile opponents. That’s the job considering who those two are. Plus he is a Rhule guy (not saying it should matter but it clearly does).

Well when you have weak OL play….it certainly doesn’t aid to have embarrassingly weak FB/lead blocking play added to that. Guy could watch Temble’s college type to learn some pointers. If that is the case, Brady shouldn’t call plays that center around that one block. That goal play did. The design of that play putt it all on the FB taking out that one defender. Which he didn’t come close to. Just seems like an easy fix. Get an actual FB. Or see if Tremble can do what he did in college at this level. Because using guys like Thompson there isn’t going to help CMCs odds.

The design of that run play at the goal made FB play extremely important though in the plays chance of success The design of the play essentially cleared it for the FB and RB to make the play happen IMO.

Yeah, if Thompson is viewed as a top option at this point….that is worrisome. Given that was the first series group. No one likes to talk about FB play….but now that we don’t have Cam handling those one yarders it’s back to being important again.

I wonder what the week 1 option is going to be in that situation for lead blocking FB

Who is playing FB and “lead blocking” on that goal line play?