pre-season game#1 v. Falcons

[riggofan]

Any thoughts or reactions?

Thought the first team offense with Cousins looked solid.

Seemed like people were griping about the run game already. I understand why, but personally not ready to get worked up about that considering how much the first team offense actually played. Does seem more likely to me after watching that though that we might need to bring a vet RB in sooner than later.

Can't wait for a bad game from KC so we can hear people calling for Sudfeld.

No serious injuries. I'll take it.

[Irn-Bru]

In terms of the starters, I was happy with what we saw, which wasn't much. I thought Preston Smith, Spaight, and Cravens all had good games.

I couldn't believe Vernon Davis dropped that TD. He ran a good route and it was just a perfect pass from McCoy.

Sudfeld's got great zip on his passes. I like his height and mobility, too. Easy to see why we drafted him.

The running game was flat, but I'm not too worried yet. Jones had a good break or two (I think his best was called back on a penalty). I suspect they'll be bringing Pierre Thomas back in once the season starts. Keith Marshall does not look like he's ready to play a big role on the team. Hard to say how impressive the 4th and 5th guys were since they did their damage in the second half against the 4th and 5th defenders.

Can't wait to see Cousins heave a few bombs to Jackson on vertical routes. It seems like I hear about them running those in training camp a few times every day.

[DEHog]

So hard to tell with pre-season. But I did enjoy watching the rookies, Cravens looked good as did Sudfeld. It’s amazing to sit here 12 months removed from the QB mess we had, dare I say QB is a position of strength!! Not sure who was on ST, I see the ST being really good this year with guys like Smith, Spaight, and Cravens. Hopefully the guys who gave up the big kick return were bubble guys getting a chance. Yes the run game is still a question mark, would like to see them get it going here in the next few pre-season games.

[DarthMonk]

I couldn't believe Vernon Davis dropped that TD. He ran a good route and it was just a perfect pass from McCoy.

I wish I had seen him elevate and high point / snatch that ball out of the air.

Captain Chaos was calling Davis STONEHANDS this morning. Apparently he can't catch and P. Manning essentially benched him last year after a few bad drops.

[riggofan]

Captain Chaos was calling Davis STONEHANDS this morning. Apparently he can't catch and P. Manning essentially benched him last year after a few bad drops.

I heard that segment too this am. That can't really be true, can it? I mean, he caught a lot of TDs with the 49ers didn't he?

C00ley's comments about the JUGS machine though were hilarious.

[SkinsJock]

seems like we should stop wasting time and let LeRibeus and Moses go - they are not helping anyone

[DarthMonk]

C00ley's comments about the JUGS machine though were hilarious.

Indeed !!

seems like we should stop wasting time and let LeRibeus and Moses go - they are not helping anyone

Morgan Moses ?? I doubt he's going anywhere.

[riggofan]

seems like we should stop wasting time and let LeRibeus and Moses go - they are not helping anyone

Morgan Moses ?? I doubt he's going anywhere.

ooooh boy.

[OldSchool]

I like big backs and power football and SM is selecting backs to have a power game but last night made wonder if the Skins would win more this season tossing it 45 times a game and releasing a little scat back on draw plays. Cousins could chunk down the field using the short and midrange passes with a scat back picking up nice chunks out of delays and occasionally firing deep to Jackson. Our OL doesn't seem able of routinely creating a whole for these big backs it almost seems like a throwaway down when they run.

[DEHog]

Oh and one more thing, in case you didn't know Tress Way can kick!

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

Jones looked good... he cracked one that got brought back and that would been all the difference in his short time playing.
I don't recall seeing a lot of Marshall.. I thought it was someone else back there after my boy Matt Jones, who who?
Kelley was weak.
Brown looked good vs the third stringers

[Irn-Bru]

Oh and one more thing, in case you didn't know Tress Way can kick!

Oh, yeah. The length on one was unreal, and the other one he pinned at the two was a beauty.

[SkinsJock]

seems like we should stop wasting time and let LeRibeus and Moses go - they are not helping anyone

Morgan Moses? I doubt he's going anywhere.

agreed ... only because he's a part of a group that does not have great depth ... granted, the O line play has improved but it was awful in 2013/14 - no worries, we're getting there. hoping for a better offense this season - IMO Cousins & McVay will be 'all in' this season

[riggofan]

seems like we should stop wasting time and let LeRibeus and Moses go - they are not helping anyone

Morgan Moses? I doubt he's going anywhere.

agreed ... only because he's a part of a group that does not have great depth ... granted, the O line play has improved but it was awful in 2013/14 - no worries, we're getting there. hoping for a better offense this season - IMO Cousins & McVay will be 'all in' this season

He's not going anywhere because he's a good young player drafted in the third round who beat Scherff out for the starting RT job last year and is only going into his second year as a starter. You don't "stop wasting time" on a guy like that. You coach and develop him.

[riggofan]

I like big backs...

Anybody else start reading this and expecting him to finish with " and I cannot lie." ?

Might just be the heat.

[SkinsJock]

maybe I'm being harsh on Moses - he deserves a chance and he's young ... LeRibeus is gone

[OldSchool]

maybe I'm being harsh on Moses - he deserves a chance and he's young ... LeRibeus is gone

Isn"t LeRibeus coming back from an injury? If that's the case he may need to time to get back into form.

[Irn-Bru]

Right now LeRibeus' stock seems to be declining with coaches. Spencer Long is getting a lot of work at center and in the most recent practices they've even had Austin Reiter taking snaps with the second team rather than LeRibeus. Doesn't look good for him.

[Deadskins]

seems like we should stop wasting time and let LeRibeus and Moses go - they are not helping anyone

Morgan Moses ?? I doubt he's going anywhere.

Yes, let's cut our starting right tackle.

[riggofan]

Right now LeRibeus' stock seems to be declining with coaches. Spencer Long is getting a lot of work at center and in the most recent practices they've even had Austin Reiter taking snaps with the second team rather than LeRibeus. Doesn't look good for him.

Yeah its hard to see how he makes the roster this year. Disappointing because he played so much last season. You would hope the experience would have helped him at least be able to compete as a decent backup. Guess we'll find out for sure in a few weeks.

[SkinsJock]

seems like we should stop wasting time and let LeRibeus & Moses go

Morgan Moses? I doubt he's going anywhere.

Yes, let's cut our starting right tackle.

obviously, we're not cutting our starting RT - OTOH we have a depth issue if LeRibeus is considered good enough to make the roster

[langleyparkjoe]

The lackluster looking running we saw in this game will be exactly what it's like all season long with the exceptions of a few breakaways.

We aren't built to have a power run, that much was clear with Alfred last season and he was the big boy of the bunch.

Our running game will be extremely modern where passing is the focus and because Jones is *eh*, he's better suited for that style of play.

I think we'll be very successful with it though, like how the Eagles use to kill us with it when they had Westbrook I think Jones, assuming he doesn't fumble can duplicate him.

[riggofan]

The lackluster looking running we saw in this game will be exactly what it's like all season long with the exceptions of a few breakaways.

We aren't built to have a power run, that much was clear with Alfred last season and he was the big boy of the bunch.

Our running game will be extremely modern where passing is the focus and because Jones is *eh*, he's better suited for that style of play.

I think we'll be very successful with it though, like how the Eagles use to kill us with it when they had Westbrook I think Jones, assuming he doesn't fumble can duplicate him.

Seeing what goes on with the running game will be really interesting this season. I don't expect Jones to be one of those 1000+ yd rushers, but I do hope we'll be better with the run than last year. Barring any major injuries or anything, I think it would be unacceptable to not improve a little. Wrong in that?

I heard C00ley talking this morning about how they do need Jones to do more than just run the play. He needs to improve on breaking tackles, finding holes, etc;

Btw I wish I could find more about this, but I listened to an interview with this analytics guy a week ago. It was really wild. He was breaking down how they were using analytics now in play calling and presumably teams are starting to go with it. Things like: its almost always better to go for the 2 point conversion. Did anybody else hear that interview?

One of the things I thought was interesting was that analytics show it is better to pass on first down - unless you are in the opponents' 20 yard area where your statistics start to decline. Kind of go against what we see coaches do most often.

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

I can dig that... I think a big failure in our run game is the predictability. Kinda like in madden, if your opponent bets it's coming g, and it comes they rate of stopping it is higher. However, if they bring the house and you bluff run, your chance to hit deep over the top rises significantly- especially on that first down I formation look likes it's gonna be run. Waaaaaaay to often we just run it I to the teeth of the 8 man front, hoping to get a yard or two.

Good thing from Kirk after this first preseason game, was he said he shoulda checked out of the run after recognizing it was already dead in the water.. while he didn't make the right call, recognizing that it was a mistake is first step in making the right call in the future