Akh's Thoughts: 2nd preseason game

[akhhorus]

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Guff on!

[firehawk157]

Originally Posted by akhhorus

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Guff on!

Nothing I disagree with honestly. Reed Doughty and Philip Buchanon were OBVIOUSLY targeted and that, to me, is concerning. Now that Kareem Moore is likely out 4-6 weeks, we need to consider a vet replacement. We simple can't move Landry out because he looks like an absolute terror in the box.

One thing that struck me is how we may actually have a good rotation at WR. Banks is downright dangerous, Moss has been effective and like I said in the other thread, Armstrong has been torching people. I think Thomas has looked decent. It's funny how having a borderline elite QB suddenly makes everything look good.

Larry Johnson is on life support. He didn't do ANYTHING well.

[jtovb2005]

Looks good. I am concerned about the defense to tell you the truth. We seem vulnerable on the outside and I am not impressed on depending on Golston for example. Still not much of a pass rush so far? They do seem to have hope to do better than last year but still make me worried.

Armstrong is the real thing it seems. He will be staying around. I am not so down on Thomas but he so far is not looking like our next #1 receiver for years to come. Good enough though right now. Moss looked fine to me also? he made some good plays, not perfect but ok. if he can make plays like that each week he is ok. I think one problem with him the past couple of years is he has not performed each week like you need your number 1 guy to do.

Yep, Johnson had no burst. Nothing to come of him this year as a full time guy. How about Torian? He looked very good to me last week? He did not seem to get in last night. I would be surprised if either Johnson or Parker will have any real impact on the team this year. one if not both will not make the team.

I am not so down on poor Doughty but god he looked horrible out there. He even seemed to show frustration in himself on a few plays. he has his uses I guess and we will be stuck with him unless someone plays clearly better than him. I know most of you would say that is not so hard lol but he keeps making the team.

Oh yea Mcnabb make things much different. JC just didn't seem to be able to make the plays Mcnabb does. This is not about mechanics but those good old intangibles.

[jaylen]

Man you must be in my brain I agree totally with this analysis here. Sellars is done he should be cut how can another regime watch film and rationalize him continuing to get playing time. On the one short yardage play he just basically fell down and didn't block anyone. On another play he got blown up had his pads too high. I wonder has he always been this bad or does he have an injury thats preventing him from lowering his pads and actualy driving his man back. Its a real issue.

you're right AKH LJ looks done. I was't impressed with Torain. Keiland Williams shows good burst and the ability to break arm tackles. Portis even on just that one run for 10 yards shoed burst. I'm not sure we got a back who can catch those dump offs Mcnabb likes to throw though which might become a problem.

We need to consider putting Armstrong under wraps. he can play I"m sold lts not show too much with him. Thomas needs to get focused as well. Great call on banks getting some balls during the season in the slot.

I just hope we can put the best players in the best spots instead of forcing guys into roles their unfit for.

Wilson to me is clearly the best option at outside lb. carter is an eye sore in the game. we've trained and developed Wilson he pops everytime I see him play instead we're looking at the prospect of having 2 Olb's who are de's that take that extra sec each time before making a deicion on the field and thats gonna get us beat. Rak has improved as a pass rusher but in space and in coverage nothing has changed. but we can't have him and Carter on the field.

the safety position is a major concern now. how we could be caught with only one on the roster is beyond me. Douthy is terrible and how he's hung around so long is a mystery. he's become the new Renaldo Wynn and Phillip Daniels. Moore is just fragile. time to move on from him after this season if he can't stay healthy.

agree on Gholston as well. not sure why other than character why he's starting anyway.

overall I don't feel good about this team. I think we're better this year but with what the problems are with good health how are we any better than 8-8.

[jtovb2005]

Originally Posted by jaylen

... I was't impressed with Torain...

I am not trying to make him a Mason like guy but what was wrong with him last week? I got a little distracted from watching the end of the game last night but I didn't think I saw him run the ball last night so I am just going by last week. Me and my buddy kind of thought he did ok.

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by firehawk157

One thing that struck me is how we may actually have a good rotation at WR. Banks is downright dangerous, Moss has been effective and like I said in the other thread, Armstrong has been torching people. I think Thomas has looked decent. It's funny how having a borderline elite QB suddenly makes everything look good.

And an offensive staff who isn't 50% brain dead.

Originally Posted by firehawk157

Larry Johnson is on life support. He didn't do ANYTHING well.

I wouldn't be shocked if he's cut. Especially with Portis looking primed for a big season.

Originally Posted by jtovb2005

Looks good. I am concerned about the defense to tell you the truth. We seem vulnerable on the outside and I am not impressed on depending on Golston for example. Still not much of a pass rush so far? They do seem to have hope to do better than last year but still make me worried.

They need to get Haynesworth in with the starters and replace Carter with Jarmon or Wilson(I prefer Wilson).

Originally Posted by jaylen

overall I don't feel good about this team. I think we're better this year but with what the problems are with good health how are we any better than 8-8.

I'm still standing by my 10 win prediction after 2 preseason games. McNabb put up 200+ yards in one half against one of the best defenses in the NFL. There's no part of the team that looks like a disaster area, they just need some tweaking.

Originally Posted by jtovb2005

I am not trying to make him a Mason like guy but what was wrong with him last week? I got a little distracted from watching the end of the game last night but I didn't think I saw him run the ball last night so I am just going by last week. Me and my buddy kind of thought he did ok.

Torain looked good last week. I have no problem with him and Williams replacing Parker/Johnson.

[Hr fan]

Fine work, especially in remaining analytical when the performance was disappointing. As you note this is preseason, and watching for signs that the O and D schemes are coming around, and that (hopefully) players are developing is a more correct mode than watching the score. Btw I thought Harbaugh was cheesy on the fake punt. As noted this wasn't for points, nor will they use it during the year or they wouldn't have run it preseason. It was a slap at Shanny, who IMO will remember.

IMO depth charts mean little except how do single role backups fit with the first string. Maybe Golston/Carter, etc., are showing they don't fit and as you note are at career crisis ponits.

Love your view of t. Williams vs WAPO writers. Agree with you, not with them.

As I have said in several threads IMO Allehan are not done aquiring talent. FS, OLB, C, b/u OL, FB, WR (though Moss, Banks, Thomas, Armstrong are emerging IMO, Thomas showing downfield blocking for instance). I am waiting on Mawae (can't you hear the draft/youth only members already).

Like Hicks but consider his veersatility most suited to backup, so IMO we need a starting LG. Also hopefully the lack of Capers/Cook sightings is to get them on the ps, not a reflection on how well they are developing their potential.

The Jets will be a good test now that the team sees everyone is not an injured Buffalo.

Again, thanks for your informed insights. I like others on this site rely on them.

[Death_Venom]

I unfortunately did not see the game. But according to Redskins.com "McNabbs passing seems troubling". Do you attribute that McNabb, the WR's, or just pre-season offensive jelling?

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by firehawk157

Nothing I disagree with honestly. Reed Doughty and Philip Buchanon were OBVIOUSLY targeted and that, to me, is concerning. Now that Kareem Moore is likely out 4-6 weeks, we need to consider a vet replacement. We simple can't move Landry out because he looks like an absolute terror in the box.

One thing that struck me is how we may actually have a good rotation at WR. Banks is downright dangerous, Moss has been effective and like I said in the other thread, Armstrong has been torching people. I think Thomas has looked decent. It's funny how having a borderline elite QB suddenly makes everything look good.

Larry Johnson is on life support. He didn't do ANYTHING well.

I somewhat agree with this, except 2 of the 4 names weren't here last season. You could make the argument that 2 new out of 3 receivers (I'll talk about Thomas in a minute) changes that paradigm, as well.

As for Thomas, he looks the same to me as he did last year. He's still not justifying his draft position or a shot at 1st team status. This is Year 3 for him. He should be pulling down 6 for 80 every game at a minimum. Anything less is failure.

[Gravy]

"Death, Taxes and Reed Doughty still can’t cover in the passing game." Absoluletly Correct and funny! Rabach scares me and not in a good way. It's possible that after watching AA, that M Kelly might be out of a job. Question how much do you think they are holding back or is that silly? Good as always, thanks for your time.

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by Hr fan

Fine work, especially in remaining analytical when the performance was disappointing. As you note this is preseason, and watching for signs that the O and D schemes are coming around, and that (hopefully) players are developing is a more correct mode than watching the score. Btw I thought Harbaugh was cheesy on the fake punt. As noted this wasn't for points, nor will they use it during the year or they wouldn't have run it preseason. It was a slap at Shanny, who IMO will remember.

All I was looking at two things last night:
-How did the starters look?
-Who among the backups is emerging?

Next week will be different, but I really didn't care about the score.

Originally Posted by Hr fan

Love your view of t. Williams vs WAPO writers. Agree with you, not with them.

Anytime a rookie can rodeo Terrell Suggs and keep him out of the play, he's doing a fine job. To think anything else is insanity imo.

Originally Posted by Hr fan

As I have said in several threads IMO Allehan are not done aquiring talent. FS, OLB, C, b/u OL, FB, WR (though Moss, Banks, Thomas, Armstrong are emerging IMO, Thomas showing downfield blocking for instance). I am waiting on Mawae (can't you hear the draft/youth only members already).

They only really need help at OC and FS right now. I think that there's enough everywhere else. If a good OG is cut, I would consider signing him.

Originally Posted by Hr fan

Again, thanks for your informed insights. I like others on this site rely on them.

Welcome.

Originally Posted by Death_Venom

I unfortunately did not see the game. But according to Redskins.com "McNabbs passing seems troubling". Do you attribute that McNabb, the WR's, or just pre-season offensive jelling?

The latter. Its not like McNabb was just flat out missing guys, he was just a few inches off(and there were some drops).

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

As for Thomas, he looks the same to me as he did last year. He's still not justifying his draft position or a shot at 1st team status. This is Year 3 for him. He should be pulling down 6 for 80 every game at a minimum. Anything less is failure.

I agree, but I think if Armstrong emerges, Moss settles into that slot role and a health dose of Davis/Cooley, they could play Thomas at the Y and deal with his growing pains.

Originally Posted by Gravy

"Death, Taxes and Reed Doughty still can’t cover in the passing game." Absoluletly Correct and funny! Rabach scares me and not in a good way. It's possible that after watching AA, that M Kelly might be out of a job. Question how much do you think they are holding back or is that silly? Good as always, thanks for your time.

I don't think we've seen anything close to the full playbook on either side. We're seeing, imo, the basics.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by akhhorus

I agree, but I think if Armstrong emerges, Moss settles into that slot role and a health dose of Davis/Cooley, they could play Thomas at the Y and deal with his growing pains.

That would be fine for this year, but that's not really the greater point I'm trying to make. Thomas should be making his quantum leap this year. He shouldn't have any more growing pains. I'm hoping he can get his focus on and be the player that, physically, he should be right now.

Great column, BTW. You and I saw many of the same things. I have no idea what WaPo is seeing.

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

That would be fine for this year, but that's not really the greater point I'm trying to make. Thomas should be making his quantum leap this year. He shouldn't have any more growing pains. I'm hoping he can get his focus on and be the player that, physically, he should be right now.

I agree, and this is his last shot.

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

Great column, BTW. You and I saw many of the same things. I have no idea what WaPo is seeing.

The scoreboard and nothing else.

[silverspring]

Good write up.
-I can't agree more about the 2 TE sets. For years now, I haven't understood why we don't see more of this, especially considering our woes at WR. This year, I think it is even more important to offset the diminutive size of our WRs.

-Very exciting to see 2 speedy additions of banks and armstrong. Although I do have my doubts if banks will survive nfl hits.

-I continue to be concerned about the oline depth. I can't imagine why they would pull brown out if he was healthy. Heyer did look ok, but that seems to be the story of heyer. One game he makes you think he is making progress, the next week he gets your qb killed. As you point out tackle isn't our only issue. I was shocked when I saw Rabach elected to offensive player of the year for last year. What crackhead made that decision?

-From what I have read capers has been incredibly bad in camp. Maybe they just don't think he is ready for pre-season.

-I thought Mcnabb looked poor. He not only had accuracy problems but also threw into some dangerous coverage.

-Too bad sellers is still struggling as he did during last season. I think this is probably his last year with the team. I hope he turns it around, because I enjoy watching him play when he is on.

-I don't know what to think about our running back situation. I think shanny is going to have a tough decision in figuring out who to keep outside of portis. And the decision won't be tough because so many players are impressive but rather the opposite.

-I sure hope moore isn't seriously injured, but I am not as concerned about doughty as yourself. He always seems to step up and surprise with solid performances when we need him too.

edit: also real unfortunate that carter is a casualty of the scheme change. Kind of frustrating.

[jtovb2005]

We have not mentioned the missed FG. it was from just where we want to see a try made in the preseason. only 1 I know and I guess nothing to establish a pattern over but....