Other games Week 1

[Orangesteel]

Raiders have some legit weapons. They can move the ball.

They just played a long ass game and have to fly across the country on Friday. This with the Ravens losing tonight was the best possible outcome.

Raiders likely without Ngokoue and McCoy this week. Ravens Tyre Phillips also left on a cart.

Like I said. All good.

[Pabst]

All you can do is not play cover 3.

Or get to the QB. That route takes time to develop

[drmalba]

Much of LV's best work against the Ravens was vs. heavy blitz. If we're getting pressure with 4 again next weekend, they are in trouble. Covering Waller is going to be a bitch, though.

I feel like the Steelers defense I saw yesterday is going to destroy this Raiders OL. It will be a nice test though. I don't like Gruden as an HC but he is still a decent playcaller.

[StillerDownSouth]

I don't understand what I just watched, but I'm pretty sure Gruden is still a mediocre coach, and the Ravens might be much, much worse than I suspected.

Harbaugh not kicking the FG, not once but twice, has to be one of the dumbest calls I've ever seen.

The call wasn't wrong - IF you didn't have the greatest, most clutch kicker in NFL history.

Kick a FG when? Ravens got the ball at their own 25 in OT after the pick, Jackson fumbled 2 plays later at the 30.

[Kodiak]

Kick a FG when? Ravens got the ball at their own 25 in OT after the pick, Jackson fumbled 2 plays later at the 30.

OK, I'm an idiot. I thought they had it on the LVS 25.

Rule change every year it's hard to keep track!

[Ice]

I would genuinely love to see Baltimore try that Cover 0 shit against KC next week

They will get owned. The fact that their best front 7 player last night was 80 year old Calais Campbell should be very worrisome for Bawlmer fans going forward, as should Jackson's three fumbles. I know we'll play them close this year, because we do what we do, no style points, etc., but I have the Browns clearly penciled in as the real competition in the North this season at this point.

[JJT07]

I would genuinely love to see Baltimore try that Cover 0 shit against KC next week

They will get owned. The fact that their best front 7 player last night was 80 year old Calais Campbell should be very worrisome for Bawlmer fans going forward, as should Jackson's three fumbles. I know we'll play them close this year, because we do what we do, no style points, etc., but I have the Browns clearly penciled in as the real competition in the North this season at this point.

Maybe, but feel like the Bal defense is better than the Browns'. QB is about even, both decent, but prone to fuck up in big moments. The Browns clearly have a better o-line and RB situation.

And maybe this Raiders team is a bit better than everyone is giving them credit for.

[Ice]

I would genuinely love to see Baltimore try that Cover 0 shit against KC next week

They will get owned. The fact that their best front 7 player last night was 80 year old Calais Campbell should be very worrisome for Bawlmer fans going forward, as should Jackson's three fumbles. I know we'll play them close this year, because we do what we do, no style points, etc., but I have the Browns clearly penciled in as the real competition in the North this season at this point.

Maybe, but feel like the Bal defense is better than the Browns'. QB is about even, both decent, but prone to fuck up in big moments. The Browns clearly have a better o-line and RB situation.

And maybe this Raiders team is a bit better than everyone is giving them credit for.

Only week one, so any number of things could be true at this point, but the Ravens' defense looked a lot like where ours was a few years back, with the need to bring numbers to win, both vs pass (especially) and run. That didn't in the end, work out well for us, and I don't think it will work out well for them, either.

[bradshaw2ben]

So Ravens vs Raiders; who ya got?

Ravens favored by 3.5. I think Raiders cover but Ravens win 27-24

Picked Steelers, Browns, Raiders as my three confidence picks this week, sweated the ending, finished 11-5.


It was a good week.

[bradshaw2ben]

BAL plugs in a UDFA from the PS and springs him for a 35-yd TD run. Meanwhile PIT struggles to find a guy that can get 3.0 YPA.

Luck.

You believe in that. right?

Supports the hypothesis: There are so many RBs out there, and RBs careers are so short, and it's the easiest position to replace/reload that you should never, ever get married to your guys.

[jebrick]

Just to echo a few earlier comments: Holy shit, Villy was bad tonight.

Watched a replay of the Nassib strip sack. Villy completely blew his assignment and let Nassib go 1:1 with the RB.

Let me guess. An inside move by the defender?

[bradshaw2ben]

I am SO looking forward to Villy facing our pass rush.

You think he's going to last 3 months in the job? The Ravens game is so far into the future, I don't think any predictions are safe.

[bradshaw2ben]

Much of LV's best work against the Ravens was vs. heavy blitz. If we're getting pressure with 4 again next weekend, they are in trouble. Covering Waller is going to be a bitch, though.

And TEs usually kill us. Not good.

After watching Eli and Peyton, I now know the Achilles heel of NFL inside LBers. Cover 3! They will put the fast TE or fast WR running the diagonal flag route, and it forces the LBers to cover that TE or WR already at full speed for about 15 yards….think Spillane. All you can do is not play cover 3.

That's not exactly right. It just puts pressure on the middle safety and backside safety to ignore the eye candy trap in front of them and see what's coming from the backside. And pressure from rushing 4 makes that more difficult.

Cover 3 strength is stopping the run. Cover 3 weakness is late to the flats, slot up the seam (like the play Sanders got stripped by Pierre) and comebacks on the outside. If you've got 3 deep guys, you should be able to stop that diagonal route. When a guy like Ruggs or Tyreek Hill is running full speed, it's hard for anyone to track him but it isn't a weakness inherent in C3.

[Pabst]

Just to echo a few earlier comments: Holy shit, Villy was bad tonight.

Watched a replay of the Nassib strip sack. Villy completely blew his assignment and let Nassib go 1:1 with the RB.

Let me guess. An inside move by the defender?

Kinda.

Looked like Nassib & Crosby ran a stunt. Both Villy and the RG took Crosby (who was crashing inside) while Nassib got a free lane outside

[bradshaw2ben]

Just to echo a few earlier comments: Holy shit, Villy was bad tonight.

Watched a replay of the Nassib strip sack. Villy completely blew his assignment and let Nassib go 1:1 with the RB.

Let me guess. An inside move by the defender?

Crosby went inside off the snap and Nassib came around Crosby's left shoulder. If the protection call was slide left, then Villy did the right thing. But that's a tough ask for a RB,

You guys can hear my full thoughts on this game and these two teams on my Old School New School NFL Football show this afternoon (shameless plug for the pod) but the short version is:
1. Lamar is scary good but has weaknesses that can be exploited
2. I'll never say another bad word about Derek Carr... that was some really good football against a team that gives you a lot to worry about on the defense
3. I may have bombed the first two picks but I nailed the 2019 Board Draft mid rounds: 3.66 Mecole Hardman 3.83 Maxx Crosby 4.122 Donald Parham 5.142 Dexter Williams 6.175 Armon Watts 6.207 Matt Gay
4. I really like Tyre Phillips... if he's out for a significant amount of time it really hurts the Ravens--in theory, he could've been the next man up at RT
5. If McCoy and Ngakoye can't play Sunday, that's a huge help to the Steelers' run game

[LakecrestSteeler]

And TEs usually kill us. Not good.

After watching Eli and Peyton, I now know the Achilles heel of NFL inside LBers. Cover 3! They will put the fast TE or fast WR running the diagonal flag route, and it forces the LBers to cover that TE or WR already at full speed for about 15 yards….think Spillane. All you can do is not play cover 3.

That's not exactly right. It just puts pressure on the middle safety and backside safety to ignore the eye candy trap in front of them and see what's coming from the backside. And pressure from rushing 4 makes that more difficult.

Cover 3 strength is stopping the run. Cover 3 weakness is late to the flats, slot up the seam (like the play Sanders got stripped by Pierre) and comebacks on the outside. If you've got 3 deep guys, you should be able to stop that diagonal route. When a guy like Ruggs or Tyreek Hill is running full speed, it's hard for anyone to track him but it isn't a weakness inherent in C3.

You have to watch the analysis the brothers did. Not debating you, but pretty sure there were additional routes to tie up the safety and corners, which basically isolates the line backer. My understanding is cover 3 is a staple of the Steelers, and probably why the Gronk and Kelce kills everyone who runs it. If you have a donkey as IMLB, it is no bueno unless you sack or really hurry the QB. Most IMLB can’t cover the green route below from 4.3 fast WR, or the prototype Gronk or Kelce TE with 6’ 5” height. It is open all day everyday if you can execute it. If it is stopped, someone cheated legally or someone cheated illegally with a DPI.

[jewelsongs]

I am SO looking forward to Villy facing our pass rush.

You think he's going to last 3 months in the job? The Ravens game is so far into the future, I don't think any predictions are safe.

The Ravens restructured a contract today to free up money. I would imagine for one of the available tackles.

[bradshaw2ben]

After watching Eli and Peyton, I now know the Achilles heel of NFL inside LBers. Cover 3! They will put the fast TE or fast WR running the diagonal flag route, and it forces the LBers to cover that TE or WR already at full speed for about 15 yards….think Spillane. All you can do is not play cover 3.

That's not exactly right. It just puts pressure on the middle safety and backside safety to ignore the eye candy trap in front of them and see what's coming from the backside. And pressure from rushing 4 makes that more difficult.

Cover 3 strength is stopping the run. Cover 3 weakness is late to the flats, slot up the seam (like the play Sanders got stripped by Pierre) and comebacks on the outside. If you've got 3 deep guys, you should be able to stop that diagonal route. When a guy like Ruggs or Tyreek Hill is running full speed, it's hard for anyone to track him but it isn't a weakness inherent in C3.

You have to watch the analysis the brothers did. Not debating you, but pretty sure there were additional routes to tie up the safety and corners, which basically isolates the line backer. My understanding is cover 3 is a staple of the Steelers, and probably why the Gronk and Kelce kills everyone who runs it. If you have a donkey as IMLB, it is no bueno unless you sack or really hurry the QB. Most IMLB can’t cover the green route below from 4.3 fast WR, or the prototype Gronk or Kelce TE with 6’ 5” height. It is open all day everyday if you can execute it. If it is stopped, someone cheated legally or someone cheated illegally with a DPI.

Yeah if you’re running 4 verts, it’s always going to put a strain on someone. Looks good in your diagram, however the way the Steelers generally play this coverage, the Middle Backer has RB to the flat and the SS has hook/curl or middle void… so we’d be counting on Minkah or Edmunds to read backside and cut off that diagonal.

The Steelers C3 woes were generally giving up cushion on the outside (I know that seems familiar) and a propensity for TEs up the seam for a quality athlete at TE.

[LakecrestSteeler]

That's not exactly right. It just puts pressure on the middle safety and backside safety to ignore the eye candy trap in front of them and see what's coming from the backside. And pressure from rushing 4 makes that more difficult.

Cover 3 strength is stopping the run. Cover 3 weakness is late to the flats, slot up the seam (like the play Sanders got stripped by Pierre) and comebacks on the outside. If you've got 3 deep guys, you should be able to stop that diagonal route. When a guy like Ruggs or Tyreek Hill is running full speed, it's hard for anyone to track him but it isn't a weakness inherent in C3.

You have to watch the analysis the brothers did. Not debating you, but pretty sure there were additional routes to tie up the safety and corners, which basically isolates the line backer. My understanding is cover 3 is a staple of the Steelers, and probably why the Gronk and Kelce kills everyone who runs it. If you have a donkey as IMLB, it is no bueno unless you sack or really hurry the QB. Most IMLB can’t cover the green route below from 4.3 fast WR, or the prototype Gronk or Kelce TE with 6’ 5” height. It is open all day everyday if you can execute it. If it is stopped, someone cheated legally or someone cheated illegally with a DPI.

Yeah if you’re running 4 verts, it’s always going to put a strain on someone. Looks good in your diagram, however the way the Steelers generally play this coverage, the Middle Backer has RB to the flat and the SS has hook/curl or middle void… so we’d be counting on Minkah or Edmunds to read backside and cut off that diagonal.

The Steelers C3 woes were generally giving up cushion on the outside (I know that seems familiar) and a propensity for TEs up the seam for a quality athlete at TE.

Perfect example of the crappy network camera angles. If they only went to the zoomed out sky cam above the QB head.

I will start looking for cover 3 now and see what Fitz is doing, versus Bush or Joe. That makes more sense to have the backer get the flat curl route. Still difficult to “see” live with network camera setups and my propensity to just watch Watt.

[gojira5150]

Carl Nassib shoved it right up Jackson’s ass right there.

I see what you did there. Kudos

[Jobu]

Carl Nassib shoved it right up Jackson’s ass right there.

I see what you did there. Kudos