Well, the LDT tried to go outside, and the guard rode him into the end, creating a big run lane for the RB. Very bad play by that LDT unless a twist was called, in which case the LDE was responsible for filling that gap … but that does not look to be the case. So, it appears that the LDT was indeed at fault and was completely dominated 1v1 in the run game … not good.
Then on top of that, Raekwon McMillan looked like a rookie, he tried to read the play rather than instinctively reacting, and he failed to fill that hole as the RB was hitting it. In a footrace, McMillan was always losing that race, so the error was that he isn't processing the info at game speed yet … but he will get there. It's a typically rookie move, and one of the reasons Mike's tend not to start as rookies.
But the biggest problem was a very poor play by TJ McDonald. He saw what McMillan saw, had plenty of time to fill the gap, didn't adjust or play complementary football, and simply allowed the RB to reach the edge by running around him. Bad play all around, but it started with poor DT play, and got worse from there.
[BeginRant] Memorizing the playbook and doing this non-contact and half-speed walk through crap isn't the same as getting actual game reps against players and offenses you do not know. The CBA's limit on padded practices make this type of occurrence all too common. Just imagine if a tennis pro was allowed to play against a live opponent only 18 days the entire season … it would be very difficult to watch good tennis that way. There simply is no substitute for actually playing. [/EndRant]
