I finally watched the game. I don't know how anybody watched the game on Friday given so many hours of coverage of the PGA Championship. That obviously took priority, after my own round of golf that afternoon. But after a quick view tonight, these are my observations. I always respect Hayden's thread so I'll dump everything here instead of scattering in several places. This will be lengthy:
* Most impressive aspect by far was Lazor's lack of reaction after our opening touchdown drive. He wasn't enthused or surprised. Last season the most troubling thing I saw was Tannehill's dismay after the victory over the Patriots. His reaction said, "I can't believe this is happening to ME!!!"
You'll never get anywhere with a quarterback who doesn't think he belongs on that upper plateau. Thirty+ points are routinely available in this league and Lazor knows it. Now he needs to transfer the arrogance and certainty.
* We protected the offensive line with the influence flows and inside read option stuff on the first series. The Falcon defensive line froze. I suspect we'll apply the same type of strategy early in the regular season, but combined with hurry up. Teams changing their offense very seldom show hurry up during preseason.
I like the inside fakes, given our offensive line personnel, and particularly since Tannehill thrives via play action. However, we demonstrated far too much college-type tendencies on the throws out of the play fakes. Too much perimeter crap. I understand the concept, trying to take advantage of 3 on 2 and 2 on 1 mismatches. The math doesn't play out that way in the NFL, especially against the best teams. They'll defeat the numbers, particularly on 3rd down. Those designs need to go down the field, like the dart to Matthews. Then you have something...legitimate danger.
* Of course, the defenses will adjust to the counter influence and attack the formation. That was already happening as soon as our second possession. Hard to tell what it will look like with Tannehill still out there yet the defense enraged. Those guys don't like to be tricked. Gimmicks are fun. Foundation is better.
* Normally I watch one newcomer offensive lineman and can pick up everything else along the way. This year there's simply too much to digest in one viewing. I concentrated on the right side. Ju'Waun James looked as I remembered him from Tennessee. Smart pass blocker. Reasonably wide base. Seldom beaten cleanly. Moderate or below run blocker who doesn't seem to consider it a priority.
Dallas Thomas was better than I expected. He's obviously been told to churn his feet. It was often amusing how quickly he moved both feet. Not that he covered much ground. Poor angles on pulling. But his frame and technique are markedly superior to last year. No longer an embarrassment.
With James and Thomas I had to temper my enthusiasm given the level of competition. We weren't exactly facing the '85 Bears or even the '13 Bills.
Billy Turner has more pop than Thomas. Moves more naturally along the line and downfield. But his frame is too weak and he plays very narrow at this point. Maybe next season but scary to envision him as a starter right now.
* Hazel didn't look like he warranted a draft pick
* Defensively I wasn't really surprised, other than I'm not sure I've ever seen a defensive back picked on in a preseason game to the degree the Falcons went after Will Davis. He held up fine. Overall I think our defensive potential is overstated simply because the personnel isn't there. I defy anyone with a balanced appraisal to watch Dion Jordan and identify him as a player who was rightfully picked third in any draft. Notice he was out there with the scrubs late in the third quarter, while all the other starters were long since lounging and laughing on the bench. Heck, Jordan was covering kicks late in the third quarter.
That's a strange definition of huge. I kept reading that Jordan was huge. He's still narrow and weak and indecisive with very little instincts or pass rush moves. Otherwise we've got our Hall of Famer.
I don't know what you do with that guy. I suspect that's the coaching staff's dilemma also. It has to be a manipulation, like the influence plays on offense. They've got to find a way to get Jordan free in space. He's borderline worthless in traffic.
* The other disappointment on defense was A.J. Francis. Last season he demonstrated a rare disruptive burst for defensive tackle. Now he's eaten himself to Soliai dimensions without anything close to the natural strength of Soliai. Francis needs to lose 20 pounds minimum, IMO. I don't know if gaining all that weight was his idea or if the coaching staff told him to do so.
* Fede wasn't facing great tackles but he really flashed with instincts and tenacity. Jordan could use 10% of Fede's instincts.
* I'm not as high on McClain. I've seen that type far too often, free agent types who star early in camp off the edge. Then they simply aren't bulky or explosive enough once the games begin.
* Tripp looks like a nice player, certainly superior to that Ohio State guy we kept for a few years. But I don't want him to start. That's when all the limitations show up. We're still pretending with our defensive personnel in general. Misi is too stiff and stuck for that position, even though the effort is there. Ellerbe is so slow off the mark he doesn't appear to be trying, even though I think he is.
* Second team front seven other than Francis exceeded my expectations. But they were able to collapse a small area against that level of offense. I was actually disappointed that Atlanta's long run was called back against the starters. That was brutally defended and deserved post game scrutiny from Philbin and Coyle. Instead, Philbin focused on a comparatively meaningless dropped snap by a 4th string quarterback.
* Broadcast was very good, so much better without a serious tone like Agler attempted last season. Griese mangled a couple of names and phrases but his input was impressive, like the Hall of Fame trivia question. I loved his quick sense of humor when Nat Moore objected that anyone would be condemned for being 5 foot 9.
* If the games are officiated as I fear they may be, I might not pay much attention to the NFL this season other than betting the systems. If I disappear and focus on college football, that's the reason. IMO, pass interference should not exist. Take the guy out if you can. That's the NFL I grew up with and cherished. I despise tinkerbell passing teams. But after the Super Bowl last season I posted that I feared that Roger Goodell might legislate the Seattle defense out of the league. Obviously he prefers 38 to 35 powder puff games that the simplistic fans love.
Until this weekend I tried to convince myself the changes wouldn't be dramatic. Last time they tried this, after the Colts whined after losing the 2003 AFC Title game in New England, the officials regulated the secondary for one season then it mostly reverted to what it had been. But now with Goodell more confident in his power and his biases, I think the flag football transformation could happen. I saw receivers intentionally run into the defensive back, knowing the call would be made against the defense. How can you not run trips formations or multiple crossing routes? That's guaranteed contact, and now any contact provokes a hankie. So many games are going to be decided by seemingly random calls, and ones that wouldn't be made by a different officiating crew.
Under these rules and application of them, it's very difficult to see how premier quarterbacks in their prime, like Aaron Rodgers, lose more than a handful of games, if that.
