ckparrothead
Premium Member
Hi folks. Just cuz I love doin this kinda stuff, I detailed every time that Wade Smith went up against Hugh Douglas.
1st matchup (1st and 10) Hugh on Wade, Hugh Douglas puts an inside move on Wade Smith and Wade finds himself recovering well, which is his strongsuit, however, when he recovered he was practically on Fiedler's jock and the ball intended to Chambers fell incomplete. Fiedler MIGHT have felt Wade Smith being a little too close...dunno.
(Next play run toward the left Wade Smith released clean off the line 5 yards downfield onto a LBer...I assume he was supposed to).
2nd matchup was definitely good job by Smith. I'm looking, it was a shotgun play, Fiedler had a good amount of time (not a LOONG time) to look around and tossed deep down the sidelines incomplete to Chambers. Smith bounced Hugh outside and kept him outside on the play, outside then way behind Fiedler.
3rd matchip 1st and 10. Also a good protection by Wade Smith. Hugh started to try and bull a path straight toward the QB pushing Wade back, but Wade quickly got a handle on the bullrush, dug in, and forcefully turned Hugh Douglas to the outside leaving Fiedler just standing in the pocket with a jersey cleaner than a virgins undergarments. Complete to Ricky Williams.
4th semi-matchup 2nd and 4. Good run blocking on Wade Smith's part. It was a toss to the right hand side but Wade Smith on the snap turned inside toward Center and made a dive block on #98 (DT Stroud or Henderson dont know which) but also ended up keeping Hugh Douglas out of the backside pursuit because Hugh had to go around Wade who was tangled on the ground along with #98.
5th matchup 3rd and 1. Good thing it was a short drop screen type of pass to Obafemi Ayanbadejo. Smith released up and into Hugh Douglas like it was a run play and he slowed Hugh down but Hugh started to bust through just as Fiedler tossed it to Femi. Wade did his job sure enough, but his job wasn't particularly hard to do in this play is what I'm sayin.
(Next play Wade Smith released inside of Hugh once again, it was the reverse to Sam Simmons....Wade chipped on a DT then released into the 2nd level where he just kinda searched for people to block and didn't find them...I could fault Wade on one small thing he could have helped block #95 a little better and if you notice it was #95's backside pursuit which distracted Fiedler and made Fiedler think that he was going to need to block #95 for Simmons...but he ended up not needing to and he wasn't able to get out to #55 in time to keep him from bracketing Simmons toward the sideline and #25 who was being blocked by Ruddy...definitely a little thing but you see how things cascade in football).
(Next play once again Wade Smith fires off inside of Hugh Douglas leaving #85 Donald Lee to block Hugh. Play goes right side but #98 flew by Todd Perry and disrupted the backfield just a little bit, enough to force Ricky to bounce it outside where he was met easily by #55).
6th matchup 3rd and 2. 3 step drop and its a good thing the play was designed to be fired off quickly to #81 Randy McMichael because Hugh Douglas gave a good bull push then bounced to the outside and was fending off Smith on a good line right to where Jay was standing until Jay fired off that ball. Wade Smith MIGHT have recovered in time to save Fiedler's hide, but he definitely would have disrupted Fiedler's throw if Jay held onto that ball a little longer.
7th matchup 1st and Goal at 13. Poor Hugh. After being taken out of the action all this time now he gets a screen thrown on him to keep him honest. Interesting block by Wade Smith. You could tell he almost didn't WANT Hugh to get by him and pursue the QB even though it was a screen. Wade popped Hugh into the inside and stayed with him moving diagonal right and backward, getting all the way to like 5 yards behind the RG before letting Hugh go after Jay Fiedler while Jay dumps to Ricky for the screen. Unfortunately, Randy McMichael failed to take #55 out of the play. He (McMike) ran an out route with #55 covering behind him, then when the ball was thrown McMike just kinda jogged a little behind Clark while Clark went up and contained Ricky and prevented him from following the blocks. R-Mac should have planned his route and subsequent block better than that. If he sells his route more toward the sideline, Ricky gains 8 yards or so. If he stays to the inside of #55 so that he can push him, Ricky gains 8 yards or so. By giving a half-@ss effort, Ricky gained practically nothing.
(Next play 2nd and Goal at 11...Hugh Douglas and the RDT dont know which guy, stunted. Hugh crossed into the LG and the DT crossed over to Wade Smith. Wade handled it easily...quick out to Derrius Thompson).
8th matchup 3rd and Goal from 4 yard line. Ultra quick drop and throw TD to Ricky Williams. I'll try to give you a good idea of what happened on the play. Prior to the snap the Jags actually gave a look of having 6 people rushing on the play. 4 down linemen, with #55 blitzing in between the RDT and Hugh Douglas, and another linebacker (I think #51 Oyadele) blitzing between LDT and LDE. Wade Smith easily handled Hugh Douglas, but hey he only had to do it for literally like 1.5 seconds. Anyway #55 was picked up by Nails, the RDT was picked up by Ruddy, the LDT was picked up by Perry, and #51 was picked up by...nobody. The LDE, dropped back and covered Ricky out of the backfield. Todd Wade, picked up nobody on this play, just sat out there in space lookin for someone that was gonna rush the passer. I'm not sure why he didn't make an effort to block #51 as he streaked right toward Jay Fiedler, but give the DC credit it was a zone blitz with 5 rushers loaded left and a LDE dropping into coverage. But, give Jay Fiedler and Ricky Williams even more credit because they read it PERFECTLY. Ricky saw he had a DE covering him (eh hem, MISMATCH) and he cut off his route to the inside and Jay Fiedler, backpeddling for his life in the face of #51 made a great read and great touch pass to Ricky's forward shoulder while Ricky abused the DE that dared try and cover him. This play happened so quickly it was ridiculous...give these guys credit for knowing each other really well. Jay is our QB.
9th matchup...1st and 10. This was a draw play, simulating a dropback pass then handing off to T.Minor. Hugh initially stepped to the outside thinking passrush, then after one step tried to move inside recognizing the draw play. I think that was pretty fast recognition actually, but one step to the outside was all Smith needed. He kept Douglas way away from the play.
(Next play 2nd and 1 was a handoff up the gut to Femi. Wade Smith fired out to the 2nd level immediately...Hugh was chipped by a TE then chipped by a pulling Perry and the play was away from Hugh anyway...for what its worth Wade Smith did handle #55 pretty well I think)
10th matchup 1st and 10. Weird block right here. Femi before the snap was lined wide in the slot and motioned into an Off I fullback position left. Fiedler dropped back into a 7 step drop. Wade Smith initially blocked Hugh Douglas to the outside and was handling him well. Then #55 began to rush into the fray a little delayed so Wade actually disengaged Douglas and blocked #55, leaving Femi to block Douglas. Well, Femi did not block him needless to say...I think he recognized like one step too late that he needed to be blocking Hugh. But either way Fiedler had already found his man Travis Minor out of the backfield for a 10 yard play and 1st down. Hugh didn't end up affecting the play I don't think. My instinct is to say good block and good read by Wade Smith, bad reaction by Femi Ayanbadejo. But overall too bad Wade disengaged...this was a 7 step drop I dont know why Femi couldn't have just been responsible for #55 who was blitzing in between LG and LT. Anyway either Smith or Femi screwed up here. Either Wade was supposed to pick up 55 or he was supposed to stay on Hugh. We won't know.
11th matchup 1st and 10. Shotgun formation tailback right. Wade Smith once again kudos. Fiedler stood in the pocket all day long and tossed a long ball incomplete to Chambers...overthrown. Wade had Hugh just plain handled on this play I think. Meanwhile Jamie Nails was definitely having some trouble with his DT who looked very quick. Its either Stroud or Henderson, but both are high picks...young guys with lots of potential.
12th matchup...2nd and 10. On the 12th day of matchups his true love gave to Hugh....yup finally, 12 times a charm, Hugh Douglas finally beat the heck out of Wade Smith with a great swim move inside that left Wade Smith wondering what in the heck just happened. Unfortunately for Douglas, the RDT that was going up against Jamie Nails was having trouble getting around the wide body and decided to step left a little, leaving Nails to disengage him and pick up whoever he needed to and in this case it was Hugh Douglas streaking on an inside route right for Jay Fiedler...and Nails managed to get enough push to keep Fiedler's jersey clean while Fiedler, who sensed the collapsing pocket, ran straight forward for a good short gainer. This is the play Wade Smith says Hugh got him on but fortunately Nails was there to help him a little. Was bound to happen.
13th matchup...3rd and 6. How do you bounce back? Well the entire Jax DL rushed left and Wade pretty much stayed on top of Hugh. But it doesn't matter, cuz this was a quick 3 step drop throw slant to Oronde Gads...errm...I mean, Derrius Thompson on a slant. And you know what? Someone did his homework. Fernando Bryant knew Derrius was taking over OG's routes (ie the slant, fade, etc) and he positioned himself PERFECTLY on the inside shoulder of Derrius Thompson so that he was there immediately to break up the pass. Good heady play by Bryant. That was just textbook.
(Next play 1st and 10 Wade Smith released out on a left pitch to Minor...just kinda crashed around a bit didn't make any key blocks but then again the play was all happening outside of him and the guys he was buttin heads with).
14th semi-matchup...2nd and 8. Boy you know Hugh must have been gettin frustrated. But he wasn't sweatin it, this is preseason and by this time I think he resigned to the fact that he wasn't gonna get to make a play against this rook for various reasons. Weird block, not particularly good, it was McMichael who made the particularly good block on Hugh. He dove in front of Hugh's legs and tripped him him, while Wade Smith kinda stuck his body forward toward the DT while keepin his legs behind to help trip up Hugh. They were both just preventing backside pursuit on a Minor run to the right. But Wade got up and gave Hugh a good shove (not illegal, but one of those 'mean' shoves) while the play was ending and Hugh just took it in stride. Gave no lip, didn't get angry at this rook acting like he had the best of the great Hugh Douglas.
15th matchup 1st and 10. Once again a run play to opposite side of Hugh Douglas. Once again Hugh was cut blocked by Wade Smith just to prevent some backside pursuit which Hugh Douglas probably had no intention of giving anyway.
16th matchup 2nd and 8. Griese's in at QB btw. Griese drops back on a 5 step drop, I count about 2.5 seconds at the most before he throws a beautiful floater left sidelines to Derrius Thompson who just goes up and makes an INCREDIBLE grab. Boy the coaches found a guy who can replace OG pretty easy. Anyway Hugh Douglas couldn't overcome Smith....they locked horns and Smith stopped Hugh's progress about 2 yards away from Griese while Griese tossed it. Good blocking, but again...about 2 seconds was all Griese wanted and needed.
17th matchup 1st and 10. I cant believe Hugh is still in the game at this point. On the play 99 or 98 whichever the LDT is ran a stunt to the outside evading Perry and eventually giving chase to Griese on a deeeeep dropback. It looks like Griese kept dropping back cuz Todd Wade was allowing his man to take an inside route deep into the backfield. Eventually Griese completes what looks like it could have been a designed screen to Minor. Wade Smith engaged Hugh Douglas, but eventually Griese just dropped back so far that Smith lost Hugh and he gave chase to the QB but not before Griese was able to complete the pass to Minor. Can't fault Smith, he's not going to outsprint Hugh Douglas in a 10 yard sprint back-peddling the whole way.
18th matchup 2nd and 8 and it looks like Hugh wants out of the game. He's tired of this ****. None of the plays are going towards him, he's catchin all kinds of bad breaks, and on this double TE set even when Hugh was initially blocked by Wade Smith then stunted inside, only to be pounded by Nails and Ruddy together while the play was happening on the other side of the field. I'm not sure what made Griese decide to tuck and run here...the Two Todds were lettin their guys penetrate a little bit but looked like they'd have gotten them under control, but either way Griese rolled right and ran OOBs. Nothin doin for Hugh Douglas.
19th matchup 3rd and 9. Wade Smith's only mistake was a moments hesitation here but you can't blame him as it looked once again like the RDT was going to stunt to the outside. However Hugh Douglas did not stunt outside, he stayed the course and Smith's hesitation gave him an opening to run toward the QB until bam he was popped by Femi Ayanbadejo who got help from Wade Smith as he recognized that the stunting DT was literally no threat to the play. Still Hugh was a little closer than he should have been and that combined with Todd Wade's man getting deep back to within a few yards of Griese, might have made Brian dump this ball off to Minor who couldn't get near the 1st down marker.
And thats all. From here out I don't believe Hugh Douglas played a down. This is probably normal for a DE, but on the majority of plays Hugh didn't even really have a chance to make something happen. Yet he got his opportunities and he was for the most part handled by Smith. I counted 3 times when Hugh was able to actually affect the play maybe just a little. The 1st matchup, the 12th matchup, and possibly the final 19th matchup. Two of them were minimal effects at best. On one of them, Hugh definitely caused Fiedler to sense things going badly and tuck the ball and run forward for positive yardage, and had Nails not picked up Douglas he probably would have gotten a sack. But by the very end Hugh looked uninspired, like he didn't even want to be there anymore in this game that means nothing, getting embarrassed by a rookie.
I count 7 matchups where Hugh Douglas could have made something happen...plays where the QB dropped back long enough or whatever. Hugh got what I would consider 1 QB pressure with those 7 opportunities...when he forced Jamie Nails to cover Wade Smith's butt and Fiedler tucked the ball and ran. Even then, if Fiedler stands strong I don't think Douglas touches him.
1st matchup (1st and 10) Hugh on Wade, Hugh Douglas puts an inside move on Wade Smith and Wade finds himself recovering well, which is his strongsuit, however, when he recovered he was practically on Fiedler's jock and the ball intended to Chambers fell incomplete. Fiedler MIGHT have felt Wade Smith being a little too close...dunno.
(Next play run toward the left Wade Smith released clean off the line 5 yards downfield onto a LBer...I assume he was supposed to).
2nd matchup was definitely good job by Smith. I'm looking, it was a shotgun play, Fiedler had a good amount of time (not a LOONG time) to look around and tossed deep down the sidelines incomplete to Chambers. Smith bounced Hugh outside and kept him outside on the play, outside then way behind Fiedler.
3rd matchip 1st and 10. Also a good protection by Wade Smith. Hugh started to try and bull a path straight toward the QB pushing Wade back, but Wade quickly got a handle on the bullrush, dug in, and forcefully turned Hugh Douglas to the outside leaving Fiedler just standing in the pocket with a jersey cleaner than a virgins undergarments. Complete to Ricky Williams.
4th semi-matchup 2nd and 4. Good run blocking on Wade Smith's part. It was a toss to the right hand side but Wade Smith on the snap turned inside toward Center and made a dive block on #98 (DT Stroud or Henderson dont know which) but also ended up keeping Hugh Douglas out of the backside pursuit because Hugh had to go around Wade who was tangled on the ground along with #98.
5th matchup 3rd and 1. Good thing it was a short drop screen type of pass to Obafemi Ayanbadejo. Smith released up and into Hugh Douglas like it was a run play and he slowed Hugh down but Hugh started to bust through just as Fiedler tossed it to Femi. Wade did his job sure enough, but his job wasn't particularly hard to do in this play is what I'm sayin.
(Next play Wade Smith released inside of Hugh once again, it was the reverse to Sam Simmons....Wade chipped on a DT then released into the 2nd level where he just kinda searched for people to block and didn't find them...I could fault Wade on one small thing he could have helped block #95 a little better and if you notice it was #95's backside pursuit which distracted Fiedler and made Fiedler think that he was going to need to block #95 for Simmons...but he ended up not needing to and he wasn't able to get out to #55 in time to keep him from bracketing Simmons toward the sideline and #25 who was being blocked by Ruddy...definitely a little thing but you see how things cascade in football).
(Next play once again Wade Smith fires off inside of Hugh Douglas leaving #85 Donald Lee to block Hugh. Play goes right side but #98 flew by Todd Perry and disrupted the backfield just a little bit, enough to force Ricky to bounce it outside where he was met easily by #55).
6th matchup 3rd and 2. 3 step drop and its a good thing the play was designed to be fired off quickly to #81 Randy McMichael because Hugh Douglas gave a good bull push then bounced to the outside and was fending off Smith on a good line right to where Jay was standing until Jay fired off that ball. Wade Smith MIGHT have recovered in time to save Fiedler's hide, but he definitely would have disrupted Fiedler's throw if Jay held onto that ball a little longer.
7th matchup 1st and Goal at 13. Poor Hugh. After being taken out of the action all this time now he gets a screen thrown on him to keep him honest. Interesting block by Wade Smith. You could tell he almost didn't WANT Hugh to get by him and pursue the QB even though it was a screen. Wade popped Hugh into the inside and stayed with him moving diagonal right and backward, getting all the way to like 5 yards behind the RG before letting Hugh go after Jay Fiedler while Jay dumps to Ricky for the screen. Unfortunately, Randy McMichael failed to take #55 out of the play. He (McMike) ran an out route with #55 covering behind him, then when the ball was thrown McMike just kinda jogged a little behind Clark while Clark went up and contained Ricky and prevented him from following the blocks. R-Mac should have planned his route and subsequent block better than that. If he sells his route more toward the sideline, Ricky gains 8 yards or so. If he stays to the inside of #55 so that he can push him, Ricky gains 8 yards or so. By giving a half-@ss effort, Ricky gained practically nothing.
(Next play 2nd and Goal at 11...Hugh Douglas and the RDT dont know which guy, stunted. Hugh crossed into the LG and the DT crossed over to Wade Smith. Wade handled it easily...quick out to Derrius Thompson).
8th matchup 3rd and Goal from 4 yard line. Ultra quick drop and throw TD to Ricky Williams. I'll try to give you a good idea of what happened on the play. Prior to the snap the Jags actually gave a look of having 6 people rushing on the play. 4 down linemen, with #55 blitzing in between the RDT and Hugh Douglas, and another linebacker (I think #51 Oyadele) blitzing between LDT and LDE. Wade Smith easily handled Hugh Douglas, but hey he only had to do it for literally like 1.5 seconds. Anyway #55 was picked up by Nails, the RDT was picked up by Ruddy, the LDT was picked up by Perry, and #51 was picked up by...nobody. The LDE, dropped back and covered Ricky out of the backfield. Todd Wade, picked up nobody on this play, just sat out there in space lookin for someone that was gonna rush the passer. I'm not sure why he didn't make an effort to block #51 as he streaked right toward Jay Fiedler, but give the DC credit it was a zone blitz with 5 rushers loaded left and a LDE dropping into coverage. But, give Jay Fiedler and Ricky Williams even more credit because they read it PERFECTLY. Ricky saw he had a DE covering him (eh hem, MISMATCH) and he cut off his route to the inside and Jay Fiedler, backpeddling for his life in the face of #51 made a great read and great touch pass to Ricky's forward shoulder while Ricky abused the DE that dared try and cover him. This play happened so quickly it was ridiculous...give these guys credit for knowing each other really well. Jay is our QB.
9th matchup...1st and 10. This was a draw play, simulating a dropback pass then handing off to T.Minor. Hugh initially stepped to the outside thinking passrush, then after one step tried to move inside recognizing the draw play. I think that was pretty fast recognition actually, but one step to the outside was all Smith needed. He kept Douglas way away from the play.
(Next play 2nd and 1 was a handoff up the gut to Femi. Wade Smith fired out to the 2nd level immediately...Hugh was chipped by a TE then chipped by a pulling Perry and the play was away from Hugh anyway...for what its worth Wade Smith did handle #55 pretty well I think)
10th matchup 1st and 10. Weird block right here. Femi before the snap was lined wide in the slot and motioned into an Off I fullback position left. Fiedler dropped back into a 7 step drop. Wade Smith initially blocked Hugh Douglas to the outside and was handling him well. Then #55 began to rush into the fray a little delayed so Wade actually disengaged Douglas and blocked #55, leaving Femi to block Douglas. Well, Femi did not block him needless to say...I think he recognized like one step too late that he needed to be blocking Hugh. But either way Fiedler had already found his man Travis Minor out of the backfield for a 10 yard play and 1st down. Hugh didn't end up affecting the play I don't think. My instinct is to say good block and good read by Wade Smith, bad reaction by Femi Ayanbadejo. But overall too bad Wade disengaged...this was a 7 step drop I dont know why Femi couldn't have just been responsible for #55 who was blitzing in between LG and LT. Anyway either Smith or Femi screwed up here. Either Wade was supposed to pick up 55 or he was supposed to stay on Hugh. We won't know.
11th matchup 1st and 10. Shotgun formation tailback right. Wade Smith once again kudos. Fiedler stood in the pocket all day long and tossed a long ball incomplete to Chambers...overthrown. Wade had Hugh just plain handled on this play I think. Meanwhile Jamie Nails was definitely having some trouble with his DT who looked very quick. Its either Stroud or Henderson, but both are high picks...young guys with lots of potential.
12th matchup...2nd and 10. On the 12th day of matchups his true love gave to Hugh....yup finally, 12 times a charm, Hugh Douglas finally beat the heck out of Wade Smith with a great swim move inside that left Wade Smith wondering what in the heck just happened. Unfortunately for Douglas, the RDT that was going up against Jamie Nails was having trouble getting around the wide body and decided to step left a little, leaving Nails to disengage him and pick up whoever he needed to and in this case it was Hugh Douglas streaking on an inside route right for Jay Fiedler...and Nails managed to get enough push to keep Fiedler's jersey clean while Fiedler, who sensed the collapsing pocket, ran straight forward for a good short gainer. This is the play Wade Smith says Hugh got him on but fortunately Nails was there to help him a little. Was bound to happen.
13th matchup...3rd and 6. How do you bounce back? Well the entire Jax DL rushed left and Wade pretty much stayed on top of Hugh. But it doesn't matter, cuz this was a quick 3 step drop throw slant to Oronde Gads...errm...I mean, Derrius Thompson on a slant. And you know what? Someone did his homework. Fernando Bryant knew Derrius was taking over OG's routes (ie the slant, fade, etc) and he positioned himself PERFECTLY on the inside shoulder of Derrius Thompson so that he was there immediately to break up the pass. Good heady play by Bryant. That was just textbook.
(Next play 1st and 10 Wade Smith released out on a left pitch to Minor...just kinda crashed around a bit didn't make any key blocks but then again the play was all happening outside of him and the guys he was buttin heads with).
14th semi-matchup...2nd and 8. Boy you know Hugh must have been gettin frustrated. But he wasn't sweatin it, this is preseason and by this time I think he resigned to the fact that he wasn't gonna get to make a play against this rook for various reasons. Weird block, not particularly good, it was McMichael who made the particularly good block on Hugh. He dove in front of Hugh's legs and tripped him him, while Wade Smith kinda stuck his body forward toward the DT while keepin his legs behind to help trip up Hugh. They were both just preventing backside pursuit on a Minor run to the right. But Wade got up and gave Hugh a good shove (not illegal, but one of those 'mean' shoves) while the play was ending and Hugh just took it in stride. Gave no lip, didn't get angry at this rook acting like he had the best of the great Hugh Douglas.
15th matchup 1st and 10. Once again a run play to opposite side of Hugh Douglas. Once again Hugh was cut blocked by Wade Smith just to prevent some backside pursuit which Hugh Douglas probably had no intention of giving anyway.
16th matchup 2nd and 8. Griese's in at QB btw. Griese drops back on a 5 step drop, I count about 2.5 seconds at the most before he throws a beautiful floater left sidelines to Derrius Thompson who just goes up and makes an INCREDIBLE grab. Boy the coaches found a guy who can replace OG pretty easy. Anyway Hugh Douglas couldn't overcome Smith....they locked horns and Smith stopped Hugh's progress about 2 yards away from Griese while Griese tossed it. Good blocking, but again...about 2 seconds was all Griese wanted and needed.
17th matchup 1st and 10. I cant believe Hugh is still in the game at this point. On the play 99 or 98 whichever the LDT is ran a stunt to the outside evading Perry and eventually giving chase to Griese on a deeeeep dropback. It looks like Griese kept dropping back cuz Todd Wade was allowing his man to take an inside route deep into the backfield. Eventually Griese completes what looks like it could have been a designed screen to Minor. Wade Smith engaged Hugh Douglas, but eventually Griese just dropped back so far that Smith lost Hugh and he gave chase to the QB but not before Griese was able to complete the pass to Minor. Can't fault Smith, he's not going to outsprint Hugh Douglas in a 10 yard sprint back-peddling the whole way.
18th matchup 2nd and 8 and it looks like Hugh wants out of the game. He's tired of this ****. None of the plays are going towards him, he's catchin all kinds of bad breaks, and on this double TE set even when Hugh was initially blocked by Wade Smith then stunted inside, only to be pounded by Nails and Ruddy together while the play was happening on the other side of the field. I'm not sure what made Griese decide to tuck and run here...the Two Todds were lettin their guys penetrate a little bit but looked like they'd have gotten them under control, but either way Griese rolled right and ran OOBs. Nothin doin for Hugh Douglas.
19th matchup 3rd and 9. Wade Smith's only mistake was a moments hesitation here but you can't blame him as it looked once again like the RDT was going to stunt to the outside. However Hugh Douglas did not stunt outside, he stayed the course and Smith's hesitation gave him an opening to run toward the QB until bam he was popped by Femi Ayanbadejo who got help from Wade Smith as he recognized that the stunting DT was literally no threat to the play. Still Hugh was a little closer than he should have been and that combined with Todd Wade's man getting deep back to within a few yards of Griese, might have made Brian dump this ball off to Minor who couldn't get near the 1st down marker.
And thats all. From here out I don't believe Hugh Douglas played a down. This is probably normal for a DE, but on the majority of plays Hugh didn't even really have a chance to make something happen. Yet he got his opportunities and he was for the most part handled by Smith. I counted 3 times when Hugh was able to actually affect the play maybe just a little. The 1st matchup, the 12th matchup, and possibly the final 19th matchup. Two of them were minimal effects at best. On one of them, Hugh definitely caused Fiedler to sense things going badly and tuck the ball and run forward for positive yardage, and had Nails not picked up Douglas he probably would have gotten a sack. But by the very end Hugh looked uninspired, like he didn't even want to be there anymore in this game that means nothing, getting embarrassed by a rookie.
I count 7 matchups where Hugh Douglas could have made something happen...plays where the QB dropped back long enough or whatever. Hugh got what I would consider 1 QB pressure with those 7 opportunities...when he forced Jamie Nails to cover Wade Smith's butt and Fiedler tucked the ball and ran. Even then, if Fiedler stands strong I don't think Douglas touches him.
