What did you take from this weekend's games ?

[SiScotty83]

Just to get away from the mindless circus about our coaches for a short while. Few points I thought watching this weekend and relating to how we can improve....

QB play. Dalton sucks. With the weapons Cincy have, a good QB makes them contenders IMO. Unfortunately, Dalton is terrible. Andrew Luck. We all know how good he's going to be. Fine line though. If that comeback goes wrong in anyway, Luck is getting criticism everywhere for throwing 3 picks and losing the game. Credit to him, brilliant win in the end. Maybe a changing of the guard this weekend when Luck goes to Brady's house ? I wouldn't be surprised. I missed NO v Philly. Rivers was just nice and steady, limiting errors. Kudos to Kap and Rodgers. Not a fan of Kap but his running pretty much sneaked them through. Rodgers is, well, everything I want in a QB. With even marginally decent tackling, I think Rodgers gets GB through the Niners last night. So in a nutshell, can't say I think we're far off here. I think Tannehill can play in this environment without looking out of place. We need systemic improvements to help him progress individually IMO.

Miami needs a running game desperately. Watching Lacy and Gore last night. Geez, I'd like to see us get a big back. They both took untold pressure off their QB's. Invaluable part of the offense. I'm beginning to debate the idea of Miami drafting a powerback in the early rounds.

Defense. GB were terrible tacklers. Wow they were bad. Love the Niners tough defense. Neither were great shakes in the Cincy/SD game whilst Indy's secondary was terrible. Smith looked elite for a period against that rubbish. Conclusion on this is that Miami's D is serviceable. No question we could have competed defensively with some of those sides. What I did think is that all of the sides that won, in the games I saw, had great pass rush, maybe with the exception of Indy, where I'm putting the win (and the low margin of the win) squarely on Luck.

Coaching. Man, we are miles off here. All those sides did what they needed to, to win. I mean, could our O have even stayed in an 80 odd point extravaganza ? No way. We'd have been trying to comeback with little dink and dunks or Daniel Thomas stretch plays. Philbin and co along with Tannehill and the rest need to improve this hugely. We need to create mismatches. How can we rely on a progression read offense when our OL can't hold too long ? Can we imagine how that offense would have fared against that Niners DL last night ? Wow. Tannehill would still be buried somewhere on the field. I just think we need to help ourselves.

Based on what I watched, I'm focusing this off season on a couple of things.

1. OL - at least 1 OT (1st round) and 1 OG.
2. RB - want a powerback.
3. WR - I'd like to see us take a project #1 receiver. Whether this lot can coach a guy up, I'm sceptical.
4. LB. I cannot face another year of Wheeler. I just can't do it.

Thanks for reading guys.

 

[dlockz]

Just to get away from the mindless circus about our coaches for a short while. Few points I thought watching this weekend and relating to how we can improve....

QB play. Dalton sucks. With the weapons Cincy have, a good QB makes them contenders IMO. Unfortunately, Dalton is terrible. Andrew Luck. We all know how good he's going to be. Fine line though. If that comeback goes wrong in anyway, Luck is getting criticism everywhere for throwing 3 picks and losing the game. Credit to him, brilliant win in the end. Maybe a changing of the guard this weekend when Luck goes to Brady's house ? I wouldn't be surprised. I missed NO v Philly. Rivers was just nice and steady, limiting errors. Kudos to Kap and Rodgers. Not a fan of Kap but his running pretty much sneaked them through. Rodgers is, well, everything I want in a QB. With even marginally decent tackling, I think Rodgers gets GB through the Niners last night. So in a nutshell, can't say I think we're far off here. I think Tannehill can play in this environment without looking out of place. We need systemic improvements to help him progress individually IMO.

Miami needs a running game desperately. Watching Lacy and Gore last night. Geez, I'd like to see us get a big back. They both took untold pressure off their QB's. Invaluable part of the offense. I'm beginning to debate the idea of Miami drafting a powerback in the early rounds.

Defense. GB were terrible tacklers. Wow they were bad. Love the Niners tough defense. Neither were great shakes in the Cincy/SD game whilst Indy's secondary was terrible. Smith looked elite for a period against that rubbish. Conclusion on this is that Miami's D is serviceable. No question we could have competed defensively with some of those sides. What I did think is that all of the sides that won, in the games I saw, had great pass rush, maybe with the exception of Indy, where I'm putting the win (and the low margin of the win) squarely on Luck.

Coaching. Man, we are miles off here. All those sides did what they needed to, to win. I mean, could our O have even stayed in an 80 odd point extravaganza ? No way. We'd have been trying to comeback with little dink and dunks or Daniel Thomas stretch plays. Philbin and co along with Tannehill and the rest need to improve this hugely. We need to create mismatches. How can we rely on a progression read offense when our OL can't hold too long ? Can we imagine how that offense would have fared against that Niners DL last night ? Wow. Tannehill would still be buried somewhere on the field. I just think we need to help ourselves.

Based on what I watched, I'm focusing this off season on a couple of things.

1. OL - at least 1 OT (1st round) and 1 OG.
2. RB - want a powerback.
3. WR - I'd like to see us take a project #1 receiver. Whether this lot can coach a guy up, I'm sceptical.
4. LB. I cannot face another year of Wheeler. I just can't do it.

Thanks for reading guys.

Still don't get why Wheeler continually gets bashed while Ellerbee for some reason gets a pass. Both were not good this year. They were fairly equal in all respects

 

[dlockz]

Watching these games this weekend shows me that at least two teams get it in the draft. SF and GB .
Hell in fact Indy and KC are two other good examples

 

[Tannchise]

that you have to have a franchise qb - makes up for any weakness on team

 

[ProStyle]

Niners and GB are loaded. In the end, in spite of all the talent, GB got killed with read option and Kaep. Credit Dom Capers. If there is one thing Kaep does well is execute that read option, and also it's a pick your posion play, Kaep or Gore? Seahawks will let him throw rather then allow him to execute that read option.
Not impressed with anything else.

 

[GEORGIA FIN]

That we still have a ways to go before we can get in and not embarass ourselves when we do.

 

[HoneyB]

• Dalton sucks.
• Not a fan of Kap but his running pretty much sneaked them through.
• Rodgers is, well, everything I want in a QB
• Watching Lacy and Gore last night. Geez, I'd like to see us get a big back.
• Defense. GB were terrible tacklers. Wow they were bad. Love the Niners tough defense.
• Offense. Can we imagine how that offense would have fared against that Niners DL last night ? Wow. Tannehill would still be buried somewhere on the field.

Dalton, Rodgers, Kap
I agree Dalton sucks. Kap can shred defenses with his legs, still. The Packers lost because of that, they gambled and didn't commit to containing him. Rodgers is not only a good decision-maker, with a strong arm and has the timing down with his receivers, but he's physically strong in the pocket. I saw him breaking away, refusing to go down, moving around in the pocket. Kap obviously moves well. So I'm concerned Tannehill hasn't displayed this ability, yet. He's fragile, he is easily corralled, and often crumbles upon contact. I'm giving him the benefit of a doubt, because some fans believe without the weak O line and poor run game, he would be better,...but we'll see. He would be wise to take a very short break and get back to work, because he has a lot to work on. That's if he's interested in being the best. I'm a little doubtful he is.

Lacy and Gore
I cleaned up, with Lacy in my fantasy league. And you see how he's built. Same with Gore. They're compact and strong, nothing like Lamar Miller. Miller is just a changeup back. Ray Rice, Marshawn Lynch,...even Reggie Bush. Reggie actually for me was too slow, I like a back who is shiftier, and still strong. We absolutely need to draft a RB, but only if we can hit a home run on one, otherwise let's go to FA.

Defense
In these playoff games, you see why defense is important. It's not so much early on, but you need defense in the post season. I was actually shocked though, that the refs were letting Green Bay cornerbacks mug the Niner receivers, especially in the end zone. It was like the NBA out there. They stole an early Niner TD, straight up. If these are going to be the new rules, then guys like Sean Smith will have a long career.

 

[Wallace17Miami]

My take away:

We need a franchise qb (he's not here yet)
O-line help
LB core
New OC

 

[dlockz]

My take away:

We need a franchise qb (he's not here yet)
O-line help
LB core
New OC

I think new GM trumps all that .
I still don't get how our DC keeps getting a pass or our line coach

 

[ANUFan]

Just to get away from the mindless circus about our coaches for a short while. Few points I thought watching this weekend and relating to how we can improve....



1. OL - at least 1 OT (1st round) and 1 OG.
2. RB - want a powerback.
3. WR - I'd like to see us take a project #1 receiver. Whether this lot can coach a guy up, I'm sceptical.
4. LB. I cannot face another year of Wheeler. I just can't do it.

Thanks for reading guys.

Agree with just about everything you wrote here. Except if this list of improvements is suppose to be in order of needs then #4 needs to be wayyy up there. Our LB group particularly Wheeler needs to be replaced. Thats the biggest priority in my mind behind getting the O-line squared away.

Also, in comparison to the other teams I really would have liked our chances against SD and CIN. Both of which are AFC teams! So, while we are not "there" I think we are a lot closer than people think.

 

[DuderinoN703]

I saw Miami not in the playoffs again and I have the feeling they never will be competitive in them again. Damn them for making me feel like this.

 

[SiScotty83]

My take away:

We need a franchise qb (he's not here yet)
O-line help
LB core
New OC

I'm anxious not to turn this into another pointless QB and Tannehill bash. I watched Rivers go 12 from 16 for 128 yards and a TD and win comfortably in a Play Off game on the road at a side that were undefeated at home all year. SD ran the ball and defended okay. That's not 'franchise QB' stuff. It's just efficient play that does what is necessary. It's my opinion that Tannehill can do that but there are bigger areas of need on Miami's roster.

I absolutely agree that we desperately need OL help. I'd also love to upgrade the LB grouping. With Vernon becoming a decent pass rusher, could Jordan become fill in at LB ? Maybe an option.

Coaching I totally agree needs improvement. I just don't think we give our players a chance sometimes with the coaching standard.

 

[hoops]

not much really...just that it would be nice to have an oline that moves guys off the ball in the run game...and one we could line up in power in short yardage and convert

we have neither...and the teams that did for the most part advanced/upset the opposition...dj fluker is a murderous run blocking right tackle for san diego...road grader

cinci tried to play a colin kaepernick run the qb game with a below average athlete qb in dalton...dumb asses

everything i saw said hit the reset button on the oline miami

 

[Zounds]

I learned (well I already knew) that Cinci is overrated.....bad QB and bad scheme, and questionable coaching imo. People need to rethink their calls for Jay Gruden.

Philip Rivers is showing amazing anticipation/timing, much like Pennington did. Except he has an arm. Mike McCoy is doing more with less on offense.

If Aaron Rodgers had not missed 7 weeks and was in mid-season form, the Packers would have likely won yesterday.

The Eagles are a fun team to watch and that QB/RB/WR corps will have them in the playoffs every year.

 

[phinfan40353]

Miami needs a running game desperately. Watching Lacy and Gore last night. Geez, I'd like to see us get a big back. They both took untold pressure off their QB's. Invaluable part of the offense. I'm beginning to debate the idea of Miami drafting a powerback in the early rounds.

...

Based on what I watched, I'm focusing this off season on a couple of things.

1. OL - at least 1 OT (1st round) and 1 OG.
2. RB - want a powerback.

A "powerback" vs. a "big back".

Gore is the definition of durable and committed. Any man that comes back from devastating injuries and works out with his passion year in and year out, will make a difference on any team. He is a true professional. And currently one of the last of a dying breed. Reminds of Ricky in his prime. Can get the short yardage, great hands, has quickness and is fast but doesn't have top line speed. Still above average speed for a powerback. He can break 40 and 50 yard plays but will always get caught from behind on longer runs. But his interior running makes you forget about that small detraction. One of the most complete backs in the NFL.

Eddie Lacy reminds me of what Brandon Jacobs doesn't have in nearly the same frame. He's got just enough shiftiness, footwork and elusiveness to do a lot of damage in tight spaces. He's big, Gore-like fast and still developing in the passing game.

What you are seeing are not just any "powerback" or "big back", you're seeing great examples behind great OLines. A good interior OL goes unnoticed until your RB gets tackled and stuffed constantly in the backfield. A good OL gets a 1 - 3 yard push into the defenses teeth on a regular basis. Something we don't do with great consistency across the entire front. When you can get those 1 - 3 yards, it really helps a RB with vision and footwork. And that's the difference in a 1 or 2 yard loss vs. 2 - 3 yard gain in short yardage. Truly above average and great ones can find that hole in the next layer to bust into a 10+ gain. But it takes shiftiness and great footwork to be able to produce those regularly. A quality most "powerbacks" and "big backs" don't really have.

If you don't truly have a good interior OLine, you can waste a lot of drafting and money on RBs trying to solve the problem. Lacy and Gore and great examples of the types of backs they represent. But when you put them behind great interior OLs... now you got something special. That's when it looks like gaining 5 yards in the running game is as easy as a handoff.

A bigger issue for us is not just finding a good interior OLine. It's finding the RIGHT interior OL for the OL scheme we have. We've constantly been plugging smashmouth OLinemen into a finesse ZBS. By the time you hand the ball to Miller, the problem has already blown up the play. Miller can make it look like an average running game because of his top end speed and ability to break a play outside. If he were say... Daniel Thomas, he would look a lot worse. Safe to say, Miller is miscast as well.

Miller should be our 3rd down passing package RB. You're right, we need OL that fit our scheme and an above average big back/powerback. But not a slow powerback like Thomas playing behind this OL.