I hope you don't mind if I add in a couple of other ramblings, DR:
Robert Turner should get a shot at left guard. I'm serious when I say this. He's talented enough to start and big enough to fit at guard. There's no way he should be a backup when guys like Ojinnaka (who I thought had a horrible game; he created absolutely no push in the running game and couldn't block the ends) and Mattison (he'd be a solid backup for sure, but I don't like him as a starter. He's way too light.) have been starting the past few games. In my opinion, the line should look something like this:
Saffold, Turner, Wells, Watkins, Dahl.
Our offensive tackle depth is not good. I'm no fan of Richardson. All the talent in the world, but he's like a bigger Alex Barron. False-start after a first down, holding on a big run, and he got Bradford killed by Bruce Carter, a backup outside linebacker who is not known for pass-rushing prowess. Jason Smith looked only marginally better than Richardson; I saw one play where a guy blew by him and nearly sacked Clemens. When Clemens escaped, Smith whiffed on his next block. And I'm not even going to get into Joe Long's game. I'm not seeing anything that makes me think he's anywhere close to being an NFL player, let alone a backup.
Loved how Watkins, and to a lesser extent, Barnes and Hebert played. Watkins has to at least get a shot with the ones. Cudjo and Conrath have secured backup spots, and Brockers was a monster in this game; Dallas didn't get anything up the middle because of him and Langford. We're not lacking interior talent and depth on either side of the ball, that's for sure. Hopefully there will be a team that releases a good young tackle and hopefully Sims can bounce back soon; he's the only backup end who can consistently cause pressure. Hayes was good in the running game, but got very little pass-rush. I never noticed Gholston, but like DR said, he was double-teamed and chipped every time he was in. We may have to keep him until Sims comes back.
I loved Robert Quinn in the passing game (he was an absolute monster going up against a fantastic young tackle in Tyron Smith, who is well known for his pass-protection abilities), but he absolutely has to keep contain. The linebackers were having problems containing runs as well, which frustrates the hell out of me. It doesn't matter whether if the running backs get a first down up the middle or if bounce to the outside; it's still a first down either way. This has to be addressed very soon or we're going to see backs like Murray run to the left all day long with impunity.
Sloppy tackling from the secondary, with the exception of Dahl, who was only terrible in coverage. That second touchdown catch by Harris was inexcusable. On plays like that, you have to wrap up and not give up the touchdown. Pointer and Daniels flashed some (Pointer had a huge hit on a quarterback scramble, and Daniels was always near the ball). McLeod and Trumaine Johnson were awesome. Fletcher was okay. Mikell, Jenkins, and Finnegan struggled. I'm really hoping that Mikell isn't slowing and that Stewart comes back. Otherwise, we may have to start McLeod. Murphy was almost invisible this game; I'm not sure if he'll make the roster if he keeps playing like this. Burney may get the job instead.
I'd love for them to give Hull a shot with the starters. McIntosh got away with a blatant PI and struggled a bit this game, and Haggan seemed a bit slow. Dunbar was great. Brown missed a tackle, but flashed his skills otherwise. Wish that Hoffman-Ellis got a bit more time; he was very good in the last game. I think Cole's earned a job with special teams alone; he made a few tackles and made a very heads-up play when Amendola fumbled on the punt return.
The refs were fucking atrocious. They blew it on Salas' touchdown catch (yes, it was a catch, and they had no proof to overturn it; the call should've stood.), missed a blatant headshot on a defenseless receiver (when Kendricks was leveled on third down), missed two extremely obvious pass-interference calls (McIntosh on Phillips and Claiborne on Steve Smith), and weren't really calling people offsides. The only play they got right was when Fisher challenged. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss the old refs; at least, I miss most of them.
...I'm sorry if I sound pessimistic with these ramblings. I know it's just preseason, and I shouldn't be that way.
