Never been a hater...after watching him in the combine, figured he'd come around...potential...tougher to grasp than realize...
He's our best lineman...Check out Matthews getting bull-rushed in the backfield...wondering what's up with Brown? Is he still solid? Mad about Havenstein...but I was shocked how well he played after seeing HIM AT the combine...damn injuries...
Line is solid for the first time in years Bubba...
now on to those db's & wr's....
Got something for ya
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2016/8/29/12691006/grob-watch-vs-the-broncos
GRob watch vs the Broncos
By
Will not be defeated on Aug 29, 2016
So, GRob has started the preseason pretty strong. He has shown improved footwork, hands and body position against the
Cowboys and
Chiefs but the
Broncos represented a step up in quality.
Looking at the play by play, it is clear that the Bronco's were a big step up as this game did not go all GRob's way.
NB: the Broncos lined up entirely in their 3-4 base.
1st Drive.
1st & 10. Pass
Matches up one-on-one with the OLB (
Shane Ray). GRob lines up in a two point stance. GRob is up off the snap and although his feet are not that fluid he gets squared up with Ray. Body position and hand position is good. The ball is out fast and Ray goes nowhere.
2nd & 9. Run
Doubles the DE inside with Wichmann. Get a good shove on but play is dead behind them as Barnes failed to move the NT and allowed the NT to make the stop.
3rd & 4. Pass
Ray bull rushes. GRob gives up a few steps as Ray has gotten under him. GRob manages to reset and get control with about 4 yards to spare.
NB: Keenum is sacked. Saffold is beaten by a hand swipe from Miller and Wichmann is beaten by a spin move from the DE. The Bronco's pass rush is for real.
2nd drive.
1st & 10. Run
Doubles the DE with Wichmann. Initially they shove the DE inside but Wichmann allows the DE to slide of his right hand side. GRob has continued to try and drive and ends up the wrong side as the DE slips Wichmann, which allows the ILB to come behind GRob and make the stop with the DE.
2nd & 10. Pass
GRob is out quick and slides to block Ray. Hands are not into position quickly and this allows Ray to get both hands in to GRob's chest and Ray makes a few yards. GRob is still in it though and takes a small jump and pulls Ray off balance slightly and slows him further by trying to push him down. The pass was out safely but Ray ended up a little close to Keenum for comfort.
1st & 10. Run
Doubles the DE with Wichmann. GRob is fast off the snap and drives the DE on to his left leg & momentarily looks like the DE will go down but the DE gets his base back and keeps his feet under him. He is no impact on the play though.
2nd & 5. screen
Broncos show blitz with the ILB and send five. Initially looks like GRob has two men to block and allows the DE to go past unopposed. GRob does match up with Ray though and does a good job in blocking.
1st & 10. Run
Rams use zone blocking scheme. GRob is out aggressively from the snap and chases the OLB (
Shaquil Barrett) 15 yards left away from the play.
2nd & 9. Pass
Broncos show blitz with ILB. Send four. GRob is matched up with the OLB (Barrett) but Barrett drops in to coverage. GRob turns inside and delivers a big right shoulder into the DE that knocks the DE flat on to his back.
NB: Something went badly wrong with the protection call and/or communication on the right side. Kendricks and Harkey lined up outside Saffold with Cunningham on that side too. Saffold came inside; Kendricks went downfield; Harkey and Cunninham step up to support the interior. The end result was an unopposed run to the QB for Von Miller. I'd guess at Harkey being at fault.
3rd & 9. Pass
Lines up with the OLB, who was out quick but GRob was too and meets him. GRob gets two open hands on the OLBs shoulders and is in control. Cunningham then comes past and a gives a big chip block that knocks the OLB around 360 degrees. GRob has it covered though and pushes the turning OLB into the dirt as he spins. Nice job.
3rd drive.
1st & 10. Run
GRob initially takes a big (and rather clumsy looking) right step to cover the inside rush and gets set with a wide and strong base. Ray doesn't want to know. GRob looks to come inside but Cunningham is already past.
2nd & 3. Pass
One on one with the DE. The DE takes a chip from Kendricks which slows his rush. GRob takes five steps mirroring the DE before contact. GRob is in perfect position and gives a two handed shove as the pass comes out. Simple and easy here.
1st & 10. Run
Rams go to zone blocking again. GRob is up and moving left, and with just his right hand he forces the DE to go that way too. Moved the DE about 6 yards with just one arm there.
NB: This zone blocking is not really working against the Bronco's 3-4. The line is getting lateral movement but the ILBs are not engaged and are just coming up and thumping the RB in which ever gap appears. Fortunately the RB shows good strength to make some yards.
2nd & 6. Run
Lines up with Ray. Ray feints a bull rush and then goes inside. GRob appears well set for the bull rush but struggles to react to the inside move. GRob keeps at it and pushes Ray's outside shoulder which slows Ray, but GRob ends up the wrong side. The pass was out quick which stopped Ray having an effect on the play, but that was definitely a win for Ray.
1st & 10. Pass (zone read)
GRob is off the snap noticeably quickly and drives inside at the DE. GRob's hands appear a little high on the DE but he manhandles the DE for about four yards.
1st & 10. Run
Doubles the DE inside with Wichmann. Between them they blast the DE off the line and rough him up. They let the guy go after moving him 8 yards downfield.
NB: Saffold got beaten with hands by the DE who dropped the RB. That was bad.
2nd & 9. Pass
One on one with the OLB (Ray) who comes from a wide starting spot. Ray goes for pure speed aroudn the outside and GRob never gets close enough to properly block. GRob ends up chasing Ray with two hands on his inside shoulder. The pass comes out quickly and GRob just (JUST!) did enough to send Ray high.
NB; From the side line camera, it looks like GRob had a little move control in sending Ray high, and that Keenum was safer than first appears. Was still uncomfortably close though.
3rd & 7. Pass
Ray comes from that wide starting position again and builds up a head of steam again. GRob has gotten out better this time and gets hands on Ray, but allows Ray to get two straight arms into his chest. GRob removes Ray's left arm and then forces Ray high. Ray keeps his legs driving and he is getting around the outside but GRob is slowing him. The ball comes out just as Ray manages to scrape Kennum's butt with a stretching right arm.
4th Drive.
1st & 10. Run
Zone blocking again. GRob comes inside and moves the DE a yard or so. Has high hands on the DEs shoulders, and a left slips off the DEs shoulder into his jaw and rocks the DEs head back. Wichmann's butt seals off the DE for the rest of the play.
2nd & 8. Pass (scramble)
Ray rushes but GRob meets him with good hands and a low base. Looks like GRob has him stopped dead but Cunningham comes past and chip blocks Ray, knocking him free insider. GRob has it covered though and as Ray is off balance is throws Ray flat on to his back. Hard. Replay shows that GRob may have used a judo foot sweep/trip; not clear if it was deliberate though.
1st & 10. Run
Initially goes at the DE with Wichmann, but after initial shove GRob slides off looking for the ILB. Brown is dropped before GRob can engage.
2nd & 6. Pass
Lines up with Ray and looks to be in a good position, with feet and hands well placed. Ray then pulls a right arm swim move and is past GRob in the blink of an eye. Wichmann was doubling the DE with Barnes and was alert enough to put out a left arm and get a handful of Ray's midriff, allowing Keenum an extra moment to get the pass out.
3rd & 6. Pass
Ray is lined up really wide again. Ray is up quick but Kendricks chips him as Kendricks is on his way to the flats, slowing Ray before he can fully get going. As Ray recovers GRob is on him and delivers a decent two handed hit. Decent footwork from GRob and the pass is out.
Although the first team offense remained on the field, GRob went in to the concussion protocol so did not come back out with Goff on the next drive.
However good Ray was though GRob did not give up any sacks or penalty yards; managing to not give up any penalties on plays where he had to recover against Ray was quite an achievement. He is also still and earth mover in the run game.
What is clear is that GRob does not look as good up against speed rushers. Although he looks better (and he does) he is not the finished article yet, and looks like he will need to be helped out by calling for plays that have quick passes. He also still looks susceptible to that inside rush. That has to improve. He also need to prevent rushers getting their hands in to him by getting to the punch first.
The protections could have helped him a little more. When a rusher as quick as Shane Ray is lined up some 6 to 8 yards outside and is clearly rushing, anyone is going to need help. Why it took until the 3rd time Ray was lined up a long way outside of GRob for them to realize he needed to be chipped before getting up to full speed is a bit of a mystery to me. A standing start against an on-coming 250lb speed rusher is going to be hard for any left tackle to deal with (yet Grob still managed it, I guess).
Overall, I had hoped for better. Nevertheless, I am going to call this a positive outing. Yeah, he didn't have it all his own way but that was never going to happen as Denver's D is too good to allow that (and
Shane Ray looked good).
As an aside, whatever you think of the above GRob has to play this year as his back-up,
Darrell Williams, looked flat out awful. If
Williams makes the roster over
Isaiah Battle then something is badly wrong.
want more...click links...shout out to Will for all his work fellas...
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2016/8/23/12611510/grob-watch-vs-the-chiefs
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2016/8/14/12472880/grob-watch-vs-the-cowboys
