Our running game has been really poor since Gurley's play declined and he departed.
Saffold's departure left a huge hole because he was able to move people in the interior run game, something we've completely lacked since he left and we are unable to run for first down on 3rd and short, we can't move people.
We don't have the ability to play physical at the point of attack, cannot open holes for running backs and we lack that physical back that can force safeties and DB's to come up.
As a consequence, teams are disrespecting our running game, sitting deep and we are being forced to nickel and dime our way upfield.
At guar, Edwards disappoints me, both in the running game and against the pass. Brian Allen is undersized against nose tackles and interior D-linemen and is getting injuries relating to that deficiencies.
Everyone talks about our deep receiving unit, but the Super Bowl Game really exposed the fact that Kupp and OBJ are really our only dangerous receivers.
Right now, Kupp is the only one who concerns other defenses. He is absolutely incredible, but right now it's one-man football.
What must be determined is if Stafford threw almost exclusively to Kupp because only Kupp was consistently open, or if Stafford got too locked onto Kupp.
Given how few passes were caught by anyone else, all receiving options must be explored and the plan to redshirt McCutcheon this year may have to be reconsidered if other receivers don't step up. Nothing should be off the table.
At this point we're being forced to get by with no running game, an O-line that lacks physicality and with one productive receiver. Against Buffalo, Tyler Higbee continued a trend of dropping balls, a trend dating back to late last year.
I have little faith in Van Jefferson, his lack of commitment on 50/50 balls is evident.
On defence, I posted last year that Jalen Ramsey was getting torched and is overrated, most disagreed with me. It's clear that the league has found him out and he is being targeted, as I said he would be. If he stays at corner, he will require constant over the top safety help at all times as he cannot cover deep.
It is puzzling that Ramsey is widely viewed as the league's best coverage corner, though his strength is that he does pack a heavy load when he delivers a hit.
Also, in spite of all of the hype that he gets and all of the attention and double teams drawn by Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd just doesn't get to the quarterback very often and almost never in big games against good teams.
Everyone talks about our lack of pass rush and sacks on Floyd's opposite defensive side, but no one mentions the lack of sacks and pressures from Floyd himself.
Overall the pass rush against Buffalo was very poor.
Our soft zone (no press) coverage mystifies me, given that teams have been killing us with quick-release short throws for several seasons now. We just haven't made the appropriate adjustments.
Seeing Taylor Rapp starting - given his total inability to defend the pass - is puzzling. The contract between Nick Scott's rangy, punishing, All-Pro calibre play and Rapp's poor play, is astonishing. Scott is all over the field and around the ball.
Finally, it is reported that McVay really lit up the players after the game. The pathetic performance in the Buffalo game may have demonstrated that the McVay practice of sitting out all starters completely in the preseason may have to change.
Many of the starters were not sharp, were unprepared, not game-ready and played very slow. The tackling was atrocious and apart from Nick Scott and Aaron Donald, we had absolutely no physical edge.
Most players did not distinguish themselves and should have had to demonstrate in preseason game action that they are actually better than their backups. If we had seen some of what we saw against Buffalo, perhaps some late trades may have been considered.
Apart from scheme adjustments, the primary question that must be addressed by McVay and the coaching staff is if we have players on this team and on the practice squad capable of resolving the deficiencies that were clearly in evidence in the preseason and against Buffalo.
