Two areas we need improvement.

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Your starting Guards both go down at different points in the game.

The backup is real bad at pass protection.

The center is already suspect in pass Pro.

Your playing a team with a top pass rushing front 4.

Your QB has a bad back and is older.

You have the lead and your defense is playing well.

So 3rd and 9 - your approach is contextualized.



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We had a 3rd and 9 and ran the fucking ball this Sunday.
Lesson from the GSOT and Martz. 3rd and long he had one receiver @ the first down line, one guy 2 yards short of it on the other side of the field, another guy 5-10 yards past it down the middle.
Never seen so many 3 and longs completed in my life.
You forget any team playing against our last DC. LOL
 
Every year since the dawn of time I've wanted a great OL filled with pro-bowler studs. We never seem to prioritize it as much as I and others like. Perhaps the org is still touchy over blowing high picks on Jason Smith and Greg Robinson.

It would be nice to be more explosive, and perhaps Jarquez and T Ferguson are the great hopes here. But, to graduate into on-field duty with regular snaps, they have to ace their blocking course from the School of McVay. Regardless of McVay's rhetoric for not using certain players, I think it always boils down to trust that they can block well enough.
 
If I could snap my fingers and improve one single area of this team it would be pass pro. I know Houston is a top 5 defensive front with some certified freaks, but we graded out in the late 20s in pass pro last year and graded out at like 27th on Sunday.

It obviously extends Stafford’s shelf life but it also unlocks certain aspects of the passing game. When you hold up in pass pro you can squeeze every ounce of Stafford’s arm talent out, and activate every part of the field. Longer developing routes that turn into chunk plays. It would turn this offense from good to great.
Houston's a high quality defense and we saw that not only up front but also in the way the secondary was consistently a step away and able to lay the wood on our wideouts. They're quick, they're physical, and they come after you.

But all that aside this hearkens back to what I've been saying about our OL starting slow. And this season it is the exact same result. The OL we saw today will be ten times better come December. It's the Rams. Also the fact that we beat Houston is a testament to how good this staff is, as well as the quality of our own defense.

That entire second half it felt like I was dreading the defense allowing one of those "oh shit" drives where they give up seven. But it didn't happen. So I can't say enough about their performance, their backs were against the wall and they fought the full game to cement that win.

To the OL let's hope we get our top 5 in there and rolling soon. Because again our early sched is rough enough that we're gonna be dropping some games if that line doesn't get sorted quicklike and in a hurry.
 
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Been saying it for awhile, like KW but need a home run hitter. Maybe Hunter will get activated and have a few plays? A lil extra speed never hurt anyone unless your light in the pants like Tutu
We are not going to see much of Hunter until Sean is convinced he can pass protect for Matthew. Everyone should know this about McVay by now.
 
Yeah seeing them pin the opposing team deep in their own territory then watching that team move their way out of it has been frustrating. On the other hand I love limiting teams to 3 FGs!!!
 
We are not going to see much of Hunter until Sean is convinced he can pass protect for Matthew. Everyone should know this about McVay by now.
Not even saying to put him in on passing downs lol.....you telling me McVay can't give the kid a few runs per game?
 
I'm sure McVay has an "improvement plan" in mind.
Marshall used to tell the story that, one night, he was in a local bar in St. Louis, and this fan walked up to him & started criticizing his game. That's when he knew, "The GSOT is dead." The fans just got so used to the insane production of the GSOT, than when difficulties came up, they all turned on the team.
Things happen in football that we (as fans) just can't control. We have to put things into context (thank you @TexasRam ) before we get it in our heads that McVay & crew are all washed up & have run out of ideas, so we have to come to their rescue & help them figure it out.
 
Not even saying to put him in on passing downs lol.....you telling me McVay can't give the kid a few runs per game?
I did not say that!: I said, "We are not going to see much of Hunter ..."

They may sprinkle in isolated runs here or there, but even doing that is going to infringe on Matthew's desire to change plays if he sees better options based on what he sees in the defensive formation. It is better overall for the kid to develop solid pass blocking skills (ditto for rookie TE Ferguson!) before he risks getting his franchise QB killed by missing blocks!