Originally posted by Young2Rice:
Originally posted by OnTheClock:
Originally posted by Young2Rice:
Originally posted by OnTheClock:
This has been even further eye opening. The fact that our OL is allowing DT's to split double teams within ONE SECOND in the middle is ASTOUNDING. There is no other way to describe aside from atrocious -- and all the synonyms that go with that.
I'm sorry, but a QB should be able to expect more than 1-2 seconds to actually look around and throw the ball. Frick, man, on Thursday Night Football tonight I watched Ryan stand there for 3 to 4 seconds.. 1st second look at first read, 2nd second look at 2nd read.. 3rd.. then fires to fourth read. We are lucky if our QB has enough time to see the first, and by the time that happens, he's prepping for a hit.
Sometimes guys are going to break free, especially when you are playing a great D. You have to avoid the instant rush and make a throw. Its part of the game. The better ones do it consistently.
Watch this game winning pass in a bowl game by Montana. INSTANT pressure, quick shift to the right and a fire dart for a TD. We need to see things like this from Alex. Not pause, make a attempt at a juke, and take a sack. In this vid, there is no doubt in my mind Alex Smith would take a sack on that last play of the game.
My fellow WZ, brother, Smith has done things like this no problem at all before, man. As NCommand pointed out, this is a much much different situation that the AZ Sack we're talking about. Shorter route, shorter drop, shorter everything. I can put up several examples of Alex making that exact kind of play/throw, except sometimes it's with guys in his face even. Here:
1:00 Mark of this clip: http://www.49ers.com/media-gallery/videos/Highlights-49ers-vs-Browns/a09e7ed1-4940-4c88-9d45-3f7120a0481a
Then here: (Scroll down and click on Smith to Crabtree conversion) http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011111312/2011/REG10/giants@49ers#menu=highlights&tab=recap
Yeah the play is different but this was in response to people who thought it was silly to expect a QB to beat instant pressure. It can must be done. Like you said an exemplified, Smith has done it as well. Instant pressure in this league will occur.
smit has done it before i know i watch the games. He needs to do it more consistently and frequently and has to finish the escape with a good throw. Yes, it is a lot to ask but the best get it done more often then not.
The point that I was trying to get across was that "instant pressure" needs to be taken within the context of the situation. Simply put, instant pressure does not always look the same, just as the play and routes called on offense can be a multitude of different things in any given down/situation, as well as the defensive talent and the player in general who is the free rusher. Example: Easier to run away from a 350 pounder than a 200 pound CB blitzing sometimes.
I would love it if Alex could spin off and juke and hurdle defenders in the backfield 100% of the time, but obviously he's not that level of freakishly athletic, although he is athletic. I think he does a better job of evading pressure than most of the league. Just seems like lately, because we've lost a couple, people have started to put more impetus on his play to a microscopic level and say, "well on a sack or two, he could've escaped." as if it's a glaring issue when it really hasn't. He's not dominantly evasive, but he's good.
Believe it or not, one of Rodgers' only criticisms in the past was he held the ball too long sometimes. He would get hit a bit, but he would look for a play while also protecting the ball. This year he's greatly improved. I think we are spending too much time on this issue because it's way overblown. I think we're all just searching for answers after our 2nd loss in three weeks.
[ Edited by OnTheClock on Dec 16, 2011 at 11:47:06 ]
