Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Originally posted by BrianGO:
Originally posted by NCommand:
Thank you for this. I'm more concerned about the "hits" and pressures and forcing the QB to pull down and scramble instantly. What are you seeing there? QB's fault, good penetration from the DL while CB's have WR's locked down, etc.
There were a lot of designed roll outs to the right. I don't know why on earth we run them. It causes instant pressure.
In the pocket, Iupati got beat on a swim move, Hunter got beat by a linebacker, but everything else was clean.
When Smith moved up in the pocket the pocket was often not there and he had to scramble, pulling down the ball and attempting to run. I would like to see him throw the ball away quickly in those situations but I think he was trying to show he could use his legs as CK did the first game. He needs to think--"Preseason, do not get hit!"
The roll outs were used to counter Houston's quick DLine and worked to some extent. Good to use vanilla roll outs rather than give up plays that will be used when games count. Smith will not make it through the year if he keeps getting hit like this.
Agreed. If it was just this one pre season game (where the Texans took a '11 Saints approach BTW) I can understand. But the fact that this is a perpetual issue (esp. against good 3-4 defenses or blitz-disguising teams) concerns me. I still have no idea how Alex made it through last year w/o a serious injury. And now it's a pre season game and your starting QB is getting body slammed (had that been on his shoulder again?) and decapitated (twice). There is not a coach in the league who would "smile" about that. That's your season...one and done!
We've all been seriously concerned about the pass blocking through last year (44 sacks, lead the league in pressures/hits under 3 seconds, etc.) and then we'd see 6 games where only 7 sacks were given up and feel better, and then we were concerned again when we had to use jumbo packages (max protect) and keep extra backs, TE's and extra DL/OL in to protect Alex which left him with ONE single receiving option that was there or not (and if not, he was running for his life again), etc.
So to me, it's about creating a consistent pocket that the likes of Brady, Manning, Brees, etc. (even their backups) have gotten over the course of their careers if we are EVER to install year 2 of 3 of the WCO and utilize all our new weapons. With the same OL back from all of last year, we should not be talking about our starting QB getting seriously slammed 4 times (avoided a few others) in pre season no matter how we try to justify it. So it's still a concern no matter if it's the OL's fault, poor play calling, Alex, etc. or a combo of all.
It needs to be fixed now and the last thing Alex/Harbaugh should be doing is smiling about it...