VW82

According to ESPN we were 2nd in yards allowed per game but we were also the 18th ranked scoring defense. We just couldn't keep teams from scoring once they got in the red zone. Is that going to change this year? We're still a little small up front but I bet we're much better. Year 2/3 in the McD system for a lot of our starters.

I still think it's the offensive line. Long and Spain suck IMO and Ford although promising is still a rookie. Add in the issues we're having with our TEs and we're going to have to game plan to get the ball out early or Josh is going to spend time on his backside. Everything changes if/when Morse returns.

Others have said this too. It would surprise me. Zay was McD's second pick ever as a head coach. He's also arguably the most talented receiver on the team so you know they'll give him every chance. If he doesn't improve this season he won't be on the team next year.

I know it's early but I think the Cole Beasley signing is going to wind up being an overwhelming success. Every QB needs someone they can trust. Allen wanted that guy to be Zay but he just isn't. Beasley gets open AND makes tough catches which Allen forces you to do sometimes. Watching Allen last night I saw chemistry developing with his new go-to guy.

I thought the coaching staff did a nice job putting Allen in positions early to make some easy throws and get a better rhythm than game one where he was taking shots deep (and missing) right out of the gate. It also helped that the early passes were to Beasley instead of butterfingers so instead of poorly placed balls being incompletions Beasley was able to adjust and pick the football out of the dirt. By the time Allen had to make a harder throw downfield to Sweeney (lofted to right sideline) he was confident and put it right on the money. Thumbs up for Dabol and McD.

It’s probably 2002 Bledsoe and Van Pelt no? Statistically they had the best year. It’s too early to say anything about Allen and Barkley. If we’re going by last year they’re probably middle of the pack.

So because of the Barry Sanders rule we can use an arbiter to go after Mitch's signing bonus. He's going to make every effort to play. We might be jumping the gun on the retirement party. Hopefully we're just being overly cautious. Morse was diagnosed with concussion like symptoms not as having had a knock out event.

Kyler Murray is not accurate. He's missed a bunch of difficult but makeable throws so far in addition to the typical rookie issues (delay of game, poor decision making , etc.). Did Cards just whiff on two QBs in b2b years?

That play where Oliver jumps up and causes a pump fake then he gets inside anyway and winds up whiffing on the sack is the kind of play I expect from a talented rookie who’s just figuring things out. I thought it was weird that Colts doubled him so much. Is Nelson not a good enough player yet to handle a rookie on his own? Guess they wanted to send a message.

You'd think it'd be totally cleared up by now (usually 7-10 days). Hopefully he's not having post-concussion syndrome symptoms.

I think McBeane probably couldn't get away with what Cards pulled with Rosen for example so there are degrees to it, but yeah...it's not really that different.

Because they drafted Josh and so are more likely to give him a longer leash. That fact seemed to have been lost on OP who wondered if McD might bench Josh to save his job.

I feel like we're going to be able to consistently generate pressure rushing four. Murphy looks healthy again. Lawson is a year older and playing for his job. Oliver looks like a menace, and Hughes might be the most underrated player in the league. Add in our stud pass rushing LB core in pressure situations and there are going to be a lot of opposing QBs running for their lives this year. I expect big things out of this unit and I don't think I'm going to be disappointed.

For the record, and because you asked, no it is not. The comment you replied to addressed OP's question about whether McD might bench Josh to save his job. I haven't shared that take anywhere recently. If what you're really suggesting is to take a break from discussing Allen, then OK. You're right, I've made my point. It's not my intention to spam those discussions.

Is Foster a lock? I'd bet he makes it but maybe not if they only keep six. It's not like there haven't been issues with him in the past.

We gave up a lot of points in 2018 but we were third in the league in yards allowed per play. Bet we finish top 5 in points against this year. So much talent and McD's a really good defensive coach.

I agree with OP that Allen looked poor at times in game one and that he suffered through the same accuracy issues we've seen from him in the past. His release looks fine to me but either way it isn't the main problem. It's still early. There's lots of time to get better and have a great year.

He's only 23 years old so he's immature in the way all guys are when they're only 23. I certainly don't think he's a problem kid if that's what you're suggesting. The slow release part is a bit of red herring. Whatever he loses in a longer wind up (if it even is a longer wind up) is more than made up for with the added arm strength. I do think he's slow to make decisions sometimes and maybe that's what OP is seeing. I don't know. I like Beane and McD.

I’ve watched the play multiple times now. It’s at 7:50 of the first quarter. There was tones of daylight out to the right but Singletary hesitated then ran straight ahead instead of bouncing it wide for a first down. It’s only one run . He looked better in the passing game than I thought he would for a rookie. Let’s see what he becomes.

I agree with the OP except for the part alluding to McD pulling Allen in lieu of "allow(ing) Josh to decide his fate." McBeane know their fate is likely tied to Allen's success so they'll do whatever they can ensure he does well (see complete overhaul of the offense this off season). That said, he needs to be a lot better than he was in the first preseason game if this team is going to sniff playoffs this year. I think we'll see some growth.

This is really appreciated. It sucks having to wait for the replay in NFLN.

No. it happened at 7:50 in the first quarter.

Except we've had the privilege of watching the games and so we know it isn't always Zay's fault. Allen is missing him a lot or forcing him to lay out for difficult catches that should have been routine. I agree Zay has a real problem holding onto the football and that issue doesn't appear to be QB dependent. Allen is exacerbating the issue with all the errant throws and Zay is in turn further killing the confidence between them with all the drops. At this point that has to be a factor: deep down they don't have confidence a throw will end in a reception.

I wasn't a fan of Singletary in this game. His run on 2nd and 5 in that second series was bad. Line got a nice push with so much open field out to the right. Prime Shady would have turned that into a 20 yard run. Singletary instead hesitates and then runs straight ahead into their DE. One rushing attempt doesn't make a career but that one left an impression.

And Josh shouldn't have airmailed him or thrown it in the dirt in that first series. Maybe they could have scored points if they'd kept that drive going. Watch the play again. Josh throws the ball wide and Zay has to adjust his route. It was a catch and in a vacuum that's all that counts but in this case it's another small piece of evidence that those guys aren't on the same page. There are too many miscues between them dating back to last season. It's on both of them at this point.