Old Coot

I'm guessing that if we get pressure on Tua that will rattle him.

Part of Gabe's problem with dropped passes may be that he does not have large hands for a WR. His hand size is 9 1/4 inches. Given that Josh throws fireballs (or Firebaughs), the combo of hand size and pass velocity might, in part, cause Gabe's dropsey.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be

The D has played really well but hasn't faced a really good O. That plus the fact that McD's D is so very different from Frazier's means there is not much take on it for opponents to dissect. The game against Miami will be an acid test for our D. Note that I'm not belittling our D. So far it has done very well. But stiffer challenges lie ahead. Here's hoping our D meets them.

I'll add a twist to the shotgun- under center debate and play action. As Shaw has said classic play-action was a pass play disguised as a run play with QB under center and a fake handoff to the RB. Thr Run-Pass Option (RPO) needs to be executed from a shotgun or pistol formation. The RB meshes with the QB. The QB is essentially reading a conflict defender, lets say the left outside linebacker, to decide whether the RB keeps the ball or the QB takes the ball back and passes. If the LB plays pass and backs up the QB lets the RB have the ball who runs. If the LB plays run and stays clos to the line, the QB keeps the ball and hits a receiver behind the LB. It's not easy to run an RPO from under center because You cannot run an RPO from under center because the QB is running backward while at the same time reading the LB and trying to mesh with the RB. I suspect that Josh is more successful passing in an RPO when the conflict defender plays run than on a straight passing play with no fake to the RB because he's read the defender playing run so he passes to take advantage of the defender's decision to play run.

In the 1300's the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the largest state in Europe. It stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea and included Ukraine. Smolensk was a Polish city. In the early 1600s the Poles occupied Moscow for 25 years. Polish history has pretty much been downhill from there. Those who desire peace must prepare for war.

Why is Alfred Hitchcock eating a book? That's not a book. It's a McGuffin.

Sorry about that.

Is O'Connell, Lucas & Chelf mensstore still in business?

One in a Million Plays (including a drop kick by Doug Flutie and a TD by DB Tom Landry -- THAT Tom Landry) at 8:40

Someone with a better memory than me: Does Josh throw more interceptions than heroic plays against better teams, particularly in the playoffs?

Cover 1 guy said Josh was in the building on Monday from 9 til 2 pm and noted that players usually don't come into the building on Monday unless they need treatment for an injury. So maybe his poor showing got Josh's head turned around and focussed on football, specifically reading defenses.

For those who blame Dorsey's playcalling I urge you to look at the Cover 1 breakdown of key pass plays in the Jets game. The route combos are sound. Now we don't know the reads (long to short; short to long; key on the DB being attacked) but again the concepts are sound and there were open guys that Josh missed. It seems to be a problem of execution and not playcalling. Since he began playing QB I've noticed that Josh holds onto the ball longer than most QBs. Someone on the board said that Daboll put Josh in the shotgun because it gives Josh a better view of the field so it may be that Josh takes longer to process what he sees. From the Cover 1 breakdown it seems that Josh is better on plays when the concept is to high-low a CB so that no matter what the DB does he's wrong. Those are crisp bang-bang reads (if the DB takes the deeper WR you hit the underneath guy; if he takes the shallower guy you hit the deeper guy). Every time Josh breaks the pocket the route structure and timing is ruined. It becomes backyard ball.

I agree with this but he needs to get his head out of ass and focus on football. He can't just wing it. D's are now used to his high velocity throws and react accordingly. He needs to be more disciplined both on and off the field. His lack of film study is worrying. More study would mean that over time he will be quicked to recognize post snap what the D is doing. Josh might have a problem seeing the field. It is said that Daboll (and Dorsey) use the shotgun because it helps Josh see the field. Again, more film study will pay dividends over time. My 2 cents.

I basically agree with your take but maybe Josh isn't panicking. Maybe it's because in the past he's been able to make plays by leaving the pocket and making time for someone to get open. In any event he needs to be more disciplined in his pocket presence and his reads.

I think you are onto something here. During camp Allen made a statement about how he needs to work on his eyes being in the right place. Any thoughts on why Allen would not go through his reads? Not enough time? Misreading the D? Looking for the homerun ball? Other?

The wrist band may have more to do with how the OC calls the plays (e.g. no. 23 audible to no. 34 if 2 high safeties) than Josh's knowledge of the playbook. What does concern me is that Josh is not a a video junkie studying the other teams defenses. He says that's because he'll see something different when they play the team. But its rare that a team will completely abandon their base defense. They may add wrinkles or disguises but it's still their base D. Also, intensive film study allows quicker reaction time not just the next time but down the road for the team studied but also for faster recognition of similar D's by other teams. Thoughts?

Perhaps Bucky is basing his opinion on the fact that JA is on the cover of Madden '24. Remember the "Madden Curse"? Who doesn't believe in curses? (Fingers crossed)

Josh Allentown! I love it.

We finally won an NFL championship. I'll drink to that!

Read the story here; https://www.yahoo.com/news/sports/chad-kelly-jim-kellys-nephew-152120320.html

The unkindest cut of all: Jags coach Doug Pederson cut his own son!

Good breakdown of why the Chiefs' offense uses the 1-4 set (4 receivers to one side) and how they use it:

Glad to see the starters played well this game. BUT to put it in context, the Bears' OL was missing 3 starters and their D was missing both starting safeties.