A few random thoughts on FB for next season. Watched some games while killing time and thought would throw this out for discussion.
- Barnes is a pretty complete football player and once he knows his role in the non-run game better he will be huge or YUGE. When he gets set he takes DL out when pass blocking. W this OL plus Dimmel and/or Barnes the pass protect should be stellar making the long ball even more problematic for opponents.
- When I watch some of Ertz’s throws and runs and then consider he was doing this with a bum shoulder---WOW. If he recovers and is throwing with even just less pain the sky is the limit for this offense. The need for him to run will be reduced by the long ball threat and the stable of running backs we have behind a really good line. Honestly though, it will always be a part of the game plan and defenses will make us use it====largely to their regret IMO. Someone remind me how much Ell carried the ball? He had Sproles which seems like it limited his carries and I don’t remember him being any better than Ertz running and IMO Ertz is already a better passer.
- Tanking reminds me of Sims. He does everything right. Good drops on the pass and good lines on the run game BUT he sticks to blockers once they get on him and just doesn’t close with great speed. If we find an E. Lee type to send out in our 2 LB set maybe we are solid BUT I fear we are about to relearn how poorly this D plays without a guy who can separate from blockers and run guys down side line to side line ala Moore. Our interior DL guys have always been gap control with the LBs cleaning up. Adams and whomever mans the other safety are going to be having to sell out on the run if the LBs can’t give us even 90% of last year’s group. Here is hoping Tanking is like B. Slaughter and gets his reads down to the point he gets that micro second advantage Blake used to compensate for lack of real speed.
- Skylar and Alex splitting reps is a very good thing. If we make a run next year we need a guy who can step in if Ertz goes down and keep the train rolling. Synching with WRs is always important and there are a lot of guys to work with. The competition at QB and WR should keep everybody engaged all summer.
- Barnes, McCoy, Silmon, Warmack---have we ever had this much talent at RB? The big play in the running game is back! Warmack gave glimpses before his injury and let us hope the stories on McCoy are true. Imagine fresh legs constantly rotating thru while this OL works on the D.
- The OTs are really darn athletic maybe not NFL types but they run well, have pretty sweet feet and technique wise they are seniors already.
- Zuber is a heck of a talent. Anyone have any knowledge on his ‘go deep’ speed. Great hands and body control---kind of Kevin Lockett like in build it appears. Didn’t see any deep routes in anything I watched.
