Tweet
I am not going to lie for the first time since 2023 I turned the game off after the Hurts tush push fumble and the defense immediately allowing yet another long run to a rookie 7th round pick. At that point I had seen enough.
1. Hurts - Extremely poor game. Missed too many throws, was indecisive and turned the ball over. He basically played with his head up his arse all game. There were receivers open he just missed them. The turnovers were extremely elementary and things he normally doesn't do.
2. Offensive Line - Another week another poor performance. Couldn't open up holes in the run despite playing against a team with a poor run defense. Changes need to be made. The backups might not have the same athletic talent but can they execute basic plays. Because the starters right now can not.
3. Barkley - He actually started off with a few pretty good runs, then he slowed down against before hitting the line and got hit for a TFL. Now the play probably doesn't get much but if he keeps his feet moving instead of stopping he may get back to the LOS or gain a year. Every inch counts with this offense.
4. Jake Elliot - Two weeks in a row now he has killed momentum. I will talk more about him a little later but he should be on very thin ice.
5. AJ Brown - Quit your crying and get into the damn playbook. Two more costly penalties this week. This has to stop.
6. Coordinators - Patullo was OK today. I know that is not going to be a popular opinion but when your QB can't hit wide open receivers, is fumbling the ball and throwing INT add in an oline that can't open holes for the RB and well its hard to call and design plays.
Fangio on the other hand was extremely bad today as was the entire defense. Its very simple, the Bears are a run first team they are similar to the way we played last year. They rarely turn the ball over and they play ball control. You don't play soft zone against them because a rookie 7th round pick and Swift will put up 250 plus yards on the ground against you. Today screamed of a day you played base defense. with Campbell playing the weak side linebacker. Campbell can cover a tight end as good as any of our safeties or linebackers. If they run a pass he follows the Tight End, however he plays closer to the LOS. Too many times they were light in the box six guys, 5 guys at least 7 yards off the LOS. Either the Bears threw quick passes or ran the ball down their throat. The only adjustment I saw Vic make was to put in Byron Young at the end and that failed to. Because they were double teaming every interior guy. And before I hear we only scored 9 points and we did and that is an issue. When you allow that type of ball control to another team you keep the ball out of your offenses hands
Michael Clay - Another missed extra point, no real return yards, Britan Covey who has zero speed didn't field the first punt cost them at least 15 yards by letting it bounce. This has to get fixed ASAP.
We can bitch all we want but the fact is this is 2023 all over again. However this time the change has to be different. I am not changing coordinators, although some edicts have to be sent down, especially to Fangio. We are in cold weather now, teams are not going to hit the bomb on you. You need to stop the run and sometimes it going to take more than 4 down lineman. Trust your Defensive backs a little more in one on one. Patullo is trying some different things the players just are not executing. I don't know what else he can do. I think he is searching for something this team does well on offense. He has to figure out what this team is going to be and do it every quickly.
Players this time will need to be accountable for this mess. I would bench AJ Brown not for his crying but for the penalties. He leads the lead in WR penalties. That is hard to do. Now the benching could be for a game or for a half whatever a message needs to be sent. Clean up the damn penalties. Saquan Barkley needs to be phases back. He does not have the same burst and he is now trying to cut and dance too much. Take what is there live for the next down. Let Bigsby run more. Hurts is an interesting one. As he has not played well for six quarters now. If he comes out next week with the same demeanor, the same issues. Bench him. Quarter half game whatever. If the offense starts moving without him then he sits longer. I don't care how much money he is making, he is a big part of the issues this team is having. The offensive line is harder. Those guys are not healthy but you don't have a guy to plug in for Mailata as Johnson is playing for Johnson. Dickerson I would play Toth more. I thought that Jurgens played better today.
I would get a kicker on the practice squad this week. Cutting Elliot is complicated due to his contract but there is nothing saying they can't deactive him for a week. Missing kicks usually leads to loses.
There are no cookbook answers to fixing this. Maybe this just can't be fixed until the offseason. Going back to back for Super Bowls are extremely extremely hard. There schedule is brutal and there are no breaths to figure out issues as they arise. Really other than the Raiders there are no "" wins on the schedule. The Commanders are going to get heathy just in time to play the Eagles. As will the Chargers.
1. Hurts - Extremely poor game. Missed too many throws, was indecisive and turned the ball over. He basically played with his head up his arse all game. There were receivers open he just missed them. The turnovers were extremely elementary and things he normally doesn't do.
2. Offensive Line - Another week another poor performance. Couldn't open up holes in the run despite playing against a team with a poor run defense. Changes need to be made. The backups might not have the same athletic talent but can they execute basic plays. Because the starters right now can not.
3. Barkley - He actually started off with a few pretty good runs, then he slowed down against before hitting the line and got hit for a TFL. Now the play probably doesn't get much but if he keeps his feet moving instead of stopping he may get back to the LOS or gain a year. Every inch counts with this offense.
4. Jake Elliot - Two weeks in a row now he has killed momentum. I will talk more about him a little later but he should be on very thin ice.
5. AJ Brown - Quit your crying and get into the damn playbook. Two more costly penalties this week. This has to stop.
6. Coordinators - Patullo was OK today. I know that is not going to be a popular opinion but when your QB can't hit wide open receivers, is fumbling the ball and throwing INT add in an oline that can't open holes for the RB and well its hard to call and design plays.
Fangio on the other hand was extremely bad today as was the entire defense. Its very simple, the Bears are a run first team they are similar to the way we played last year. They rarely turn the ball over and they play ball control. You don't play soft zone against them because a rookie 7th round pick and Swift will put up 250 plus yards on the ground against you. Today screamed of a day you played base defense. with Campbell playing the weak side linebacker. Campbell can cover a tight end as good as any of our safeties or linebackers. If they run a pass he follows the Tight End, however he plays closer to the LOS. Too many times they were light in the box six guys, 5 guys at least 7 yards off the LOS. Either the Bears threw quick passes or ran the ball down their throat. The only adjustment I saw Vic make was to put in Byron Young at the end and that failed to. Because they were double teaming every interior guy. And before I hear we only scored 9 points and we did and that is an issue. When you allow that type of ball control to another team you keep the ball out of your offenses hands
Michael Clay - Another missed extra point, no real return yards, Britan Covey who has zero speed didn't field the first punt cost them at least 15 yards by letting it bounce. This has to get fixed ASAP.
We can bitch all we want but the fact is this is 2023 all over again. However this time the change has to be different. I am not changing coordinators, although some edicts have to be sent down, especially to Fangio. We are in cold weather now, teams are not going to hit the bomb on you. You need to stop the run and sometimes it going to take more than 4 down lineman. Trust your Defensive backs a little more in one on one. Patullo is trying some different things the players just are not executing. I don't know what else he can do. I think he is searching for something this team does well on offense. He has to figure out what this team is going to be and do it every quickly.
Players this time will need to be accountable for this mess. I would bench AJ Brown not for his crying but for the penalties. He leads the lead in WR penalties. That is hard to do. Now the benching could be for a game or for a half whatever a message needs to be sent. Clean up the damn penalties. Saquan Barkley needs to be phases back. He does not have the same burst and he is now trying to cut and dance too much. Take what is there live for the next down. Let Bigsby run more. Hurts is an interesting one. As he has not played well for six quarters now. If he comes out next week with the same demeanor, the same issues. Bench him. Quarter half game whatever. If the offense starts moving without him then he sits longer. I don't care how much money he is making, he is a big part of the issues this team is having. The offensive line is harder. Those guys are not healthy but you don't have a guy to plug in for Mailata as Johnson is playing for Johnson. Dickerson I would play Toth more. I thought that Jurgens played better today.
I would get a kicker on the practice squad this week. Cutting Elliot is complicated due to his contract but there is nothing saying they can't deactive him for a week. Missing kicks usually leads to loses.
There are no cookbook answers to fixing this. Maybe this just can't be fixed until the offseason. Going back to back for Super Bowls are extremely extremely hard. There schedule is brutal and there are no breaths to figure out issues as they arise. Really other than the Raiders there are no "" wins on the schedule. The Commanders are going to get heathy just in time to play the Eagles. As will the Chargers.
Comment