More Banjo - Packers vs Cowboys

[bobblehead]

One of the criticisms of Lloyd coming out of college was average vision. I think we have all seen that he is that guy. I also don't really see that "burst" that we heard for the last few years. I see a typical #3 running back, everyone now and then will flash, but someone that you could never trust in a bigger role.

When you "burst" into a defender its not that noticeable. The problem with some college backs is they play on good teams who are playing bad teams. They run through gaping holes and look really good. Who was that second rounder we took from Hawaii... Alex something. Huge holes. Looked incredible.

[run pMc]

I thought the playcalling has been mostly fine the last few games. I think the OL is a big limiting factor to this offense. If anyone has doubts about Love as a good QB, I don't know what else to say. Dude is taking some big hits this year and still keeping his poise and making big plays. Defenses aren't getting fooled much by "threat of running game", so going to short passes early makes sense. I think that was the early use of Savion.

I don't think the PFF grades are completely accurate - Wyatt was actually pretty disruptive on a number of plays, and Hopper did ok for himself. I suspect PFF is using a lot of AI and funky formulas like yards per route run to impact their grading. They can't figure out how to grade line play outside of win rate and pressures/sacks anyway. If all you're doing is plugging your gap and being assignment sure they still give you a negative grade.

Gannon and the defense deserves praise in this game for how unsettled Dak and Co. looked. DAL also had a weird game plan, but whatever. The DAL offense rarely looked comfortable. That they did it with 4 DL and 4 CBs active (if you count Bullard as a S) was bonkers too.

I loved the Love read-option where Gary got sucked inside. That literally made me LOL at the TV.

Penalties, drops, iffy interior OL play held GB back. If this team ever gets out of its own way and play consistent football they could be really really good.

One last thing: Special teams looks much better with Achord, but I feel like Bisaccia had the punt and KO coverage units buttoned down better. I'm a little worried about some of the coverage units being more susceptible to big returns. Otherwise they look better to me.

[run pMc]

[Fritz]

Noboldy has mentioned Rashan Gary in this thread. Why? Because the dude was absolutely invisible. The only time I heard his name was when he got sucked inside on the above play, and when Collingsworth said he (and others) had to step up. Which he did not. At this point, Gary is a nothingburger.

[run pMc]

I'll say this: Gary got some pressure on Love and showed more motor than he did at the end of last season. I'd take LVN + DDS over him any day. Comparing the contracts, age, and production, I think Gute made the right moves here.

I didn't see a lot from Gary on run D, but I'd have to really focus on him on a rewatch. Gary does a lot of bull rush, and I'm not sure Morgan (with short arms and less than desired anchor) or Belton (late/inconsistent with hands) are great at handling that yet. That's his problem, if you can handle that you can largely stymie him. I thought Gary had a 'okay' game, but for $16M you'd want more than one sack 6 games into the season.


Also, Collinsworth says maybe one or two smart things a game and the rest is either nonsense or him glazing some player.

[bobblehead]

I'll say this: Gary got some pressure on Love and showed more motor than he did at the end of last season. I'd take LVN + DDS over him any day. Comparing the contracts, age, and production, I think Gute made the right moves here.

I didn't see a lot from Gary on run D, but I'd have to really focus on him on a rewatch. Gary does a lot of bull rush, and I'm not sure Morgan (with short arms and less than desired anchor) or Belton (late/inconsistent with hands) are great at handling that yet. That's his problem, if you can handle that you can largely stymie him. I thought Gary had a 'okay' game, but for $16M you'd want more than one sack 6 games into the season.


Also, Collinsworth says maybe one or two smart things a game and the rest is either nonsense or him glazing some player.

Morgan has a weird move that he uses to stand up the bull rushers. I have never seen him get run over so I'm not buying the less than desired anchor to be honest. He has everything he needs to succeed and looked better against Dallas. Not sure I think he deserved the 2nd best PFF grade, but I don't get their system so there's that. I think that he was better in this game than the guy he replaced was at any point last year though. Now he needs to show it against Detroit who has better pass rushers.

[bobblehead]

I notice in the very first play Wahle breaks down he says "this is a scheme issue, not a talent issue". Enough said. Blame that on MiLF/Steno/Butkus in order.

The second play had 2 cut back lanes and Lloyd broke it way wide. He simply was a bad draft pick unless you use him as a scat back.

[NewsBruin]

Morgan has a weird move that he uses to stand up the bull rushers. I have never seen him get run over .

I know so little about tactics and technique. Can you describe what Morgan does against bull rushes?

[pbmax]

I notice in the very first play Wahle breaks down he says "this is a scheme issue, not a talent issue". Enough said. Blame that on MiLF/Steno/Butkus in order.

The second play had 2 cut back lanes and Lloyd broke it way wide. He simply was a bad draft pick unless you use him as a scat back.

MiLF covered this play and others like it in his PC. These were unscouted looks for the Cowboys. Sending two DBs into the run was not their tendency.

On the other hand, sending CB/DB against tight formations is most definitely a trend against the Shanahan/McVay offense. So this is not an unheard of reaction by the D. In fact, Mosqueda said the Bears ran CBs into the tight formations last week. They needed a different play call that this one against that look.

[bobblehead]

I know so little about tactics and technique. Can you describe what Morgan does against bull rushes?

He drops a bit and lets them get entirely into his body. He does a mini bear hug and stands them up. I've never really seen anyone else to it that way, but he is effective at it. Its similar to what Bak would do when guys got into his body (by accident) when he would "hold" legally to not allow them to get around him with speed. Used entirely differently by each of them, but similar concept. Morgan, I believe, has better feet than Bak did. He lacks the hands though. I think he can be a better run blocker than Bak was, but probably will never quite be the lockdown LT of a Bak or Williams (Williams is an alien though).

Edit: By doing this drop and stand tech, Morgan also doesn't over commit to his anchor and can still get into them if they go wide or inside. He has definitely taken what he does well and maxed it for his position. Just one more reason he was never going to be a great guard.

[Joemailman]

Tom Silverstein
@TomSilverstein

WR Matthew Golden was the only #Packers player fined from the Cowboys game. He was fined $11,941 for his taunting penalty. None of the roughing the passer penalties by Karl Brooks, Evan Williams and Lukas Van Ness resulted in fines