Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=MTK;1198821]Would he be better prepared with 20 more snaps? 30 more? Kirk took over 80 last preseason and we still lost in week 1.

All in all I don't think it matters much. They get in plenty of more meaningful work in practice. [B]During the middle of a season nobody is reflecting back on August saying damn, if we only had 10 more preseason snaps we'd be so much better right now.[/B][/quote]

That bolded part is 100% right... but I'm not worried about the middle of the season, I'm worried about the very beginning of the season: we can't afford to drop the first two games of the season to bad prep, because then the schedule gets brutal.

Now I understand preseason games are not the only preparation they get, and it's not like Alex Smith and his receiving corps were rookies, Alex is not going to be surprised by the speed of the game.

I don't know what solution is better, I just hope they win those first 2 games.

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=FrenchSkin;1198792]Agreed... but I sure hope Alex Smith is on synch with his receiving corps on September 9th. Because if he's not, the wooping 12 snaps he played in preseason will seem like too few...[/quote]

When you see someone as accomplished as Brady tossing it around with his guys in a pre season game, and then we have a new Qb and all his weapons not doing anything, combined with the slow starts, I'm sorry but it just seems like Gruden has zero urgency. And yeah McVay isn't playing his guys but they made the playoffs last year.

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=FrenchSkin;1198839]That bolded part is 100% right... but I'm not worried about the middle of the season, I'm worried about the very beginning of the season: we can't afford to drop the first two games of the season to bad prep, because then the schedule gets brutal.

Now I understand preseason games are not the only preparation they get, and it's not like Alex Smith and his receiving corps were rookies, Alex is not going to be surprised by the speed of the game.

I don't know what solution is better, I just hope they win those first 2 games.[/quote]

To add to this, guys need to get used to hitting and being hit.
Week 1 they are expected to play fullspeed for the first time and they aren't going to last 4 quarters.

Look at the scoring in the second half of week 1 games under Gruden:
2014: 0
2015: 0
2016: 10* In a blowout against a Steelers team that put up 24 points in the second half
2017: 3 in a 14-16 game at the half against Philly

This team is worn out by half time and players are vulnerable to injuries because they aren't physically prepared.

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=jamf;1198845]To add to this, guys need to get used to hitting and being hit.
Week 1 they are expected to play fullspeed for the first time and they aren't going to last 4 quarters.

Look at the scoring in the second half of week 1 games under Gruden:
2014: 0
2015: 0
2016: 10* In a blowout against a Steelers team that put up 24 points in the second half
2017: 3 in a 14-16 game at the half against Philly

This team is worn out by half time and players are vulnerable to injuries because they aren't physically prepared.[/quote]

In this sense Gruden was ahead of his time then, because the rest of the teams are going to less and less starter reps in the preseason. Last week in the dress rehearsal, Dallas didn't play any main offensive stars, not sure about defense. Likewise I saw several other teams rest their starters earlier than expected.

I imagine some statistician out there is running the numbers to compare preseason snaps to 1st game production.

(I think the slow start has always been more about Gruden not gameplanning for it as intensely as the opponents do. I know the Steelers said they were gameplanning our game all offseason. I don't believe Gruden does that - no link no proof just an opinion)

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=skinsfan69;1198841]When you see someone as accomplished as Brady tossing it around with his guys in a pre season game, and then we have a new Qb and all his weapons not doing anything, combined with the slow starts, I'm sorry but it just seems like Gruden has zero urgency. And yeah McVay isn't playing his guys but they made the playoffs last year.[/quote]

It's more than just preseason games.
The Press has said many times that Gruden runs a soft training camp.

At some point you gotta play football right?

Jordan Reed is going to get killed week 1.

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

John Keim
‏
Verified account

@john_keim
Aug 27
More
For perspective sake (I know, hot takes play better): Sam Bradford has thrown 3 fewer passes than Alex Smith in the preseason. Coming off knee injury/new team/new coach. Key starters DNP in 3rd game. If Skins lose, opener dig deeper than just "preseason snaps/pass attempts."

[url]http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/38788/where-are-you-rams-offense-waiting-for-the-regular-season[/url]
[QUOTE]LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Rams’ offensive starters will open the regular season without having played a single snap in the preseason. The defensive starters will have played seven.[/QUOTE]

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

You can’t just give the Rams a pass because they made the playoffs

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=jamf;1198847]It's more than just preseason games.
The Press has said many times that Gruden runs a soft training camp.

At some point you gotta play football right?

[B]Jordan Reed is going to get killed week 1[/B].[/quote]

Not sure Reed is of great support to your point though: he would get injured in week 1 of the preseason as he would in week 1 of the regular season. I understand taking as little chance as you can with him...

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

This whole Gruden can't win openers thing. Is it really that? Or is it really that Cousins was a spaz during openers?

Because those two go hand in hand, they're correlated, and you have to ask which was the bigger cause.

Cousins was notoriously jumpy in Week 1 games when he was here. This was the writeup from PFF on his Week 1 performance last year against the Eagles:

[QUOTE]Looking at his complete game, Cousins dropped back 47 times. He was sacked four times and ran three times. That leaves 40 pass attempts. The following data comes from Pro Football Focus:

When Cousins faced no pressure, he completed 68 percent of his passes. That falls in line with his completion percentage the last two seasons.

When there was pressure, and against the Eagles there was plenty, Cousins' completion percentage dropped significantly. He completed just six of 15 passes, good for 40 percent, and threw a red zone interception under pressure.

Not all pressure comes from blitzing, as the Philadelphia defensive line was able to generate push on the pocket sometimes without extra defenders. [/QUOTE]

The red zone interception was a killer, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a total spaz brain fart under pressure.

I think performance in openers had more to do with Cousins than it did Gruden, personally.

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

Cousins always seemed to be a slow starter here, it will be interesting to see how he starts this year

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

I just think that Gruden needs to get the guys a little bit more of game action. Especially the QB's and wr's because of the timing. The players (especially Reed) need to get hit a little bit and get ready for 4 quarters of football.

Back in the 80's and early 90's Gibbs had starters playing in the 4th pre season game. Different era obviously but I don't believe there's anything wrong with that. Especially after watching some of our starter tackle last week. They look like they need some game reps.

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[QUOTE=skinsfan69;1198863]I just think that Gruden needs to get the guys a little bit more of game action. Especially the QB's and wr's because of the timing. The players (especially Reed) need to get hit a little bit and get ready for 4 quarters of football.

Back in the 80's and early 90's Gibbs had starters playing in the 4th pre season game. Different era obviously but I don't believe there's anything wrong with that. Especially after watching some of our starter tackle last week. They look like they need some game reps.[/QUOTE]I would rather see a second scrimmage week against other teams. I think thats the way it will go in the futire

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=skinsfan69;1198863]I just think that Gruden needs to get the guys a little bit more of game action. Especially the QB's and wr's because of the timing. The players (especially Reed) need to get hit a little bit and get ready for 4 quarters of football.

Back in the 80's and early 90's Gibbs had starters playing in the 4th pre season game. Different era obviously but I don't believe there's anything wrong with that. Especially after watching some of our starter tackle last week. They look like they need some game reps.[/quote]

There could be something to it. But I know we played a very competitive opener against the eventual Super Bowl champs last year, and the game essentially came down to a few mental gaffes by our QB while he was under pressure.

First play of the game, Gruden calls a play action deep bomb on a post route to Pryor. Cousins overthrows it despite Pryor having two steps on his man.

I continue to think the problem in openers was more Cousins than Gruden. This doesn't necessarily mean it will go better this year with Smith. But the strength of the opponent this year (Arizona) is certainly different than it was last year, that much is certain.

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

[quote=MTK;1198857]Cousins always seemed to be a slow starter here, it will be interesting to see how he starts this year[/quote]

I think he will be the same as usual, good QB for most of the season and have hiccups along the way

Re: Training Camp 2018
 

I had lots of optimism going into camp. Last week's game just deflated me and, yes, I know, its preseason. However, it just seemed to be a microcosm of the general unpreparedness of the Skins going into the regular season.

Gruden wants to run the ball and actually calls plenty of runs. However, we don't run the ball well and haven't for some time. We have this, supposedly, really good line but they just don't seem to get it done. Sure, AP ran hard in preseason - do we really think he is going to do that over 16 games?

At the close of camp, our starters did not look crisp in any part of the game. Sure there is some talent, but I am feeling another mediocre season where we lose some games we should win b/c of poor execution.