Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Week 1)

[SmootSmack]

Welcome to a new weekly feature where I get all Daseal up in here and pour out the pessimism like a 40 on North Capitol Street on the people, places, things that have let me down after each game (at least I'll try).

I'll even do this after wins to appease to the irishes of the world. To be clear though, this isn't a "we suck, the season is over" type of thread.

Anyway, this week I'm laying the smack down on the following:

1. Shawn Springs: How do you miss this game? With the experience and talent you have you should be a captain on this team but it's moments like this that explain why you're not. I agree that it's just one game but you're the leader of that secondary and you should have set an example and set a tone for the season by suiting up.

2. Carlos Rogers: First off, congratulations on making the starting lineup on opening day. Tremendous comeback from a devastating injury. That said, you need to step up and start making plays. Some people have the misconception that you suck, which of course is wrong. You don't suck, in fact you're very good. If you weren't you wouldn't be in position to make plays so often. But you need to start making those plays. If all you want to do is swat the ball, add 100 pounds and we'll line you up at DT

3. Stan Hixon: I'm putting the WRs woes on you. Too harsh? Perhaps. But someone has to take the blame here and your wide receivers (from Thomas all the way up to Moss) need to run past the first down marker on third downs. What killed us more than anything was that we would complete the pass short of the first down marker and then couldn't even break any tackles. The West Coast Offense is all about breaking tackles and adding yards. That has to improve, asap.

4. The Fans: Don't give up after week one. That's all I ask.

[mheisig]

5. Clock Management
I hate to add on to another man's list, but I can't ignore this one. I was as upset about every other aspect of the game as anyone else, but the clock management at the end of the half and especially the end of the game was absolutely infuriating.

We're nothing short of lucky that we managed to score at the end of the half, completely in spite of poor clock management.

Do we not even have a 2-minute offense? A 4-minute offense? I swear it was like Zorn didn't even realize it was the 4th quarter or that this game actually goes on the record. The play calling was atrocious and the timeout management was like they weren't even sure how the system worked.

The sense of urgency, the playcalling and the time management was reminiscent of either a preseason game or a 3rd quarter drive.

[Gmanc711]

Originally Posted by mheisig

5. Clock Management
I hate to add on to another man's list, but I can't ignore this one. I was as upset about every other aspect of the game as anyone else, but the clock management at the end of the half and especially the end of the game was absolutely infuriating.

We're nothing short of lucky that we managed to score at the end of the half, completely in spite of poor clock management.

Do we not even have a 2-minute offense? A 4-minute offense? I swear it was like Zorn didn't even realize it was the 4th quarter or that this game actually goes on the record. The play calling was atrocious and the timeout management was like they weren't even sure how the system worked.

The sense of urgency, the playcalling and the time management was reminiscent of either a preseason game or a 3rd quarter drive.

In addition to the WR's not getting to the sticks (or JC throwing past the sticks)...this is the one thing that really bothers me coming out of this game. I understand, for Zorn & Co, its a transition to becoming an NFL head coach. I get that. Our offensive performance as a whole, I'll chalk up to that in a way. We didn't play well at all, but I can see how that might take some time to come along....HOWEVER, there is no excuse for the clock management. Weather your a new head coach, or one who has 32 years of experience, theres just some things you need to know how to handle, and this is one of them.

There was absolutely no excuse for the piss poor clock management we had last night. Coming out of the game, thats the one thing that really bothers me.

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by Gmanc711

In addition to the WR's not getting to the sticks (or JC throwing past the sticks)...this is the one thing that really bothers me coming out of this game. I understand, for Zorn & Co, its a transition to becoming an NFL head coach. I get that. Our offensive performance as a whole, I'll chalk up to that in a way. We didn't play well at all, but I can see how that might take some time to come along....HOWEVER, there is no excuse for the clock management. Weather your a new head coach, or one who has 32 years of experience, theres just some things you need to know how to handle, and this is one of them.

There was absolutely no excuse for the piss poor clock management we had last night. Coming out of the game, thats the one thing that really bothers me.

I think the reason it's so infuriating is that it seems relatively simple. I'm not saying I could be a coach in the NFL or understand the game half as well as these guys do, but it just seems like the goofed on really, really simplistic stuff.

Maybe it's more of a mindset. There seemed to be no sense of urgency. You're down by 2 scores with less than 3:00 on the clock and there's no hurry up, still huddling, still casually walking up to the line, Zorn is still on the sideline squinting and staring and calling 5 yard dives up the middle JC hitting receivers in the middle of the field for a gain of 4 yards.

It seems SO simplistic and such a dumb thing to screw up on which I guess is why it's so maddening. It's not like it felt like two offensive or defensive geniuses scheming and playing a hard fought game. It felt like the Giants were an NFL team and we were complete amateurs, totally fucking clueless as to what to do next.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by mheisig

I think the reason it's so infuriating is that it seems relatively simple. I'm not saying I could be a coach in the NFL or understand the game half as well as these guys do, but it just seems like the goofed on really, really simplistic stuff.

Maybe it's more of a mindset. There seemed to be no sense of urgency. You're down by 2 scores with less than 3:00 on the clock and there's no hurry up, still huddling, still casually walking up to the line, Zorn is still on the sideline squinting and staring and calling 5 yard dives up the middle JC hitting receivers in the middle of the field for a gain of 4 yards.

It seems SO simplistic and such a dumb thing to screw up on which I guess is why it's so maddening. It's not like it felt like two offensive or defensive geniuses scheming and playing a hard fought game. It felt like the Giants were an NFL team and we were complete amateurs, totally fucking clueless as to what to do next.

Agreed. Zorn does not deserve a free pass here. He looked overmatched last night and over his head. DS and Vin wanted the guy they felt comfortable with and they got him. On a personal level I can understand it, because even when I watched the post game interviews I was taken with the man. But he has never been a head coach on any level and you saw last night that the learning curve remains steep for him. He even looked Sonny in the face in the locker room and indicated he had total control of the clock at the end of the game. The guy gives a good interview, but we've retarded the offense yet again and maybe ruined Jason Campbell for good. Anyone else notice that the best looking throws he made all night were the ones down the field (including that one that James Thrash should have caught at the end of the game), could we incorporate that into the offense? Apparently DS&V made it a priority to find someone to help Jason Campbell's development in their extensive interview process. But I guess it didn't cross their mind that just bringing in a "QB Guru" to run a new offense might not be as good as keeping Al Saunders and retaining some offensive continuity (Gregg Williams first choice apparently, retain the staff for the good of Campbell's development ... maybe that guy understands football ... novel concept). Zorn might be fine, but it might take a while. I wonder if he'll even get the time? No one else has gotten that luxery.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by mheisig

5. Clock Management
I hate to add on to another man's list, but I can't ignore this one. I was as upset about every other aspect of the game as anyone else, but the clock management at the end of the half and especially the end of the game was absolutely infuriating.

We're nothing short of lucky that we managed to score at the end of the half, completely in spite of poor clock management.

Do we not even have a 2-minute offense? A 4-minute offense? I swear it was like Zorn didn't even realize it was the 4th quarter or that this game actually goes on the record. The play calling was atrocious and the timeout management was like they weren't even sure how the system worked.

The sense of urgency, the playcalling and the time management was reminiscent of either a preseason game or a 3rd quarter drive.

I can almost live w/ the other bad parts of the game, but the clock management was horrible. I don't really give him a free pass b/c he's a 1st yr head coach. When there's only 6 minutes left in a game and your down by 2 scores you'd better be in your hurry up offense. I know they had one b/c at the end of the game w/ about 1 min left they used it. Wasn't pretty but they used it. It was pretty bad. John Madden was trying not to be too critical but he couldn't help himself.

[dmek25]

6. no free pass for your boy, Fred Smoot. was down right horrible. and then gets kicked in the back, and is done for the game. he has definitely got to play better, if the skins are to be successful

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by dmek25

6. no free pass for your boy, Fred Smoot. was down right horrible. and then gets kicked in the back, and is done for the game. he has definitely got to play better, if the skins are to be successful

I'm with you on this one Dmek. Smoot looked like an overmatched Rookie all night. His pick was a result of Carter putting pressure on Eli, not any coverage on his part. It looked to me like Eli was going after him all night.

[KLHJ2]

7. Jason Taylor: Stop the run.

[mheisig]

8. Everyone on the Offense Who Apparently Doesn't Realize How The First Down Markers Work: We had what, 4 series in a row in the 2nd half that ended with JC throwing a pass to a receiver who was 2-3 yards short of the first down?

It's like they weren't quite sure where the FD was or how those orange sticks on the side work.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by mheisig

8. Everyone on the Offense Who Apparently Doesn't Realize How The First Down Markers Work: We had what, 4 series in a row in the 2nd half that ended with JC throwing a pass to a receiver who was 2-3 yards short of the first down?

It's like they weren't quite sure where the FD was or how those orange sticks on the side work.

Great, great choice.

[Mwoody85]

Originally Posted by Angry

7. Jason Taylor: Stop the run.

....as Brian Mitchell said on the post game- selfish move keeping the streak alive just to get blown out on almost every play.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Mwoody85

....as Brian Mitchell said on the post game- selfish move keeping the streak alive just to get blown out on almost every play.

What our D held the to only 16 points and its our O that lost the game. tell BM to stick it!!!!!

[GoSkins!]

One thing that worries me is that when guys in the press ask Zorn about the things we are seeing (poor clock management, not getting Cooley involved...) he doesn't ever accept responsibility. Instead he says "Well we had 8 minutes", instead of addressing why Jason was WALKING up to huddle and "we had two plays to Cooley where guys jumped offsides". WOW! 2 plays!

I'll bet that players are not going to take being called out in public much longer if he doesn't start shouldering some of the blame himself. Especially after the way Gibbs ran things (and won games).

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GoSkins!

One thing that worries me is that when guys in the press ask Zorn about the things we are seeing (poor clock management, not getting Cooley involved...) he doesn't ever accept responsibility. Instead he says "Well we had 8 minutes", instead of addressing why Jason was WALKING up to huddle and "we had two plays to Cooley where guys jumped offsides". WOW! 2 plays!

I'll bet that players are not going to take being called out in public much longer if he doesn't start shouldering some of the blame himself. Especially after the way Gibbs ran things (and won games).

I thought the fans wanted a HC that called out some players once in a while rather than hiding them from blame in the media? That was one of the major gripes with Gibbs.

Zorn is not one to deflect blame from himself... if you listened to him all preseason he definitely takes blame when needed. Actually I'm really amazed that someone is all of a sudden trying to say Zorn just points the finger at everyone else.

How is this for taking some blame:

Coach Jim Zorn, the former Seahawks quarterback and coach, rapped on the podium as he talked about his first game of record, his frustrations coming through as he chided himself for some of his decisions. Zorn, who also calls the plays, said he lost track of the clock when he opted for a time-consuming running play with his team trailing by nine late in the game.


"I didn't quite punch myself in the face this morning, but I was angry with myself," Zorn said.