Confessions of a Polluted Mindset - An OK Corral
The Weekly Packers Brain Drain from Jersey Al.
By JerseyAl
The Green Bay Packers corraled the Colts in OK fashion Sunday afternoon. A couple of mistakes turned what should have been a comfortable 16 point win into a tight six point victory, but that's OK. A win is a win and it's to be especially appreciated anytime you win a game with a backup quarterback, never mind one that's only been on your team for 3 weeks.
The Packers had a close to perfect game plan on offense to help Malil Willis feel comfortable and not put him in a position where he would have to lead the team to a win. When Willis was asked to pass, the plays were designed for him to make quick decisions and get the ball out of his hands quickly to his first or second read. No sitting back in the pocket, looking around trying to find an open receiver while under pressure. The majority of his passes were safe - quick outs and a variety of screens (WR, RB & TE). JT O'Sullivan, in his QB School analysis of Willis, called it "quarterbacking with guardrails." Most noticeably, they took a page out of Aaron Rodgers' old interception-averse playbook and stayed away from the middle of the field:
Many have called it a Lafleur Master Class and it's hard to argue. To this fan, what was most impressive is what he (and Stenovich, I'm sure) did with the run game. I lamented the lack of creativity in the run schemes against the Eagles and they must have seen the same thing in their film sessions. As predictable as they were at times against the Eagles, they went 180 degrees in the other direction against the Colts. Yes, they ran the ball 53 times, but most incredible is that 51 of those runs involved motion of some kind. Throw in some some well executed misdirection on many of those plays and the Colts had few clues about where and in whose hands the ball was actually ending up. It was Andy Reid-like.
A bunch of talking heads came out and downright insulted Malik Willis all week before the game and frankly, what he had shown so far did little to convince anyone that the talking heads were wrong. So how does this player come out and look so different than what he's shown on tape so far. Well, for one thing, he got to play with NFL starters instead of third stringers in preseason games. Secondly, the Packers have a secret weapon: Tom Clements, the quarterback whisperer. Imagine if Clements is able to mold Willis into a productive starting NFL quarterback? What he's done for the Packers organization is deserving of a street named Clements Way.
Thanks for the Valentine - I've been in Carrington Valentine's corner since training camp. I remember writing at the time that I thought Valentine would beat out Stokes for the job. Last week, after Valentine played only nine snaps against the Eagles to Stokes' 67, I wrote about missing Valentines scrappiness and aggressive approach.over Stokes' more athletic, smoother, but safer, conservative approach. Well Hafley must not have been satisfied with Stoke's play demeanor as well, because Valentine and Stokes split time against the Colts, with Valentine getting eight more snaps than Stokes. Call me pleased.
The Packers face the Titans, a team with a first-year head coach and an inexperienced QB, Will Levis isn't the running threat that Hurts and Richardson were, so perhaps we see a different defensive approach from the Packers this week? The Titans pass blockers had a 29% pass block win rate in their first outing, which was by-far the worst in the league. In the Titans' second game, the Jets pass rush generated pressure on 60% of all dropbacks. Right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere alone allowed 13 pressures. DID YOU HEAR THAT RASHAN GARY? If he doesn't pad the stat sheet this week, we have a problem.
On the defensive side, the Titans have some talent and beef up front, with Jeffrey Simmons and 366 lb. T'Vondre Sweat. The Packers OL will have a tougher time opening holes for Jacobs than they did against the Colts. The Titans have done a good job on third down, allowing only seven first downs in 25 attempts.They have also given up only 413 yards in total over two games. As Matt LaFleur said in his presser this week, the Titans are "a pretty salty group" with a lot of veterans. Expect a tougher test for the Willis-led Packers offense this week.
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (73)
packerbackerjim
September 18, 2024 at 07:11 am
Now that there is tape on Willis and offensive game plan, the challenge is expanding the playbook and show different looks. MLF has his work cut out for him. Sweat was my draft crush and I’m hoping he isn’t a fast learner.
dobber
September 18, 2024 at 08:08 am
This pretty much hits it on the head. If LaF plans to do the same things against TN, there won't be many points. I'm hoping for a few more designed rollouts to get Willis in space and to cut down his reads. TN will know him well, and they'll have a plan to close him down.
"show different looks."
Hello, illusion of complexity?
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 08:41 am
They are 10th in rushing yards allowed per game (92.5) and first in passing yards (114). Their early backfield coverage had been impressive. WRs are having to be schemed open regardless of QB. Their interior DL is very difficult to run on and can collapse pockets.
Their rush has been one man, Landry, but his fastest sack is 4.2 seconds. That shows how well they cover and also how weak the rest of their outside rush is. It’s fair to say that neither of their opponents had a very impressive offense on the day, so they haven’t played a team with a good offense playing well.
This is a game to use some of the concepts shown early last week to stretch them laterally, but the best tactic may be to roll out and run hard at Landry, most likely he’s up against Tom. I’d challenge him with Willis, see if he can set an edge. If not, that could be a real problem for them, if he can then he’s going to be thinking twice about rushing. I expect more blitzes as well as the front attacking. Their right side protection has been a disaster.
On O it’s been all Tony Pollard and Ridley, mostly out of the slot. Thats not been our strongest area to date. They will call a few runs for Levi’s too. He is 240 plus pounds and runs a 4.6.
They’ve lost primarily due to Levi’s’ brain farts, significant STs turnovers and a fumble. They’ve more shot themselves in the foot than been defeated by an opposing offense.
It’s going to take some innovative passing plays and willingness to risk to put up points on them without their help. Roll outs, scheming a player into space, designed runs, and stretching the field laterally and vertically will help. The longer they have to cover the more likely Willis has an open target.
If we allow them to condense their D close to the line of scrimmage as we did early last year before LaFleur began to trust Love, it’s likely to be a long day. We have to be willing to take risks and trust Willis if we want to win.
If we try to be conservative then it plays to them with their troubles scoring and would amount to effectively hoping for a third week of them beating themselves in multiple ways. They are much less likely to do that if we aren’t scoring to keep the pressure on. If we can score, that’s going to be intense pressure: their fan base is restive to say the least. Scoring with Willis leading would be doubly inflammatory.
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 09:21 am
yes, but defense wins championships
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 09:20 am
Don't you think it's important to make Tennessee show that they can actually stop the plays that were successful against the Colts? Mike Shanahan ran his offense and made you prove you could do something about it. So too his son. LaFleur is a descendent of that lineage.
LLCHESTY
September 18, 2024 at 11:24 am
Good call. The running on Sunday against a full box reminded me of the 49ers, who are usually #1 in the league in that category by a pretty large margin.
The one thing you could nitpick about from Sunday's running game is they struggled in the 2nd half when the Colts went to a Tite front(some people call it a Bear front but ick). I'm sure the Titans noticed the Packers didn't adjust to it very well. Hopefully LaFleur gives Willis some audible calls to shift to a pass or outside run of the Titans are going with that look.
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 07:18 pm
I don’t see any harm running it, I expect them to try. I do see harm in not planning for that not working or taking into account that the weakness is outside not inside this week.
WestCoastPackerBacker
September 18, 2024 at 02:54 pm
One game featuring a heavy run game is not much "tape on Willis." They only ran 14 passing plays, so it's not like there is a lot of information out there. It wouldn't be too hard to show different looks in the passing game. The run game against IND was so full of different looks, that's plenty to keep the Titans thinking about. Though I read somewhere Love is practicing today, so this may be a moot point anyway.
GregC
September 18, 2024 at 07:23 am
Wow, they REALLY avoided the middle of the field. It's a good strategy, especially with a short QB who may have trouble seeing that part of the field. I was glad not to see him launching the ball into masses of bodies. The negativity about Malik Willis before the game was way over the top though. He had only played meaningful snaps as a raw rookie.
Maybe Carrington Valentine's injury in training camp was the only thing that kept him from winning the starting job. Stokes has been pretty good though! There are several starting jobs on this team that aren't completely settled yet. Like most people here, I would like to see a shakeup with the linebackers.
I like those bad pass blocking stats for the Titans. I'm hoping to see our pass rushers unleashed for the first time this season.
Correction: Will Levis is not a rookie.
NJ-RICK
September 18, 2024 at 07:58 am
I couldn't agree with you more, the problem with Packers defense is there LB's. To many missed tackles can't cover TE or WR. The middle of the field is always open when the Packers are on Defense. Need more pass rush also.
T7Steve
September 18, 2024 at 08:04 am
I think they'll be okay. It takes longer for those inside LBs to adjust to their new roles than the rest of the react guys. I'll agree that shouldn't make them miss tackles, however. I think the youngsters will start to see more playing time every game as the season and they progress.
dobber
September 18, 2024 at 08:10 am
I like McDuffie--he plays hard and is assignment sure--but he's going to get picked on in the passing game.
TN will throw to their RBs, so that's going to put the onus on the LBs to cover and make tackles.
JerseyAl
September 18, 2024 at 08:16 am
whoops. Thanks for the correction on Levis.
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 09:04 am
Avoiding the middle would have made sense even with Love. Their slot is by far their best healthy defender and probably the best anyway. Their perimeter CBs might be the worst starting duo in the league at this point and there is nothing behind them.
PeteK
September 18, 2024 at 09:07 am
Also, Levis is a big QB that has been running well lately (5 FD, 9.3 avg). I'm not saying we shadow him but gang and sure tackling will be needed.
TKWorldWide
September 18, 2024 at 07:28 am
Are the Titans the team with a first year coach and a rookie QB? Levis is in his second year, right?
The TN defense has only surrendered 413 yards in 2 games? Yowza! But they haven’t faced GB yet, baby!
Sweat weighs 366 lbs. He’s not small. But is he quick? I am (painfully) reminded of Gilbert Brown vs the Broncos in the SB. I wondered how the run-heavy Broncos were going to block him with those smallish linemen. We saw what happened there, so, it can be done, given the right approach.
dobber
September 18, 2024 at 08:15 am
Sweat has played 68% of TN's defensive snaps, but hasn't dented the box score, yet. The book on Sweat was that he's hard to move, but isn't necessarily a guy who plays with burst. Physics says it takes a lot of energy to make big bodies move, too. Your allusion to the Broncos and Gilbert Brown is a good one. More rollouts...sweep action...attack the edges and make the CBs tackle big RBs...maybe even more 12 personnel this week.
TN has played the rusty Jets and the crappy Bears offenses so far, but no matter how you break it down 413 yards over two games is pretty noteworthy.
LLCHESTY
September 18, 2024 at 11:26 am
Every day was talking about the freak testing he was going to do at the combine. And then he put up very pedestrian numbers. Athletically he's no Vita Vea.
LeotisHarris
September 18, 2024 at 07:58 am
Good stuff as always, Al. From the little I've seen of the Titans, Levis seems to have the determination to consistently make bad plays worse. Let's hope our D can facilitate more of those kinds of decisions on Sunday.
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 09:10 am
He's like a kid running around back there...
HawkPacker
September 18, 2024 at 04:11 pm
When Levis was at Penn State, he could not bear out Clifford for the starting QB job.
T7Steve
September 18, 2024 at 07:59 am
"When Willis was asked to pass, the plays were designed for him to make quick decisions and get the ball out of his hands quickly to his first or second read."
This is what they did to get Love going and help the O-line last season too. Getting the ball out fast is what you have to do in the NFL nowadays. That starts to open up the middle of the field passes to crossers and TEs.
I think the Stokes / Valentine switching will be totally opponent dependent on the speed of the secondary receivers and if the opponent is run or pass first offense. It's a wonderful problem to have 2 guys fighting for a marquee position.
TKWorldWide
September 18, 2024 at 09:26 am
LaFleur also said recently that the incentive for increased playing time keeps the players hungry, practicing hard, and playing hard. I never really thought of it like that. I guess I was too into the depth chart set in stone, which is really not how it is (at least with GB) nowadays. Keeps the players focused as well giving them some experience for when the dreaded injury bug strikes. They don’t have to suddenly throw a guy into the starting lineup who hasn’t been on the field at all to that point. Good stuff!
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 09:33 am
Stokes is a pure perimeter guy, and a man player ideally Valentine is more physical. In that game it was fairly clear that the outside receivers weren’t going to be busy. In retrospect Valentine is a more versatile option and was more involved closer to the line. Stokes actually has a better coverage grade thus far than anyone. It seems like a good use of personnel situationally to me.
JerseyAl
September 18, 2024 at 12:08 pm
I would agree with your last statement if there was some more apparent strategy other than, "you take a couple of series and then switch off." But it's only been one game of that, so we'll wait and see how it develops.
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 01:52 pm
Ah, good rejoinder. I just can not honestly rule that out with this regime: that it would be that unthinking, if I’m honest, but we are also dealing with 2 coaches who go to great lengths to obfuscate. I can’t see either saying that they put a player in for another for this reason unless it was already blatantly obvious, and even then I have my doubts.
In this instance it seemed tactically reasonable, whether by luck or judgement. I’m just happy both Stokes and Valentine are playing well and healthy. We are going to need both.
LambeauPlain
September 18, 2024 at 08:00 am
The last two games throttled back the Pack Attack Defense and replaced it with the "OK Corral Defense." Well done Al!
The defense did mostly corral the running phenom QBs with disciplined pass rushing. Levis will not threaten with many gallops through the gate of the corral. He's should be one nervous Nellie in his corral. I expect a big game out of the D Sunday. Favor Pack.
The Titan's front 7 is the best test the Packers have faced so far. It is good Matt had Willis operating out of motion and disguising handoffs and passes with RPO and ball handling, if he is starting. Running at the Titans is trouble. Going to have to run around them or past them on a misdirection.
Passing will be more on the menu this week. Willis has displayed confidence and leadership to trust him more. However, if Love starts...heh, heh, heh! If Willis starts, even. If Love starts, favor Pack.
Special teams is mostly just the punting game now...and the Packers have a good operation. Whelan is flipping the field while pinning them deep. Favor Pack.
The NFL is going to have to amend this silly KO fiasco or just formally cancel kickoffs...because in practice it already is.
Pack wins this one.
TKWorldWide
September 18, 2024 at 09:27 am
Also there’s a whole Netflix series about the OK Corral thing. Quite a far reaching story!
LambeauPlain
September 18, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Have been watching it.
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 09:40 am
Yes, the kick off rule is a fiasco. Based on their last game it looks like the Titans have joined the 29 teams just kicking it through.
They either need to take the kickoff point back 20 yards or the starting point for a non return back to say the 15 if they want returns. Right now, just take the 30 and kickers can deliver that every time inside and in good weather.
Disincentivize the touchback AND make it harder to achieve or just forget it. While we are at it, I’d allow onside kicks to go deep or to the alternate side too. Murphy was right on this one.
murf7777
September 18, 2024 at 11:13 am
Murphy is always right:)
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 01:55 pm
You don’t know your laws!
Starrbrite
September 19, 2024 at 07:52 am
Yes—Murphy had it right.
dobber
September 18, 2024 at 08:18 am
Plenty of talk out there (Re: Rob Demovsky) about how the Love smokescreen might have him emerging from the haze to play this week...and that he was close to able last week. I suspect they'll want him to practice first, though.
GregC
September 18, 2024 at 08:29 am
I think we will have our answer based on whether or not he practices today.
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 09:46 am
That seems overly revealing. I would think maybe Friday if he’s right, but still they will couch it as partial participation and convey uncertainty, so we won’t know with any certainty about this week and nor will the Titans until at least Saturday, when they would elevate Clifford if he’s not going.
GregC
September 18, 2024 at 10:10 am
My hunch is that they are not going to play him without a full week of practice. I could be wrong. I just think that coming back from an injury they don't want to put him out there if he hasn't fully prepared for the game. Of course they will not rule him out until later in the week even if they have no intention of allowing him to play.
crayzpackfan
September 18, 2024 at 03:05 pm
He practiced today.
Oppy
September 18, 2024 at 08:23 am
Tom Clements is not a QB whisperer.
This is a narrative that has been built by Packers fans mostly off of high praise from Aaron Rodgers- who's greatest compliment of Tom Clements is that he greatly improved his footwork.
Tom Clements is a good QB coach, no question, but he's never shown he can take a second-hand talent and do wonders with them. The packers have a long line of backup QBs that have been tutored under Clements whose careers didn't go anywhere.. unless I'm mistaken, everyone can feel free to chime in about the guys not named Rodgers that Tom has worked magic on over the last 15 years.
LambeauPlain
September 18, 2024 at 08:54 am
Regarding your narrative about Clements: "but he's never shown he can take a second-hand talent and do wonders with them."
Second hand talents as in backup QB's? Backups like Jordan Love and Malik Willis? Two little diamonds for your "treasure trove of wonders."
Tom has been one of the best in the NFL coaching QBs. Some call that a whisperer, some a Guru, some a mentor. He's been called an excellent communicator and teacher...even when he whispers, I'll bet.
PeteK
September 18, 2024 at 09:15 am
I'll give him credit for getting Flynn ready to play well for us in a few games many moons ago.
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 09:17 am
I’d say he did work on Flynn quite effectively, as well as Rodgers. After that, Ted really didn’t give him too much to work with and then he was gone. I get your drift, he’s no miracle worker, but he’s shown he can reconstruct technique when many thought is infeasible.
I do think we have to accept though, that the Pro scouts appear to have been right in their assessment reported by Gute. Willis had actually developed and matured in Tennessee significantly. I don’t think Clement’s has had time to do much in 3 weeks when the priority was, rightly, getting him to assimilate a mountain of play calls and plays and develop some familiarity with his skill players.
Oppy
September 18, 2024 at 07:37 pm
A young mathematics student is asked to perform a series of complicated physics and alchemical equations.
The student scores a paltry 65% on his exam.
The next week, he is given an exam consisting of basic single and double digit addition and subtraction. He scores 85% on this exam.
Has the mathematician developed significantly since the prior week? Or has the rigors of the test been limited to a level that matches his skill?
Oppy
September 18, 2024 at 07:14 pm
Aaron Rodgers was a first round draft pick.
Malik Willis isn't a good QB.
Your counter point is poor.
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 09:16 am
According to your "scouting" and advanced film study Clements apparently took a guy who doesn't belong in football and got him to quarterback an NFL team to a win. Does that constitute QB whispering?
Also, Matt Flynn was a 7th round draft choice, Clements was his QB coach in 2011 when he played himself to riches in Seattle. Does that one count?
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 09:23 am
I would also note, Mike McCarthy is the true quarterback whisperer, Clements his disciple.
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 09:50 am
There’s no doubt that the old QB school MM ran was heavily credited by both Rodgers and Flynn in the years after. Sadly, it’s now totally prohibited by the current CBA.
Oppy
September 18, 2024 at 07:21 pm
QB School was extra teaching time for QBs and was a valuable tool, no doubt, but I don't think it had any affect on how Tom Clements actually coaches QBs- who, by the way, had served as a QB coach for 3 different franchises before he ever worked with Mike McCarthy.
barutanseijin
September 18, 2024 at 04:50 pm
Hoisted by his own petard.
Oppy
September 18, 2024 at 07:23 pm
Hey, Matt Flynn. That's one. It counts.
It's one out of how many?
LeotisHarris
September 18, 2024 at 10:18 am
Semantics, Oppy. Relax. The term "whisperer" in the context of training animals or people originates from the idea of communicating in a subtle, gentle, or intuitive way to gain trust and cooperation. It suggests a special ability to understand and guide behavior without the need for harsh methods. Seems that describes Clements accurately.
Oppy
September 18, 2024 at 07:39 pm
If we're talking about a gentle approach, sure.
The context here seems to be that Clements is capable of getting results others cannot. I'm not certain there's any real evidence of that at all.
murf7777
September 18, 2024 at 11:15 am
Jordan Love comes to mind.
Since'61
September 18, 2024 at 08:31 am
Good job as always AL. I take nothing away from the Packers victory against the Colts. A win is a win. However it was against the Colts and they look like a bad team to me. In any case the Packers did what they needed to do to win the game.
Against the Titans it will be about winning the LOS on both sides of the ball as it always is in the NFL. With Willis at QB the Packers will a game plan that keeps the Titans defense guessing. I think they should continue to use motion on most plays as that helps to read the defense. Use the motion and add more play action to this week's plan. On defense the Packers should be more aggressive against a less mobile Titans QB.
Getting 2 wins with Willis at QB would be huge for the Packers. Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61
pantz_bURp
September 18, 2024 at 09:53 am
Yes, yes and yes...I like all those runs!
Let's keep it going. Let's start a movement, eat prunes!
No barf ball or barfgate from here on out.
Yo, barkeep...I'll take another oat soda, some more beer nutz please and I am going to splurge after this Packer victory with one of those fancy wooden-tipped Swisher Sweets. Oh, can you turn the jukebox up too?...gotta play Hair of the Dog by Nazareth one. More. Time.
XXXs and OOOs,
Big Sexy
Coldworld
September 18, 2024 at 07:22 pm
Maybe the smart move is have the punter vomit on the ball, since it doesn’t seem to be illegal to do so.
NFLfan
September 18, 2024 at 09:55 am
My guess is the Packers will cook up another creative approach to the game. When LaFleur focuses he is phenomenal.
Clements is not a QB-whisperer, he is more a steady taskmaster.
LaFleur is the QB-whisperer. He resurrected Rodgers and gave Willis just enough to give him confidence, like teaching a kid to ride a bike.--I like the 'guard-rails' theory.
This doesn't mean I think he's an amazing HC-he doesn't oversee enough for my taste, but he has a secret sauce w/QBs.
HarryHodag
September 18, 2024 at 09:59 am
I loved the game plan. The Packers hired an expensive running back who looks to be a stud.. It brought a tear to my eye to see the team move the ball without risking the forward pass too much.
Both Love and Willis can run the ball too. You can bet the Titans will zero in on stopping the run this week. Their defense is no joke. I suspect whether it's Willis or Love you will see more passing this week.
What also was nice was the receiving corps not complaining about not getting enough balls thrown to them as other teams(49'ers and Bengals) have found out. The receivers are playing the team game which is good.
LambeauPlain
September 18, 2024 at 12:38 pm
1st quarter game plan was outstanding all around. Defense got gashed by JT but the OK Corral D allowed him to jump the fence a bit. Jonathan does that frequently. But Haf had a good plan overall to keep a talented, but raw and inaccurate passer hemmed in.
But the second half O plan was playing not to lose. That was concerning. Matt has that tendency to coast with a lead. What did the O produce in the second half for points and yards? They had more of both in the first series of the game!
Then give the ball back to a cannon arm for the last series in a 6 point game? There was a lot of nervous mumbling in Lambeau in the second half. I trusted the D would step up unlike years past. They did.
I don't even want to think about Richardson slinging a 60 yarder for the win.
GregC
September 18, 2024 at 03:09 pm
Yes, the unselfishness of the WRs is huge. They are fine with blocking if that's what they have to do. Christian Watson was not even targeted the whole game, but he was throwing blocks out there.
RCPackerFan
September 18, 2024 at 10:43 am
The Packers had a close to perfect game plan on offense to help Malil Willis feel comfortable and not put him in a position where he would have to lead the team to a win.
The coaches deserve so much credit for coming up with a game plan that just worked. They found a way to allow Willis to be comfortable and for the run game to work to take pressure off of the brand new QB. Not only did it work, but it was so much fun to watch. The creativity, the way they were able to change up a simple hand off into not knowing where the ball was going.
While Willis didn't have to do a lot, he did everything that was asked of him. I am excited to see him for a full year with GB to see what he could be next year.
Valentine -
I would like to see Valentine, Stokes and Alexander on the field more and less Nixon. Alexander can handle the slot while Nixon and Valentine can be on the perimeter. I like Nixon, i just would like to see them getting Stokes and Valentine on the field more.
On the defensive side, the Titans have some talent and beef up front, with Jeffrey Simmons and 366 lb. T'Vondre Sweat. -
If Willis has to start again, i would expect them to mix things up more vs doing the exact same thing this week. The interior of the Titans is going to be a battle. I think they will do more play action and do more jet sweeps and whatnot to spread the defense out wider.
HawkPacker
September 18, 2024 at 04:22 pm
' Alexander can handle the slot while Nixon and Valentine can be on the perimeter.'
I believe instead of Nixon you meant Stokes?
I do like the aggressiveness of Nixon but he is not a great defender in my humble opinion. There appear to be too many passes completed to the man he is guarding.
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 04:30 pm
Malik Willis demonstrated throughout his time at Liberty College that he had the ability to lead his team to victory. It will be interesting to see how he grows with the team.
Starrbrite
September 19, 2024 at 08:04 am
I like your idea of Valentine and Stokes both starting, and Alexander in the slot.
I also like Hawk’s idea of Willis running the Wildcat.
vin0770
September 18, 2024 at 12:11 pm
They’ll need more than 16 points so don’t miss a FG and drop the ball going in. 26 points should do the trick this week but the TN defense is the real deal.
Vachio
September 18, 2024 at 12:29 pm
I feel like the Titans defense is a mirage. Teams haven't put up a lot of yards on them because they Levis put them in such bad position, they haven't had to. Watching last week's game, the Jets got whatever they needed, whenever they needed it.
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 04:31 pm
The Jets offense isn't much to draw any conclusions about defensive quality. Aaron Rodgers is a shadow of what he once was.
Major Snafu
September 18, 2024 at 01:01 pm
Sorry Al but there's also another side to the coin.
1. Team had two back ups in training camp and pre season and couldnt get a lick of competency out of them. So the fact we have a guy, any guy who has only been with the team three weeks thats on the coaching abilities of this team that we let two guys go. One got on the emergency not worth a dam practice squad. picking backups is important.
2. A win isnt just a win. This was a poor exibition of defensive play. Indy beat themselves dropping passes wide open for what would have kept drives alive. Willis has more experience then the colts QB to be frank. He got hurt his rookine year and missed most of it.
3. Where's the new defense of HalfFly? No pass rush, no run stopping, piss poor linebacker play. and were game two. The Vikes who are in our division look polished and in mid season form.
I still beleive its going to be a long season for this team unless a fire is lit. If Love cant come back for a couple of weeks Jacobs will be worn out by then. Second most runs of his career last week.
Bitternotsour
September 18, 2024 at 01:07 pm
a win, well, it is a win.
PackoPhish
September 18, 2024 at 10:08 pm
Handle checks out
HawkPacker
September 18, 2024 at 01:38 pm
A couple of things Al.
I like the Clements Way street name. Makes sense for what he has accomplished with your QB's.
Secondly, I do like Stokes and I also like Valentine. I like Valentine's emotional outbursts almost like he is talking to himself, getting himself all pumped up for the next play.
pacman
September 18, 2024 at 08:53 pm
Not related to the article but can someone explain what the Colts did to shut down the run in the 2nd half?
Starrbrite
September 19, 2024 at 07:46 am
“It was Andy Reid like”; great way to put it.
Go Packers!!!