About Those Short Third Down Passes
December 18th, 2013
Bucs commander Greg Schiano explained all of those short third down passes that don’t reach the first down marker.
It drive fans up a tree and Joe is no different than those fans in this case. It was never more evident for the Bucs than last Sunday, when time and again Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon would throw to receivers well short of the first down markers.
Almost always, that’s a dead play waiting to happen. With smallish receivers like Tiquan Underwood and Chris Owusu, expecting them to break two or three tackles just to get to the first down marker is a virtual pipedream and, frankly, hangs receivers out to dry.
Today, Bucs commander Greg Schiano was asked about the short third down passes to nowhere in the 49ers loss, especially in the fourth quarter when the Bucs had a grand total of 105 seconds of possession, which is simply unacceptable for any football team on any level.
“Initial read of receivers not getting open is some of it,” Schiano explained of Glennon throwing short of the first down marker so often. “The initial read on a third-and-eight is going to be for more than eight and sometimes considerably more than eight. And usually the second read is going to be for the first down. So when you are throwing the ball to check downs or routes beneath the stick … that means everything was taken away above the stick or at the stick. [Throwing short] you give it a shot at least. It’s better than taking a sack or [throwing ball away] for no gain.”
How Schiano explained the short throws makes all the sense in the world and Joe doesn’t disagree with any of that. But here’s a novel concept for Bucs offensive coaches when they are devising game plans:
Don’t run any routes that are short of the first down! It’s really no more complex than that.
Joe can understand if the Bucs had (more) big receivers like Vincent Jackson or Anquan Boldin, Joe wouldn’t be so agitated with the short routes because guys that size can break a few tackles and fight for a first down.
This just in: The Bucs, aside from Jackson, would be hard-pressed to break a tackle if their careers depended upon it. Underwood and Owusu are smallish guys. Linebackers can snap these guys in half.
December 18th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
straight bullshiiiit
December 18th, 2013 at 4:46 pm
It baffles me why we don’t use our backs more in the passing game….we completed exactly 1 pass to backs last week……1.
On 3rd down no WRs should run routes short of the first down unless its a designed slant. Other teams are constantly beating us with screens and passes to their backs….why can’t we seem to ever do that?
December 18th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
I know there are many that love Glennon and think he’s the second coming of the Golden boy. If you are one of those people, I would suggest you ignore the following link, because it may just break your little hearts : http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/12/18/5223780/nfl-breakdown-mike-glennon-eddie-lacy-leveon-bell-buccaneers-steelers.
You can clearly see tons of plays Glennon just plain missed. Guys wide open that he just missed. If after looking at the evidence and you still feel warm and fuzzy about Glennon, then there’s something wrong with you. Nobody is saying Glennon is to blame for everything, but the fact that he tends to get a pass for everything is beyond insane. I just don’t see why some people tend to be more in love with Glennon than the team. You should want the Bucs to have the best QB possible, not keep a guy because you like the fact that he’s not Josh Freeman.
December 18th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
@Hawaiian buc Before I started watching tape on the Bucs, I thought maybe we had sometimg in Glennon. After watching tape on how many recievers he missed down the field & how he just stared down the check down on critical plays, I realized he was just a Schiano puppet.
December 18th, 2013 at 5:04 pm
You can clearly see tons of players Dominik has just plain missed. Free agents and drafts that he just missed. If after looking at the evidence and you still feel warm and fuzzy about the pop-star, then there’s something wrong with you. Nobody is saying Dominik is to blame for everything, but the fact that he tends to get a pass for everything is beyond insane. I just don’t see why some people tend to be more in love with the pop-star than the team. You should want the Bucs to have the best GM possible, not keep a guy because you like the fact that he’s not Bruce Allen.
December 18th, 2013 at 5:15 pm
I do not dislike Glennon. I think what we have here and I can get away with this analogy because I am not thin or in shape, but when you take someone 400 pounds and then look at another person that is 300 pounds. The 300 pounder looks alot better than the 400 pounder but both would be considered obese. Freeman was so terrible on and off the field towards the end of his tenure in Tampa that it makes Glennon look pretty good even though he is really probably better suited to be a serviceable back up QB. I hope he developes into a good starting QB, however in my opinion I have not seen enough to really know. Glennon really has not competed with anyone other than Freeman and Orlovsky. I would like to see us get an average to above average QB in free agency if any are available even if they are a little overpriced. QB touches the ball every play so we need a skilled and determined leader at QB to get the Bucs offense to the next level. Again, compared to Freeman, Glennon is a stud but compared to most starting QB’s in the NFL he is not anything overly exciting. I do think he is a hard worker and has the desire to win though and seems to have a team first attitude. Whatever happens during the offseason, I just want our Bucs to be winners again and get back to the post season on a regular basis.
December 18th, 2013 at 5:15 pm
@The_Buc_Realist,
I’m really curious, why do you insist on bringing up Dominik in every single post you ever make? My post is completely relevant to the article. The same can’t be said for yours. But to respond, I do want the best GM possible for the Bucs. If there’s someone out there (available) that’s better than Dominik, let’s get him. You won’t hear me cry. However, Dominik has had some boom picks and free agent signings too. We got the better end of the Revis trade. He drafted the (should be) defensive player of the year. He drafted the best 3 technique in the game. He drafted a Pro Bowl RB. So while I will agree he’s made his share of mistakes and is in no way the best GM in the game, he’s far from the worst as well. If there is someone out there who’s better, lets go get him. You go ahead and let me know who you would want. Bet you can’t do it.
December 18th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
I would like to see us pass more on first down, especially since our first down runs have been stopped for minimal gains for a while now. And here is a thought, there is such a thing as a running play in the shotgun formation. Things such seem to predictable on offense.
December 18th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
I wanted you to think about the big picture Hawaiian, Why be concerned about a broken oven when your house is on fire. So you can name a couple of things that the pop-star did right, even though his average draft position is #9 meaning he is always drafting in front of 23 other GM’s since he has taken over. I could name a couple of good things Coach Schiano has done well, but for the big picture the Bucs Oranization must do better. No one should get the free pass. Especially the Gm!
December 18th, 2013 at 5:31 pm
@Hawaiian…I am convinced…I still want to send Shiano packing. I am all in for a QB in the first round.
December 18th, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Who exactly is giving Dominik a free pass? He gets plenty of the blame. But you again didn’t answer my question. Who would you want to be GM? Finding a qualified GM is probably the hardest thing to do – maybe even harder than finding a QB.
December 18th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
“We got the better end of the Revis trade.”
That really has yet to be determined. A great first round pick is often on a team for a decade, playing at a high level (at a minimum 6 years). We used a first AND a second (similar for a second). How long do you think he will be on the roster?
How long do you expect GMC and David to be Bucs? Will Revis’ equate them in time and play?
Dominick is so mediocre.
December 18th, 2013 at 7:05 pm
@Derrick Brooks,
Against what was available last year, we did win that trade. Last year was a historically bad draft class. I don’t see anyone in the draft last year better than a 75% healthy Revis. Not one player. Obviously if he were to get hurt again, then it would be a bad trade for us, but assuming he doesn’t he’ll be more than worth the amount we paid in draft picks. As for the money, maybe not so much.
December 18th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
@ Hawaiian Buc
That link was a hoot! If the writer had given the play-called (1st receiver, 2nd, and ‘dump’), the time-frame that the picture was taken (from the snap), I *might* have seen some value. He’s wanting you to believe that QBs are looking at *all* of the receivers *all* of the time. Not possible.
I have no doubt that Glennon makes mistakes. And I’m not sold (yet) on him being a ‘franchise’ QB. What I do see is a young Brad Johnson. But I find it humorous that someone would use pictures out of context and have people drinking it up like kool-aid.
December 18th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
What about Bobby Beathard as GM?
He was very effective in that role at Washington and has helped as an advisor for the Falcons.
December 18th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Maybe we should let a little time go by before we rush to judgement. We all remember the whole K Winslow fiasco.
December 18th, 2013 at 7:35 pm
@Hawaiian
For one, you can’t really analyze how good or bad a draft is for several years. Before and even now is simply conjecture. Second, source, or just your opinion?
The Jets used the TB pick quite well. Sheldon Richardson looks great. Would have been great to put him up next to GMC. We were forced to scramble for DB help because Dominick mismanaged to defensive backfield situation for so long. Myron Lewis should have been the starter but he sucked. So, he overpays and uses extra picks to try to make up for past mistakes.
Again, first round picks are supposed to be team anchors for a very long time. The average NFL first round pick is in the league for 9.3 years. (9.3!) Dominick gave up a first and a second! How long do you expect Revis on the roster? We are already done with the first year, and he was not healthy for most of it. So, essentially Dominick already lost on the first year.
Lets see what happens by year 3 or 4 comes and the $16mil situation starts to affect things. If it does, and he walks, we are crap out of a 1st and 2nd for a few years service.
We will have to disagree. The last thing I am seeing at this point is the Dominick came out ahead.
December 18th, 2013 at 7:37 pm
@Realist
Don’t even get me started on Winslow. Good grief. Highest paid TE in NFL history….unreal.
December 18th, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Hawaiian,
Glennon looks good for 11 NFL starts.
Did it “break your little heart” that Raheem the Dream wasn’t the second coming of Chuck Knoll?
I agree with Oil Derrick Brooks and the_buc_realist, Dominick screwed our pooch, see the Freeman pick and the entire 2009 draft. The pick Dominick used to trade up for Freeman was utilized to pick former Madden cover boy: Peyton Hillis.
December 18th, 2013 at 8:14 pm
No QB in the NFL would look good in this offensive play system. Schiano is just very conservative and no matter who the coordinator is it will not change
December 18th, 2013 at 8:25 pm
@Hawaiian, Excellent article. Steve White is the man.
I never wanted to say it, but Steve White seems on the money – Glennon will eat up sacks before throwing it out of bounds or throwing a jump ball, just to keep his pretty.
That was one hell of a breakdown. It may be a rookie thing, but Glennons awareness and instincts are horrible. White just churned out example after example.
The kid’s a career backup. He’s smart, but maybe thats his problem. He overthinks. But who can blame him when the guy coaching you is a former linebacker, former DB coach, former DC, and he keeps sticking his nose into the offensive playcalling.
Know your role Greg.
December 18th, 2013 at 8:26 pm
*Glennon will eat up sacks before throwing it out of bounds or throwing a jump ball, just to keep his stats pretty.
December 18th, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Upgrayyed,
I will need to read the article. However, look at at our offensive injuries. We have an 8m guard on IR, a top Kicker, Mike Williams, Tom Crabtree, Luke Stocker among others.
Who does Glennon have to throw the ball to exactly/ Outside of Rutgers Man Time Wright and V-Jax playing banged up, we have Skye Dawson.
How about we cut some dead weight bait along the roster, at season’s end, and draft some O-Lineman. It would be a damn shame to give Schiano the hook. The man has an eye for talent. Because of the past two exceptional drafts, Schiano deserves at least one year at the helm with “his guy” at QB.
I love how so many can pass judgement, when really Dominick is the culprit. Even one of the Joes thinks Dominick should stay. Why again is that? Dominick used several 1st and 2nd round picks on D-Linemen, while letting 9.5 sacks leave in FA for 4.7m? SMDH, it is just unreal, the entire 2009 draft class is outta here. If Schiano is ousted, then Dominick is gone too. If not, we will not get better. Schiano, at the very least, is drafting some damn good talent. Talent that he has seen come up the ranks into college. Why pull the plug on a guy who is making us better?
We are not winning because Mark Dominick, whom has the personnel decisions, wouldn’t trade Freeman in the off season for basic compensation. How about Albert Haynesworth, Derrick Ward, Myron Lewis- while passing on Jimmy Graham? It would be ludicrous for Schiano to be dismissed and Doominick remain. Eric Wright was “his guy”, and it was “all about 5” when we signed V-Jax(great pickup, without him, we would be twice as bad on O).
Where is the pass rush, TE, Slot WR, SLB, depth? Schiano is 100% right, you can’t stock and NFL roster in 1-2 years, we now have a secondary. We need to move our focus towards addressing our O and D Linemen this year.
December 18th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
I was afraid to read the whole article. I thought Schiano was going to say they don’t practice throwing it for a first down. So why do it?
December 18th, 2013 at 9:07 pm
I thought fans were whining that we weren’t running enough short, quick routes on radio shows with Schiano a couple weeks ago. Now the routes are too short?
Look, the concept should be pretty simple. Usually there is a clearout route, a route that takes a Safety deep or outside/inside. Then there is a complimentary route, one that breaks under… a cross or hook or out or in route. Then there is the outlet route, if both are covered deep, the outlet (if hit in stride, something we struggle to do) should be open for yards after catch because everyone was carried deep by the other two routes. Problem is we don’t compliment routes, we don’t hit WRs in stride. Another option is the slant, which is designed to hit a “seam” in the defense quickly and in stride to gain yards after catch enough for first downs. Throwing short of the marker is ok if you hit the guy in stride to make the necessary yards, this just doesn’t happen often with us. Too many swing passes behind or at the RBs feet. Too many slants forcing the WR to go to the ground to make the catch. Passes behind and above WRs forcing them to stop their motion.
Otherwise, we go back to what we were doing early in the season which is to simply run 3 or 4 go routes against cover 4 defenses with now underneath receiver and no chance to complete a pass and take a sack or throw it away. The offense changed when Glennon took over. They gave him more short to intermediate routes to hit, easier throws to complete and it worked for a bit. Then they went back to what they did before (when we were losing) and guess what? We started losing again.
I’ve seen a simple slant route last year to Williams (when hit in stride) turn a 5 yard completion into an 80 yards TD. It does work if everything is right. We don’t have to throw 40 yards in the air and run 40 after to make an 80 yard gain (unless it’s VJ, then he’ll get caught from behind at the 1 for a 79 yard gain and we won’t score). What you don’t do is run a hook or comeback less than the yard to gain (no momentum moving forward) and I’ve seen a lot that looked like that (although I think some were in/out routes that were thrown behind).
December 18th, 2013 at 9:13 pm
@SteveK,
No idea what you are talking about with the Chuck Knoll comment. Weird.
Glennon has looked ok for his first 11 starts. That’s not the issue. I don’t dislike Glennon at all. I actually really like him. How can you not like a guy that works hard and gets the most out of his talent? However, I think his ceiling is low. That’s an uneducated opinion that I’m entitled to have. I hope I’m wrong. But my thing is, you don’t get top picks very often in a projected very good QB class. I think if one is available that is deemed to have a very high ceiling, you take it. You gotta have a QB in the NFL, particularly in the NFC South. That’s all I’m saying. If you believe in Glennon to be the franchise, then we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Only time will tell.
December 18th, 2013 at 9:21 pm
Hawaiian,
Fair enough about Glennon, but replacing Glennon gets you nowhere with the current O-Line and receiver situation.
How much better is our team with a freaking pass rush and O-Line that plays up to it’s co$t?
December 18th, 2013 at 9:43 pm
Total horse shhhitte
December 18th, 2013 at 9:51 pm
@SteveK, I don’t disagree that Dominik is partly to blame. But when the trade deadline is done, (and even before that), the reigns are passed on to the HC. When players that he let go are playing at a higher level on other teams, then you start to realize that this coach isnt capable of getting the best out of the talent he has.
Bottom line, Schiano’s mindset and coaching tactics are all over the place. He has no plan. No direction and no sense (did you read Joes article yesterday and what he said about the hurry up?) He’s everywhere and nowhere at once. He’s the Jerry Jones of Head Coaches. He needs some of Freeman’s ritalin, or whatever the f that guy is on.
December 18th, 2013 at 9:57 pm
@SteveK,
That’s where I disagree. The best way to hide a poor offensive line is with a mobile QB. Green Bay and Pittsburgh won Super Bowls with terrible lines, did they not? I’m in no way saying that having a good line isn’t important, but I will say that having a good QB is more important. It’s by far the most important position in professional sports. More so than a left tackle. You quite simply don’t win anymore without a really good QB. Take a look at the latest SB champs for the proof.
As for the receivers, no doubt we need better. However, it can be argued that we have a helluva tandem in Jackson and Williams, and I like the promise that Wright brings to the TE spot. All teams have to be thin at certain positions and cross your fingers you stay healthy there. No team is deep in all areas. We were pretty much screwed as soon as Mike Will went down. Unfortunately, we gambled and lost We MUST find a good slot receiver though. If I remember correctly, you and I both wanted Austin last year. Unfortunately, we didn’t fill that need, but that needs to happen this offseason. It doesn’t, however, necessarily need to be done early in the first. There will be guys available in later rounds, as well as free agency. I would prefer to get one in each.
I may be in the minority, but I don’t think our OL is done. I think they’ve played like crap, but I think there are a lot of factors involved in that. Number one, our predictability on offense makes their job next to impossible. Second, there’s been little to no continuity. Penn has literally played next to about 5 different guards this year. You have to understand that a line works in unison. It’s not 5 one on one matchups in the trenches. Far from it.
December 18th, 2013 at 9:59 pm
And I have no idea about our pass rush, due to all the stupid stunting we run. We looked pretty damn good to me on Sunday though against the best OL in the league. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that we weren’t stunting every play, no?
December 18th, 2013 at 10:36 pm
Hawaiian Buc Says:
December 18th, 2013 at 7:05 pm
@Derrick Brooks,
Against what was available last year, we did win that trade. Last year was a historically bad draft class. I don’t see anyone in the draft last year better than a 75% healthy Revis. Not one player. Obviously if he were to get hurt again, then it would be a bad trade for us, but assuming he doesn’t he’ll be more than worth the amount we paid in draft picks. As for the money, maybe not so much.
Sheldon Richardson and Loutelli and Vaccaro. Those 3 were studs.
A dline can make your secondary look great. Look at SF. Goldson and Revis are not worth what we gave up for them.
I said it before the draft. Vaccaro was earl thomas 2.0. Saints have a stud. Loutelleli reminded me of Ngata. Now we face him twice a year instead of pairing him with McCoy. Same with Richardson who is just a for e for the jets.
Revis? He’s not even 100% healthy and wr gave him all that money? Plus we built the strength of the team (supposedly) from secondary and forgot to help the dline.
December 18th, 2013 at 10:47 pm
@Chris,
How can you say we forgot about the D-Line? We’ve got a top 5 pick on the d-line, as well as another first rounder, and a second rounder. How much more do you really want us to invest? There comes a point where you either have to coach and/or scout better. You can’t just keep on using pick after pick after pick on the line, hoping to get one. We missed on Price (second round) too might I add. You have to address other areas of the team eventually. I’m pretty sure we expected more out of Bowers and Clayborn. I know I sure did. Letting Bennett go was obviously stupid. But again, you can’t keep spending premier picks on the same thing. That’s incredibly stupid.
Revis may not have been 100% healthy this year, but he was damn good this year. Plus, this was a long term investment. Let’s see what he’s like next year. My money says he will be back to the best in the league. He literally shuts down eery WR he faces. Teams don’t even throw near him.
December 18th, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Schiano has had no qb. He didn’t get to get who he wants. If any of you think he did with glennon you’re football iq is very low. Glennon is a third round pick. No franchise qb ties there in that investment. 98% 3rd round qbs turn out to be back ups. Wilson is the exception to the stud qb in round 3 rule.
December 18th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Look at the Detroit Lions defensive line. All first rounders. All performing well. How many championships do they have? You have to be balanced all around.
December 18th, 2013 at 10:58 pm
So hawain, think about what you just said.
1. Has Clayborn and bowers even come close to living up their hype? Haha no.
2. Revis is good but will he ever be the same? That’s very cloudy. 16 mm per year, 1st and 3rd round investment? I think the jets won that battle in the long term. Revis is getting older and CBS aren’t worth what we have him. Smarter teams have a dominate pass rush with physical CBs. Our pass rush is down right bad. Gholston I will admit is coming along and could be a solid LDE. We blew it with Bennett. Spence I’m not all that sold on yet. Rotational guy yeah. Notice how the drafting improved when this guy from Seattle came here as college scouting director. Eric stokes. He’s a guy id watch out for. And schiano improved as well in terms of scouting talent through the draft.
3. Goldson was the worst FA signing this off season in the entire league. He got roasted last year. He had a very good 2011 helped by the vaunted 49er front 7. He’s terrible in coverage and we gave up 22 mm guaranteed over the next 3 years and he’s not even a top 10 safety. Kudos mark dominik. Keith Tandy has made more plays than goldson.
2009-2011 FA and draft has been a D. Gerald McCoy and mike Williams highlight 2010. We wanted cb in Rd 3. We took Lewis. Just think if we took Alteraun Verner. We took Brian price in rd 2 looking to tandem a nice DT duo. Imagine if we took Atkins? Golden Tate over Benn? We targeted those positions but took the wrong guys.
2012-2013 FA: name one guy we actually got ROI ? Vincent Jackson only comes to mind. Nicks? Revis? Wright? Goldson? None of them have come close to the elite contract $$ we shelled to them.
December 18th, 2013 at 11:00 pm
Hawaiian Buc Says:
December 18th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
Look at the Detroit Lions defensive line. All first rounders. All performing well. How many championships do they have? You have to be balanced all around.
If your worst in the league in pressures/sacks and in passing yards, you address the pass rush then secondary. Detroit has a TO machine at qb which doesn’t help the defense. Last time I checked their defense is actually doing well. They need secondary help sure but that dline gets after qbs consistently.
December 18th, 2013 at 11:12 pm
excuses, excuses, excuses….
So this is where all the Schianopologists congregate, huh? It has NOTHING to do with COACHING??? Its ALLLL about draft picks… Just tuck in your balls and admit that our HC doesnt know what the hell he’s doing! Again, Did you read his quote from yesterday??!!
He would rather LOSE by playing what he practiced, than WIN by letting his OC get creative.
F’in Schianopologists! Get a clue.
December 18th, 2013 at 11:23 pm
@Chris,
Did you perhaps forget that we nearly set the NFL record last year for most yards given up through the air? Wouldn’t you address that issue first?
As for the Lions defense, we are actually ahead of their defense. We give up less points, less yards, we have more sacks, and we create more turnovers. So no, I wouldn’t say their defense is that great. They were actually last in the NFL at sacks when we played them. So again, what exactly is your point? See one thing you will learn with me is you can’t just spout off BS and expect me to accept it as fact. I actually know what I’m talking about, and if I don’t, I look it up. Nice try, but try it on someone else.
December 18th, 2013 at 11:26 pm
So to get this all straight, the Lions have a very good D-Line that consistently gets after the QB, right? They’ve invested premium pick after premium pick, which is what you want us to do, right? However, they need help in the secondary, even though your philosophy is to build up the D-Line first, right? So then, why do we have more sacks than them? If you want to say they hurry the QB more, then why do we have more INT’s? If you want to say they have a better defense than us, then why are we better than them in every single defensive category? Is your final answer because they have Matthew Stafford at QB? Hmmmm, not following your logic. Perhaps you are using that Schiano logic that most people can’t comprehend.
December 19th, 2013 at 1:47 am
Hindsight is such a wonderful thing… Every pick we missed stands out. Yet I remember the draft we took Freeman how many thought we needed Peria Jerry… Who? Yeah, he disappeared too.
December 19th, 2013 at 7:36 am
Hawaiian Buc Says:
December 18th, 2013 at 11:23 pm
@Chris,
Did you perhaps forget that we nearly set the NFL record last year for most yards given up through the air? Wouldn’t you address that issue first?
Your secondary is as good as your dline. If your dline isn’t applying pressure, you could have Revis Talib and Sherman and it wouldn’t matter if you give qbs 5 seconds to get rid of it and find wrs. Look Sunday. Banks on the TD pass to Crabtree. Banks had it covered but so much time allowed Crabtree got open.
December 19th, 2013 at 7:57 am
Hawain you’re doing a great job bashing a Detroit defense. But when I watch them they’re defense overall isn’t a probem. You’re gonna tell me a qb who turns it over and shoots themselves on the foot continuously with dumb TOs doesn’t hurt your defense?
December 19th, 2013 at 8:14 am
Hawaiian, I’m not completely sold on Glennon, but I am willing to accept the fact that he’s a rookie QB with little to know help around him (especially in Sully’s horrific system). Personally, I’d rather not draft a QB in the first round, as I think there will be plenty of good options in the later rounds (Bortles may climb to the first, but there’s still McCarron, Murray, Mettenberger, Boyd, etc.). I think either a mid-round QB should be drafted or a vet should be brought in for competition and/or to develop. See if another year and some more pieces gives Glennon or whoever a chance to show they deserve the job, and if not, draft someone in the top of the 2015 draft (which it seems now could be loaded with guys who we thought would be good picks this year). Rookie QBs rarely succeed, so let’s see if there’s something there before completely discarding another QB.
December 19th, 2013 at 9:15 am
That breakdown didn’t do it for me Hawaiian, I think Hawk summed it up perfectly. There is a reason that QBs have reads, they go through their progressions as they are taught. Glennon is a rookie and makes mistakes and I hope we all understand that but to point out plays where Glennon is obviously looking at his read to the right and then in that moment pointing out the WR to the left that’s somewhat open doesn’t do justice. The one play that really stands out is the first one because he should have seen Underwood and he and Leonard were in almost the same place. Even that pass to Leonard was on the money and should have been a first down but Leonard had the ball knocked out after the catch. The 4th down also gets me because he threw it away, I know QBs are taught not to throw back into the middle of the field when running to the sidelines for fear of a pick but to just throw the ball away doesn’t do anything either. In the others you can tell that either Glennon is looking away from the play or the WR isn’t open. I’m not sold on Glennon yet either but I think he’s done well enough. He can make all the throws and that vision will (hopefully) come with time.
December 19th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
The offense doesn’t look prepared for 3rd and long situations. The play calling is subpar at best. It screen pass, no QB roll outs to buy time, no short slant routes inside. No offensive imagination/scheme = easy to defend with no points whatsoever.
December 19th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@Chris,
I’m not bashing their defense, I’m just giving facts. You believe that Detroit has such a great defense because of their line, I’m telling you facts that say ours is better. But I guess I’m supposed to just go with what you see when you watch. Sorry, that’s just not good enough.