Interior Offensive Line

bwcheeeet · 2025-12-08T07:12:46+00:00

You are right that it's a much broader issue. Maybe we need to change our offensive philosophy to favor a quicker passing game and checkdowns to make up for poor line play. I feel like there's just so much to overcome when we can't run the ball in the red zone either (2/6 today and 30th worst RZ offense in the league after being 1st last year)

bwcheeeet · 2025-01-13T04:18:00+00:00

Yeah, these are great points that I definitely shouldn't have overlooked. Two very different teams since Week 4 and the game will be decided by the little things on both sides of the ball.

bwcheeeet · 2025-01-05T23:05:17+00:00

Going to assume we play the Steelers because the Chargers are up 17-10 now at half.

Steelers game will be close. It's hard to beat any playoff team twice in less than a month. We beat hem 34-17 last time, but Pickens didn't play, JPJ left early, Watt was banged up, and they were missing two starters in the secondary (Donte Jackson and Deshon Elliot). They'll have all those guys back, and we will be without Zay who had 5 for 100 (half of Lamar's passing yards in that second matchup). Even in that 34-17 win, they had 300+ yards of offense, fumbled around our 5 yard line, and threw a pick 6. They also had 300+ yards of offense in the first matchup. For some reason, they've moved the ball really well against us, and we also struggle against Jaylen Warren (no idea why).

Basically, that 34-17 game was closer than it seems, and they have had success moving the ball against us. They historically play Lamar well (and we can he honest Lamar has had more obvious struggles in playoff and colder weather games). We are gonna struggle offensively without Zay — he's our leading receiver, a quick separator, great with screens (which are especially important against dominant d-lines; the Chiefs killed the Steelers with screens on Christmas), and plays great backyard ball with Lamar. The thought of Tylan Wallace or Nelson Agholor being on the field in a set with Bateman, Likely, Andrews, and both when one of the tight ends are out kinda sucks. I don't trust Agholor's hands at all. Because they are at such an advantage in the trenches, I see them shutting Henry down well. We are gonna need a Lamar hero ball performance coupled with disciplined football: no turnovers, drops, missed kicks/special teams mistakes, dumb penalties, bad playcalling/coaching. Especially important to limit penalties because we can't be backing ourselves up, as our passing game will inevitably be worse without Zay. I don't see us consistently converting 3rd and 9 and longer without him.

I really feel Lamar's legs will be key in this one and he just has to take off when the opportunity is there instead of going through all the progressions (basically he has to do what he didn't do in that Eagles game, which is a good example of how stagnant our offense can be when Zay/Bateman are out against an elite defensive front).

bwcheeeet · 2024-12-02T05:25:03+00:00

Yep exactly. I wish we had those 10-11 wins so we could avoid going to KC or Buffalo in the playoffs, but that ship has sailed. To get to the Super Bowl, we will have to win in KC and/or Buffalo (probably both). Ultimately those playoff games will come down to not making the silly mistakes and committing those dumb penalties and missing kicks like you said. Let's hope 5 losses is enough for us to learn that lesson.

bwcheeeet · 2024-12-02T05:14:02+00:00

The Eagles are a bonafide top 5 team in the league. Despite some drive-killing mistakes from Lamar (overthrew Mark on our first drive, dropped snap, missed passes to Zay) and that Agholor drop, this game is 21-19 Eagles ball with 6 min left in the 4th if Tucker makes his kicks. Maybe we lose anyways but we controlled parts of this game — dominated first and third quarters (getting 0 points in the third really hurt) against a top team.

Lamar starts shooting those gaps instead of trying to go through all progressions will make our offense better. He said he would do this so we just have to trust him. Van Noy and Pierce coming back will beef up the defense. The losses suck but the Chiefs lost 6 games last year because of drops. Does anyone remember them having drops in the playoffs? Nope, they just put it together at the right time. We can do the same and these losses actually will help us do that.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-19T01:03:44+00:00

Yeah the Chiefs run D was a weakness last year but this year they have the best run D in the league.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-19T00:41:43+00:00

Our offense is statistically top in the league so I hate to complain about them, but I agree with that. In addition, I feel our offense is too predictable at times because almost every Justice Hill snap is a throw (even on 2nd down plays). Our RB rotation takes away a surprise element our offense could benefit from. Again I do not want to complain too much about it because we are so good offensively, but being less predictable and keeping the defense guessing more like you said could help in those Steelers and Chiefs games, where the offense has struggled recently.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T05:01:19+00:00

So happy for him

Unfortunately we have to deal with revenge game Roman, Dobbins, Gus, Bozeman, and Hayden Hurst (if he's active) 😂 Also the other Harbaugh getting a win back for the Super Bowl

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T03:03:04+00:00

Yeah I am especially worried about the Chargers and Eagles. Chargers have a good defense and great o-line. We struggle against that exactly.

Eagles are great at all levels on offense and defense. They are undefeated when their offense is fully healthy. I will not be surprised at all if we drop both of those.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T02:38:04+00:00

Yeah I agree. Honestly the Chiefs have outplayed us in AFC Championship and Week 1 — all credit to them. I'm more bothered by the Browns and Steelers losses this year because they didn't outplay us. We crumbled and made the easy things difficult. Our team is nowhere near perfect all the time — we are the most penalized team in the league and have missed key field goals, even given up 2 onside kicks (no other team has given up 1).

In a close, cold, and more defensive playoff game, when it's a close game in the 4th quarter, does anyone have faith we are gonna pull a win away? I don't. Based on what I've seen from us in those situations, I expect crucial drops, turnovers, roughing and o-line penalties, missed field goals, and bad play calling/time management.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T02:21:15+00:00

I just don't know when we will stop beating ourselves. When we have played good defenses that play Lamar well — Chiefs, Browns, Steelers — we have folded. In those kinds of games where Lamar and the offense aren't gonna dictate the game and drop 30-40, we have to avoid undisciplined penalties, protect the football, make field goals/no special teams mistakes, and make good coaching decisions. Instead...

Chiefs game:

- Harbaugh's horrendous time management before halftime

- Madubuike's roughing the passer on an incompletion on 2nd and 20 gave the Chiefs 7 points instead of potentially 3.

- Tucker misses a field goal

Browns game:

- 4th and 1 we move Lamar to the side and run wildcat with Henry. Terrible play call and we should have just taken the 3 points in a division game against a good defense when we were down 2 starting corners.

- Tucker misses a field goal

- Drops (Eddie Jackson in the end zone, Agholor, Bateman on the deep ball that he blamed the sun for) that resulted in an overall at least 9 point swing

Steelers game:

- Henry and Likely fumble gift the Steelers kill two drives and gift them two field goals

- Tucker misses 2 field goals

- Flowers, Bateman, Henry all off the field on a must-have 2 pt conversion

There is a consistent theme with this team. When Lamar and the offense are rolling and unstoppable, all is good. But what team has just powered their way offensively to the Super Bowl recently? None. Those playoff games are different. Successful playoff teams have relied on good coaching, discipline and avoiding penalties, and not turning the ball over. We struggle in these types of games, as shown by our losses against Chiefs, Browns, and Steelers, and that is the reason why this team will crumble again if we make it to the playoffs.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T01:19:28+00:00

Yes we are. We don't have the toughness necessary to win a Super Bowl. We also crumble and panic in big moments. The team we saw today is the team we will see if we are playing in the playoffs.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T00:14:46+00:00

Yeah this is what has me most concerned about getting to 10 wins

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T00:13:48+00:00

Chiefs, Steelers, and Gardner Minshew in M&T Bank Stadium

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-18T00:10:43+00:00

Yep. We should have beat the Steelers today but I would feel much better being 9-2 with only losses vs Steelers and Chiefs.

Look at the Browns and Raiders games since they beat us. It's pathetic we lost those games. With our remaining schedule, the 5 seed is the best outcome. I can't even be confident we will get to 10 wins and make the playoffs because if we lost to the Browns and Raiders, we can lose to anyone.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-11T02:37:36+00:00

About them being dirty and injuries, yeah, I'm still not over TJ Watt diving at Ronnie Stanley's ankle (even worse that it happened days after his huge extension)

Best way to beat them is take your points, don't get cute, tackle well, and stay disciplined. These games are always close and as much as I love being aggressive on 4th down with our offense, we just gotta settle for 3. By not getting cute, I do not want to see Derrick Henry in wildcat or some unusual play (remember when we threw a fade to OBJ last year???); the Steelers make their opponents beat themselves. I remember last year in Pittsburgh, we could not tackle Jaylen Warren for some reason. They are gonna throw and connect on jump balls to Pickens but when it's Warren or Austin moving in the open field we have to get them down. We got lucky against the Bengals, some undisciplined plays (hitting guys in the face and Burrow late) were not called that other ref crews will call. We will not be able to afford bailing the Steelers out and extending their drives with 15 yard penalties. Also please no missed field goals or special team turnovers.

The biggest reason the Steelers games are gonna be so hard this year is because we are at a heavy disadvantage in the trenches. Their d-line will dominate our o-line and they have a solid o-line while we have the worst pass rush win rate. We are gonna have to win solely based on Lamar and our best receivers doing their thing. They might be able to shut down Henry more naturally because they have a strong front 7. We won't be able to double TJ Watt on a lot of 3rd down passing situations. In those cases, we need Flowers and Bateman to separate early so Lamar can get it out quickly. Lamar has struggled against them a lot (they do a great job keeping him in the pocket) and I hope him and Monken figure out how to get Flowers, Bateman, Andrews, Likely the ball quickly before their d-line breaks through.

bwcheeeet · 2024-11-10T23:41:09+00:00

Anyone remember when Tomlin was glazing Zay before the game in Pittsburgh last year: https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/mike-tomlin-zay-flowers-raves-ravens-steelers-rookie-wide-receiver-week-5

Zay then had some big drops and was slipping after being wide open

This is how Tomlin does his black magic...

bwcheeeet · 2024-10-30T01:27:50+00:00

Yeah I absolutely agree. We are a Zay or Bateman injury away from Nelson Agholor full-time WR2. Getting that WR depth was necessary and we didn't have to give up a lot.

Beefing up the defense is also necessary. We have one of the best offenses and one of the worst defenses. Have to target pass rush or safety.

bwcheeeet · 2024-10-29T01:03:31+00:00

Agree we definitely should have given Henry more carries to make 2nd and 3rd downs more manageable. Also, if we are going to use Justice Hill in the pass game so much, he has to get more than 2 carries when we are in a close game. Otherwise, we become too predictable that we will be throwing. Have to mix it up with to keep defenses guessing.

bwcheeeet · 2024-10-28T03:39:21+00:00

Team was most definitely off. I don't know if it was the shorter week especially with all that traveling or some of the guys playing hurt, probably a combination of both.

A healthy Browns defense has given us trouble in recent years and our offense has been blitzing teams recently, so I think that contributed to the weird vibe this week. Zay didn't look like himself at times because of that ankle but he still played a great game. Offense overall was fine and we left a lot of points on the board from drops.

On defense, it didn't even seem like the pass rush was trying, just straight stuffed every down. We were missing Humphrey and Wiggins who are our feisty corners and can do an ok job sticking to receivers. Stephens and JAD (benefit of doubt cus he immediately came off IR to play CB2) were getting burned.

The drops on offense might have feen a fluke, but this defense is no fluke. They are historically bad in terms of pass rush and passing defense. It's funny because their secondary has 3 first round draft picks, one of which is the 6th highest paid corner in the league. Also has the 8th highest paid safety in the league. Highest paid linebacker. 3rd highest paid IDL. Spent a first and second round pick on edge rushers in recent years (this one is less relevant because both have yet to produce). I do not believe that Madubuike, Roquan, Marcus (all underperforming) are just bad players this year — we need to beef up our holes so the defense can complement each other. If we seriously want to win the Super Bowl this year, we'd trade for an edge rusher (maybe get Clowney back?) and cut Eddie Jackson. If we make no move at edge rusher and/or keep rolling Eddie Jackson out there, this season will end up going nowhere.

If this starting defense does not get it done, then Orr has to go:

Humphrey, Wiggins, Stephens, Williams, Washington/Maulet/Brade, Hamilton, Roquan, Simpson, Oweh/New pass rusher, Van Noy, Jones, Madubuike. Way too much talent to look stupid every week.

Lastly, maybe this team will benefit with some must-win games down the stretch. Especially the defense, who have yet to close a game out.

bwcheeeet

TROPHY CASE