We've Been Exposed

Well, I think we surprised a lot of teams the first 3 games, but now everyone is taking us very seriously. It seems they are finding our weaknesses at key times. Our defense is still very good, but teams usually can get a man open underneath, and we especially are struggling there when teams go into a hurry up offense.

Today it didn't help that our #2 CB went down early. However, I will say that I generally liked what I saw from Wesley. There were some times that he made rookie mistakes, but usually he was right there with his man. So once he learns how to get better position, he will start making plays...he also needs to learn to stay at home when a play breaks down.

As I'm sure everyone and their grandmother can attest, our real problem is on offense. Our receiving corps has serious deficiencies. Smith drops way too many balls, and usually they are at the worst possible time. Byrd is dependable and solid, but is probably best as a #3 in an offense with multiple weapons (which we obviously do not have). Bright showed he is able to get open on occasion, but what does it matter if he doesn't make the catch. Also, I like Moose, but his injury problems can show up at any time. So, to me, this is priority #1 in the draft.

And since Walls has obviously lost a bit of speed/quickness to get open (not to mention not being as much of a focus in this offense...which may or may not be influenced by his drop in quickness), TE is also a concern. Mangum is an ok blocker, and I would be happy with him, but he just can't catch dependably. His blocking is not good enough to justify his drops and warrant giving him a roster spot next year IMO. I like Heinrich, and think he will be a good TE for us in the future, but this offense uses multiple TE formations quite a bit, so we definitely need to find one in the off-season.

 

One more thing.

I think we will be fine at RB once Foster comes back and takes some of the load off Smith. However, I am beginning to think it's time to start working Weinke back into the picture. I don't believe we should start him yet, but I do think we need to start giving him more time with the 1st team in practice so when his time inevitably comes within the next few games, he will be ready.

Peete's value was his decision making and the fact he should make fewer turnovers...basically to play safe. But with his play the last couple of weeks, he is showing the qualities that earlier caused friction on the board.

I agreed with Fox's decision to start him for the 1st couple of games (or at least could see the reason behind it), but felt if he played much more than that, that his deficiencies would rear their ugly head. And that seems to be happening. In fact, it seems that he is trying to make plays and forcing the ball in traffic on occasion instead of playing it safe. Regardless, he is simply not consistently exhibiting the qualities that led to him starting the first few games. So unless he gets back to playing more of the "mistake-free" style, it may be getting close to the time we need to give Weinke his expected 2nd chance. My guess is we will see Weinke after the bye week (of coarse unless Peete falls completely into the crapper).

 

Weinke's real problem was more his desire than his turnovers... he never had the "fire" on the field... he had it at FSU... basically its the ability to WILL the rest of your team to win... he gets that back he CAN be a good QB

 

Yeah, I know what you mean, but I just wonder if it is due to a lack of confidence and not an actual lack of "fire." At FSU he was put in a position to succeed and had a great team around him, so when he did make mistakes they could usually overcome them. However, once he got here, he was forced to start before he was ready IMO, and did not have good talent around him, so each mistake was magnified. And despite not really being ready to start, the weight of the entire offense was dropped squarely on his shoulders. So I can see how his confidence was shaken, and leading to being uncertain on the field. Hopefully this time on the bench has given him a chance to regroup and get a better feel of what is expected of him.

 

First off, yes, Dante Wesley should be the third corner. He's really starting to get my attention, and makes me think we could hold off on corner until the 4th. As much as anything, it's just the idea that we have a third guy, a guy to push Howard and possibly take over for him. Howard himself made a good play on the ball...being that he's physical it doesn't at all surprise me that he made a pick on that type of play. If he can do that in stride down the field I'll start giving him hype.

>>TE is also a concern.

Very much so. Right now if I need a size matchup I have to go with Heinrich. If I have to have a blocker, just have to have one, I put in Tuten as the 2nd TE in some situations. I'd rather be able to control the end than hope some twiggy neck can seal him. I'd have to say we'll probably not look at it as hard, but TE is becoming higher on my list for the offseason.

>>However, I am beginning to think it's time to start working Weinke back into the picture.

Might as well. God knows he'll dump the ball off, and apparently that's forbidden right now in this O. We gotta go for everything on every pass play, or go for nothing at all, and if Weinke was moving the chains with the intermediate pass a couple drives a game, there's nothing wrong with that. We're not going to lose anything by finding out what we have behind Peete, since Peete will still have to play his ass off to be a starter in front of a young QB next year if he's here.

 

I'm not for "finding out what we have" on Sunday. Fox can handle that during the week in practice.

 

The bottom line to me is as long as were willing to play this scheme, we have to win the turnover battle. Peet's arm strenght appeared a little suspect to me when he had an interception on a underthrown pass. Sure they all do that at times, but I wondered how his arm is holding up afterall he hasnt exactly played much until this year for ohhh say a decade. We needed a spark Sunday and we didnt get one. Foster may have been a good spark, maybe Weinkie would have been I don't know, but if we play like that again we will loose and then what?