Post#13 » by Bulltalk » Thu Jan 2, 2014 10:36 pm
It seems like just about everything boils down to two things going forward into the playoffs in terms of getting our Super Bowl. Our passing game, and cutting back on stupid, momentum-killing penalties on both sides of the ball. Our defense is probably the best in the league, easily top three. Our special teams are near the top of the league all around, with kickoff returns being our weakest element at present. Our running game is also near the top of the league, and Marshawn Lynch is running as good as ever now, though RW has had fewer opportunities to make hay in the past few weeks.
It seems that teams are crowding the box/line against us now, concentrating on not letting us get much yardage on first or second down with the run, making us beat them with the pass. Teams of late are also being more effective in containing RW in the pocket, not letting him pick up yardage on the run, or making something happen by extending the play. These are fairly recent developments. I must admit that Percy Harvin's absence has been more painfully present the last month or so in this regard.
I don't quite know what to make of it. It seemed just a little over a month ago that I was pretty confident in our offense picking up 3rd down conversions, as long as they weren't long conversions. Now I'm a little wary of that. I'm also becoming a bit disconcerted by our red-zone offense in recent weeks. We're kicking too many field goals, not getting into the endzone enough.
I still think we're the team to beat in the playoffs, especially with our home field advantage. I've just become increasingly uneasy that our margin for error has narrowed in the last month.
We've got to get a better short-passing-game rhythm going again. We need this to open up the running game more, shorten up 2nd and 3rd conversion situations, get defenses a little more off-balance in their defense of us. I sometimes wonder if when RW is contained in the pocket more if his height becomes more of a problem in the short passing game? Are those quick-slant routes over the middle harder for him to see and convert?
I admit to dreaming about Percy Harvin now a bit too much. Those quick-outs/bubble screens to him, reverses, even using him in the backfield, his mere presence on the field opening things up more for us on offense, always giving the defense more to think about than they want to.
That's kind of my take right now.
And please cease with the stupid penalties, as well as cut down on most of the "I'm the man" stuff. It's playoff time. Keep your eyes on the prize now. Please.
"I'm a truth teller. All I do is tell the truth."
(Donald Trump - 8/11/16)
