CrimsonCrew wrote:In terms of the game, people at getting a little hysterical about the final score. Overall, I thought the game was pretty encouraging. Our mostly second-string D more than held their own against a pretty good Broncos offense. Granted we blitzed a lot for a preseason game, but if anyone should be ready to play against the blitz in the preseason, it should be Sean Payton. I was really disappointed with the QB play after Jones went out, mostly because it prevented us from getting a good look at offensive players at the back of the roster.
In terms of encouraging developments, I thought CJ West played well. Kalia Davis seemed a bit more up-and-down to me, but I thought he finally showed some things at least. I liked what I saw from Flowers, I didn't really notice Tre Brown much, but PFF had him as our highest-ranked player, and Chase Lucas had several great plays. Sigel looks like he could be legit. On the offense, Watkins showed some things that he's shown in practice, though he also had a couple bad plays and is injured down. Kiner ran hard.
Flip side was, some negatives, too. Alfred Collins was blown off the call a couple times, which was surprising. He's just got to play lower. I know he's not going to win as a pass-rusher yet, but he's got to be able to anchor in the run game at a minimum. Martin missed soooooo many tackles. I'm not freaking out about it, because it's not something he struggled with in college, and he missed a bunch of time with injury, so he may just have to re-acclimate to live play. He also was in position to miss a few tackles because of good instincts and speed where other players wouldn't have even been in the picture. So there's something to work with, but he's a long way off as of now. Beal didn't look great to me. Repeatedly seemed to lose contain, wasn't getting much done as a pass rusher.
On offense, between the OTs and backup QBs, you just couldn't really evaluate much of anything after the first two drives. I feel bad for any WRs fighting for a roster spot, though presumably the film shows if they were getting open. We really need Dillard to pan out or we're in deep doodoo if/when Trent goes down. If I were McKivitz, I would be holding in as of today. I also really, REALLY don't like what appeared to be Kyle calling the same protection that got Purdy injured in the NFCCG against speed rusher Nik Bonnitto. Please do not ask a pulling TE to block an elite edge rusher ever again.
To be fair I'm pretty sure it was Kubiak calling plays this game but on the flip side a play that calls for a TE to pull to block a pass rusher shouldn't be in the playbook to call in the first place.
But overall I pretty much agree with your take and judging how our season is going to go based on the preseason is a fool's errand.
I actually came away more encouraged because how our 2nd team defense looked against their 1st team offense as defense is going to be the biggest question mark going into the season.
Some guys flashed and some guys like Nick Martin just need to be coached up but should be fine. I didn't see anything that caused me to worry at the moment.
Offensively it'll be basically what we expect in that the offense will be as good as usual but still has the same concerns with a paper thin offensive line that could collapse at any moment.
With the injuries on offense combined with a young D that will need time to gel I wouldn't be shocked if the team started off slow and looked clunky out there the first couple of games.
I still stand by my predicition that as long as injuries aren't a huge factor the team will start slow but finish strong this season.
