1 – Last year, I always credited Klayton Adams for the run game success, so it is only fitting that I am now blaming Justin Frye for the opposite. Without Benson’s big run in New Orleans, they have accomplished 3.6 yards on average. That limits the entire offense.
2 – Well, I told you last week that reports indicate that the Cardinals might be in contact with free agent CB Asante Samuel. So, there’s that.
3 – Calais Campbell only played 43% of the defensive snaps. He was dominant throughout the game, so that is obviously the right number.
4 – I think the reasons for the limited passing game is two folded.
It is a massive problem that no receivers get open down field. Who is Murray going to throw to? Many times, he is scanning the field, but ends up either taking a sack, throwing the ball away or running himself because there is no one to throw to. Nobody gets open in the deep game.
The other part of the equation is Murray’s lack of height, I think. He simply cannot see far down the field if anyone does get open. That might be one reason that he always throws short or intermediate (one pass above 20 yards). And yes, especially McBride is a stud within the distance that Murray is comfortable with, but it is too easy for defenses.
5 – Now, Petzing obviously doesn’t like wide receivers, and so, it doesn’t really matter that they don’t have a #2. It does matter, however, that Murray needs more options in the pass game.
I doubt it will happen, but a couple of possible solutions I had time to think of in the third quarter, when I considered the game decided anyway:
Petzing was the tight ends coach for David Njoku in Cleveland for two years. The Browns are 0-2, desperate for cap space, and have seen through two games that rookie TE Harold Fannin can play. Njoku’s contract runs out after this season, and certainly the Browns would consider if they could spend money wiser than to extend it. Njoku is one of the 3-4 most athletic tight ends in the NFL, and one of the better receiving threats in the area that Murray is comfortable throwing to.
Yeah, I too can see that the Cards have a very crowded TE room, but as I mentioned, they need receiving options. Higgins is fine, but not great.
Of course, they could also go for WR Jahan Dotson from the Eagles, who as a rookie had Drew Terrell as a WR coach in Washington (and tied for most TD’s by a rookie in the NFL that year, after only playing in 12 games) - and who Terrell was instrumental in making a first-round pick (reportedly Dotson didn’t talk to anyone else from the organization pre-draft). I mean, Ossenfort probably listened to Terrell after he had coached Tehjuan Palmer and Tip Reiman at the East-West Shrine Bowl, so why not listen to your own pass game-coordinator again? And you know that Howie Roseman always are up for a little wheeling and dealing.
But anyway, then we are probably back to how Petzing cannot stand utilizing wide receivers.
6 – On 121 pass rush snaps, Darius Robinson and Dante Stills have combined for one pressure. And that number was one. I repeat, one.
7 – Murray had the 5th least time to throw of all QBs, and it’s not like the Panthers have an army of All Pro’s on their d-line. Not impressive by the offensive line.
8 – Josh Sweat punching in. Not that he was great all game, but he stepped up when it was needed the most (and obviously in the beginning of the game).
9 – Will Johnson have the making of a stud. Of a full-blown foundational player.
10 – It was a horror show, but they are 2-0. Keep that in mind, gentlemen.
2 – Well, I told you last week that reports indicate that the Cardinals might be in contact with free agent CB Asante Samuel. So, there’s that.
3 – Calais Campbell only played 43% of the defensive snaps. He was dominant throughout the game, so that is obviously the right number.
4 – I think the reasons for the limited passing game is two folded.
It is a massive problem that no receivers get open down field. Who is Murray going to throw to? Many times, he is scanning the field, but ends up either taking a sack, throwing the ball away or running himself because there is no one to throw to. Nobody gets open in the deep game.
The other part of the equation is Murray’s lack of height, I think. He simply cannot see far down the field if anyone does get open. That might be one reason that he always throws short or intermediate (one pass above 20 yards). And yes, especially McBride is a stud within the distance that Murray is comfortable with, but it is too easy for defenses.
5 – Now, Petzing obviously doesn’t like wide receivers, and so, it doesn’t really matter that they don’t have a #2. It does matter, however, that Murray needs more options in the pass game.
I doubt it will happen, but a couple of possible solutions I had time to think of in the third quarter, when I considered the game decided anyway:
Petzing was the tight ends coach for David Njoku in Cleveland for two years. The Browns are 0-2, desperate for cap space, and have seen through two games that rookie TE Harold Fannin can play. Njoku’s contract runs out after this season, and certainly the Browns would consider if they could spend money wiser than to extend it. Njoku is one of the 3-4 most athletic tight ends in the NFL, and one of the better receiving threats in the area that Murray is comfortable throwing to.
Yeah, I too can see that the Cards have a very crowded TE room, but as I mentioned, they need receiving options. Higgins is fine, but not great.
Of course, they could also go for WR Jahan Dotson from the Eagles, who as a rookie had Drew Terrell as a WR coach in Washington (and tied for most TD’s by a rookie in the NFL that year, after only playing in 12 games) - and who Terrell was instrumental in making a first-round pick (reportedly Dotson didn’t talk to anyone else from the organization pre-draft). I mean, Ossenfort probably listened to Terrell after he had coached Tehjuan Palmer and Tip Reiman at the East-West Shrine Bowl, so why not listen to your own pass game-coordinator again? And you know that Howie Roseman always are up for a little wheeling and dealing.
But anyway, then we are probably back to how Petzing cannot stand utilizing wide receivers.
6 – On 121 pass rush snaps, Darius Robinson and Dante Stills have combined for one pressure. And that number was one. I repeat, one.
7 – Murray had the 5th least time to throw of all QBs, and it’s not like the Panthers have an army of All Pro’s on their d-line. Not impressive by the offensive line.
8 – Josh Sweat punching in. Not that he was great all game, but he stepped up when it was needed the most (and obviously in the beginning of the game).
9 – Will Johnson have the making of a stud. Of a full-blown foundational player.
10 – It was a horror show, but they are 2-0. Keep that in mind, gentlemen.
