I Think We Have A RT

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

Agree. Before we criticize Hill too much, let's not forget that Chandler Jones made 6X Pro Bowler Joe Staley look silly last week. It was that performance, 6 tackles, 2 TFLs, a strip sack, fumble and fumble recovery, that made him player of the week last week. 

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

So.......how can you get the ball out "quickly" and stare down receivers?  I didn't have a stop watch on him but It seemed most passes were way lower then 3 seconds as it has been pretty much this entire season?  I guess I saw a couple times for sure where he was progressing off his first and second reads and still getting the ball out crazy fast so to me it seemed more like inside pressure against our terrible guards which then were close enough to Kirk that it was easily blocked. 

@"TBro" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

I disagree that Hill is "good enough" to start. He is not a starting caliber lineman in this league and I think most people on this board would agree. 

@"TBro" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

I disagree that Hill is "good enough" to start. He is not a starting caliber lineman in this league and I think most people on this board would agree. 

@"FSUVike" said:

@"TBro" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

I disagree that Hill is "good enough" to start. He is not a starting caliber lineman in this league and I think most people on this board would agree. 

There's no way you have the RedZone channel and still make that statement.

@"FSUVike" said:

@"TBro" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

I disagree that Hill is "good enough" to start. He is not a starting caliber lineman in this league and I think most people on this board would agree. 

There's no way you have the RedZone channel and still make that statement.

@"TBro" said:

@"FSUVike" said:

@"TBro" said:

@"greediron" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: Does anyone have an answer as to why so many batted balls today?  i remember at least six. I know its happened before but not to the extent it did today.  Is this on cousins or the OL?

Good question.  I think it is a combination of things.  First of all, the pocket that the OL created was smaller than most QBs would prefer.  That means that the DL was closer to him and- therefore- in a better position to block balls.  Second of all, there are times when Cousins makes his mind up early and fires the ball after a 1 step drop.  Arizona looked to be prepared for that and- rather than trying to rush him- they prepared to jump up into the passing lane (Cousins likes those quick slants).  Or it could just be that it's all a coincidence and the Cardinals got lucky...?

IMO they had that as part of the game plan.  We tend to run lots of short quick passes and it makes sense to try and bat those down as the pass rush won't get home on quick passes and the short ones are easier to bat down.

As to O'Neill, he has surprised me, playing so well early one.  It is a good sign.  I figured he would get exposed if he started, but held up well.  And we must remember what Hill is, he came to us as a UDFA stolen off a practice squad.  A UDFA that is good enough to start at either tackle spot.  Yes he struggled against Jones, but many NFL starters do.  He isn't a top 10 pick and has flaws, but all in all, a pretty damn solid find. 

I disagree that Hill is "good enough" to start. He is not a starting caliber lineman in this league and I think most people on this board would agree. 

There's no way you have the RedZone channel and still make that statement.

So you are essentially saying that Hill doesn't suck as bad as the other team's suckiest lineman? 

If the Vikes had an even decent OL they would be comparing the offense to KC's and LA's.  Line definitely the weakest unit on this team.

Bag of salt optional:

Speaking of RT, I thought McGlinchey looked fantastic tonight for the 49ers. 

It's official... everything I said about the Hughes and O'Neill picks turned out to be crapola.  Which is a good thing. B)   Too bad I was right about trading up for a kicker.