Colts at Vikings

[VikingLord]

Darnold isn't a 4 quarter QB yet. This stuff to the head is getting old. I was just thinking Flores should start going for the head on sacks. Tell the guys knock the head off. Darnold is considered a bum so no call. That blows and pisses me off. Picking the flag up is the worst part.

You've talked a lot about pressure getting to QBs and I think at least some of Darnold's struggles in games come as a result of that pressure. Against the Colts, the 1st pick he threw was when he was flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw on the run, and the fumble came after Bradbury got steamrolled by Stewart (?). The 2nd pick he threw he had a clean pocket and line of sight to the receiver, so he doesn't have any excuses for that one, but the other two turnovers were at least partially the result of pressure.

In the first half of that game I'd say the Colts were winning the LOS battle against the Vikings OL, and Darnold, and by extension the offense overall, struggled as a result. Heck, Jones couldn't get untracked in the run game either in that first half.

Darnold and the offense looked better in the 2nd half because the OL stiffened up. There was less pass rush pressure, Darnold was able to step into his throws and had time to make his reads, and the run game got going.

In the games and quarters where the offense and Darnold have struggled it has seemed like the opposing defense is getting more pressure and disruption. When Darnold has time and the run game can reliably get 4+ per carry, that's when the team moves. It is also when those explosive downfield pass plays seem to happen.

This offense is going to need the OL to perform at that elevated level. I get the sense that if it can do that for complete games, Sam Darnold will be the 4 quarter QB they need. OL is the critical cog in that offensive machine.

[CharVike]

Darnold isn't a 4 quarter QB yet. This stuff to the head is getting old. I was just thinking Flores should start going for the head on sacks. Tell the guys knock the head off. Darnold is considered a bum so no call. That blows and pisses me off. Picking the flag up is the worst part.

You've talked a lot about pressure getting to QBs and I think at least some of Darnold's struggles in games come as a result of that pressure. Against the Colts, the 1st pick he threw was when he was flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw on the run, and the fumble came after Bradbury got steamrolled by Stewart (?). The 2nd pick he threw he had a clean pocket and line of sight to the receiver, so he doesn't have any excuses for that one, but the other two turnovers were at least partially the result of pressure.

In the first half of that game I'd say the Colts were winning the LOS battle against the Vikings OL, and Darnold, and by extension the offense overall, struggled as a result. Heck, Jones couldn't get untracked in the run game either in that first half.

Darnold and the offense looked better in the 2nd half because the OL stiffened up. There was less pass rush pressure, Darnold was able to step into his throws and had time to make his reads, and the run game got going.

In the games and quarters where the offense and Darnold have struggled it has seemed like the opposing defense is getting more pressure and disruption. When Darnold has time and the run game can reliably get 4+ per carry, that's when the team moves. It is also when those explosive downfield pass plays seem to happen.

This offense is going to need the OL to perform at that elevated level. I get the sense that if it can do that for complete games, Sam Darnold will be the 4 quarter QB they need. OL is the critical cog in that offensive machine.

If you can't block or rush it's over. The Colts have a good OL and when that game started they marched down the field. I thought looks like the Ram game. Then they missed a hand off our ball. For them Flacco was off so even just standing there and throwing a good pass was a problem. The Lions have one of the best OL and skill players at every level it's hard to shut them down. But it does happen.

[VikingLord]

You've talked a lot about pressure getting to QBs and I think at least some of Darnold's struggles in games come as a result of that pressure. Against the Colts, the 1st pick he threw was when he was flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw on the run, and the fumble came after Bradbury got steamrolled by Stewart (?). The 2nd pick he threw he had a clean pocket and line of sight to the receiver, so he doesn't have any excuses for that one, but the other two turnovers were at least partially the result of pressure.

In the first half of that game I'd say the Colts were winning the LOS battle against the Vikings OL, and Darnold, and by extension the offense overall, struggled as a result. Heck, Jones couldn't get untracked in the run game either in that first half.

Darnold and the offense looked better in the 2nd half because the OL stiffened up. There was less pass rush pressure, Darnold was able to step into his throws and had time to make his reads, and the run game got going.

In the games and quarters where the offense and Darnold have struggled it has seemed like the opposing defense is getting more pressure and disruption. When Darnold has time and the run game can reliably get 4+ per carry, that's when the team moves. It is also when those explosive downfield pass plays seem to happen.

This offense is going to need the OL to perform at that elevated level. I get the sense that if it can do that for complete games, Sam Darnold will be the 4 quarter QB they need. OL is the critical cog in that offensive machine.

If you can't block or rush it's over. The Colts have a good OL and when that game started they marched down the field. I thought looks like the Ram game. Then they missed a hand off our ball. For them Flacco was off so even just standing there and throwing a good pass was a problem. The Lions have one of the best OL and skill players at every level it's hard to shut them down. But it does happen.

It's funny because pundits are lauding how well the defense played against the Colts, but there are many examples of plays where had Flacco simply done what Stafford and Goff did and took the easy, often wide open valve receiver, the Colts would have sustained several drives. Not sure if they would have scored, but Flacco didn't take what Flores gave him for some reason and it cost them.

Along those lines, it also seems pretty clear that Flores did not change that aspect of the defense. Flacco just failed to take advantage of it, which is surprising given how easy it is to locate those routes and hit them.

It will be interesting to see if the Jags do their homework and take the Goff-Stafford approach to dealing with Flores. If they do, I predict it's going to be another long day for the defense even though the Jags aren't nearly as talented on offense as the Lions and Rams.

[CharVike]

If you can't block or rush it's over. The Colts have a good OL and when that game started they marched down the field. I thought looks like the Ram game. Then they missed a hand off our ball. For them Flacco was off so even just standing there and throwing a good pass was a problem. The Lions have one of the best OL and skill players at every level it's hard to shut them down. But it does happen.

It's funny because pundits are lauding how well the defense played against the Colts, but there are many examples of plays where had Flacco simply done what Stafford and Goff did and took the easy, often wide open valve receiver, the Colts would have sustained several drives. Not sure if they would have scored, but Flacco didn't take what Flores gave him for some reason and it cost them.

Along those lines, it also seems pretty clear that Flores did not change that aspect of the defense. Flacco just failed to take advantage of it, which is surprising given how easy it is to locate those routes and hit them.

It will be interesting to see if the Jags do their homework and take the Goff-Stafford approach to dealing with Flores. If they do, I predict it's going to be another long day for the defense even though the Jags aren't nearly as talented on offense as the Lions and Rams.

Flores really doesn't have much to work with. We don't have the CBs to take on the one on one role. We are a soft zone. If the QB is off that approach can work. We he's not it's over. If I coached the Colts I would have inserted Richardson on that last do or die drive. He sucks but he can make a big time run or throw every now and then. Flacco was hung out to die. Trevor Lawerance seems to be making many mistakes at the worst time. That Jag team is hurting on the OL. They appear to be a train wreck team. Many investments gone wrong and injuries. I think the owner is getting pissed because he didn't expect a dog team. He wants the playoff cash. At 2-7 their playoff chances are basically gone. Now what?

[VikingLord]

I don't know but any OC who gameplans against Flores and doesn't tell his QB to be looking for those short outs to tight ends and RBs probably shouldn't have a job at this point. The Colts didn't need heroics late - they needed simple competence.

Hard to say if the Jags can figure it out, but I'll be shocked if Flores changes any aspect of his defense, so if they don't even try it that is football malpractice.