Our lost puppy.

[Nv_Hawks]

What the deuce is he doing?

https://x.com/samiontap/status/1991377301628657978?s=46

 

[Trackhawk]

Except, he wasn't out of position, or playing poorly on a single one of those plays.

 

[CouchLogic]

The best one is when he's just standing around backwards and throws a block for the Rams on that pick, lol.

 

[Sperrydogg]

I don’t know if he’s very fast….

 

[flv2]

I thought overall he had a reasonable game. However, there were certainly more times where he found himself in space looking back at the QB than I would be comfortable with. I was surprised the Rams didn't isolate him and attack him more than they did. The Rams strategy seemed to be to get Darnold out of the pocket and to force him to throw on the move. The Rams were content to play safe, give up a lot of yards, but not give up chunk plays. Ultimately they only conceded 4 FGs in the 1st 54 minutes, so it achieved the objective. I still think Bradford is a lot better than Haynes.

 

[bileever]

I asked AI to summarize the pre-draft analysis of Bradford, and it pointed out many of the problems that we're seeing now. Bradford is the classic case of the measurables not adding up and overcoming his lack of awareness. His athleticism doesn't make up for his low football IQ:



It also said:

 

[Wsumatt1982]

Except, he wasn't out of position, or playing poorly on a single one of those plays.

Agreed, I saw the same thing. It's people who are completely clueless cherry picking plays to fit a narrative, sounds familiar this day in age. If there is no one there to block in your gap assignment, sometimes you hold that gap even if no one is around. He's more than likely doing his assignment. I say more than likely because we don't know the exact play and assignment. Every time people post these it's pretty obvious they know very little about the X's and O's of football.

Besides, did we really need another one of these threads?

 

[hox]

Except, he wasn't out of position, or playing poorly on a single one of those plays.

Really? He either missed his assignment or looked soundly beaten on at least one of them.

 

[Trackhawk]

Really? He either missed his assignment or looked soundly beaten on at least one of them.

Which one?

 

[hox]

Which one?

3rd and 3. He should be blocking this dude or this dude. He blocks neither.

 

[Trackhawk]

View attachment 75854
The best one is when he's just standing around backwards and throws a block for the Rams on that pick, lol.

Except this is exactly backward.

There isn't a defender within 10 yards downfield of Zabel and Bradford on that play.

The pass rush is already well past them, and Zabel is blocking exactly nobody, except Bradford from getting back into that play.

It was a well designed pass rush by the Rams. They showed pressure from the right, with Poona Ford, and the line correctly focused on it. It was a ruse. After the snap, the Rams used Verse to seal off Bradford, and everyone to the left of him, and open a lane on the left for Poona to run a stunt

Bradford recognized it, and was looking back to get back into the play. If Zabel had done the same, Darnold might have had a lane to scramble into. Instead, Zabel blocks Bradford from getting back to help out his QB.

 

[hawkfan68]

3rd and 3. He should be blocking this dude or this dude. He blocks neither.

View attachment 75860

What's Lucas (#72) doing on this play? Watching Verse go by him. Don't see Lucas attempting to make a block here either.

 

[Trackhawk]

3rd and 3. He should be blocking this dude or this dude. He blocks neither.

View attachment 75860

You have to look at the entire play. That was not a screw up by Bradford. 1 - it was a well designed pass rush by the Rams. 2 - Verse was specifically targeting Bradford to take him out of the play. 3 - It was Lucas who focused too much on Verse, and completely missed Poona Ford on the stunt.

 

[Trackhawk]

 

[hox]

What I'm seeing is the Poona stunt probably doesn't happen if he picks one of those initial two blocks. Not saying he should have picked up the stunt.

 

[keasley45]

Thanks for posting this. Its a shame White didnt continue to break back toward Sam because he might have been there to catch it, but the ball shouldnt have been thrown.

 

[Trackhawk]

Here, Poona leads the way. Olu and Zabel correctly identify the pressure, and seal him off. Meanwhile, Turner plays the rabbit, to draw Bradford into the scrum, while Verse starts to move in, across Lucas' face.


Bradford has, correctly, steered Turner into Olu and Zabel, sealing him off. Verse, however, is moving into position to seal the edge. Poona, engaged with Zabel, starts to make his move.


Lucas has, correctly, sealed off Verse, but in doing so has trapped Bradford (which was the Rams intention from the get go).


Lucas stays engages with Verse, and doesn't notice Ford with a wide open lane. Lucas absolutely needs to see this, and peel off of Verse, to take out Ford, but I can understand why he is laser focused on Verse. This is where Sam needs to either throw the ball away, or scramble, IMHO.


Ford is now bearing down on Sam. Bradford has gotten out of the wash, and is looking back to see what Sam is doing. If Sam is passing it, Bradford doesn't want to be down field. If Sam is scrambling, he wants to block for him. He realizes Sam is in trouble, and tries to get back into the play.


But Zabel has other plans. Turner has blown right past him. No one within 15 yards downfield, the pass rush entirely behind him, and he is blocking nobody but Bradford from getting back into the play while Poona and Turner are about to feast.


Sam has somehow escaped Ford and Turner, and every lineman, except Zabel, has an eye on him. Zabel continues to block air.


Bradford and Lucas have created some sort of pocket for Sam, who should have either tucked and run, or then the sack, but he tries to hero ball it to. He has a reasonable target, but no base from which to throw. Zabel continues to block air.

 

[Kamcussionator]

I don’t know if he’s very fast….

He’s like an artillery piece: ton of power, but mostly immobile. I’m sure he can murder a blocking sled, his game just doesn’t translate to live opponents.

 

[keasley45]

View attachment 75862
Here, Poona leads the way. Olu and Zabel correctly identify the pressure, and seal him off. Meanwhile, Turner plays the rabbit, to draw Bradford into the scrum, while Verse starts to move in, across Lucas' face.

View attachment 75865
Bradford has, correctly, steered Turner into Olu and Zabel, sealing him off. Verse, however, is moving into position to seal the edge. Poona, engaged with Zabel, starts to make his move.

View attachment 75866
Lucas has, correctly, sealed off Verse, but in doing so has trapped Bradford (which was the Rams intention from the get go).

View attachment 75867
Lucas stays engages with Verse, and doesn't notice Ford with a wide open lane. This is where Sam needs to either throw the ball away, or scramble, IMHO.

View attachment 75868
Ford is now bearing down on Sam. Bradford has gotten out of the wash, and is looking back to see what Sam is doing. If Sam is passing it, Bradford doesn't want to be down field. If Sam is scrambling, he wants to block for him. He realizes Sam is in trouble, and tries to get back into the play.

View attachment 75870
But Zabel has other plans. Turner has blown right past him. No one within 15 yards downfield, the pass rush entirely behind him, and he is blocking nobody but Bradford from getting back into the play while Poona and Turner are about to feast.

View attachment 75871
Sam has somehow escaped Ford and Turner, and every lineman, except Zabel, has an eye on him. Zabel continues to block air.

View attachment 75872
Bradford and Lucas have created some sort of pocket for Sam, who should have either tucked and run, or then the sack, but he tries to hero ball it to. He has a reasonable target, but no base from which to throw. Zabel continues to block air.

This is the biggest issue - if you are feeling the pressure and have happy feet, dont go chucking it up everytime. 3/4 INts in this game, the one against Tampa and at least one other one against Houston came from him just throwing the ball up rather than just pulling it down for a sack or scrambling for yards. On this play, stepping up and to the left gets him a handful of yards. On the first int, not staring down Kupp and just rolling to the left avoids the INT. On the INT to JSN, escaping out to the right side or just taking the sack.

But its been this way from day 1 with Sam in the NFL. His first pass was intercepted by the Lions and taken to the house when he rolled out right , escaping pressure and tossed the ball up, across his body and across the field where it was easy pickings. Thats the thing that is concerning. It may just be part of his DNA - that when things begin to move quickly, his brain doesnt move quick enough to keep up and he makes a mistake.

 

[hox]

So Bradfords assignment was to "steer" Turner into Olu? Didn't know that was a thing. Thought maybe he should have just blocked him, which may have eliminated Poona's ability to stunt