Our lost puppy.

[Trackhawk]

Going back to this play real quick, is there a reason why he doesn't help block Verse or steer him into Lucas as he did in that other stunt, where the guy came through unblocked? Seemed Olu and Zabel didn't really need the steering there if Turner was already going left.

On that other stunt, was that Charb's fault for not picking up that block or was that on Bradford?

Really good questions. We have the benefit of hindsight, understanding what the Rams were doing. They absolutely were baiting Bradford into chasing Williams, so Verse could seal 3/4 of the line, opening the lane for Ford to come through on the stunt.

Could a wily old vet read that, and avoid the chase? Maybe so. Doubt Bradford falls for it next time they play.

Once he pursued, there was no getting back in between Verse and Darnold. Verse had Bradford’s back, and had him sealed off. In a way. No point in blocking Verse, he wasn’t assigned to rush the passer anyway. He was there to make the lane for Poona.

IMHO, this was just excellent play design and execution from the Rams. Sometimes you get got

This is the kind of thing where you learn from the film, just not the kind of thing where coach pulls a Biff Tannen “McBradford anyone home?” You dummy kind of thing.

 

[SocialParasite]

Come over here so I can stab you!

No!

Then stay there while I come over there and stab you!!

No!


Stop walking away slowly!!!!



JB

"I'm going to cut out your balls & your eyes. Then I'm going to put your eyes in your ballsacks, and your balls in your eye holes!"

 

[Trackhawk]

Going back to this play real quick, is there a reason why he doesn't help block Verse or steer him into Lucas as he did in that other stunt, where the guy came through unblocked? Seemed Olu and Zabel didn't really need the steering there if Turner was already going left.

On that other stunt, was that Charb's fault for not picking up that block or was that on Bradford?

I think this is the other one you are referring to. It’s the first drive and interception of the second half.

Lucas and Bradford have 55 nicely tied up, and 0 runs a beautiful stunt behind 55.

IMHO, this is on Charbs. He decides to chip in on 55 before running out for a checkdown, rather than seeing whatever other threats are imminent, or simply getting open.

He could easily have stoned 0 in the stunt lane.

Now, it’s entirely possible that the protection call is for Bradford to hand 55 off to Charbs and Lucas in this situation, to clog the lane if there is a stunt.

Of course if he does that, and there isn’t a stunt, he’s left being criticized for standing there like a lost boy, blocking nobody.

There is a good argument to be made that he should have his head on a swivel, should recognize the imminent threat, should disengage from 55, and knock 0 off his feet. Once again, the kind of thing he will learn from. Not a bone headed mistake, IMHO.

To know for sure, we would have to know what the protection call and scheme is.

 

[flv2]

Ok. Got lucky and stumbled upon the play quite quickly. Not a lot to say about it. Rookie guard wins his 1 on 1, but the rest of the pass rush is already behind him. Maybe he should have fallen back with the rest of the crap o-line, but it wouldn’t have made a difference. Forsythe, at right tackle, whiffed on Williams, giving him a lane to Geno.

I’m not sure how much we can take away from a 2-year-old play, by a rookie player, coached by two of the worst in Waldron and Dickerson



whoops. Got a copyright strike and had to modify.

Good effort by Charbonnet.

 

[hox]

Interesting. So two unblocked rushers in the "AB" gap and Bradford was innocent both times.

John Benton, please pick up the white courtesy telephone. Defensive coordinators are watching film. We have a stunting issue in the A and B gaps that needs clean-up ASAP.

 

[Morpheus08]

What the deuce is he doing?

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

I hope someone puts all these gems together into a reel at season end. Gives it to him with his walking papers.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

That X account just picked bad examples of Bradford's suck. There are others to choose from.

 

[Frank12]

We definitely need to upgrade the RG spot, and I can't believe people are still defending him at this point, he's the only O-line on this team that has a highlight reel of being lost, and blocking air..

 

[Trackhawk]

We definitely need to upgrade the RG spot, and I can't believe people are still defending him at this point, he's the only O-line on this team that has a highlight reel of being lost, and blocking air..

I’m defending the guy against the hyperbolic, bogus criticism that he’s getting. There’s plenty to criticize, without all the bogus stuff.

Although really, I’m not so much defending him, as I am trying to understand what MM, KK, and Benton are seeing, that makes them believe he’s their best option.

IMHO, his number one issue is lack of conditioning/ athleticism. You can see it on the sweep plays where he struggles to keep pace with the rest of the blockers.

I believe it also partly explains the weird run blocking where he almost inexplicably falls on/ dives to the ground with a light touch from the defense.

In terms of blocking air, though, that’s clearly a schematic thing. Zabel does it on the left side all the time, when there isn’t anyone to block. Watch for it, and you’ll see it.

I was really hoping for an upgrade before the deadline, but it didn’t happen. Now I’m trying to better understand where our strengths and weaknesses are along the line.

Bradford isn’t as bad as everyone makes him out to be, and Zabel isn’t as good, but fans need their whipping boys and heroes.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

NOT trying to argue, we've been down that road, and I'm going chill these days. But........Zabel absolutely IS as good as people say. And this is coming from former players everywhere, scouts, etc. He is VERY good. I'm not sure how anyone could not see that he's a beast, even as a rookie. Dude hasn't even given up a single sack this year. Bradford has been getting grief everywhere, not just on here. Mark Schlareth and Ray Roberts BOTH have been very critical of how Bradford has played. He needs to be benched.

 

[flv2]

I don't believe the Seahawks have a better option at RG on their current roster. I believe the 2 obvious alternatives would be significant downgrades.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yeah, probably.

 

[Wsumatt1982]

I’m defending the guy against the hyperbolic, bogus criticism that he’s getting. There’s plenty to criticize, without all the bogus stuff.

Although really, I’m not so much defending him, as I am trying to understand what MM, KK, and Benton are seeing, that makes them believe he’s their best option.

IMHO, his number one issue is lack of conditioning/ athleticism. You can see it on the sweep plays where he struggles to keep pace with the rest of the blockers.

I believe it also partly explains the weird run blocking where he almost inexplicably falls on/ dives to the ground with a light touch from the defense.

In terms of blocking air, though, that’s clearly a schematic thing. Zabel does it on the left side all the time, when there isn’t anyone to block. Watch for it, and you’ll see it.

I was really hoping for an upgrade before the deadline, but it didn’t happen. Now I’m trying to better understand where our strengths and weaknesses are along the line.

Bradford isn’t as bad as everyone makes him out to be, and Zabel isn’t as good, but fans need their whipping boys and heroes.

This is 100% spot on. Anything against he's the worst player in the league makes it seem like you're defending him. Everyone will agree we can use an upgrade at the position. The fact remains they don't become available and players coming out of college these days take multiple years to figure it out after reaching the NFL, if they ever do figure it out. The take on Zabel is spot on, he hasn't been much better than Bradford. Take PFF with a grain of salt but at least they are consistent and they agree. Bradford is exactly what Trackhawk said, every team needs a whipping boy and he is ours. If he is gone next year people will find someone else. It's not always pretty but he's a Seahawk and I am going to root for him until he's not. He gets more shit than Geno, at least he doesn't give the fans the middle finger. He busts his ass everyday trying to get better to help this team win. I refuse to bash the guy for working at it day in and day out, there's enough losers out there doing that already. It does make me wonder if the best minds in the game know he's as bad as hawks fans do then why are they not exploiting him on every play? Maybe it's just a false narrative!

 

[hawkfan68]

This is 100% spot on. Anything against he's the worst player in the league makes it seem like you're defending him. Everyone will agree we can use an upgrade at the position. The fact remains they don't become available and players coming out of college these days take multiple years to figure it out after reaching the NFL, if they ever do figure it out. The take on Zabel is spot on, he hasn't been much better than Bradford. Take PFF with a grain of salt but at least they are consistent and they agree. Bradford is exactly what Trackhawk said, every team needs a whipping boy and he is ours. If he is gone next year people will find someone else. It's not always pretty but he's a Seahawk and I am going to root for him until he's not. He gets more shit than Geno, at least he doesn't give the fans the middle finger. He busts his ass everyday trying to get better to help this team win. I refuse to bash the guy for working at it day in and day out, there's enough losers out there doing that already. It does make me wonder if the best minds in the game know he's as bad as hawks fans do then why are they not exploiting him on every play? Maybe it's just a false narrative!

There's plenty of blame to go around with the O-Line. It's just not one person. Sundell was underwhelming too when he was in there but everyone focuses on Bradford. Furthermore, Zabel, Olu, Sundell, and Bradford need to improve on pass blocking. They are all average or below average there.

 

[Frank12]

Bradford isn’t as bad as everyone makes him out to be, and Zabel isn’t as good, but fans need their whipping boys and heroes.

What does Zabel have to do with Bradford's performance ?... How do you even bring up Zabel in a conversation about Bradford unless you are defending Bradford blindly?... This makes zero sense to me, (example)... Sure Darnold has 4 INT's vs the Rams, But did you see Milroe's turnovers?... Makes zero sense..

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Zabel has given up ZERO sacks. ZERO.

 

[Frank12]

IMHO, his number one issue is lack of conditioning/ athleticism. You can see it on the sweep plays where he struggles to keep pace with the rest of the blockers.

That's a mouthful right there, if that's your defense for him then that shows he is as bad as they say, this isn't his first year in the league he should be working on his weight, and conditioning, and athleticism, and stop being a fat slow RG that is average at best...

 

[Frank12]

There's plenty of blame to go around with the O-Line. It's just not one person. Sundell was underwhelming too when he was in there but everyone focuses on Bradford. Furthermore, Zabel, Olu, Sundell, and Bradford need to improve on pass blocking. They are all average or below average there.

Yet Darold has been sacked only 12 times this year?... I think pass-pro is good

 

[hawkfan68]

Zabel has given up ZERO sacks. ZERO.

According to these rankings, Zabel got the lowest grade of all seahawks OL - https://www.profootballnetwork.com/best-offensive-lines-nfl-rankings/

He’s a rookie so mistakes are to be expected as he is learning. With that said the whole team is learning as this is the first year under Benton.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Zabel isn't average. Dude is a beast.