Geno Tracking Thread

[BirdsCommaAngry]

In Geno's breakout year, he threw a lot of contestable passes and got punished on them way less than a QB typical would. I wonder if the opposite is happening this year because even with all his faults and all the issues with the Raiders, this seems ridiculously bad even for Geno.

 

[hawkfan68]

Million Dollar Arm - Ten Cent Head.

Ten cent head? You're being too generous.

 

[Maelstrom787]

With Geno, I think it is more mental than physical.

The Pete Jedi zen thing is not working this season.

I would've agreed last year that all of his problems are mental, but I see him taking the same approach this year and not being able to hit the same windows. It really does look like he's lost about a quarter of his arm strength and is trying to compensate, causing him to sail passes. I don't think he can keep his pass trajectory as flat as he used to while maintaining zip and distance.

 

[NoGain]

I would've agreed last year that all of his problems are mental, but I see him taking the same approach this year and not being able to hit the same windows. It really does look like he's lost about a quarter of his arm strength and is trying to compensate, causing him to sail passes. I don't think he can keep his pass trajectory as flat as he used to while maintaining zip and distance.

I don't buy this arm strength thing, at least not like it fell off some cliff.

 

[SantaClaraHawk]

Pete is so overly loyal to Geno that it could cost him his coaching career, maybe even this year.

There was no point in subjecting Geno to the fourth quarter of a 40-6 game. Not putting Pickett in was a wasted opportunity for Pete to at least preview Pickett in his system in real action. If Pickett actually scored a td and avoided ints, Pete would have his answer.

And that’s why I think Pete didn’t do it.

 

[Maelstrom787]

I don't buy this arm strength thing, at least not like it fell off some cliff.

I can only report what I see when I'm watching.

 

[keasley45]

I would've agreed last year that all of his problems are mental, but I see him taking the same approach this year and not being able to hit the same windows. It really does look like he's lost about a quarter of his arm strength and is trying to compensate, causing him to sail passes. I don't think he can keep his pass trajectory as flat as he used to while maintaining zip and distance.

Geno is just overconfident and gets impatient when things don't go the way they should. The first trait can be a positive - confidence. But in Geno, with all the crap he has been through in his career and his sensitivity to all the voices saying he sucks, I think his stint thusfar in Vegas is emblematic of a guy who is talented, wants to show the world he is talented (and that Seattle was wrong in not recognizing his talent) and is now stuck in a position where his receivers suck, his line sucks, and rather than doing the smart thing and taking care of the ball and not making things worse, he is chucking balls up that he shouldn't and forcing low probability throws because his priority is showing he is a gun slinger and they can win on his arm and not that he is a steady, seasoned pro who will guide the team through this tough spot.

I think part of what soured JS and probably MM on him was that I think he enjoyed playing for Grubb because of the spotlight it gave him. Grubb let him throw it all over the place and win or lose, I think he relished in that opportunity. He doesn't have that in Vegas from a scheme perspective, nor does he have even the online we had last year. MM doesn't need a guy who prefers to be 'the guy'. He wants a QB who can do what needs to be done 90 of the time and has enough talent to elevate above the bar in those 10 percent occasions where it's necessary.

Geno is in mental melt-down mode and psychologically in a spot that is his worst nightmare. To have gone from respected starter to a turnover machine who in Vegas is as responsible for their failures to date as any other failed aspect of the team.

 

[RiverDog]

Both Pete and Russ said very early on there would not be a reunion.

I wasn't aware of that, but it's pretty obvious that there's still a rub between the two men, which pretty much confirms the rumors that Russ tried to get Pete fired a few years back.

 

[RiverDog]

In Geno's breakout year, he threw a lot of contestable passes and got punished on them way less than a QB typical would. I wonder if the opposite is happening this year because even with all his faults and all the issues with the Raiders, this seems ridiculously bad even for Geno.

Yeah, I remember that season. Geno got away with a lot of dropped interceptions. My dad, who had a saying for everything, would say of that season Geno had: "He was luckier than a 3-peckered Billy goat in a heard of sheep."

 

[James in PA]

GeNO has way more confidence in his abilities than he should. He thinks he can make any throw and fit the ball into any window. Um, no you can't! That's the issue!

 

[SantaClaraHawk]

I wasn't aware of that, but it's pretty obvious that there's still a rub between the two men, which pretty much confirms the rumors that Russ tried to get Pete fired a few years back.

Russ at the pro bowl told the media he was happy for Pete, but his focus was remaining a Steelers.

 

[NoGain]

This is part of what I mean about Geno's insecurity/self-absorption that works against him in the leadership department, that doesn't inspire the kind of confidence and connectivity in the players around him that you want in your QB/leader. I can't think of a starting QB who'd speak like this after the start to the season he and his team has had. Also, as was pointed out by a writer, he was just factually incorrect on things he said in this quote about those passes, that just weren't true.

"I got the same process. If the ball tips up in the air and gets picked -- six of the interceptions this year were tipped in the air, Johnny on the spot, defensive guy. Am I going to look at that and say, well, don't throw it to the guy who you're supposed to throw it to? I'm going to throw it to the guy I'm supposed to and, at times, things happen," Smith said. "I know, again, man, people get caught up in results, and they want to look at statistics and try to place blame because that's just how life goes when you're in the position I'm in, but I'm a lot smarter than that. I'm aware of the process, and I know exactly what I'm doing out there. Guys make plays on me and I got to be smarter with the ball in those situations, but when I'm throwing to a wide open Jack (Bech) in the back of the end zone and the ball is tipped up for an interception, there's not much you can really say about that except they made a play and then we didn't."

I'm already thinking his days are numbered as the Raiders starting QB. I don't know when it will happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if he gets replaced at some point this season. Tom Brady is watching.

 

[keasley45]

This is part of what I mean about Geno's insecurity/self-absorption that works against him in the leadership department, that doesn't inspire the kind of confidence and connectivity in the players around him that you want in your QB/leader. I can't think of a starting QB who'd speak like this after the start to the season he and his team has had. Also, as was pointed out by a writer, he was just factually incorrect on things he said in this quote about those passes, that just weren't true.

"I got the same process. If the ball tips up in the air and gets picked -- six of the interceptions this year were tipped in the air, Johnny on the spot, defensive guy. Am I going to look at that and say, well, don't throw it to the guy who you're supposed to throw it to? I'm going to throw it to the guy I'm supposed to and, at times, things happen," Smith said. "I know, again, man, people get caught up in results, and they want to look at statistics and try to place blame because that's just how life goes when you're in the position I'm in, but I'm a lot smarter than that. I'm aware of the process, and I know exactly what I'm doing out there. Guys make plays on me and I got to be smarter with the ball in those situations, but when I'm throwing to a wide open Jack (Bech) in the back of the end zone and the ball is tipped up for an interception, there's not much you can really say about that except they made a play and then we didn't."

I'm already thinking his days are numbered as the Raiders starting QB. I don't know when it will happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if he gets replaced at some point this season. Tom Brady is watching.

I mean, if he throws the ball to receiver x, receiver x was the right read and the throw was spot on and the ball is tipped ... I understand his response. He was asked if he would change his preparation. He said no. There is no preparation for a defender who happens to tip a ball that is well placed, on time, on target and to the right guy. I think that is what he is speaking to. He is not going to not throw it to that guy because a player made a play the series before.

That's IF the ball is thrown well, on time and on target. I don't know what play he talking about.

He still may be benched soon simply because the look isn't a good one and ultimately he is the one making the throws.

With any QB there is truth to the stats not telling the whole story. If a QB is inept at reading defense and throwing over the middle and his OC hits up 4 screen plays that end up tallying 4 TDs and each goes for 50 plus yards. Is he great because his stat line looks money and he is a FF hero?

Conversely, you need not look further than the writeup on ESPN.com right now on Geno and his last game to see that according to review of the tape and knowledge of the specific plays, the two picks weren't bad decisions. According to ESPN in conversation with Raiders players, one was the result of a wr running the wrong route and the other a batted ball that was the result of a player being offsides (wasn't called). Still two crushing picks and sure, maybe Geno should be more aware that his worst might not be seeing the same things he does.

 

[NoGain]

All top QB's take full accountability and don't give the impression that they're making excuses. That's just the way it's done, the way top QB's and leaders do it. They don't play the victim.

 

[Frank12]

I like Geno as a person, but I always believed our weapons on offense helped him out more often than not, and it's showing with him on the Raiders.. And, The talks of benching him is hilarious. I mean, How can you bench a $40 million dollar QB?

 

[Fresno Hawk]

Geno is and has always been an average to just below average QB. And he's only average because he has god given talent to make all the throws. When he was in Seattle, I don't think everyone took into consideration how much talent the hawks have on offense. This talent made him look like a 40 million dollar QB. The Hawks had so much talent, even without GENOOO!!LOCKETT and DK were still putting up points. The players made him look better than he really is. Until he puts more effort into doing all the little things that make great QBs he will always be average to below average.

 

[NoGain]

I like Geno as a person, but I always believed our weapons on offense helped him out more often than not, and it's showing with him on the Raiders.. And, The talks of benching him is hilarious. I mean, How can you bench a $40 million dollar QB?

Kirk Cousins says hold my beer.

 

[Frank12]

Kirk Cousins says hold my beer.

Yeah, But at least the Falcons have a young talented QB to replace him, the Raiders have squat...

 

[Wsumatt1982]

At this point are people still writing him? And if so, is he writing back?

 

[strohmin]

This is part of what I mean about Geno's insecurity/self-absorption that works against him in the leadership department, that doesn't inspire the kind of confidence and connectivity in the players around him that you want in your QB/leader. I can't think of a starting QB who'd speak like this after the start to the season he and his team has had. Also, as was pointed out by a writer, he was just factually incorrect on things he said in this quote about those passes, that just weren't true.

"I got the same process. If the ball tips up in the air and gets picked -- six of the interceptions this year were tipped in the air, Johnny on the spot, defensive guy. Am I going to look at that and say, well, don't throw it to the guy who you're supposed to throw it to? I'm going to throw it to the guy I'm supposed to and, at times, things happen," Smith said. "I know, again, man, people get caught up in results, and they want to look at statistics and try to place blame because that's just how life goes when you're in the position I'm in, but I'm a lot smarter than that. I'm aware of the process, and I know exactly what I'm doing out there. Guys make plays on me and I got to be smarter with the ball in those situations, but when I'm throwing to a wide open Jack (Bech) in the back of the end zone and the ball is tipped up for an interception, there's not much you can really say about that except they made a play and then we didn't."

I'm already thinking his days are numbered as the Raiders starting QB. I don't know when it will happen, but it wouldn't surprise me if he gets replaced at some point this season. Tom Brady is watching.

Yup he needs to shut up about process. It's his process that got him punched in the face and bounced around from team to team. If the ball keeps getting tipped and intercepted then either your throws are bad, you threw it too late or to early or you are throwing to someone who isn't open. All would still be your fault because either you keep making dumb decisions, your timing is off or you are not accurate. The lack of accountability with this guy is truly amazing.