tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059884704776101239.post3452797536087478009..comments2023-06-27T04:30:25.783-04:00Comments on Burgeoning Wolverine Star: Denard locking onto receiversChris Gaerighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199782156789895674noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059884704776101239.post-51409682747127947632011-09-28T05:30:27.651-04:002011-09-28T05:30:27.651-04:00I agree that this isn't TOTALLY on Denard but ...I agree that this isn't TOTALLY on Denard but at the same time, Borges is not instructing him to go for his primary read regardless of coverage. On the last image, the ball is at the LOS (therefore thrown a split second before) and Roundtree is trailing his corner. Even without safety help, this is a bad decision, especially when you see what's on the other side. <br /><br />But to me, this is a bad decision for Andrew Luck, not Denard. I think what goes through his head pre-snap is 90% made up. If he sees immediate safety help on his primary read, he'll pull it down and run. But at this point, I think Denard is willing to take 1-on-1 coverage with Roundtree. Right now, at Denard's passing level and ability to read coverages, this is a decent decision within a bad one, if that makes any sense at all.<br /><br />The larger issue, as Chris correctly points out, is where does Borges go from here. This is not Brady/Moss, Henne/Braylon. Even if Borges sticks with this, I doubt Denard will pick it up by seasons end, if at all. At some point, Borges will have to consider RichRod's passing playbook too if the numbers continue to plummet. <br /><br />Just my two cents. -Jeff @ MaizePagesJeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10805809831114657791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059884704776101239.post-49859133758712724012011-09-27T18:34:52.661-04:002011-09-27T18:34:52.661-04:00BTW, love the blog and your breakdowns. I just thi...BTW, love the blog and your breakdowns. I just think you're wrong about this play (though your meta point about the offense relying on playmakers rather than scheme is compelling).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059884704776101239.post-27356587101686908572011-09-27T18:32:44.946-04:002011-09-27T18:32:44.946-04:00I think he saw a favorable matchup on his primary ...I think he saw a favorable matchup on his primary read and made the right choice. This is an unfavorable matchup if there's a safety over the top or if the CB is bailing out into a deep zone. Those would examples of forcing the ball where he shouldn't. Here, Roundtree has gotten a release, and the CB has turned his back and is chasing when Denard throws the ball. That's what you want to see on that route. It's high reward, low risk, since RR can see the ball and the CB can't. Now, maybe Roundtree's not the guy you want running the go route on the outside (neither fast enough to get separation, nor particularly good at high pointing the ball) but that's a personnel issue, not QB decision issue.<br /><br />If the primary receiver seems to be in the process of beating his man in single coverage, that's where you go with the ball. Don't get me wrong, Denard definitely forced the ball during this game and didn't come off of his primary target on other plays. I just don't think this is the best example of this issue. (the Koger deflection/interception is).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059884704776101239.post-17199950965718794432011-09-27T17:43:35.577-04:002011-09-27T17:43:35.577-04:00Regardless of the freedom that the coaching staff ...Regardless of the freedom that the coaching staff gave to Denard, he still needs to recognize when he has favorable matchups elsewhere and when he should take a shot downfield. He's making up his mind too early and as such, forcing the ball into areas that he shouldn't.Chris Gaerighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199782156789895674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059884704776101239.post-81757714537284785562011-09-27T16:52:09.072-04:002011-09-27T16:52:09.072-04:00Don't you contradict yourself here?
On the o...Don't you contradict yourself here? <br /><br />On the one hand, you write: <br /><br />"My impression is that the coaches told Denard to take shots down the field. He was likely told that whenever he has one-on-one man coverage on the outside without safety help, that he should throw it up to that receiver."<br /><br />On the other hand, you criticize Denard for following that advice, and throwing to the single-covered outside receiver. If your supposition about the play design is correct, Denard identified the coverage and made the right read. Your beef should be with Borges (and is in a subsequent paragraph), but this isn't a place that Denard deserves criticism. It's a play that he read correctly (or at least if we grant your guess as to what Denard's supposed to read), but just didn't work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059884704776101239.post-31661911423776486002011-09-27T16:28:56.796-04:002011-09-27T16:28:56.796-04:00Great writing. Not going through his options has a...Great writing. Not going through his options has always been a problem for Denard. There are a lot of cases he throws into double coverage with another guy(s) wide open.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com