Rewatching the Panthers game highlights and thinking about AJ's comment. In the 4th they take over the ball with a lead, and the first play was play action pass to AJ in the middle of the field on a slant. There was another completion to AJ on that drive as well. Earlier in the game in the red zone Hurts threw to AJ who ran for some YAC but didn't get in the endzone. 

I don't think AJ is frustrated specifically for a selfish reason that he's not getting the ball, I think his comments were about the passing game overall including Smitty. He always has high praise for Smith, and I'm sure the skill players expect more in the passing game as well. I'm sure they are frustrated by being open and seeing the missed opportunities.

I hope they are having serious talks and focus this week on improving the pass game. They will still run the offense through Barkley but will need to be balanced to beat the Steelers. Unfortunately it's also going to be necessary to quite the noise by showing a good pass performance.

4 hours ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Rewatching the pass plays, Jalen misses AJ over the top for TD early (takes the check down to Dotson for a short gain) and throws incomplete to Wilson rather than giving AJ a chance on a go route vs man (CAR blitz, nice pocket). I feel like if he hits on these plays, and we have a typical Hurts game. Not highly efficient, but a couple of shot plays that breaks the defense.

Otherwise, there was a knocked down pass at the LoS early which seemed to spook Jalen away from most of the quick slants for the remainder of the game. Any trash up front, and he seemed unwilling to try to throw around it despite AJ/Smitty breaking against off coverage for seemingly easy completions.

Finally, this might be common in the NFL but Jalen seems to be reading half the field. Defenders can play pretty loose on the backside, when Jalen’s gaze is to the other side. He doesn’t flip back quickly, and when he does the clock has gone off in his head and he’s in scramble mode so he has to find the receivers out of structure.

A couple throws he stared down receivers again 

34 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

 

Man they did a hell of a job with the new cast of that show. Maybe I'll check out the rest of the year

1 hour ago, Mike030270 said:

 

Antontio Brown 7th? Over Andre Johnson, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, etc? Hell, he wasn't even the best WR at any point in his own era. 

37 minutes ago, jamiller said:

Could listen to BB talk ball all day.  

Too bad you have to watch him coach UNC now.

49 minutes ago, tuffstuff07 said:

A couple throws he stared down receivers again 

Yeah, as others have mentioned, zone is a real problem.  He's much more tentative throwing into windows, and rather than anticipating them he kind of waits/stares until the receiver is obviously open which a) might nor happen as his eyes draw a lot of attention, b) limits their separation/YAC and c) doesn't allow him to move through his progressions.

We haven't seen a ton of man recently, but IMO the decision making is drastically reduced in those situations as he might know pre-snap to hit AJ deep along the sideline or to wait for the rub on the crossing patterns, etc. - overall he is much more decisive.

32 minutes ago, McMVP said:

He is so annoying…he also has a punchable Chevy Chase look-a-like face

Some random woman in a restaurant in an Atlantic City casino once told me I looked like Chevy Chase. That was more than 25 years ago.

4 hours ago, MF POON said:

I hate to break it to ya, but every single QB misses WR's/players that are open each game.  I think the reason it was so glaring in the last game is because Hurts is only throwing like 20 times (if that) a game.  I get the concern for Sunday's game and can admit that he was off, but fans and sports shows being overly critical is silly.  AJ and Smitty don't put up the numbers they've had the past 2 seasons if Hurts has always had an issue throwing to open WR's.  Brown has essentially had back to back 1500 yd receiving yard seasons, so let's settle down. 

Anyway, I remember Burrow wasn't targeting Chase enough for a stretch last season and then Chase came out and said "I'm open. I'm always F'n open" over his frustration to reporters. And they actually lost games while all that happened. Every QB will have struggles

Lets review the play I was referencing:

Brown lined up on right side of formation.  Pistol snap, Hurts slides right.  Barkely is safety valve also right side.  This play has two reads: to Brown if open, if not, check down to Barkley.  The left side of the field does not exist.  The first read is Brown.  He is open immediately.  Hurts is watching him.  Brown heading up field and makes a soft break to the boundary.  Wide open.  Hurts has no pressure.  Ball should he thrown at Brown's break.  Nobody near Brown or Hurts.  This is the read.  They got exactly what they wanted.  You can see Hurts watching Brown.  He checks it down to Barkley.   Hurts didn't miss a wide open Brown, he didn't throw it.  Every NFL QB and many college QBs make that throw without a 2nd thought. 

 

3 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

Yeah, as others have mentioned, zone is real problem.  He's much more tentative throwing into windows, and rather than anticipating them he kind of waits/stares until the receiver is obviously open which a) might nor happen as his eyes draw a lot of attention, b) limits their separation/YAC and c) doesn't allow him to move through his progressions.

We haven't seen a ton of man recently, but IMO the decision making is drastically reduced in those situations as he might know pre-snap to hit AJ deep along the sideline or to wait for the rub on the crossing patterns, etc. - overall he is much more decisive.

QBs like Stafford, Burrow, Tua, etc. will see the defense, know the routes, and throw to where the WR will be open.

Jalen is clearly a I-need-to-see-it QB.  Hence the staring down.

48 minutes ago, McMVP said:

He is so annoying…he also has a punchable Chevy Chase look-a-like face

He does a lot though. Writes articles, attends PC's, hosts podcasts and calls the offense for the Pittsburgh Steelers

This is cool 

Kid wore random jerseys to class every time. Then they gave them these end of the semester 

1 hour ago, Mike030270 said:

 

Antonio Brown isn't a top 20.  They don't have Larry Fitzgerald.  Art Monk, Isaac Bruce and Tim Brown should be on the list before Harrison, Largent or Carter.  I think probably Hutson doesn't belong just because there's no one alive that likely saw him. 

46 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Rewatching the Panthers game highlights and thinking about AJ's comment. In the 4th they take over the ball with a lead, and the first play was play action pass to AJ in the middle of the field on a slant. There was another completion to AJ on that drive as well. Earlier in the game in the red zone Hurts threw to AJ who ran for some YAC but didn't get in the endzone. 

I don't think AJ is frustrated specifically for a selfish reason that he's not getting the ball, I think his comments were about the passing game overall including Smitty. He always has high praise for Smith, and I'm sure the skill players expect more in the passing game as well. I'm sure they are frustrated by being open and seeing the missed opportunities.

I hope they are having serious talks and focus this week on improving the pass game. They will still run the offense through Barkley but will need to be balanced to beat the Steelers. Unfortunately it's also going to be necessary to quite the noise by showing a good pass performance.

I don't think AJ was being selfish with his comments. And it's not that he wants the ball more. It's just that he's doing everything he is asked to do and its gotta be frustrating when the play is called for you, you win the matchup and the ball doesn't come. 

They just have to be more efficient. I haven't seen it mentioned much if at all, but one of my biggest worries if it doesn't get fixed is that the WR's over time will start taking plays off, running poor routes because they know they aren't intended targets, giving less effort etc. It's hard to stay focused and give it your all on every play in circumstances like this one. Brown has already shown some of this stuff on some plays. Small mistakes like that could end up being critical. 

2 hours ago, ToastJenkins said:

Lamar has a cannon

True.  Ball comes out and has some zip.  He is quite the athlete because he can really run too.

20 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

QBs like Stafford, Burrow, Tua, etc. will see the defense, know the routes, and throw to where the WR will be open.

Jalen is clearly a I-need-to-see-it QB.  Hence the staring down.

I don't think he needs to see the receiver being open.  He throws with anticipation.  He needs to see the defenders.  He won't throw it if he's not sure about the look.  He can throw to a spot.  It's why he can make deep ball throws.  He throws outbreaking and comeback routes well because they are anticipatory throws where he can see the defenders.  

17 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

This is cool 

Kid wore random jerseys to class every time. Then they gave them these end of the semester 

It would be cool if the jerseys weren't trash.  

1 minute ago, NCiggles said:

It would be cool if the jerseys weren't trash.  

I hate them because they show in stock items when they aren't and you only find out when you get the email saying the order was canceled

4 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

It would be cool if the jerseys weren't trash.  

I mean most of the ones he wore all year weren’t great either 

 

26 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

Antonio Brown isn't a top 20.  They don't have Larry Fitzgerald.  Art Monk, Isaac Bruce and Tim Brown should be on the list before Harrison, Largent or Carter.  I think probably Hutson doesn't belong just because there's no one alive that likely saw him. 

Largent was amazing.  He's a top 5 all-time WR for me for a few reasons:

 

1.  Had Jim Zorn and Dave Krieg throwing to him his whole career.  Good, definitely not great QBs

2.  I don't think he ever played with another Pro Bowl WR, much less All Pro.  Everyone knew where the ball was going and he still always got open.

3.  Wasn't gifted with great size nor speed, but still amassed 13,000 yards, 16.0 YPC for his career, and 100 TDs

49 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

QBs like Stafford, Burrow, Tua, etc. will see the defense, know the routes, and throw to where the WR will be open.

Jalen is clearly a I-need-to-see-it QB.  Hence the staring down.

Some good stuff in the blog today.  From the OP and others too.  Thanks.  When the kids and I kick it around, this is how we see it. 

10 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

 

This is a sign…

12 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

 

Advanced drone technology - PIT needs more insight into the workings of the inside zone and C4.

11 minutes ago, goeagles5039 said:

This is a sign…

Hopefully that we're not about to get crapped on.

24 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

 

Oh, it's on.