-- If you want to feel better about the game, rewatch it. My daughter and I were at the game on Saturday, so after everyone went to bed last night, I called up the DVR and watched the game again, paying special attention to the Oline.
-- Actually, an observation from the live game first, get off the "we don't use Graham right" mantra. If you could see the game live you would realize how ignorant it is. Yes, sometimes he stays in to help block, or at least starts with a chip, but believe me, the Cards were paying a lot of attention to 88. There bracketing of Graham is why our WRs were getting so many one on ones, and why Baldwin absolutely owned Peterson in the second half.
-- But to the replay. George Fant played very well..... except against Chandler Jones. Unfortunately, he faced Jones probably 80% of the game. Make no mistake, Jones played him like a fiddle. He unleashed all the classics, speed rush, inside spin, hand slap, lung and dig. Truth be told, you have to expect that to an extent, right? He isn't Walter. However, he is athletic, and usually doesn't make the same mistake twice. I was actually very optimistic about him even after this game. He needs to see more, before he can be more.
-- Glowinski simply could not handle Calais Campbell alone. It was a physical mismatch. Campbell has always given us fits, and they now add that #98 kid. Another very powerful inside rusher. The more rhythm passing in the second half helped him settle down a lot.
-- Britt was okay. Got good blocks at the second level several times, but the guards had gotten beat so the play ended behind him.
-- Ifedi struggled with twists and stunts, and seemed to lunge too often, again, especially in the first half. He also seemed to settle down, and play much better second half. Like Fant, he has the physical skill, he just needs reps. Reminds me Mawae when we drafted him and played him at guard beside Donaldson. Raw, but you can see the ability. I also remember this board having posts like "this is why you don't waste a first round pick on a guard". They were talking about Hutchinson.
-- Gilliam seemed to play pretty well overall, but did struggle with combination blocks. On those, its hard to tell if he, Ifedi or the TE are the ones missing their assignment. His one holding call was probably a very good idea, Russell had rolled right and was an easy hit for their #44.
-- Let me just finish be saying, that as we drove home listening to the post game, there were some remarks by Baldwin that I didn't understand at that time, but I do now. He talked about guys trying too hard, and not having faith in the their own ability. When you watch the Oline in the first half, that is what you see. Over committing, lunging, etc. They tried to win every fight in the first 2 seconds. In the second half, they "engaged", and trusted themselves to do their job. We did start getting the ball out a lot faster which obviously helps, but these guys on the Oline, definitely settled down and performed much better. Youth has its limitations.
-- Oh, and P.S. I'm still IN.
Mase
