Pandionidae
New member
What a team game this really is. The Whole is greater than the sum of its parts. After free agency last season I didn't think the team would take such a step back but after 10 games it is becoming obvious we have indeed done that.
D-Line - Avril and Bennett are the same players they were last year but the inability to rotate in and out, and the fact that the opponents offensive line can key on only a couple of pass rushers has made the unit ineffective against the pass. The loss of Red and Clem become more and more apparent. It isn't so much for the numbers they put up but more for how much better they made the unit as a whole. Offenses are not keeping extra guys in to block, getting more guys into patterns and putting more pressure on the LBs and DBs. That is what is enabling teams to dink and dunk the Hawks. Now with the loss of Mebane they are essentially screwed!
WRs – Harvin aside, Golden Tate made the WR corps above average. His loss to FA has made us below average at best. Last season Kearse and Baldwin looked like much better receivers but that was because Tate was usually attracting the better DB opening it up for the rest of the WRs. Without Tate, Baldwin and Kearse are being blanketed and they don’t seem to be getting any separation. YAC is virtually nonexistent.
Special Teams – Last year we were giving up around a 6 yard average on opponent punt returns with the injuries and loss of fringe players our STs look like a D-II college team covering punts and KOs. Returns are also a problem. Regardless of how sure his hands are, Walters is not a NFL caliber player. Baldwin returning Kickoffs gives a great effort but he just doesn't have the ability to consistently break off big returns.
Nothing really super insightful but it has really made me rethink how a team is effected when what may seem like insignificant players leave or are injured
D-Line - Avril and Bennett are the same players they were last year but the inability to rotate in and out, and the fact that the opponents offensive line can key on only a couple of pass rushers has made the unit ineffective against the pass. The loss of Red and Clem become more and more apparent. It isn't so much for the numbers they put up but more for how much better they made the unit as a whole. Offenses are not keeping extra guys in to block, getting more guys into patterns and putting more pressure on the LBs and DBs. That is what is enabling teams to dink and dunk the Hawks. Now with the loss of Mebane they are essentially screwed!
WRs – Harvin aside, Golden Tate made the WR corps above average. His loss to FA has made us below average at best. Last season Kearse and Baldwin looked like much better receivers but that was because Tate was usually attracting the better DB opening it up for the rest of the WRs. Without Tate, Baldwin and Kearse are being blanketed and they don’t seem to be getting any separation. YAC is virtually nonexistent.
Special Teams – Last year we were giving up around a 6 yard average on opponent punt returns with the injuries and loss of fringe players our STs look like a D-II college team covering punts and KOs. Returns are also a problem. Regardless of how sure his hands are, Walters is not a NFL caliber player. Baldwin returning Kickoffs gives a great effort but he just doesn't have the ability to consistently break off big returns.
Nothing really super insightful but it has really made me rethink how a team is effected when what may seem like insignificant players leave or are injured
