AZ54

Are you sure about that because that would change everything on WR screens? We've had Jeffrey catch many passes behind the LOS and on some occasions we've been flagged for WRs blocking too early downfield. Not just us but I see it every now and then among any team running WR screens. Is it behind the LOS for the pass, or is it if the pass is backwards in which case if it's dropped it's a fumble? Or is it that if the pass is behind the LOS players are allowed to block behind the LOS? Green Bay's WRs are clearly stepping up field to block. http://operations.nfl.com/the-rules/2015-n...rd-pass,-fumble Article 2a and 2e appear to say it is interference Acts that are pass interference include, but are not limited to: a) Contact by a player who is not playing the ball that restricts the opponent’s opportunity to make the catch. Playing through the back of an opponent in an attempt to make a play on the ball. c) Grabbing an opponent’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass. d) Extending an arm across the body of an opponent, thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, and regardless of whether the player committing such act is playing the ball. e) Cutting off the path of an opponent by making contact with him, without playing the ball. Note 1: When the ball is in the air, eligible offensive and defensive receivers have the same right to the path of the ball and are subject to the same restrictions. Article 4 says it is illegal too: ARTICLE 4. OTHER PROHIBITED ACTS BY THE OFFENSE Blocking more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage by an offensive player prior to a pass being thrown is offensive pass interference. See 8-3-1 for exception for an ineligible offensive player. Note: It is also pass interference by the offense to block a defender beyond the line while the pass is in the air, if the block occurs in the vicinity of the player to whom the pass is thrown. See 8-3-1-Note for exception for ineligible players. I don't know these rules all that well. Point me in the right direction for the downfield blocking that is allowed when a forward pass is behind the LOS.

Pick plays are a little different. WRs will run two route, one over and one underneath each other, with the intention of forcing one of the DBs to reroute or take a longer route to his man. That leaves one of the WRs open. In Green Bay's play they line up two and sometimes three WRs on one side. Cobb steps back from his slot position and runs out wide behind the other WRs. The DB covering him has to run behind the other DBs to meet him at on the other side. Those WRs just step forward to the DB covering them and block. If they just stand there while the ball is in the air no issues. After it was run a couple times KCs DBs recognized it and were trying to get off the blocks before the ball was caught. It is well designed for a play that just needs to gain a couple yards and a TD, it just needs to be executed within the rules.

They are positive plays but they are also blocking while the ball is in the air. I'm not doubting his ability to throw accurately, nor his ability to read a defense. I'm just asking for defenders to get a fair chance to come off their coverage while the ball is in the air so they can attempt a tackle.

You recovered nicely by spelling Hooman....

With John Fox running the show you can bet Cutler will be doubtful right up to game time. I expect him to play but if it were me calling the shots I'd keep Oakland happy thinking it's Clausen starting. Heck I'd even start a rumor that Fales was getting more snaps with the starters in practice.

Is his name Benson?

As long as the Packers WRs are allowed to block DBs while the ball is in the air Rodgers should be graded lower. Watch their goal line plays and it's always a guy running behind the others while they step up and block. Creates a natural screen from the DB in man coverage but even if the other DBs see it and react off their man they are blocked while the ball is in the air. They got flagged for it once but should have been flagged a couple other times as well. I expect some savvy opponents will highlight this to the league before they play GB.

I agree, the plan and these changes are just some focus on the future. At this point we've done nothing more than get rid of some guys who couldn't play well (Vereen, Bostic), or couldn't play well enough in the scheme (Jared Allen). Seattle did this very early on when their new GM came in. I think at one point they had looked at something like 150 players in their first season. IMO, it is still important for us to remain competitive so we get better evaluations of players. Keep rolling with Clausen as QB and you might not know what you have in some of these WRs, or backup TEs, or even RBs. Jared Allen was a leader in the locker room so that hurts things but this places McPhee squarely in that role and I don't mind that, along with Ratliff. The other two guys leaving sends a message to the rest of the team about performance and knowing your job. I don't mind that message either. Now if a guy like Forte is traded that's a big gap in leadership and competitiveness. If we move in that direction I hope we'd see some good things from Langford first to indicate we got stability at this position going forward. Everyone knows Jacquizz Rodgers, although he has done well enough, is not the main guy for the future.

Unfortunately for Vereen this was an easy decision when you consider who the guy we just signed. If Vereen can't make plays on special teams, and if he can't make plays as a safety, we might as well go get a safety who can at least make tackles on special teams. It's not hard to find players who can leave Jimmy Graham open.

Keep an eye on Cardale Jones. All the zone read stuff clouds the picture but he's improved from last year and shows some good work at times under pressure. Strong arm but can put some touch on the ball and at times throws his receiver open. He doesn't read the defense much more than 1 read most plays but the fact he can run doesn't hurt. He's also not Andrew Luck. http://draftbreakdown.com/video/cardale-jo...inia-tech-2015/

I'm watching film on Goff as it comes in on DraftBreakdown http://draftbreakdown.com/video/jared-goff-vs-texas-2015/ I don't like what I see in this game against Texas. Goff has a really bad habit of throwing off his back foot when he's under pressure. He also bends his knee on that back leg when he does this taking even more off the ball. Equally bad is the way he opens often his hips when throwing (see Colin Kaepernik) even when he's not under pressure and he does not have anything close to Kaep's arm strength. He's not terribly accurate in this game even on some easy throws, often putting the ball behind his WR/RB or having it drop low (not enough velocity) to where the receiver has to lose momentum to make the catch. Most of that likely from the poor mechanics. Is this stuff correctable? Mechanics can sometimes be improved. OTHO, the tendency to fade back under pressure and not step into the throw? Sometimes players can grow out of it, but what are you willing to gamble on that when game speed in the NFL is much faster than college? Top 5 pick? Top 10 pick? Late 1st Rd pick? 2nd Rd pick? Most of what he does in this game are easy out patterns, underneath stuff so as usual in a spread offense the comp % looks good. To his credit that is often what is given to him by the defense. I don't see bad decisions, even under pressure when he throws the ball away, and when he's using better mechanics he has decent arm strength but it doesn't appear to be anything special. He's going to get drafted early but IMO this is not Andrew Luck, not Mariota, not even David Carr. Maybe Teddy Bridgewater is the better comparison. Based on this game that fits better where I think he'll go in the draft but I'll keep watching as they add games. Maybe this was just a bad week. He looked better against SDSU but then again level of competition has to be considered.

Special teams help has arrived (I hope): http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1...5e-953dbe779037

I realize that but I'm still not impressed by him when he's on the field. With young players if they are going to develop into a consistent performer there are usually a game or two where you see some big contributions. From there we look to see consistency. I can't recall that game from Wilson. He has had some catches but in traffic, or fighting for the contested catch I don't recall many. The kind of plays that give a QB confidence to throw into tight windows need to start showing up. I hope he proves me wrong this week.

A 6'8" guard. I have to think veterans like McPhee, Ratliff, and maybe Jenkins after what we saw in Seattle, are going to get under his pads and get some push up the middle on pass rushes. We'll see how this goes. At least one Raider fan wasn't too enamored with Webb's performance in Week 2. http://justblogbaby.com/2015/09/21/oakland...kdown-awards/2/ Or week 3 (he uses PFF stats) http://justblogbaby.com/2015/09/28/oakland...kdown-awards/3/

You've hit 3 or 4 threads with posts promoting, wishing, begging, for the team to find a trade partner for Cutler. I don't recall if you were for Mariota, I certainly was, but there weren't many here that were. We have to play out the season now and then evaluate our options at QB.

I don't want to trade Bennett at all. Keep him around he'll still be a very good TE in 2 to 3 years. Regarding Wilson he can get moved back to bench as far as I'm concerned. After seeing him round off that route against the Cardinals leading the Peterson interception, and then the fact he hasn't done anything last year or this year tells me he won't develop. Bellamy has outplayed Wilson and I'd like to start seeing Meredith get some more looks. Meredith is young and needs a lot of development but might as well see if he'll be one to count on next year or not.

Dickerson is wrong. We are making moves with aging or bottom of the roster players. Go with a fire sale and get rid of all your talent and the rest of the team will quit. We need young good players like Jeffrey. Pay Jeffrey now and if White becomes a true #1 years down the road you let Jeffrey leave in FA or trade him then. Trade Cutler and Bennett? After seeing what Clausen did on offense the only one who thinks we are a better team without Cutler is AG. Unlike in the last draft where we might have had a shot at either of the top 2 QBs, getting rid of an average QB with no clear cut plan to replace him is the fastest way for Pace and Fox to find new jobs. Every player on the team knows with Cutler around they can move the ball and score. Martellus is one of the best inline TEs in the NFL. We should absolutely pay him to stay next year he has plenty of good years left. Forte, we are better with now but not down the road. For now I think the young guys can fill in decently. I might be the only one who saw Forte miss a couple blitz pickups this past game so that's still an issue with him IMO. If we get a good offer like a 3rd Rd pick I'd make the deal. I'd be good too if we traded him for a good young player at a weak position (we have many options). A young CB, DT, S, even Oline. Especially if that safety can play special teams. I see no reason to keep Vereen around because he's not doing well at either pass coverage or special teams.

I have no idea what to expect from the Raiders. They have no idea what to expect from the Bears if Cutler plays. They play a 4-3 defense so all they have to go on is what we did against Seattle. Our defense has been extremely up and down. Jared Allen is gone so they'll have to plan against who on the right side of our defense? I know Jason can't wait to see J'Marcus Webb playing again.

That explains a lot, would have liked more cap room this year. I still like the deal, we got a pick for a guy that is not part of our long term future. I assume Pace feels the pick is worth more than the cap room this year.

Yes, Acho was in on quite a few plays against Seattle. Plus Acho is on all special teams. With Allen's lack of production and high salary making this trade is an excellent deal. Anything allen provided we will likely get back with Willie Young, and Houston, as they get healthier. This is not the kind of a deal that makes our team better now but when looking at the future this is a very good deal. I'm amazed anyone would take on Allen's high salary but Pace pulled it off and now I'm looking forward to a very active offseason.

Instead of Kevin White's resume being on the field we have Josh Bellamy's resume there. I'll take my chances with the 1st Rd pick being tougher to defend.

Clausen was completely lost reading that defense. I don't mind putting Fales out there next week if Cutler can't go. It was promising that Cutler ran around for about 10min before the game started.

I'm not impressed with Rolle's play at all but I still think having his leadership and experience back there with the almost entirely new group of players is a good thing to have.

I thought it was a great effort by our defense. They had a pulse today. We had things we haven't seen in two games: passes defended, good 3rd down defense even on a few 3rd and short plays, and sacks by Dlinemen. McPhee was excellent. I have no idea why Seattle felt they could block him with a TE. Regardless he was all over the field on pass rush and run defense. There are still growing pains with the scheme and we still need more talent but this was a markedly different defense from what we've seen the first two games. We're not going to shutout any teams but if they play like this we can compete. Offense, I'll say the Oline was good, with some mis-steps on a few plays. Forte was good as well. We were running but Seattle stacking the box with 8 and sometimes 9 players you are only going so far. Clausen looks completely lost on anything other than a handoff. No reason for Seattle to do anything other than go all-in and shutdown the run.

We invest picks on the Oline. We need to be better at finding talent and developing talent. You can't miss on 1st Rd picks like Carimi, Williams and then say we need to keep investing. Those guys should be at least good starters for 8-10 years.