Note: The purpose of this piece is to go deeper than stats and note what I see in each game. Patterns that teams develop and ways to exploit them. I want to see what type of players each team can struggle with and gain an advantage of competition week in and week out.
As this is just preseason and there is a lack of game-planning it won’t be as effective as the regular season.
Preseason Week Two (starters playing)
Steelers @ Eagles
Eagles
excellent penetration on running plays. Always in the backfield back cut and when eagles rover pursue only thing that works. Speed will be needed to run
Eagles’ Defense plays off in long situations allow for dump offs
Bradford is a statue that will collapse if he feels pressure to avoid the hit
Linebackers struggle in underneath coverage
Love crossing patterns, most passes are underneath trying to get
Steelers
Defense very fast, fly to ball. Tough to get screens out east west plays to work on them (runs)
Landry Jones stares down receivers, willing to take risks only looks at one half of the field. Lacks touch on passes.
Defense allows for receivers to run free. No pressure coverage lots of open players
Steelers giving half the distance on third down trust linebackers to make plays encourage dump offs
Struggle in coverage, crossing patterns giving them issues
Bengals @ Lions
Bengals
Theo Riddick was starting back, has some serious explosion still by far the best catching ball out of the backfield. Very shifty, played in all situations without another back
Bengals run defense gets good push, pass rush collapses pocket don’t over pursue
Boyd with great catch
Jeremy Hill looks like rookie Jeremy Hill. Last year was indecisive sees a hole and hits it hard. Powerful back
Bengals defense doing a good job containing Riddick right with him on passing plays, may be better containing backs on passing plays without Burflict
Bengals get creative to use Tate as returner playing offense screens and motion.
Lions
Jones could be serious deep threat, Stafford looks for him deep and he can go up and get the ball. Over 15 yards and it’s going to him. Clearly trusts him
Tate got the red zone look, and shorter looks. Most of his routes are outside with Boldin working out of the slot
Theo Riddick was starting back, has some serious explosion still by far the best catching ball out of the backfield. Very shifty
Lions defense aggressive on third down, not scared to blitz play up in your face
Lions getting a lot of penetration and have good pursuit
Falcons @ Browns
Browns
Browns run defense over pursues play action
Big holes for running backs, run defense should be awful yet again most plays have 4 yards before contact. Bad tackling, even backups vs first team defense ran well
Carl Nassib is everywhere going to be a good player
Browns offensive line getting allowing no pressure getting good push. If they play like this Griffin can take advantage down the field
Browns bringing back the zone read for RG3, and he learned how to slide
Crowell running ahead of duke Johnson, though not standing out. Johnson got 4th and two carry and picked it up. Crowell was not impressive.
Pryor destroys Trufant who was targeted the least of all corners last year. Will be a big play WR especially while Gordon is out
Browns run safe plays on offense on third and longs check downs and screens
Falcons
Julio Jones is unstoppable, like to run him deep across the field on play action passes.
Sanu is looked to early and often underneath as falcons dump off the ball a lot
When Julio Jones left every single pass was underneath
Freeman clearly out ran Coleman, looks to be a player this year
Falcons line got a great push, however need to see versus better defense to know if it is real
Adrian Clayborn played well making plays behind the line
Bears @ Patriots
Bears
Alshon Jeffrey when health will be a monster, Cutlers first look. Did look elsewhere right away whenever there was an obvious double team
Langford clear number one back in preseason, used as pass catcher more than blocker.
Bears line gets very little push, Langford with multiple nice cut back runs
Bears defensive line not getting much push vs bad patriots line
If Brian Hoyer starts a game this year, play the other teams defense.
Cutler looks to Tight end a lot, Moaki got a ton of looks
Patriots
Patriots run defense plays lanes very well, don’t over pursue, good pass rush collapsing the pocket, have man stay home on roll outs
Patriots look to take away first option every play by giving him safety help. Butler tends to play number 2 WR single coverage while number 1 person is double teamed.
Blount running very well bouncing off tackles
Patriots offensive line struggles in pass protection, doing good job in opening running lanes
Gaffney running well sees the hole and hits in powerful one cut runner. 3 touches inside 5 didn’t come up with the touchdown
Garropolo looks for the tight end often, only looked to Hogan multiple times in first half
James white will be passing down back
Raiders @ Packers
Raiders
Raiders over pursued play action, opens up lanes for tight end. Tight end wide open when split out wide
Raiders blitzed on third down
Cooper looked to on third down, big play threat
Jones got run ahead of Deandre Washington
Packers
Packers line opened big lanes for Lacy, who moved pile when contacted. Looked faster more decisive and didn’t get stood up once on opening drive
Packers covered running back perfectly, closed gaps very fast
Packers play the screen very well
Packers look to run screen on third downs
Green bay pass rush can over pursue open the field leaves open running lanes
Vikings @ Seahawks
Vikings
Vikings offensive line created a nice pocket
Linval Joseph is a fantastic player, stuffing the run and creating a pass rush up the middle
Vikings get good pressure versus poor Seahawks o line, Have the players to contain a running QB
Vikings run a very conservative offense, need to see more because Seahawks d dominated
Vikings use Patterson as returner on offense again
Vikings looked to tight ends in have to have it situations.
Seahawks
Seahawks blitzed on third down
Perfect run defense filling every hole
Coverage excellent downfield
Lockett Targeted on third down, can be big play monster
Baldwin can do big things out of the slot
Wilson multiple reads to look of safety
Zone read is here to stay in Seattle
Seahawks run much better out of shotgun. Vikings dominate when under center
Alex Collins couldn’t get a push when needed back to back plays, cannot catch
Seahawks linebackers fill the gap perfectly
Seahawks go deep on play action. Wilson trust WR to come up with play in one on one
Tight ends took advantage of Seahawks on multiple plays
Seahawks drives ended due to drops and penalties.
Jets at Redskins
Jets
Marcus Williams picked on, teams will throw at whoever Revis isn’t guarding. Williams cannot tackle Skrine is a good tackler
Leonard Williams dominates line of scrimmage, plays some nose tackle huge leap as a pass rusher
Jets run defense not the same without Dame Harrison and Mo Wilkerson not playing
Revis excellent tackler
Amaro still has drop issues
Lack of pass rush without blitz
Fitzpatrick inaccurate when not throwing to Marshall and Decker
Jordan Jenkins Darron Lee reasons to get excited around the ball all the time
Jets struggle to cover the middle of the field
Skrine good on blitz
Jets blitz on third down
Young OLB get too high up the field allow for big running gaps, and QBs who can scramble will take advantage
Bilal Powell looks fantastic, explosive and powerful
Jets will struggle vs underneath routes and backs coming out of the backfield
Redskins
Matt Jones has first two downs on lock down. Skins line getting good push
Redskins are very deep at WR with lots of big play threats. Not scared to take shots down the field
Tight ends getting open vs skins
Redskins backs are sure tacklers, allow underneath throws
Dolphins @ Cowboys
Dolphins
Dolphins applying 0 pressure
Kenny Stills solid hold on 3rd wr and can take top off the defense
Corners really struggling Receivers running wide open all over the field
Landry is still the first look
Dolphins like WR screens and underneath throws
Dolphins Struggle to contain QB
Despite Gase being known for involving tight end Tannehill and Cameron have no chemistry
Dolphins line gives Tannehill good protection
Cowboys
Cowboys backs get 4 yards before they are touched, holes are incredible
Dez Bryant is a good aggressive blocker
Linebackers struggling in coverage and tackling for Dolphins
JJ Wilcox for cowboys cannot cover to save his life
Cowboys defense will over pursue on play action, don’t have someone stay home on runs could allow cut back runners to kill them
Cowboys run defense really good, foster looks slow
Dak Prescott has potential to be big time
Cowboys struggle in coverage, give up chunks versus screens
Cardinals at Chargers
Chargers
Chargers applying good pressure, Chargers have they have a great trio of corners
Chargers linebackers sure tacklers, run defense is much improved.
Melvin Gordon looks like explosive self, should be in for big year behind healthy o line
Chargers offensive struggling in pass blocking
Cardinals
Cardinals pursuit to ball is excellent, pass rush seems improved
Michael Floyd may see a big role in the offense this year Palmer looked to him early
Panthers at Titans
Ted Ginn Jr blew by everyone on comeback, may have developed route tree
Titans giving solid protection
Tajae Sharpe is Mariotta’s first look, even ahead of Delanie Walker who is second
Panthers run defense is excellent, stay in lanes and pursuit is excellent
Titans use trickery, and will have Murray and Henry on the field at the same time
Titans brought pressure on third down
Panthers blitzed on third down
Titans doing good job on Cam keeping him in the pocket
Titans won’t give up on smash mouth running game
Giants @ Bills
Giants
Giants D line will get to QB, watch for Snacks Harrison in new role 2 down 4-3 DT seems to be great run stuffer, and add very little to pass rush.
Giants O line gets no push, Jennings hit behind line of scrimmage on most plays
Quick hitting passing plays for Giants
Giants struggle to cover rbs
Oliver Vernon jumps off the screen makes plays and is very disciplined
Bills
Taylor seems to improved accuracy very Russell Wilson esq in the pocket
Bills 4-man rush not impressive, need to blitz to get there
McCoy will be true 3 down back, Taylor comfortable dumping it off to him, goes out for pass routes way more than stays in
Blanket coverage on WR
Ravens @ Colts
Ravens
Ravens smarm to ball on running plays
Eric Weddle everywhere
Ravens like crossing routes and deep shots
Lawrence guy stand out as playmaker on d line
Colts
Quick hitting passes three wide sets for colts
Colts offensive line looks improved
No clear back up for colts, no one stood out
Colts run defense controlling line of scrimmage making plays in the backfield
Colts doing a good job with backs catching the ball out of the backfield
Luck looks more decisive, hard count very good, likely less deep shots more quick hitters letting speedy play maker make plays. Receptions should go up and Luck number of hits should go down
Colts sold out on play action
Bucs @ Jags
Bucs
Bucs offensive line struggling to run block, Backs going outside right away and for good reason. Man in backfield every play
Charles Simms looks good, explosive and running hard
Bucs lost rb out of backfield
Evans will be number one look in red zone
Jags
Jags got great rush, flying to the ball
Winston missed multiple throws when pressured, very inaccurate overall
Jags aggressive blitzing a lot, great coverage, yet still stayed at home on reverse
Yeldon ran ahead of Ivory, Looked great catching ball out of backfield
Bortles moving up and around in pocket extremely well
Allen Robinson is first look deep, they try to get Allen Hurns open in space and when play breaks down
Saints @ Texans
Saints
Saints run defense doing a surprisingly good job versus the run
Saints blitzed and played press man on third down, very obvious Texans went right over the top
Brees has pressure in his face all day long
Texans
Osweiler stays on his first read for a while, second reed is normally the check down
Texans linebackers look good in coverage, stayed at home on play action
Miller runs with great patience and vision
Fuller has gotten target on each blitz, once Hopkins left the game he got every single target.
Texans defense is aggressive, forcing turnovers. Clowney is everywhere dominating
Osweiler missed multiple throws down the field. Misses high which will lead to turnovers.
49ers @ Broncos
49ers
49ers didn’t stay home on play action crossing route
Gabbert only appears comfortable throwing to tight ends
49ers defense tackling well
Gabbert still gets rattled by pressure very quickly
49ers defense doing good job controlling the line of scrimmage
49ers did a great job recognizing patterns of broncos and jumped quick hitters
Broncos
Virgil Green to be used heavily with both screens and play action
Broncos run a lot of shot quick hitters, when Sanchez comes in more comfortable throwing down the field
Anderson explodes through the hole
Broncos defense is fast and aggressive and doesn’t allow YAC
Booker waits for hole to open up shows great patience, once he sees it explodes through it
Chiefs @ Rams
Chiefs
Chiefs giving Smith good protection, who is looking for quick patterns looking to Maclin or Kelce
Chris Conley beat Trumaine Johnson multiple time
Alex Smith dropped his head each time he felt pressure and looked to run
Chiefs corners may struggle big time this year.
Chiefs are missing a lot of tackles
Rams
WR getting open quickly versus the Rams
First drive was 13 plays Rams were out played on 12 of them
Gurley got all of the touches inside the 20
Rams offensive line dominating the Chiefs
Keenum is impressive making quick decisions and accurate throws
