Comments for Live Blog: PreSeason Game 1 at http://www.18to88.com , comment 1 to 25 out of 20 comments http://www.18to88.com Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:56:15 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-367 So, thanks to NFLN playing the game overnight, I got to DVR the game and watch it today. Here are my thoughts: 1) I haven't seen much mention of this observation, but I thought our LBs looked really good last night. I saw Brackett get blocked out of position just one time; otherwise, the LBs were in position, had good pursuit, and tackled well. 2) Good night for the draft class. Brown, Collie, and MacAffee, especially, all had a very good showing. 3) Very good night for our b-side secondary. Even this Tim Jennings critic has to admit that he looked much improved last night. Giordano was a beast. Lacey had a [i]lot[/i] of nice plays. 4) O-Line: you have a lot of work to do. 5) I thought our D-line looked jumpy. Definitely more aggressive. Nice job by the interior of the line. I didn't see a lot of plays break loose from between the tackles (except for the aforementioned play, where Brackett got sealed out of his gap, and the RB broke out about a 15-yard run). 6) I thought Painter looked good, all things considered. 7) I think Austin Collie made a good effort working his way up to the #3 WR position, and likewise, I think Frenchie made a good effort working his way down out of the #3 WR position. 8) We still don't seem to have a bona fide punt/kick returner. That's about it... - Chip Bennett Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:17:57 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-365 Timeouts & clock management are one of the most important in-game responsibilities for a Head Coach. Dungy wasn't perfect (remember when he called a timeout which allowed the Titans to reconsider & try/make the game-winning 60-yard FG???) but it ticks me off when a schmuck like me sitting 6 rows from the stadium roof knows that you do NOT waste a timeout with 2:04 & the opponent lining up for a FG. I know it's preseason but those kinds of decisions can cost you wins when the games count. - Scott P Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:27:09 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-363 One of DZ's biggest fears is a drop off in the area of in-game management. Dungy excelled at this. So this could become a storyline if we see more bad timeouts etc. Timeouts are very underrated in the NFL. - DemondSanders Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:08:33 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-362 This is your best bet for catching the game: http://leech.tenyardtorrents.com/ - DZ Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:22:18 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-360 I must say the O-line was disappointing. Other than that, it was about on par with what I would expect out of the first pre-season game for my beloved franchise. I hate not being able to watch the game and only getting to view stats in the aftermath and the highlight (laugh) of the game. Anyone know where I can get the game online? I live in Japan (military) and have 100Mb fiber internet, but no NFL coverage for the preseason, except what the Armed Forces Network round-robins into the viewer for the day. (rarely Indy) - Derek Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:46:37 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-359 I would have rather seen McAfee kick the 54 yarder. He's got a cannon leg and kicked 4 years at WV. See if they can use him to put FGs outside Vinny's range on the table. - shake n bake Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:43:42 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-358 I thought the dumber decision was to actually kick the FG. Nobody expected Shane Andrus to nail a 50+ yarder. Why not let the offense run another play? Wouldn't we have learned more from that than a FG attempt? Or did we just want to get McAfee more hold attempts? Mark My Words: Sage Rosenfels will be an EXCELLENT fit for this team and they'll be at the top of the NFC. You mock him, but aside from the Rosencopter play, when has he ever done anything besides lead long high completion percentage drives against this team? Tarvaris has a better arm, but in a conservative passing game, which is all Minnesota needs, Sage is accurate and calm, and will do very well. He's also ranked something like 7th in DVOA for QBs with over 400 attempts in the past three years. Which surprised even me, and I've been going to bat for the guy forever. The Vikings have a chance to be VERY good this year. - Willy Duer Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:10:00 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-356 If Caldwell doesn't learn some clock management before the real games start, I'll go ballistic. Late in the 1st half, the Colts D stopped the Vikings on a 3rd down play forcing a FG attempt & Caldwell immediately (& stupidly) called his 1st timeout with 2:04 left. Uh Jim, you aren't coaching Wake Forest anymore. They have this thing called the 2-minute warning. So in the future, save your timeouts when the opponent is going to kick/punt the ball anyway & the clock is so very close to 2:00. As it turned out, the Colts moved into Vikes territory but after using their final timeout with :09 left, they had to try a 50+ yard FG which was short. In summation, dumb decision wasted a timeout & led to a missed opportunity for 3 points before halftime. When the games really count, poor decisions like that can be the difference between W's & L's. - Scott P Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:35:52 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-355 @DS I could have phrased that better. I meant serious about making him play as the backup for now. Not that they really think it's where he belongs. - shake n bake Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:15:25 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-354 what was your overall impression of the game? I consider it a success mostly because absolutely no one was injured. I can't trust the O-line first drive results with Corey Hillard in there instead of Diem/Johnson. Donald Brown and Pat McAfee were also big bonuses. - Cass Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:00:40 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-353 "we learned they are pretty serious about making Ugoh be the backup. Started in place of CJ, but played RG for the second unit." Eh. I'm not sure we learned that. - DemondSanders Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:36:37 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-352 we learned they are pretty serious about making Ugoh be the backup. Started in place of CJ, but played RG for the second unit. - shake n bake Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:32:55 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-351 I really wish CJ would have played. We didn't learn all that much about the line tonight as a result. - DemondSanders Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:12:27 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-350 D is going to wear him out if someone else doesn't decide to start tackling. - stranded in carolina Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:33:30 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-349 Nice running by the rook. What's up w/ Garcon, QB, DB or him? - stranded in carolina Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:25:59 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-348 Caldwell: less embarrassed. - DemondSanders Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:24:10 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-347 I agree, glad Peyton is out. I've seen enough dumb penalties and blown plays, maybe now things can settle down and some young guys can show something. - stranded in carolina Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:21:08 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-346 Punter looking good. - stranded in carolina Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:15:27 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-345 ok, Peyton's out. My stress level has massively dropped. The franchise isn't in mortal danger anymore. - shake n bake Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:14:30 +0100 http://www.18to88.com/2009-archives/august/preseason-game-1.html#comment-344 Rychleski has some real work to do. A 20 yard return would be nice to see before the game is over. - stranded in carolina Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:11:31 +0100