CCS Notes & Observations from the Pre-Season Opener

[Rush]

http://www.chicitysports.com/2012/08/10/ob...ner-vs-broncos/


Some observations that I jotted down during the game. Hopefully this will reach the eyes of somebody who didn't have time to watch the game or couldn't.

[Rory Sparrow]

Safety Brandon Hardin had a great showing. He was always around the ball and gave off several big shots to ball carriers. Could he make a push for Marjor Wright’s job?

I've never been impressed by Major Wright, and, like Lance Louis, his subpar play is shadowed by the Bears hyping up how great Major Wright is. I think he is injury-prone, has bad hands, cannot diagnose plays, and, surprisingly, is a lousy tackler. I would not be surprised if Hardin takes his job.

I thought Peyton Manning looked weak in the arm, but everyone else seemed impressed by his performance. I don't know. What did you think?

[onebud34]

I thought Peyton Manning looked weak in the arm, but everyone else seemed impressed by his performance. I don't know. What did you think?

So I'm not the only one? Everyone has been gushing about him, I honestly thought the pass to Decker was more of an adjustment by Decker than a good pass by Manning. In the past he would've zipped the pass...last night it looked more like a floater. Maybe it was butterfly's for Peyton, but none of his passes looked they had the velocity prior to his surgery.

[ClydeLee]

Peyton has admitted himself that he is not 100% or near the same. I don't know why anyone would expect him to be so; Some people have had just no expectations or figured his body would break down because he is actually playing with a clock involved.

[R_Mac_1]

It'd be nice for Hardin to come in at SS, but from everything I've heard (and saw last night) he's strictly learning the FS position for the time being. That being said, hopefully he can improve enough and they start getting him some reps at SS, where it seems he'd be a better fit.

[Rory Sparrow]

Peyton has admitted himself that he is not 100% or near the same. I don't know why anyone would expect him to be so

I don't remember saying that I expected Peyton to be 100% the same as he used to be, nor do I remember comparing 2012 Manning to 2009 Manning.

My point was that it looks like he has a weak arm compared to the average NFL QB. Thats all. I didn't express surprise at this development, I was just stating what I saw. Which was a weak-armed QB.

[onebud34]

Peyton has admitted himself that he is not 100% or near the same. I don't know why anyone would expect him to be so; Some people have had just no expectations or figured his body would break down because he is actually playing with a clock involved.

He was a far cry from the old Manning IMO. Even the average QB doesn't usually have 2 passes tipped by defenders on the same series.

[NCChiFan]

I believe if Wright goes down with injury yet again, and he strained his hammy yet again in this preseason game, we will see Steltz. However, I do agree Hardin is in the wings and will push all of the above once he gets a handle on the Safety position.

[Wakacha]

Nobody mentioned JT Thomas. Dude was a beast. Coverage or blitzing, he showed a lot of improvement

[ClydeLee]

I don't remember saying that I expected Peyton to be 100% the same as he used to be, nor do I remember comparing 2012 Manning to 2009 Manning.

My point was that it looks like he has a weak arm compared to the average NFL QB. Thats all. I didn't express surprise at this development, I was just stating what I saw. Which was a weak-armed QB.

You mentioned people being impressed.. I'm saying the reason people are acting impressed is due to having VERY LOW expectations of man who had 4 neck surgery's.

Not 100% is about his arm strength, he's talking about that his body isn't fully there yet to even an good strength level.

Jay Cutler's had plenty of times with 2 passes tipped in 1 series. If it was him there would the same people from 09 going on yelling about "almost interceptions" as if it's a stat only Cutler has.

[onebud34]

Jay Cutler's had plenty of times with 2 passes tipped in 1 series. If it was him there would the same people from 09 going on yelling about "almost interceptions" as if it's a stat only Cutler has.

I'm not talking about a tip at the LOS, these were tips or shall I say they were batted up in the air. Maybe he was telegraphing the play...considering Briggs knocked down a pass earlier in that series.

I was surprised on how most of his passes really didn't seem to have anything on them. Rust is one thing...lack of velocity is another.

[onebud34]

Nobody mentioned JT Thomas. Dude was a beast. Coverage or blitzing, he showed a lot of improvement

hopefully he can continue to improve. I know how preseason can be...and players can disappear for games.

[R_Mac_1]

JT Thomas made a few plays, but from what I remember he had some bad ones as well. Not getting off blocks, overpursuing, missing tackles, etc. Decicco and Hayes did this as well.

...Tapatalking

[TheChicagoFan]

I didn't even watch the game. It's preseason, no Cutler or other stars, and there was better things on TV.

If I want to learn about how players look in their first game with the team before the reg season or find stuff out, I'll read blogs and articles about it. Time saved.

[X-Factor]

My thoughts:

-- Jason Campbell is a check-down king...but he's not going to lose us any game (a la Hanie 2011) if he's forced into action.
-- We need to try running Bush up the middle, and Bell around the end...not the other way around.
-- I really want Sanzenbacher to make this team.
-- JT Thomas looked like he's got a spot on the team to me. Same w/ Corey Wootton. Both looked pretty good out there, imo.
-- McLellin has speed and a high motor and a good football head, but looks like he needs to bulk up a bit. Scouts pretty much pegged that one on the head. I thought he looked good for the most part, though.
-- Alshon Jeffery looked like it wasn't his first NFL action, to me. He came back to catch the balls, caught them with his hands out in front, and I don't recall seeing any drops. I'm just as excited to see him working w/ Cutler as I am Marshall working w/ Cutler.
-- Briggs looked good in limited snaps.
-- Hi Mom!
-- Hardin looked like he understood his position pretty well to me.
-- We HAVE to get better against the run...but I know we play pretty vanilla in the preseason.
-- I thought the OL looked ok against the pass rush, struggled to open up holes for the run game, though. There were some sacks that were caused by Campbell/McCown not making a decision quick enough.
-- Watching McCown play last night made me laugh at the fact that he was better than Hanie last season. Man, Hanie was terrible.
-- I thought the ref's did a good job overall. Yeah they missed some calls, but it's not like the normal refs don't miss any.
-- Banana pancakes.
-- 30 days until real kick off. aww yeahhh.