Playing Cook was a mistake

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by tlotharw

So what is your reason for the mind-blowingly bad line play last night and the crappy line play against Dallas? Happenstance? Out of nowhere they are being outplayed? There has been one change to the line in those last two weeks. Cook is back.

This:

Originally Posted by THE PISTONS

Dallas and Philadelphia have the personnel (speed rushers) to give our line trouble. Bottom line.

Denver gave us fits too. With Doom and Miller.
Oakland, NYG, KC and San Diego are not rife with speed rushers.
Outside of NYG you are looking at some BAD teams.

[DWright]

Originally Posted by THE PISTONS

Dallas and Philadelphia have better defenses than Oakland, Kansas City, etc.

Dallas and Philadelphia also have speed pass rushers which gives us trouble. Ware and Spencer for Dallas.

Kansas City has a good defense. The offense throwing picks has killed them in points allowed per game.

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by DWright

Kansas City has a good defense. The offense throwing picks has killed them in points allowed per game.

And they wear down easier at the end of games because their offense can't sustain drives, like our D during our 4 game slide.

[Joelist]

This is a pretty funny article....

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-...b-bc1a6c96935d

They just don't get it do they.

[berserkerone88]

Originally Posted by Joelist

This is a pretty funny article....

http://www.bengals.com/news/article-...b-bc1a6c96935d

They just don't get it do they.

apparently you don't

[Joelist]

Originally Posted by berserkerone88

apparently you don't

No, they don't. The importance of continuity on an OL is football 101. Revolving door Centers is destroying the continuity and resulting in the line not picking up stunts and such. Wait till next Sunday when our rotating players concept gets us killed.

[shawntmartin]

"If you have two guys that are pretty good you might as well use them both."

Yea... tell that to Alex Smith

[BoomerFan]

Originally Posted by Joelist

No, they don't. The importance of continuity on an OL is football 101. Revolving door Centers is destroying the continuity and resulting in the line not picking up stunts and such. Wait till next Sunday when our rotating players concept gets us killed.

Just to post the text of the link for reference:

» After splitting the snaps last Sunday between rookie center Trevor Robinson and Kyle Cook, Robinson had two more Thursday, 42-40. Gruden says he has no problems with the rotation the last two games and says it's not a reason for the breakdown of pass protection and the 11 sacks that have been allowed in the last eight quarters. "It's like wide receiver," said Gruden, who says both guys have strengths. "We don't have a standout guy that deserves to play every snap. If you have two guys that are pretty good you might as well use them both.

"That's kind of the case at center. Trevor's done a great job, he's improved tremendously, he's a hell of a center and going to be one for a long time in the NFL. Cookie has done some great things here as well. It's not like he doesn't deserve to play. They both I think are capable centers and do great things."

It sounds like Gruden would like to use a little of both in Pittsburgh at hostile Heinz Field and defensive coordinator **** Lebeau's smart and multiple defense that Cook has played against six times.

"Flip side of that Trevor is maybe a little bit more athletic right now. He gets up on guys at the second level," Gruden said. "But there will be a guy right over his nose and Cookie has seen that and done that, especially in some of their odd blitz fronts where he's done all the pointing and communicating and that's important, too. I like them both, to be honest with you; it's not an issue whatsoever. Communication is the same, Andy has no problem getting the snaps. If we were fumbling snaps or something it would be something different. But it's not even an issue, it's not even a story. They both are good players."

Well, OK. Sometimes the coaches know something I don't. And sometimes a risk pays off. This doesn't sound like a terrific idea though, and it doesn't really look like it is working...yet.

The one big advantage I can think is it keeps your Center from getting tired. And Andy seems to be good at taking snaps from just about anybody (not every QB can do that). You wonder about the rest of the OL and gelling and taking adjustments though. And what's next? Do we play Gradkowski for half the game? Come to think of it, he is the QB on our roster who actually beat the Steelers (though he also lost to them 2-3 times I think).