Saw Drew's press conference on Thursday and he says he's totally fine and is taking all of the 1st team reps...I think he'll do fine. It's a big test for the team this week🙏
I don't know how Coach Mac reacts to bad things. I know some coaches react with discipline. Two bad things that come to mind, where I'm wondering if he's been a disciplinarian:
- the fumbling. What I'm seeing is guys hitting holes with both arms around the ball. Good for not fumbling, bad for actual running and juking. My personal opinion is you can't have your players all tightened up about failing, which is what it looked like to me.
- the physicality vs Bears. I've seen it twice now this season, the SF game and now this one, where the other guys looked like the aggressors more than us. Many coaches "solve" for that with intense practices. Don't know if that's Coach Mac's response, but when suddenly you add a bunch of guys to the injured list on a short week, that could be a signal.
Something just looks off with the team as a whole, which is when you start thinking about the coaching
It's hard to point at coaching when so many of the current coaches helped earn a Lombardi Trophy last year. The changes at Offensive Coordinator and QB coach are huge, I admit, but the defense is intact, and MM is still MM.
What has changed are the players, and especially the injuries. Last year the starting offense was pretty much together all year. Except for Horton, no one missed much time at all, and he was immediately replaced by trading for Shaheed. The QB, WR's and both RB's played the entire regular season together, and even the O-line (once positions were settled) stayed relatively healthy. This year, some players left, some got old (lookin' at you, Coop), and a whole lot of them have been hurt. Toss in the way things always even out (good bounce last year, bad bounce this year), the bullseye (everyone wants their shot at taking down the champs), and the changes in offensive play-calling, and you have a team that may be starting to doubt itself.
We need a get-well game, and the Cardinals are just what the doctor ordered. Blow them up early, recharge the swagger a little, and rest the wounded. Milroe will take the helm mid-third quarter with a three score lead. Go Hawks!
Milroe is an option this week. Lock had severe tendonitis. He’s only been allowed to sparingly throw the ball and a question could arise as to whether he can this week. If Lock can’t throw, can we win on our run game?
A rich industry like the NFL can afford the best virtual reality tech that money can buy. Drew and Jalen have had time in the "booth" with it, over what time Sam would have, being his attention is caught up in live training with the guys every week. Heck, set it up at home. The animation now is stunning when it comes to "reality". No telling what is out there when money determines quality and availability. I hold zero doubt both will have a super-close 'feel' for what they will face on Sunday. That's a huge advantage when timing and pace rules. Now we can toss in A.I. at the speed of light. Boy Howdy.
I thought it was unusual for them to sign a 4th QB for what sounds like a short stint for Sam on the sideline. I suppose I didn't realize Lock's injury was that impactful. To be honest, I would be completely ok with the Hawks having an extremely low risk tolerance exacerbating Lock's injury and by extension, a very low threshold to cross in order to play Milroe in whatever capacity necessary. Considering the circumstances, I don't think it's surrendering if your 1st and 2nd string QB's have health concerns that need a few weeks and can't give you the best opportunity to win. To be consistent with my criticism of Fleury, if your offense is playing unimaginative, vanilla out of sync/out of touch ball, perhaps an extremely gifted, creative athlete that can throw a bit and play impromptu, off script ball and can maybe/perhaps/wishfully spark some life into our offense and give opposing defenses even a little reason to respect the run. I don't know but if Lock's throwing elbow is compromised, it seems to me that this is a somewhat relevant and potentially limiting factor.
There's nothing better with Football Players than having FUN kicking ass up and down the field. Aches, pains and irritations take a backseat. As a Team, they will support whichever QB generates this best. Joe Montana and Jim MacMahon were the best I've watched at it. Lately, it's been Mahomes. Sam? Not so much... (if at all).
Remember, Lock was not active for Monday’s game against the Bears. He couldn’t play 5 day’s ago. So there’s a real chance he might suffer a setback or aggravate his elbow and Milroe will be in there. They cut Velus Jones to make room to put the new QB on the roster tomorrow.
Saw Drew's press conference on Thursday and he says he's totally fine and is taking all of the 1st team reps...I think he'll do fine. It's a big test for the team this week🙏
I don't know how Coach Mac reacts to bad things. I know some coaches react with discipline. Two bad things that come to mind, where I'm wondering if he's been a disciplinarian:
- the fumbling. What I'm seeing is guys hitting holes with both arms around the ball. Good for not fumbling, bad for actual running and juking. My personal opinion is you can't have your players all tightened up about failing, which is what it looked like to me.
- the physicality vs Bears. I've seen it twice now this season, the SF game and now this one, where the other guys looked like the aggressors more than us. Many coaches "solve" for that with intense practices. Don't know if that's Coach Mac's response, but when suddenly you add a bunch of guys to the injured list on a short week, that could be a signal.
Something just looks off with the team as a whole, which is when you start thinking about the coaching
It's hard to point at coaching when so many of the current coaches helped earn a Lombardi Trophy last year. The changes at Offensive Coordinator and QB coach are huge, I admit, but the defense is intact, and MM is still MM.
What has changed are the players, and especially the injuries. Last year the starting offense was pretty much together all year. Except for Horton, no one missed much time at all, and he was immediately replaced by trading for Shaheed. The QB, WR's and both RB's played the entire regular season together, and even the O-line (once positions were settled) stayed relatively healthy. This year, some players left, some got old (lookin' at you, Coop), and a whole lot of them have been hurt. Toss in the way things always even out (good bounce last year, bad bounce this year), the bullseye (everyone wants their shot at taking down the champs), and the changes in offensive play-calling, and you have a team that may be starting to doubt itself.
We need a get-well game, and the Cardinals are just what the doctor ordered. Blow them up early, recharge the swagger a little, and rest the wounded. Milroe will take the helm mid-third quarter with a three score lead. Go Hawks!
Tomorrow. He becomes an option tomorrow. If Lock’s throwing arm acts up, I expect Milroe to be the Hawks QB sometime during the game.
Jarran Reed?
My guess was gonna be Meyers, but I think you're probably right.
Milroe is an option this week. Lock had severe tendonitis. He’s only been allowed to sparingly throw the ball and a question could arise as to whether he can this week. If Lock can’t throw, can we win on our run game?
A rich industry like the NFL can afford the best virtual reality tech that money can buy. Drew and Jalen have had time in the "booth" with it, over what time Sam would have, being his attention is caught up in live training with the guys every week. Heck, set it up at home. The animation now is stunning when it comes to "reality". No telling what is out there when money determines quality and availability. I hold zero doubt both will have a super-close 'feel' for what they will face on Sunday. That's a huge advantage when timing and pace rules. Now we can toss in A.I. at the speed of light. Boy Howdy.
I thought it was unusual for them to sign a 4th QB for what sounds like a short stint for Sam on the sideline. I suppose I didn't realize Lock's injury was that impactful. To be honest, I would be completely ok with the Hawks having an extremely low risk tolerance exacerbating Lock's injury and by extension, a very low threshold to cross in order to play Milroe in whatever capacity necessary. Considering the circumstances, I don't think it's surrendering if your 1st and 2nd string QB's have health concerns that need a few weeks and can't give you the best opportunity to win. To be consistent with my criticism of Fleury, if your offense is playing unimaginative, vanilla out of sync/out of touch ball, perhaps an extremely gifted, creative athlete that can throw a bit and play impromptu, off script ball and can maybe/perhaps/wishfully spark some life into our offense and give opposing defenses even a little reason to respect the run. I don't know but if Lock's throwing elbow is compromised, it seems to me that this is a somewhat relevant and potentially limiting factor.
There's nothing better with Football Players than having FUN kicking ass up and down the field. Aches, pains and irritations take a backseat. As a Team, they will support whichever QB generates this best. Joe Montana and Jim MacMahon were the best I've watched at it. Lately, it's been Mahomes. Sam? Not so much... (if at all).
Remember, Lock was not active for Monday’s game against the Bears. He couldn’t play 5 day’s ago. So there’s a real chance he might suffer a setback or aggravate his elbow and Milroe will be in there. They cut Velus Jones to make room to put the new QB on the roster tomorrow.
This is not the first time that Josh jones has out preformed Cross. Almost every time he has filled in for him his PFF grades were better.
We have some very good backups that probably will be starters next year as current starters get too costly.
Milroe? Just hand the ball off or dump passes. I have yet to see he can read complex defenses