Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Romeo You In Troubullll!




No, I'm not talking about his not making them wear pads and get injured and stuff, nor the fact that he didn't game-plan for the 4-3 of the Giants. And all you wanna-be NFL head coaches need to stick to your day-jobs.

It's ok to pick on the man--I do all the time (and am about to). It's okay to have a contrary opinion IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT and IF YOU'RE NOT A MICROMANAGING EGOMANIACAL COMPULSIVE SECOND-GUESSER WITH 20/20 HINDSIGHT, which most of you are.

I mean, RAC can't string five lousy words together without the same people (always) jumping on the internet to contradict them. And it doesn't matter what he does or doesn't do--you're just "gonna GIT him". And I'll tell you why: Because he seems like a big ole teddy bear and doesn't stomp around grabbing facemasks and screaming at people. You think in stereotypes, and assume too much.

MOST teams do not game-plan in preseason. MOST coaches baby their veterans in training camp to make sure they enter the regular season healthy. Yeah, they got spanked but good, but it DIDN'T COUNT, and the sky isn't falling. What bunch of BRATS you are!

But I digress:

Ok Jamal Lewis and Willie McGinest will miss Detroit. Moreover, Alex Hall has been workinjg with the first team in McGinests" place. (That's a reporter: More likely he's sharing reps with Orr).

This means that this kid will get to play with the ones in Detroit. It could mean a whole lot more than that. I'm trying not to get my hopes up about him actually wreaking havoc and being ready to start this soon, but still...I can't wait.

I mean, when Sam Rutigliano describes a guy as a cross between Chip Banks and Clay Matthews, you gotta get excited. Of course, those guys were both high picks from big schools, plus they were true linebackers. Hall is from Little League, and played defensive end. And yet, he's already done enough in training camp to force an actual compliment out of Romeo. (No really! I think it was something extreme like "He's ahead of schedule", or "He might be able to contribute on defense"--maybe even both!!!)

Hall has the speed and quickness, and his strength has surprised them. He's 6'5", but has extra-long arms, and has reach on a lot of offensive linemen. It's a big advantage for him for both balance and winning the battle of the hands. An offensive lineman will always try to get "into" a lighter player so that he can overpower him, and get away with grabbing his jersey and stuff. Hall can/does reach out to keep them away (and legal).

I just can't wait to see him do something. I truly don't expect him to open the season as a starter. It's highly doubtful that he can match McGinest working against the run, and he needs to learn more dirty passrushing tricks, and has to learn to cover (always the most difficult thing to learn). But if he puts a hurt on Kitna and company, we'll see more of him sooner.

And I have to give Romeo (or, more likely, Tucker) credit for not being all Martonian, and actually giving the kid a chance.

I suspect that Chud doesn't have as much influence on Romeo in re Rodney Harrisonfield. It goes without saying that Jason Wright will start the game, but they'll simply HAVE to give ma man extensive first-team reps.

We all know what will happen, right? Harrison 5-plus YPC, Wright 4-minus YPC.

Jeez, what has the guy got to do? I mean, he comes in as a rookie at 190 lbs. soaking wet. All the same, even then, he went right up the gut and got yards. (I read some comments about his "tendancy" to bounce outside too much. You're hallucinating. He bounces outside about as often as Jamal Lewis does. Even Lewis won't run head-first into a pile-up unless there's no other way to go.)

He couldn't pass-protect for beans. But he comes in in his second season pumped-up to 217 lbs! He picks up blitzes and stuff! What does he get? Inactive. "Needs to do it on specials.", RAC says! This after he goes with Jamal Lewis in the offseason to get stronger and faster (Lewis's personal trainer is awesome.)

(There's more to it. I believe he was running sloppy pass-patterns, not concentrating, etc. Conversely the much less gifted Wright is a maniac.)

But in his limitted opportunities at running back, Harrison has done what he's always done,. plus broke some tackles and muscled his way for extra yards!

And dig it: Quinn has been practicing with him, and LIKES to throw to running backs who can take a dumpoff to the house!

You just watch this game: Wright will do okay...I mean I LIKE the guy! But Harrison will, as usual, do better. Will it matter?

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