3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

During this 3-game losing streak, the age-old philosophy of winning football games by dominating the middle of the field has never been more apparent than it has been these last 3 games in the Super Dome. The play of these players should point to exactly where our FA & draft targets should go.

Goodwin: Driven off the LOS on short yardage for a center is the worst possible thing that can happen. Can we please have Lelito hold down this position?

Bunkley/Jenkins: Neither one can maintain gap integrity in the middle. Rushing yards of 144, 186, & 215 in 3 straight games is just down-right terrible...and bad. NOTE: I do wish Bunkley a good recovery. Always hate any time I see a player go down with any kind of injury.

Hawthorne: Good Lawd. It doesn't help our NT play is poor-to-awful, but Hawthorne isn't even average MLB enough to compensate for bad D-line play.

Grant it, there have been many others with bad games over this 3 game stretch, but these 3 have stood out to me the most in these losing efforts as needing to be benched or replaced or motivated or cut or whatever.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

I'd like to see more of Kasim Edebali and Ronald Powell,same with SJB, We need to see if these have anything to offer long term

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

Edibali played in the 2nd half and looked just as bad as everyone else did.

Not sure about Powell tho.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

Good point. I wish everyone could run stuff like Hicks, and then let outside lbs rush. At the same time, I think with decent tackling and good situational football, this team could have a lot more win.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

Goodwin (with the rest of the O-line) has been as big of an issue this year as the all the defensive issues.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

Amen! We know Edebali plays with some real passion and Powell has the size, strength and speed to potentially make some plays so let's turn them loose! Forget SJB though... He's busy "developing." We'll throw undrafted rookies out there for better or worse though.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

Are you being sarcastic here?

Hicks has been awful against the run as well... one of this years most disappointing players.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

All three positions need to be addressed in the draft. We can't afford any more Loomis free agent deals. He hasn't really hit on too many free agents of late and our money is tied up in a few "key" free agent signings.

We also need to address guard, right tackle, wide receiver, corner back, and safety while we're at it. That shouldn't be too difficult because we draft much better earlier on in the draft and it looks like we will get high draft picks this year if we continue this slide. That is unfortunate but true.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

There was a thread on here earlier asking if we are "tough enough". SF, CIN, and BAL are "tough" teams. They are solid in the middle of the field on both sides of the ball. We lost all 3 at home with the last 2 being pretty sad.

It seems our front office & coaching staff are enamored with "bright, shiny objects". Corners and wide outs are great to have, but if you can't win the battle in the middle of the field, drafting corners & wideouts are pointless if the others teams are:

1) cramming it down your throat with the running game at will...exactly how many shut-down corners do you need to draft to stop this from happening?
2) stuffing your running game between the tackles...most defenses look good when an offense is forced to become one-dimensional.
3) putting constant QB pressure from between the tackles...that makes any future HoF QB look average.

A good, physical football team wins the middle of the field on both sides of the ball. And it travels well regardless of weather.

Re: 3 Game Exposure - C/NT/MLB
 

From the few plays I saw, Edabaldi was hustling to the ball. Didn't think he was bad though.