Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

But then we only scored like 10 points in the first quarter all season. Doesn\'t that change the way we use the run game?

Just asking.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

My opinion is that the offensive line was largely responsible for our lack of scoring in the first quarter, the second quarter, the third quarter, and the fourth quarter.

Deuce had no room to run MOST of the time. Brooks had no time to throw MOST of the time.

I\'m not making this up. Is it that hard to believe?

Could Deuce have played better. Yes he could have.

Could Brooks have played better. Yes he could have.

Could McCarthy have called better playes. Yes.

But none of that changes the fact that our O-line caused our offense to struggle big time.

[Edited on 25/1/2005 by GumboBC]

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

No one denies that the line isn\'t getting it done.

I was just wondering if we weren\'t game planning well with what we had and teams know we want to run first so they could plan against the run.

It also raises the question of whether teams are afraid of the current QB beating them with his arm?

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

BMG --

Truth be known, I actullay respect your knowledge of the game. That is when I can get you on something other than Brooks ;)

Look, we can speculate on some of this other stuff.

But, I prefer to look at the \"knowns.\"

I know the offensive line caused Deuce and Brooks problems all year long.

I know stupid penalties put us in bad situations many times.

I know the defense gave up way too many points in almost every game.

I\'m really not trying to deflect Brooks from all blame. I\'m really not.

What I am trying to point out is there were way too many other problems to lay it on Brooks.

Same thing goes for Deuce. Deuce could have 3 more years like this year if things stand pat on our O-line. It still wouldn\'t be Deuce\'s fault totally!!

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

I totally agree with you that there was plenty of blame to go around (from the very top on down) all year long.

I think where the sticking point is, what to do with the current QB as we plan for next season.

It certainly isn\'t ALL his fault. But he is a guy who is due for a bigger cap number this year. He sounds like he\'s making noises for a big Mike Vick like blockbuster new deal. His ego seems to be blinding him to his own limits. However, he\'s in his physical prime and his trade value will probably never be higher and we could get a high pick and a proven player for him right now.

All things being equal, those of us that would like to deal him are convinced that even if we fix every other problem on this team, we still can\'t trust him in the clutch. It\'s a perspective that even if we fixed everything else, we would be winning in spite of the current QB instead of because of him.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

You\'re certainly entitled to that opinion.

But, when you\'ve got so many other problems with the offense, it\'s not CLEAR cut that Brooks needs to go.

And that\'s the problem I have with the folks who are screaming for Brooks\' head.

Do you know how many times folks have laid the blame on the QB and been wrong?

Bradshaw, Elway, and more recently, Drew Brees!!

The list is a long one.

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

I\'m convinced.

It had escaped my attention that so many mediocre backs were making a 1000 yards these days.

As far as our play calling hurting Duece (whereas I\'ve come to suspect it is more on our OL), our Run-Pass distribution was 43-57 per 100 plays. It is not like Duece didn\'t touch the ball very often.

Our OLine was cruddy, our RB was stricktly average, no one is excited about any of our WR (except Horn, of course), how did we win 8 games? ... Must have been the QB. ;)

Pease drops hammer on Sullivan
 

Yep, definitely the QB.