In The Pocket: Justin Fields' struggles, Tua Tagovailoa's ascent, Sam Howell's flashes, and more
Sep 21, 2023
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Justin Fields' struggles with the Bears' offense, Tua Tagovailoa's praise, Sam Howell's impressive performance, and Eric Bieniemy's discussion are the most interesting topics in this podcast.
Sam Howell showcases calmness and comfort in Washington's offense, building confidence within the team.
Eric Bieniemy brings familiarity and smooth transition to Washington's offense with concepts from his time in Kansas City.
Washington's effective use of screens and impressive play design in their offense creates problems for opposing defenses.
Deep dives
Sam Howell impresses with comfort and calmness in Washington's offense
Sam Howell, the quarterback for the Washington football team, showcased his comfort and calmness in the team's offense. Despite it only being his second year in the offense, he looked poised and handled the game well. Howell's ability to stay calm and composed in the pocket stood out, and he seemed unfazed by the pressure. This attitude can be invaluable for a young quarterback and helps build confidence within the team.
Eric Bieniemy brings the familiarity of Kansas City's offense to Washington
Eric Bieniemy, the offensive coordinator for the Washington football team, brings the familiarity of the offense from his time in Kansas City to Washington. Having worked closely with Andy Reid in the Chiefs' offense, Bieniemy has implemented similar concepts and play designs in Washington. This familiarity allows the team to execute the offense effectively and create a smooth transition for the players.
Washington's effective use of screens and impressive play design
One of the standout aspects of Washington's offense is their effective use of screens and impressive play design. The team utilized screens to great effect in their recent game, causing problems for the opposing defense. The play design and execution were particularly noteworthy, with well-timed blocks and creative route combinations. The success of these screens indicates the team's ability to execute and capitalize on their offensive strategies.
Struggling Offense with Disparate Background Coaching Staff
The podcast discusses the challenges faced by an offense with a coaching staff from different backgrounds. The lack of shared history among the coaches makes it difficult to distill the offensive identity, especially in the early stages of the season. The offense struggles with a lack of receiving talent and speed, resulting in increased man coverage and press coverage from opposing defenses. The run game also suffers due to the lack of threat on the outside. However, the quarterback shows resilience and pocket presence despite getting hit frequently. The offense is still a work in progress as the coaching staff tries to find ways to overcome their deficiencies.
Miami Dolphins' High-Powered Offense with Speed
The podcast highlights the success of the Miami Dolphins' offense led by Tua Tagovailoa. The team currently leads the league in success rate and explosive play rate. The key factor is the speed of their playmakers, which scares opposing teams and leads to big plays. Despite not relying solely on deep go routes, the offense excels at using speed to create separation. The innovative concepts and well-designed screen game contribute to their offensive efficiency. Tua's willingness to stand in the pocket and make tough throws demonstrates his confidence. The offense's ability to overcome adversity and rally back from being down in games is another encouraging aspect. Overall, the combination of speed, concepts, and coaching has made the Dolphins' offense unstoppable so far.
On the Week 2 edition of In The Pocket, Robert Mays and Chase Daniel dig deep into Justin Fields' struggles, trying to find a path forward for the Bears' quarterback. They also heap praise on Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel, revel in their enjoyment of Sam Howell and Eric Bieniemy, and also discuss the play through two weeks of Bryce Young and Josh Allen.
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