You know Long is thinking, "damn, they wouldn't have flagged me for holding if this still was college." I have faith in Long, but he's got a lot of work ahead of him.
Meh, pretty hard to hate on a rookie in his regular season debut... no matter how high he was picked... I think he'll be fine, he did a pretty nice job for the most part.
They did not have as bad of a game as advertised. The fact is that the receivers left Pennington high and dry and thus the OL gets the blame for their inability to get open. It was terrible, none of them could fight off the jam or do anything after that.
Welcome to the NFL, Jake, where the Dolphins do NOT receive favorable looks from the officials, and we are regarded as merely a speedbump for the greatest team of all time, the Patriots.
As bad as we were, we had our chances to win the game. once our guys gel we will be on our we to something special. rome wasn't built in a day.
Speaking of penatlties, what was with the jets delay of game calls the official missed? Surely other people saw that, right?
I saw it and with the way I reacted I'm sure everyone in the neighborhood heard me and parents had to cover their childrens ears to avoid from them being scarred for life.
I thought the offensive line did an average job and I saw one play where Gholston was in the game and got absolutely stuffed by Long. That made me smile
The OL made mistakes, but they're clearly on the right track for the first time in a long time. They're the unit I'm least worried about (with the linebackers being a close second).
I was fairly pleased with the linebackers overall. They were able to get solid pressure from the outside and were decent from inside. Four sacks isn't too bad. Not sure what happened against the run however.
I thought the offensive line played average. If I were to grade them I'd give them C+/B-.. I never once said to myself, "my God this Line is terrible" like I have before. I think Long will get it in that when he's beat, he's beat and eventually he'll get used to what he can and can't get away with. The WR corps is a problem. Everything being so new and players being so young didn't help either. I could go on and on.
I loved the fact that Big Jake is willing to do what it takes to defend his Qb.. and he was busted twice for doing so..... He'll catch up to speed, he's willing.... WELCOME TO THE NFL BIG JAKE.......
I would be encouraged if the WR core had talent but the 2, 3, and 5 guys are for the most part all hard work and little talent guys anyway. The 2 and 3 especially have almost no physical talent, both slow, and one with very poor size. Had the WRs even been in their early 2007 form we would have won this game with ease but unfortunately Chambers was traded by Cameron. I wonder if we would have traded him with Parcells around?... Still never understand why we did that. It was supposed to be Chambers from the slot, Hagan from the SE spot, and Ginn Jr. as the flanker but Cameron just wanted his guys around.
I said it in a bunch of threads last week when people said our O-line was better than the Jets D-Line. Its not so, we are young and will take our lumps for a while. The Jets manhandled them on running plays.
He will learn from it. I would rather Long take a holding penalty then allow Pennington to get hammered, and possibly fumble the ball. Jake will get better, but he did mess up a few times......on to next week.
I wasn't directing it towards you, if I were I would have quoted your post. Just from a general standpoint I have seen a few posts hating on Long...
Jake will have bumps along the way, which will make him better for it. The offensive line will get better by working together. It is just the first game of the year. Everyone take a deep breath.
I think Long did well today. He held his own out there. Sure he got beat a few times, show me an LT on any given sunday who doesnt at least once though. It happens, its bound to happen a few more times. I expect to see him take a few more penalties in the next while. Its going to take a bit of time to adjust to the speed of the game. All in all, i thought he held his own out there today for the most part. Definately an encouraging sign.
I loved the fact that even though Long blew a couple of assignments he was able to stick an arm out and stop or slow down the player about to get through the line. He obviously is one strong dude. Yeah he got a penalty or two for doing it, but on another day he might actually get away with it. It has to be better to slow a guy down and risk the penalty than to let him get to the QB. I think he did pretty good for his first game and I am sure he will improve.
Jake will learn. Those penalties are things that can be fixed. What bothers me is that the line, IMO, looked better last year. So what happened?!?
"Man, he's going to be a hell of a player," Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said of Jake Long "He kind of reminds me of Jumbo Elliott," said Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis, who also spoke highly of Dolphins rookie guard Donald Thomas. "Once he really figures it out, he's going to be really good." Long day for top pick -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
That's how I see the hardhsips both faced yesterday. Thomas with stunt recognition and Long with getting off balance far too much. These are the things we should watch as the season progresses to gauge how each player is coming along. Right now Long is getting off balnce way too much and Thomas is failing to pick up stunts and blitzes. If for some reason they were to never improve they would be busts but the reality is this si the stuff rookies go through. They should be better by the end of the season and should be much better next season
If he continues to struggle like rookies tend to do, you'll see someone post this seriously. Only a matter of time.
Calvin Pace taught Jake Long a thing or two about the NFL. One sack by Pace on him and forced him into his two penalties. Give him time though, not everyone is Joe Thomas or Orlando Pace right off the bat.
No and it may sound wrong but I thought it was serious and the first thing that popped into my mind was good thing we didn't give him that contract extension. Glad he got up and came right back in the game he is our best lineman right now.