Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc
The 9ers will jump everything and choke all the short routes if they’re smart because Grandpa Phil may be smart but he just can’t throw the ball anymore.
It doesn’t matter how smart you are if defenses can effectively ignore everything more than 15 yards downfield. You can’t give NFL defenses that kind of advantage.
There’s a part of me that wishes we had just rode it out with Leonard.
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Personally, I think that part of Rivers problem vs Seattle, beyond the fact that the Seahawks are pretty good, was that he didn’t have much practice time with his receivers. I’m not sure how much the experience of a full game and three extra practices will help, but I have to assume that he’s somewhat farther along in building rapport with his teammates than he was a week ago.
The real problem isn’t his lack of arm strength. It is possible for a Quarterback to succeed using a short and intermediate passing game. The bigger problem is the absence of both bookend Offensive Tackles. Pittman, Pierce, Downs, and company might not have time to work their way open before an immobile Rivers is inundated by pass rushers.