Give Props to Brunell

[JWsleep]

My old soccer coach had a saying: "Lose, analyze; win, criticize." (CRT knowswhat I'm talking about!) Criticizing after a win is a way to get better, instead of just letting the fact that we won wash away a mulitude of sins. If Troy Vincent doesn't get the block, if Sean doesn't put on his supernman cape, if Nick doesn't wait for the perfect gust of wind, would that make MBs play aby better or worse? It wouldn't. We need to think about this rationally, as Matty said.

My feeling is that MB made some big throws on some key 3rd downs, and for that he deserves our praise. But he is still very late on his reads--that's why you get the "almost Ints." The plays come open, he sees them late, and he doesn't have the arm to force it in. Hence, the D can recover. It happened a bunch of times, and even on the good long throws, if he sees them quick, they are seriously wide open. Look at the tape. Also, he didn't rush for a first down on two occasions when it sure looked like he could have. He threw one on a thrid and 2-3, and he ran out of bounds on another. He is worried about being hit. (I would worry too, no doubt!!!), and it is affecting his play.

I am convinced, like John Madden, that MB is not the right QB for our system. He didn't lose us the game, and he did make some clutch plays. But he (and the offense) dissapeared for mcuh of the second half, as they have all year. Compare his play to Tony Romo (NOT Peyton. Come on!). Honestly, who was the better QB? Brunnell was part of the win, so he gets props (I suppose Arch does too, by that logic--he tackled Whitten before he got a TD, at least). But he was just average, IMHO, and ARE threw the biggest pass of the day for the skins. See what happens when you pressure a D deep? Good things.

MB won a repreieve for now (by "fighting his guts out," no doubt). But that's it. And he won the repreieve becuase Troy Vincent blocked his first kick, and the best TO returner in the league picked up the ball, not becuase of his great QB play.