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After reading people accuse Whitmer of standing in the pocket too long, and having happy feet, in the same damn thread. I decided to review the sacks from today (available on espn.go.com). Unfortunately we can't see what Whitmer sees (or doesn't) downfield. Here are my thoughts, followed by the play.
1) I see our slot receiver running a quick route, and he's open, and Whitmer wants to throw him the ball. But the OLB is blitzing off the edge in the passing lane. Whitmer is left trying to force the ball over him (risking a pick) or breaking away. There's no time for a check down, the blitzed is coming in unblocked. There's also another defender coming off his outside edge, limiting his options. I don't see happy feet here.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11517734
2) Here I see Whitmer take a four step drop, and looks like he wants to throw it. Was someone open? Not sure. What is obvious is the DE beating the RT and forcing Whitmer to make a decision. I don't see enough time for him to look at a check down, or even come off his first option. Maybe he should have made the throw, we need another angle. But he didn't stand in the pocket too long, he only had time to look at his first option.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11517852
3) This next one is difficult to dissect. The ball is snapped at :04. At :06 one CB is looking at Whitmer waiting for the ball, the other one appeared to be in good position to make a play. I think Whitmer was looking for Davis here. By :07 Mateas has been pushed right into the lane Whitmer was trying to throw it. There was an opening to the right for a split second. But by :08 the DE came off the LT and sacks Whitmer.
Whitmer misses Marriner running across the middle here. But Mateas had been pushed right into his face, after his first option (or two?) were taken away. Whitmer should know he's going to be there and should be looking for it. But I'm not sure he could have gotten him the ball anyway because he had no space to set himself and throw the ball.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518082
4) Two words: total breakdown.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518118
5) This sack happens within three seconds. You can't see the receivers when he's sacked. You could argue the ball needs to be out quicker than 3 seconds, but the receivers didn't seem to be running any quick routes, and 2 seconds isn't exactly standing in the pocket all day.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518191
6) People will probably say Whitmer has happy feet on this one. I can see why. But I see Boise St. rush 4. 2 of them get to Whitmer. We had 6 guys in to protect Whitmer against 4 guys rushing the QB and 2 of them get Whitmer. Was he nervous in the pocket? Yeah. Why? It was collapsing due to the stunts, and the defense dropped 7 guys into coverage on 3 receivers. We can't see if any are open, but we can count and the numbers were not in our favor. Whitmer's fault? Not what I see.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518577
7) I see Whitmer drop back, he has a split second to make a throw. None of the receivers in the screen are open, he steps up into the pocket which is exactly what he should do, and he gets sacked from the side. Another breakdown in blocking.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518678
Happy feet? Staying in the pocket too long? That's not what I see. I see coverage sacks, breakdowns, a perfectly called blitz, and guys just getting beat. But Diaco is right, we're young at the OL so we can hope they improve with time and experience.
1) I see our slot receiver running a quick route, and he's open, and Whitmer wants to throw him the ball. But the OLB is blitzing off the edge in the passing lane. Whitmer is left trying to force the ball over him (risking a pick) or breaking away. There's no time for a check down, the blitzed is coming in unblocked. There's also another defender coming off his outside edge, limiting his options. I don't see happy feet here.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11517734
2) Here I see Whitmer take a four step drop, and looks like he wants to throw it. Was someone open? Not sure. What is obvious is the DE beating the RT and forcing Whitmer to make a decision. I don't see enough time for him to look at a check down, or even come off his first option. Maybe he should have made the throw, we need another angle. But he didn't stand in the pocket too long, he only had time to look at his first option.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11517852
3) This next one is difficult to dissect. The ball is snapped at :04. At :06 one CB is looking at Whitmer waiting for the ball, the other one appeared to be in good position to make a play. I think Whitmer was looking for Davis here. By :07 Mateas has been pushed right into the lane Whitmer was trying to throw it. There was an opening to the right for a split second. But by :08 the DE came off the LT and sacks Whitmer.
Whitmer misses Marriner running across the middle here. But Mateas had been pushed right into his face, after his first option (or two?) were taken away. Whitmer should know he's going to be there and should be looking for it. But I'm not sure he could have gotten him the ball anyway because he had no space to set himself and throw the ball.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518082
4) Two words: total breakdown.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518118
5) This sack happens within three seconds. You can't see the receivers when he's sacked. You could argue the ball needs to be out quicker than 3 seconds, but the receivers didn't seem to be running any quick routes, and 2 seconds isn't exactly standing in the pocket all day.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518191
6) People will probably say Whitmer has happy feet on this one. I can see why. But I see Boise St. rush 4. 2 of them get to Whitmer. We had 6 guys in to protect Whitmer against 4 guys rushing the QB and 2 of them get Whitmer. Was he nervous in the pocket? Yeah. Why? It was collapsing due to the stunts, and the defense dropped 7 guys into coverage on 3 receivers. We can't see if any are open, but we can count and the numbers were not in our favor. Whitmer's fault? Not what I see.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518577
7) I see Whitmer drop back, he has a split second to make a throw. None of the receivers in the screen are open, he steps up into the pocket which is exactly what he should do, and he gets sacked from the side. Another breakdown in blocking.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=11518678
Happy feet? Staying in the pocket too long? That's not what I see. I see coverage sacks, breakdowns, a perfectly called blitz, and guys just getting beat. But Diaco is right, we're young at the OL so we can hope they improve with time and experience.
