Whitehurst's Second Drive: What Everyone Else Did

by John Morgan on Aug 16, 2010 3:51 PM PDT

It takes a ton of moving parts aligning for a rush to be successful. Julius Jones can attest.

Russell Okung shadowed the right end through the first pass attempt and seemed to lose control as the two rounded the edge. Then, at a critical point, he cleared, dropping the end and neutralizing the pressure.
Max Unger was blown back, controlled and then shed by Jovan Haye on Justin Forsett's rush for two. Unger does not look good.
Neither does Joe Toledo, but Toledo is a ceremonial local kid.
Golden Tate is flashing open underneath. The goal is to get him open in space, but until he earns trust with the quarterback, that goal will not be reached. He was a nonentity for most of the game.
Ben Obomanu ran a good looking post that was both technically sound and field aware, as it effectively cut through three zones. Then he snatched a pass away from his body in heavy traffic. Good stuff.
It took a lot of good blocking to allow Forsett's five yard rush around right end. Okung moved left to right and threw another nasty looking cut block. I am digging this new found skill of Okung's. Anthony McCoy pancaked a defender. And, wonders never cease, Deon Butler executed two quality blocks. One that left the defender on the turf after the defender attempted to redirect and another that walled the defender in an allowed Forsett a lane up the right sideline. Because of his size, Butler's strength is consistently underestimated, but kid is feisty.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

You gotta love a little guy that blocks big.

I had heard that Deon Butler was a very willing blocker from a couple scouting reports I read after we drafted him.

by Cannonater on Aug 16, 2010 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

WR blocking was maybe one of the biggest keys to Denver's late 1990's sucess in running the ball.

Both Rod Smith and Ed McCafferey were big and tough blockers.

I wonder if Gibbs at all influenced the acquisition of BMW, what with having this kind of experience.

by djafrot on Aug 16, 2010 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Ed McCaffrey's

block in XXXII rules my world to this day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZDUh9yboqI

Your culture is primitive; yet so funky!

by jubelthebear on Aug 16, 2010 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Looked that up on YouTube...

Nice, but still not my favorite WR play…THIS is! (And probably always will be)

by Tigloki on Aug 16, 2010 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Largent...UNLOADED and GOT THE BALL!>!!110!!

I still get chills watching that. Blades/Largent is probably the coolest Seahawk receiver tandem ever. Though Engram/Jurevicius is good too.

Though they sink through the Sea, they shall rise again...Death shall have no dominion...

by Cheddar28 on Aug 17, 2010 12:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Deon looked good on Saturday

As did Obomanu. But this:

Unger does not look good.

This worries me.

by Buster! on Aug 16, 2010 4:27 PM PDT reply actions

Same

I’ve been pulling hard for Unger, but it doesn’t appear he’s performing at the next level.

"Pass rushers enter the world of Okung but never leave." - JM

by Nick Andron on Aug 16, 2010 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoy reading Field Gulls. Your analysis is always interesting, and on the rare occasions that I want to disagree with you, I find that it’s just wishful thinking on my part.

Case in point: Unger is a guy I really want to see do well. I don’t want to hear that he’s struggling. But plugging my ears and chanting “LALALALALALA” won’t erase his struggles (I guess).

Also, your accolades are usually on target as well. “Because of his size, Butler’s strength is consistently underestimated, but kid is feisty.” Now I have another specific to watch for in games. I used to just watch the plays, and hang my whole sense of enjoyment on the outcome of the play rather than how that result was achieved. Thanks in large part to my regular reading of Field Gulls, I have several things to watch for in each play and replay, and I can enjoy a good play as many as five or six times for five or six different specific elements.

Anyway…thanks!

by Tigloki on Aug 16, 2010 6:04 PM PDT reply actions

Appreciate it.

I do love the football and any way I can share that love makes me happy.

by John Morgan on Aug 16, 2010 6:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Whitehurst

Speaking of things I don’t want to think about…I am trying really hard not to read too much into the QB play in the first preseason game, or into Pete’s glowing comments about Whitehurst after the game.

As a HUGE Matt fan, do I worry now, or go with first instincts and let it ride until we get more evidence one way or the other?

by Tigloki on Aug 16, 2010 6:14 PM PDT up reply actions