Howling for Howell

Sam Howell through 6 games (league wide):

Completions- 5th
Attempts- 5th
Completion %- 10th
Yards- 9th
TDs- 9th
Interception %- 24th
Sacked %- 32nd
QBR- T9th
 
Howell pretty much in the middle of the pack. If he didn't lead the league in sacks, the EPA numbers would be better.


Turnover worthy plays versus big time throws. He's in the right quadrant.
 
I mean, he’s had 7 starts with two offenses in 2 years. He of course has things to improve on. But it’s hard not to be very impressed with the young man.
 
Boone said:
I mean, he’s had 7 starts with two offenses in 2 years. He of course has things to improve on. But it’s hard not to be very impressed with the young man.
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In some ways, I'm actually more excited about him than RGIII. Don't get me wrong, I was all over RGIII, but it was immediate success combined with a style of play that I always worried about the bubble bursting. It feels like with Howell, we have a good core that just needs to be built upon.
 
Very optimistic about Howell and he's a big reason why I tune in to watch this team.

What I don't get? The local beat pounding the drum about all the sacks he's taking.
Yes, it is a problem but it's also what happens with young Qbs, along with interceptions, while they are learning. Throw in Boone's point about this being Sam's 2nd offense in as many years and I chalk this up as the normal bumps in the road for developing Qbs.

I'm old enough to remember Mark Rypien's troubles with INTs and ball security and Troy Aikman getting beat to a pulp while fighting Steve Walsh for the starting Qb spot in Dallas. Or Peyton Manning throwing picks galore as a rookie. It's all in the process of development.

Would also like to point out while some of these sacks are on Sam, it's really a mix of Sam, playcalling and the Oline. One example as regards to play calling: After the St.Juste INT in the endzone the offense comes out and tries to take a deep shot. Why? You're trying to eat clock. Where's the run game? Quick game? No reason to drop Sam back for a home run ball. IMO, the last 4 offensive possessions Sunday were very sketchy by EB. Let's not forget he has to figure things out too.

Six starts going on seven. Let the young man grow and for gosh sakes, get him some linemen, a TE and a run game!
 
Great post DieselPwr44. Here's the other thing... I know we don't want the QB 'holding onto the ball too long'. But obviously, the downside of 'holding onto the ball too long' is getting sacked. What we don't consider is that there have been many completions made because Howell is hanging in there under tremendous pressure and getting the ball out at the last moment. He probably 'held onto the ball too long' on those passes too, it's all a matter of degree. I think he is a smart kid and while he's likely taking unnecessary sacks because he is very competitive and wants to making something positive happen, I think it's reasonable to expect the game will continue to slow down for him and he will learn to make quicker decisions.
 



Yet he has very few 'turnover worthy' plays. He had an absolute bomb of a game against Buffalo in a situation where things were crumbling around him. Outside of that he's been very good with the football.
 
Howell is the best thing about this season so far. I’m one of those people that is concerned about the sacks. Yes other QBs have taken a pounding but we havent exactly played a murderer’s row of defenses the past few weeks. The Bears and the Falcons have 6 sacks combined outside of playing us. Against us they had, what, 10?

That’s not just bad. That’s historically bad. That can make a young QB very punchy. I wouldn’t mind if we ran the ball a little more often. If we let Robinson run downhill a little more and soften up some of these softer defenses. The team leans on Howell too much, and that’s to his credit, but it could get him hurt.

Howell is the brightest spot on the team right now. I would like to keep him upright if we can.
 
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You have to look at the throws in context of the whole team’s perfornance. Our rush game sucks because our OL can’t run block. When your RBs are consistently met with a wall of defenders you are going to pass - a lot. You pass a lot and the other team k it’s you are going to pass a lot, they bring pressure and there will be more sacks. We’ve also fallen behind early because the defense takes a half to wake up. You fall behind early, same thing, you pass a lot and they know you are going to pass a lot.

Yes - a lot of these sacks are on Howell. But it’s also the result of larger team issues.
 
I think many people are sleeping on Atlanta, especially on their defense.

Through 6 games they are 4th in the league in yards allowed, 11th in rushing yards allowed, 4th in passing yards allowed, and 14th in points allowed per game.

Compare that to Washington‘s defense who is 29th, 23rd, 27th, and 29th respectively.

If Atlanta had an average NFL QB they would be formidable.
 
That’s why I think, if Kirk was willing to accept a trade, that would be a potential destination.
 
Boone said:
That’s why I think, if Kirk was willing to accept a trade, that would be a potential destination.
Click to expand...
Agree. Plus it looks like 9-8 will win that division. So only Carolina is out of it. But they won’t do it because they want to prove Ridder is the guy. We see the same thing with Rivera. Instead of making the move to win, coaches make the moves to try and prove their personnel decisions were right.
 
Yet another thing I like about Kyle Shannahan. The handling of the Trey Lance situation had to be a bit embarrassing but he was a big boy and moved on because he knows how to win.

I want that kind of coach and GM here.
 
No clue about the accuracy of this but interesting discussion point.

 
Interesting comparison here.
One note - Cousins was playing behind an OLine anchored by Williams and Scherff.

 
Those stats are pretty good especially if you consider the Bills game an outlier. He didn't have much of a chance in the Giants game, but I think that game doesn't represent an outlier just a really bad game under impossible circumstances.
 
Incredible he is doing so well statistically with that volume of sacks. I mean, really incredible.
 
He'd be over 2K in passing yards without the sacks.
 
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