The problem with Osweiler throwing to Hopkins is that he quits caring about ball placement as soon as he throws the ball to him. I think some because of Hopkins high catch radius, Brock's gunslinger mentality comes out. It's a real problem. For the love of God, these two need to run some extra practice after team practice every day. Practice ball placement and figure out where the ball needs to be. If Brock can correct this, he'd be a fine quarterback. That's four interceptions in two weeks when targeting Hopkins
This is an exaggeration. His ball placement is very erratic to begin with. The problem with Hopkins throws is that he keeps throwing to him at terrible times when hop is draped in coverage.
His ball placement as erratic, yes. But because Hopkins is Hopkins, he feels like he can force the ball in there to him and he'll catch it. That's fine if you have impeccable precision.
He should throw it up.. he throws it low and short. Even with Hopkins high catch radius. That makes him a DB, and not a WR.
On my Word notes, I have 4 of his 6 ints attempting to throw at Hopkins, 2 more that hopkins broke up and another one that was intercepted but the KC defender landed out of bounds. Not worried about them since it's that 50/50 ball rick smith is always talking about, but right now it's like a 5/95 ball. Brock has already a nice grasp of the offense, but his ball placement on that 50/50 ball, what seems would be the easiest of his throws, is way off. It should be thrown to where only Hopkins can get to it.
Hopkins doesn't get huge separation so you have to actually throw it where he can go get it and use his catch radius, not right at the defender
Agreed, the chemistry with the #1 WR right now is bad. Not on the same page at all. Also, osweilers on-the-move accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. Considering the OL in front of him, something he needs to improve on quickly. He is athletic, he seems like a smart guy. I think that contributes to more frustration than anything....that he should be doing better but seems like play calling, the o line and his own hubris leave us wanting.
I'm just going to say this... After the game was over, I watched the final drive of Flacco trying to drive the field on the Raiders to get a chance at a field goal and a win. I came away thinking that I was glad we have Brock. Flacco looked bad.
Forced targets. Brock is good for at least one horrible force per game.... Hopkins is the usual target.
Part of the problem is that Nuk pops a lot of passes up making them interceptable. The first interception today was like that, Nuk got part of a hand on it, and he just popped it up to give it to the DB instead of letting it go. He tries for too many one handed catches that he can't make and it costs the team. Last game he did that on a pass where he ran a bad route so not only was he not where he needed to be, he handed the other team an interception by popping the ball up in the air to hang long enough to be caught. If I'm Osweiler, I don't target Nuk unless he's wide open.
Brock's issues are his accuracy both under pressure and on the move. He's a drop back and step into it passer. He has never been good outside of that. With how terrible the interior line play has been, and his poor accuracy under duress, he's forcing everything. Hopkins doesn't get good separation most of the time. You most be able to place the ball at all times where only Hopkins can make the catch. Brock has shown the ability to do so, but only within a clean pocket. This Oline first and foremost is the biggest problem of the offense, and it has been this way for quite some time. You have QB with limitations, and a poor offensive line. All of that added to a coaching staff that isn't utilizing players to their strengths due to stubbornness, and you have a case for one of the worst offenses in the league.
On the radio, both guys agreed last week that the throw was on Brock on that pick. He threw to the wrong shoulder of Hopkins, which he does often enooften If he can get better with his ball placement, he will be just fine. I'm judging him with kid gloves right now, and he's doing just fine. He's a bit of a gunslinger, which for franchise has never had, sans Fitzpatrick. I think a big part of that is that our fans don't know how to deal with it. Had you told me we'd be 3-1 after four weeks before the season started, I'd be happy with it.
The pass I'm talking about was 100% on Nuk, it was a back shoulder throw and for whatever reason he ran a bit to the left instead of straight out which put him a step to the left of where they needed to be. It wasn't the only time they ran that route in that game and if you look at the 2 plays back to back you see that the ball is thrown in the same place, the only difference is that Nuk is a little to the left on the interception. Either way I expect things to get better as Nuk and Osweiler develop some chemistry, it's just going to take some time. With as many weapons as the Texans have with Fuller, Strong, Fiedorowicz, Lamar Miller, and Griffin there's just no reason to force things that aren't there and he's doing too much of that lately.
Easy fix. Run plays for Hopkins. Plays that don't require a super accurate throw. They run plays for The V often enough. Get Hopkins rhythm up by tossing him the 8-10 yard passes when he has 1 on 1 coverage.
They have no chemistry for whatever reason. So my hope, with their next 15 play script to start the next game they give him some bubble screens and single wide wide packages in those 15 plays.
