I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

[Stewie]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

I may be old school, but I was taught that the RB should not be looking at the ball. It's the QB's responsibility to place it in the basket. The RB should be looking at the D.

[Oviedo]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

[youtube6wny96i]OcQzWMywcQY[/youtube6wny96i]

Here it is. After rewatching, it looks like it was Pouncey's fault to me.

Pouncey looks to have messed up the snap count and surprised Ben with the ball. Ngata goes on the snap. This why Legursky wasn't ready either and completely missed Ngata because he was probably waiting for the right snap count as well. Legursky's waiting on the right snap count to move and if the center screws up the snap, no Olineman has a chance against Ngata because he's keying in on the ball moving.

And as far as the handoff goes, Ben didn't have control of the ball. Didn't put it cleanly in Mendy's breadbasket. And if you watch Ben's head, he flinched a little bit when Ben was looking at Ngata and as a result Ben moved the ball up into Mendy's shoulder at the last second.

After watching that a second time, it's clear, it's mostly Pouncey's fault and a little Ben's fault. That's not on Mendy. And it's definitely not on Legursky who was waiting on the snap count to make his first move.

Looks like we all remembered it wrong. But if you rewatch, it's clear as day the snap was the issue.

You saw the exact same thing that I saw. The snap count was screwed up and Ben wasn't expecting the ball. Legursky probably hesitated but Ngata was watch the ball and as soon as it moved he exploded through the line.

[SteelTorch]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

Let me me say it loud and clear Ben did not play well yesterday. Perspective is saying that all his picks occurred after the scores was 21-7.

You've spouted this line all week like a friggin' parrot. I'll say it one more time: THAT IS NO EXCUSE! Playing from behind does not excuse poor play, and even down 21-7, you can still come back.

[feltdizz]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

Let me me say it loud and clear Ben did not play well yesterday. Perspective is saying that all his picks occurred after the scores was 21-7.

You've spouted this line all week like a friggin' parrot. I'll say it one more time: THAT IS NO EXCUSE! Playing from behind does not excuse poor play, and even down 21-7, you can still come back.

[grotonsteel]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

[youtube:1gi8vtfl]OcQzWMywcQY[/youtube:1gi8vtfl]

Here it is. After rewatching, it looks like it was Pouncey's fault to me.

Pouncey looks to have messed up the snap count and surprised Ben with the ball. Ngata goes on the snap. This why Legursky wasn't ready either and completely missed Ngata because he was probably waiting for the right snap count as well. Legursky's waiting on the right snap count to move and if the center screws up the snap, no Olineman has a chance against Ngata because he's keying in on the ball moving.

And as far as the handoff goes, Ben didn't have control of the ball. Didn't put it cleanly in Mendy's breadbasket. And if you watch Ben's head, he flinched a little bit when Ben was looking at Ngata and as a result Ben moved the ball up into Mendy's shoulder at the last second.

After watching that a second time, it's clear, it's mostly Pouncey's fault and a little Ben's fault. That's not on Mendy. And it's definitely not on Legursky who was waiting on the snap count to make his first move.

Looks like we all remembered it wrong. But if you rewatch, it's clear as day the snap was the issue.

You saw the exact same thing that I saw. The snap count was screwed up and Ben wasn't expecting the ball. Legursky probably hesitated but Ngata was watch the ball and as soon as it moved he exploded through the line.

I blame Pouncey and Doug. O-line had a horrible game.

[dsmith]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

I may be old school, but I was taught that the RB should not be looking at the ball. It's the QB's responsibility to place it in the basket. The RB should be looking at the D.

This has been mentioned twice now and is exactly what I thought when I read the OP. There is not a running back at any level that should be watching the ball be placed in his hands, even at Pop Warner. Perhaps the OP is confusing a receiver and a runner? I think with slow motion replays and pause buttons, viewers don't appreciate the real speed of the game. People seem to think that the running back has time to watch the ball be placed in his hands, rotate it so the NFL logo is showing, dust it off, securely tuck it and then look up to see where to run.

I don't mind blaming Mendy for things that are on him, in particular his double, triple and so on moves, but to blame this fumble on Mendenhall is just idiotic.

[Dee Dub]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

Let me me say it loud and clear Ben did not play well yesterday. Perspective is saying that all his picks occurred after the scores was 21-7.

You've spouted this line all week like a friggin' parrot. I'll say it one more time: THAT IS NO EXCUSE! Playing from behind does not excuse poor play, and even down 21-7, you can still come back.

Yeah but your portrayal isnt the whole story. I said this in response to those who came out and tried to blame Ben for this loss. And some alluded to his 3 picks. My contention was that the game was pretty much a loss before Ben even threw a pick.

I think Ben played bad. And I am not excusing his play.

Example...the pick that Reed made that was intended to Miller was a great play by Ben but a horrible throw. Reed was on the outside of the right hash mark while Miller was at the left hash mark. In fact Reed was actually going away from Miller. A strong throw and Reed never comes close. But Ben floated it and allowed Reed was able to come back and make a play on the throw.

[Dee Dub]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

I may be old school, but I was taught that the RB should not be looking at the ball. It's the QB's responsibility to place it in the basket. The RB should be looking at the D.

This has been mentioned twice now and is exactly what I thought when I read the OP. There is not a running back at any level that should be watching the ball be placed in his hands, even at Pop Warner. Perhaps the OP is confusing a receiver and a runner? I think with slow motion replays and pause buttons, viewers don't appreciate the real speed of the game. People seem to think that the running back has time to watch the ball be placed in his hands, rotate it so the NFL logo is showing, dust it off, securely tuck it and then look up to see where to run.

I don't mind blaming Mendy for things that are on him, in particular his double, triple and so on moves, but to blame this fumble on Mendenhall is just idiotic.

I dont give Mendenhall all the blame...but he is at fault for fumbling the ball. The O-line didnt do their job (blocking Ngata), Ben and Pouncey had problems with the snap that led to a delay in getting Mendy the ball, but Mendy still should have held on to the ball. Regardless of whether you are going to get blown up or not you need to make sure the ball is secure. Football is a game of getting hit..especially for a RB. It's going to happen. But you still need to secure the ball and not turn it over. And you can actually look the ball in with out really looking the ball in if you know what I mean. Mendy was totally fixed on Ngata and as a result he never took the hand off the way he should have.

And how one would think this train of thought is idiotic is beyond me...(I have played for a lot of coaches who feel this way).

It's like excusing Kyle Orton for losing the ball in the rain last night. Yes it was wet. Yes the ball was slippery. But this game is played in the rain and ball security is a must.

[dsmith]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

And how one would think this train of thought is idiotic is beyond me...(I have played for a lot of coaches who feel this way).

Yeah, that was uncalled for to be honest. It just feels that people are trying to blame this game on one person. This was a total team beat down from start to finish and I would not excuse anyone from blame.

I have honestly never heard any coach want the running back to watch the ball into his stomach. I am not saying that it may not happen, but it does not seem prudent and I would imagine if you slow motion watch most hand-offs in the NFL you would see most if not all running backs eyes on the defense when they are getting the ball.

If your point is similar to that if an NFL receiver can touch a ball, he should catch it and if a running back gets the ball he should not fumble it, I can see your point. I don't agree with it in this case, but I do at least understand that line of reasoning.

[sd steel]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

I coach running backs, and I played running back for 10+ years, and you never look the ball in to your belly. Mendenhall's eyes are exactly where they should be on the hole he was running, where Ngata was. A missed blocking assignment caused the fumble period. For a football guy I would expect DeeDub to know that it was not the back's fault. The play was blown up before it started and instead of blaming someone we would be better served admitting that Ngata anticipated the count and made a great play to cause a fumble.

[Snatch98]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

Blowing up the board with a WHOLE bunch of chicken little BS. Switch teams already. It's clear you'd do a better job in the front office or on the side line. I haven't read beyond the first few posts so I'm guessing this has been addressed further as it was already addressed once. Watching the reply of the Mendenhall fumble DOESN'T show just how quickly Ngata was on top of Mendenhall. In slow motion it looks like he's preoccupied with Ngata as evidenced by your comical breakdown. However at game speed Ben bobbles the hand off, quickly try to hand it to Rashard and Ngata is on top of him. CLEARLY Mendenhall's fault lol.

[Dee Dub]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

I coach running backs, and I played running back for 10+ years, and you never look the ball in to your belly. Mendenhall's eyes are exactly where they should be on the hole he was running, where Ngata was. A missed blocking assignment caused the fumble period. For a football guy I would expect DeeDub to know that it was not the back's fault. The play was blown up before it started and instead of blaming someone we would be better served admitting that Ngata anticipated the count and made a great play to cause a fumble.

Ok we agree to disagree. I am old school and am from the thought that you never fumble the ball no matter what.

And a RB looking the ball in isnt the same as a baseball infielder looking a baseball into his glove/stomach. But you have to use your peripherals to see/know where the ball is being given. Mendenhall had no idea where the hand-off was and as a result it squirts up the right side of his chest pad before Ngata ever hits him. Myself? I have a problem with that.

And again..I admit that there was more blame to go around for this than just on Mendenhall.

[Dee Dub]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

Blowing up the board with a WHOLE bunch of chicken little BS. Switch teams already. It's clear you'd do a better job in the front office or on the side line. I haven't read beyond the first few posts so I'm guessing this has been addressed further as it was already addressed once. Watching the reply of the Mendenhall fumble DOESN'T show just how quickly Ngata was on top of Mendenhall. In slow motion it looks like he's preoccupied with Ngata as evidenced by your comical breakdown. However at game speed Ben bobbles the hand off, quickly try to hand it to Rashard and Ngata is on top of him. CLEARLY Mendenhall's fault lol.

Wow!! What a nice guy. I hope the Lord does for you what he has done for me.

This is one of the ugly things about this board. A man has an opinion (whether right or wrong), and he is attacked and told to switch teams. Wow!!

Lord thank you for taking that bitterness out of me. Praise be to you.

[sd steel]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

[quote=Dee Dub]

I coach running backs, and I played running back for 10+ years, and you never look the ball in to your belly. Mendenhall's eyes are exactly where they should be on the hole he was running, where Ngata was. A missed blocking assignment caused the fumble period. For a football guy I would expect DeeDub to know that it was not the back's fault. The play was blown up before it started and instead of blaming someone we would be better served admitting that Ngata anticipated the count and made a great play to cause a fumble.

Ok we agree to disagree. I am old school and am from the thought that you never fumble the ball no matter what.

And a RB looking the ball in isnt the same as a baseball infielder looking a baseball into his glove/stomach. But you have to use your peripherals to see/know where the ball is being given. Mendenhall had no idea where the hand-off was and as a result it squirts up the right side of his chest pad before Ngata ever hits him. Myself? I have a problem with that.

And again..I admit that there was more blame to go around for this than just on Mendenhall.[/quote:b2xrahfc]

You cant be responsible for the fumble if you never had possesion of the ball to begin with. Ben didn't put the ball in his belly, he never had possesion, then he gets crushed....crappy play, but it wasn't on Mendehall at all. If you are old school and never allow a fumble then the beef is with Ben, he is the last person with possesion.

[feltdizz]

Re: I just replayed the Mendenhall fumble....

Lord thank you for taking that bitterness out of me. Praise be to you.

you've been bitter with Mendenhall since the fumble.