Raiola played well. The advanced statistics back it up in addition to the eyeball test.

[biscuitgaze01]

Per EPA, this would have registered as his 3rd best game of the season last year. Those who lament the underneath/check down nature of the offense and would have preferred more vertical shots need to understand that attitude plays directly into the hands of what Cincinnati wants you to do. They were playing conservative 3 high cloud/2-invert for most of the game, with some exception on passing downs where they mixed in zone blitzes. The idea is keep everything in front, rally to the ball, and tackle hoping that the offense will stop itself via poor execution (not a bad bet in college football) or get impatient and turn the ball over attempting an errant throw.

For the most part Cincinnati was terrified of challenging our receivers, notably with one of the times they played press man coverage they got cooked by Nyziah Hunter on a 20+ yard fade route down the left side line. They sparingly played man outside the redzone after that play.

Dylan and Holgorson repeatedly took open throws underneath and never fell for the bait.

Where criticism is due is the inability to convert red zone trips into touchdowns and relatively poor run blocking by the offensive line.

The real test and cause for concern is if teams are directly challenging our receivers in man coverage and no separation is occurring like last season. Until then, we should be satisfied with Dylan’s elite processing last night.

 

[stonesak]

Elite Check down merchant.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

Elite Check down merchant.

He didn't check down fucking your dad last night #awooooga

 

[HughJanus]

Elite Check down merchant.

With one RB this will be our run game.

 

[PonyBoy]

A trend has developed with Dana & Dylan...

 

[Ext. 55]

80% completion percentage and a win.

Sounds like a winning recipe.

 

[biscuitgaze01]

A trend has developed with Dana & Dylan...

Very poor and unnuanced way to assess what happened and why it occurred.

 

[TampaBaySkers]

A trend has developed with Dana & Dylan...

I looked up who was dead last in 2024. Any guesses?

Michigan

 

[stonesak]

We're running the WCO, the coaches are smart enough not to call it that, tho.

 

[TampaBaySkers]

Slant route to Key is gonna pick up a ton of 3rd and mediums this year.

 

[PonyBoy]

Very poor and unnuanced way to assess what happened and why it occurred.

9 games weren't played last night.

It's a trend.

I looked up who was dead last in 2024. Any guesses?

Michigan

I looked it up earlier this morning. I don't see us benching Raiola for several games though, similar to Warren.

 

[Goskers07]

A trend has developed with Dana & Dylan...

When you're completing those at an 80% clip, you're still going to be just fine. It won't be exciting to us fans, but it'll be efficient and profitable.

Now, 2 things. Its unrealistic to believe Dylan will keep a nearly 80% completion percentage over the course of the season and he (actually the offense as a whole) still needs to get better in the red zone. Even if he's hitting at 70%, that's still a very good day even if its not sexy. Also helps out a struggling defense by using ball control. Essentially, its the passing game equivalent of how we won games in the good ol' days.

As for the red zone offense, I think they're just going to have to adapt and get creative because right now we don't have that power punch to get those tough goal line yards. At least not until Ives/Booth decide to step up.

 

[Herbie]

Raiolas deep balls last year were almost all ducks.
If that hasnt improved it’s smart to take the short safe pass.

You can eat up time and yards but drives will stall out eventually. A sack or poor run will doom drives if that’s how we play this year

 

[Snockered69]

If I hear these trolls talk about cover 3 one more fucking time as a reason not to throw the ball downfield imma blow gasket. Have a fucking pair of balls and start throwing the fucking ball like your arm suggests you can. If you cant hit your WRs that are OVER TOP of your cover 3, you aint elite, your not even good, you’re average.

 

[biscuitgaze01]

If I hear these trolls talk about cover 3 one more fucking time as a reason not to throw the ball downfield imma blow gasket. Have a fucking pair of balls and start throwing the fucking ball like your arm suggests you can. If you cant hit your WRs that are OVER TOP of your cover 3, you aint elite, you’re not even good, you’re average.

You’re a mongoloid retard. Cincinnati wasn’t playing a traditional cover 3. They were rushing 3 and dropping 8 a large percentage of the time and playing with great depth.

Additionally, no clue what you’re rambling about, THERE WERE NO RECEIVERS OVER TOP OF THEIR DEFENSE. DO YOU WANT RAIOLA TO THROW THE BALL DIRECTLY AT POST SAFETIES FOR AN INTERCEPTION?

 

[Snockered69]

Raiolas deep balls last year were almost all ducks.
If that hasnt improved it’s smart to take the short safe pass.

You can eat up time and yards but drives will stall out eventually. A sack or poor run will doom drives if that’s how we play this year

Bottom 5 in deep balls last year if i remember correctly. Still doesnt have touch. To save my time on retorts, “oh Hunters fade route”. Ball was flat and defender is caught back peddling and essentially falls. Made the play but his back shoulder fades in the endzone still stink. Great out route thrower when he actually throws the ball.

 

[biscuitgaze01]

Bottom 5 in deep balls last year if i remember correctly. Still doesnt have touch. To save my time on retorts, “oh Hunters fade route”. Ball was flat and defender is caught back peddling and essentially falls. Made the play but his back shoulder fades in the endzone still stink. Great out route thrower when he actually throws the ball.

Back shoulder fade to Hunter to score was perfectly thrown. Everything you say should be dismissed from this point forward 🤡

 

[HughJanus]

I looked up who was dead last in 2024. Any guesses?

Michigan

I was hoping for a more adventurous offense.

 

[Goskers07]

Back shoulder fade to Hunter to score was perfectly thrown. Everything you say should be dismissed from this point forward 🤡

Both TD throws were NFL throws. The second one on the RPO to Key, the throw itself wasn't exactly challenging but everything that led up to it was incredible. He was ready to hand the ball off. It was a super late pull but had excellent vision and reaction to pull it as late as possible.

 

[Snockered69]

Per EPA, this would have registered as his 3rd best game of the season last year. Those who lament the underneath/check down nature of the offense and would have preferred more vertical shots need to understand that attitude plays directly into the hands of what Cincinnati wants you to do. They were playing conservative 3 high cloud/2-invert for most of the game, with some exception on passing downs where they mixed in zone blitzes. The idea is keep everything in front, rally to the ball, and tackle hoping that the offense will stop itself via poor execution (not a bad bet in college football) or get impatient and turn the ball over attempting an errant throw.

For the most part Cincinnati was terrified of challenging our receivers, notably with one of the times they played press man coverage they got cooked by Nyziah Hunter on a 20+ yard fade route down the left side line. They sparingly played man outside the redzone after that play.

Dylan and Holgorson repeatedly took open throws underneath and never fell for the bait.

Where criticism is due is the inability to convert red zone trips into touchdowns and relatively poor run blocking by the offensive line.

The real test and cause for concern is if teams are directly challenging our receivers in man coverage and no separation is occurring like last season. Until then, we should be satisfied with Dylan’s elite processing last night.

You mean the near pick 6 was ELITE processing? The play where if he throws the damn ball on time instead double clutching its a first down for Key? He’s ELITE this man says all hail our man of cover 3