The QB's were dreadful... but that was expected. Your question about Gardner... it was NOT coverage. The first play (trips double stick) he scrambled all over the place. Both stick's, the slot and the TE were wide open, the outter most wr on trips got almost level with the CB, so he could've just tossed it up, and the indy side (running a slant, or perhaps a runnaway hitch) was also open. Forget all that, he freaked out for a second because of the (uh... really none) rush. Yet, when he started to flush, the LB's left the checkdown HB wide open... so I count 4 guys WIDE open, with another option to try and make a tough pass. He was also freaked out every drop back... when an edge rusher would come around, all he would need to do is step FORWARD in the pocket and have a huge lane to run/throw, instead he decided multiple times to run toward and back from the edge. For these two to run on called pass plays, they will need to learn to step into the pocket not try to scramble wide; especially with the pocket-protection scheme we saw Satruday. This is the spring game, and some of this stuff is different, but he was in a spread drop-back system in high school, rated the #25 player in the country... he should know this stuff.
Also, about the OL and running Power, the timing was more the issue than the OL not blocking well. Many times it was blocked fine and the G pulled around for a backer, only to be stepped on or passed by the backs. Since they are used to zone, the backs are hitting any opening the find, which can't be done on power. Here the back needs to be patient, settle in behind the guard and make a deision off the puller's angle at the second level. When the back gets in fron the G, he now has 2 unblocked defenders to face (the G's responsibility and the guy who would be unblocked anyway). The backs need to learn patience on power but stick to the quick decisions on zone.
All being said, I think the D's willingness to take on blocks, not attempt to avoid and reach tackle like last year, and hit people is exciting. At the very least Mattison has them playing hard and fast. The O needs some work, but I think they will get there. It needs to become simpler, IMO. Identify the core concepts that Borges really likes, those which Denard does well, and then those which Devin does well. Trim the playbook down for now, make it a simple at the line read of called run/pass and decide based on the box count. At least, this is how I would approach with this level of talent in the backfield.
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The QB's were dreadful... but that was expected. Your question about Gardner... it was NOT coverage. The first play (trips double stick) he scrambled all over the place. Both stick's, the slot and the TE were wide open, the outter most wr on trips got almost level with the CB, so he could've just tossed it up, and the indy side (running a slant, or perhaps a runnaway hitch) was also open. Forget all that, he freaked out for a second because of the (uh... really none) rush. Yet, when he started to flush, the LB's left the checkdown HB wide open... so I count 4 guys WIDE open, with another option to try and make a tough pass. He was also freaked out every drop back... when an edge rusher would come around, all he would need to do is step FORWARD in the pocket and have a huge lane to run/throw, instead he decided multiple times to run toward and back from the edge. For these two to run on called pass plays, they will need to learn to step into the pocket not try to scramble wide; especially with the pocket-protection scheme we saw Satruday. This is the spring game, and some of this stuff is different, but he was in a spread drop-back system in high school, rated the #25 player in the country... he should know this stuff.
Also, about the OL and running Power, the timing was more the issue than the OL not blocking well. Many times it was blocked fine and the G pulled around for a backer, only to be stepped on or passed by the backs. Since they are used to zone, the backs are hitting any opening the find, which can't be done on power. Here the back needs to be patient, settle in behind the guard and make a deision off the puller's angle at the second level. When the back gets in fron the G, he now has 2 unblocked defenders to face (the G's responsibility and the guy who would be unblocked anyway). The backs need to learn patience on power but stick to the quick decisions on zone.
All being said, I think the D's willingness to take on blocks, not attempt to avoid and reach tackle like last year, and hit people is exciting. At the very least Mattison has them playing hard and fast. The O needs some work, but I think they will get there. It needs to become simpler, IMO. Identify the core concepts that Borges really likes, those which Denard does well, and then those which Devin does well. Trim the playbook down for now, make it a simple at the line read of called run/pass and decide based on the box count. At least, this is how I would approach with this level of talent in the backfield.