Cam Dantzler Was Good; Brian O’Neill Struggled
I’ll confess: my hopes were on for this season, even with the 0-2 start. When we beat the Seahawks last week, I thought we could go on a 4-win stretch. Now, I’m starting to think about draft prospects. Yup, I’m the first to say don’t overreact and then have a huge overreaction. Do what I say, not what I do, I guess. But you aren’t here to hear – or read – about this. Before starting, I’ll just say one more thing: Cam Dantzler MUST be the starter.
Cam Dantzler
Let’s get to him first. Going back to the Seattle game once more, Dantzler didn’t have a snap, leading him to tweet that he was “tired of biting my tongue”. Zimmer said afterward that Cam would be talked to. This week, the second-year CB let his play do the talking. With Boyd dealing with a hamstring, his name was called when Breeland left after only 9 plays. Dantzler showed why he was an All-Rookie last year, with great tackling and coverage.
He had two battles with OBJ in the end zone. In one he had excellent coverage, but OBJ got the best of him in the other – but Baker didn’t pull the trigger. The only other “bad” rep he had was on a go route, again vs. OBJ. But the throw was so bad that it hit Dantzler’s helmet. During the rest of the game, his coverage was great. He was very smart using the sideline to help him, had good zone coverages, and, as I’ve mentioned, nice tackles.
I don’t know why Zimmer is still starting Breeland if he has been literally the worst CB in the league. Dantzler is on the COVID-19 list, so there’s a chance he can’t play Sunday against the Lions. If he can do it and Zimmer opts for Breeland, or if he isn’t the starter against the Panthers, coach Zim will have some explaining to do.
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Brian O’Neill
O’Neill’s game was disappointing, to be honest. If he had played against Myles Garrett, then 4 pressures would be a good number. However, Garrett was on the other side bullying Hill to the ground at least 4 times. O’Neill faced two guys, and looked like a different person against each of them. When Takk McKinley was the EDGE rusher, O’Neill was the one we’re used to. Nice run blocking and pass protection. But when the Browns took Jadeveon Clowney off the 3-tech position and put him wide, he did what he wanted against our RT.
O’Neill was credited with 4 pressures allowed, with 3 coming against Clowney. On two screens he let Clowney rush Cousins’ throw, not allowing the blocks to fully develop. The other was during the last play of the game, when the Browns were on a 3-man rush and O’Neill again had no answer to Clowney’s pass rush. The other one I don’t know if it was on McKinley sack (it was a coverage sack) or one of the rare times he faced Garrett.
The offense as a whole was bad, and I think this has more to do with the game plan than our players. O’Neill still is a very good RT and the offensive line can be at least serviceable. Let’s just hope this was their worst game of the season.
