Raw data can be crunched in a lot of ways, and often to promote one theory or another. My eyes told the story of two lines and I truthfully feel that what we got in the second half caught more people off guard than actually launched us forward. We're gonna find out pretty soon.
Anyway... I like what you have to say about Gurley, but felt that really applied to the team as a whole. Individuals were dominant when the team was dominant. That usually happens when everyone is correctly executing the scheme and "we're rolling". A good time is had by all. Even AD, who we've seen take over games, really didn't have that one last season. In Gurley, I saw what we all saw last season. When he was on his game, "we" were great. When "we" weren't great, he sulked on the sideline. We will miss the guy that balled out when we were on our game. Won't miss the other guy.
Now moving on, I know I'm not going to change your mind or anything, but I do have to say my piece. On one hand, I admit that I see what you also see. Some of Goff's mistakes were glaring. The interception on the swing route was just.... WTH... Too many mistakes. Critical errors that cost games. But on the other hand, I do see a guy that evaded, ducked and tried to get out of situations where he just wasn't tee'd off on. I think he did evade a lot of sacks and tried to anticipate rushes and blitzes and react when he thought his guy was over matched. I also think he spent too much time with that in his head and it affected his play. Aside from all that, Goff made me a believer when he won the Game That Shall Not Be Named. He did that. He was getting plastered, the Thunderdome was at full tilt. No running game. But to come back, that shuck to Higbee with the game on the line. That's the stuff I hear people attribute to the opposition all the time, and never credit Goff for. But the Refs blew more than the call that game, they took away the crown jewel of the season for that kid. And when I see the talking heads, and the rankings right now, it's a shame. Nobody ever credits him for that in the National Media- that game will forever be linked to the penalty. Now last year was a struggle, and a first time one for him with the line (rookie year aside). We've read about the continuity of our line and I'm sure the comfort he felt in that, and last year he had to learn to adapt. Again, my eyeballs said that was much more of a process than the stats in this article and there's more to the story than the numbers. I think by the end of the season, he had progressed. I hope for growth this year and hopefully he gives the number crunchers more to chew on next year.
