Another Look at Gocong

Video review of Gocong's performance against the Steelers.  This one includes narration, which after doing it I'm still not certain is a good idea.  Anyway, if you're at work, you won't miss anything without the sound.

It wasn't really a good night for any Eagles linebacker not named Takeo Spikes, but I think Gocong remains the biggest concern.  He needs to turn it around soon.

Update: YouTube seems to be having some difficulties this morning.

Comments

[McTumms]

Agreed that this game wasn't as bad as it looked. Both teams were kind of sloppy; we were just more so. My pitch for Considine being the biggest concern on defense: he can't do it. "Can't" as in, "appears physically unable." The Miller play was atrocious, but that would be just a play, except, unfortunately, it's the absurd extreme of his trendencies. He has bulked up, he remains in the proper spot at all times, and he continues to hustle (he was in on the Miller tackle downfield, I believe). All that means, however, is that now he's a bigger guy in the right spot who hustles but still isn't making plays. It's downright Simoneauian (though not quite McCoyian). Gocong, on the other hand, can do it physically; he just needs to get the defense from his head onto the field. He's big and fast; with experience, he'll be fine, which isn't devastating in the beginning of the year. (As for Gaither: Gaither isn't Trotter, but Trotter isn't Trotter anymore. Anyone who has any questions about Trotter should watch the Panthers game again. He can't move laterally with any quickness or consistently gain the leverage necessary to shed. If Mike's a problem, it was going to be regardless.)

I expect Gocong to improve as the season progresses. Considine isn't getting any better. I hope they're considering some Plan B at SS.

I like the video isolation and commentary. Good job. In fact, I forwarded it to some few fans who will also appreciate it.

[BrianS]

Nice job! (You, I mean. Gocong, not so much.)

Andrew posted on BGN about how Tomlin really schemed hard for the game and Reid did not, so that makes me a little less apprehensive than I was as I watched. I also think the Steelers are far superior at blocking both at the line of scrimmage and downfield to any of the Eagles' NFC East opponents. (But, I'm hoping that this is the year they finally win it all...so eventually the Eagles need to beat a good AFC team!)

[dp]

Nice work! Loved the commentary, definitely gives insight into things I don't know about football, so keep it up.

[meanguy]

nice work. i didn't see it in your montage, so i wanted to note what i thought was gocong's best play of the night. second quarter, willie parker sweeping left. gocong meets dan kreider head on and pushes him about 3 yards backward and back into parker. this causes parker to stop and look inside where bunkley was waiting to make the tackle.

[Dave]

I liked the audio commentary as well -- very understated and it worked well with the video.

[slackerjoe]

I loved the video and commentary. Hopefully you can make this a regular feature.

I'd be especially interested in seeing how some detailed video of key O-line / D-line players during the game.

Keep up the good work.

[Jay]

Gocong almost looks like a lineman out there trying to make tackles in the open field......Oh wait. eeeew
He was drafted way too high. He's a "project". God knows I hope he can turn into a decent linebacker, but its lookin like a stretch.

Considine would be fine if weak safety was a position.

Mikel and Bradley anyone?
Good thing we have so many other options at safety and linebacker. Oh wait. ahhhh

[Andrew]

the commentating is more than adequate. these videos rock. 10 out of 10.

[whoismariowilliams]

Awesome feature. You definitely need to keep the commentary going.

Although, I will say, in defense of Gocong, that the touchdown didn't appear to be his fault. It looks like the slant on the defensive line left a GAPING hole for him to fill. I'll bet he's coached to take on that block and allow his teammates to make the play (or miss it, as it turned out). I'm not sure even the best LBs would have done anything differently.

Fantastic breakdown. I look forward to more in the future.

[Me]

Yeah he was kind of on an island there, especially after Considine got blown up on the outside. With that said, there's "taking on the block" and then there's "getting destroyed by the block."

There was certainly enough blame to go around for a lot of guys last night.