#1 The Eels have lost their mojo and aren't playing the same type of footy they were earlier in the year.
The attack is off and our defence isn't the solid line that it was either, players running out of the line and sliding to much instead of moving as one and holding the line. I know some may question that as we are the best defensive team in the league but they don't look as good as they were earlier this year.
#2 Our attack has fallen off a cliff ever since Moses got hurt.
The Eels played the first two games (after Moses's injury) ok but haven't been the same since. Currently the Eels are playing sideways way to much instead of running straight and then turning the ball back inside. Also, our timing is off massively since Moses's injury as well. We are either passing way to early and the defence can see it coming a mile away or we are passing to deep in the line and coming up with a lot more drop balls than earlier in the season. The Eels confidence is deffinitely down.
For those who think Moses isn't that good, look at how we played before he got injured and since his injury. I suspect he is playing injured as he no longer takes on the line and his fifth tackle kicking options also haven't been anywhere near as good as they were earlier in the season. I think it might be a good idea to rest him for some games to try to get him right because if he isn't 100%, the Eels have no chance. I hate to put all the pressure on one player, but he really is the key. Its not that the Eels are a one player team, we have a great team, but he really is the key to our premiership chances.
We are playing way too structured at times and it is obvious to all. The Eels are at their destructive best when playing off the cuff football.
Now I am going to fly right in the face of what I just said about playing too structured. We don't apply enough constant pressure, make the logical smart plays and grind teams out. The Eels have gone back to playing desperate football throwing low percentage plays early in the tackle count or deep in our own half.
The Eels are setting structures for the next play and not following the current play. So many times I have seen a player make a break or get the arm free for a second phase play and everyone is already set up for the next play, leaving a potential offload going begging. I hate to sound like a broken record but I have said this almost every years since 09. The Eels rolled pretty much everyone in the last hafl of 09 because they played up tempo footy and everyone was pushing up on every play. There was always someone to take an offload and capitalise on it and run ruin over retreating defence. That 09 highlights package should be played every few games or so to show what a team that had nothing to loose, pushed up in both attack and defence and ran hard and "STRAIGHT" can do. We were a great chance of getting the wooden spoon that year and then pulled off the greatest come back ever with an average team. An average team who wanted to win and left it all out on the field ever game though. They chanced their arm and backed each other, they didn't play one out predictable bullshit. Chase down kicks, tackle hard, hold the line and run like you're going to run through anybody and anything.
Defence is a mindset and works best when everyone believes in the man next to him and the line is held, NO EXCUSES!!!
Attack comes off the back of smashing teams so hard in defence that they start to make mistakes and they are so tired from defending all their mistakes they can't get up or back in defence and the mistakes compound. Then the team can just run riot through retreating defence that doesn't have a line and gives away even more penalties, compounding on the compounding mistakes.
I know this is easier said then done, but that is the difference between the team that will win the premiership and all the rest. The Eels need to choose which one they want to be.
Replies
I didn’t read all of that, but ...
1) BA has said repeatedly that we haven’t done any real ball work this season, hence the clumsiness in attack. Mitch’s calf hasn’t helped I’ll convede, but we just haven’t done the ball work, because ....
2) We’ve been working overtime on our defence since preseason. We had an issue with our right side, in particular Waqa Blake flying out of the line, but the last 3 weeks we seem to have corrected that. We have the best defence in the league.
3) Any comparison to that 09 team isn’t fair or valid. Whilst everyone did their job in that team, a certain fullback was fairly influential in that run wouldn’t you say ? Ole #38 doesn’t play in this team, more’s the pity. I guess if you wanted to nitpick over our roster it’s that we don’t have that game breaker anymore, but they cost a lot and we’ve opted to spread our cap across more depth.
4) Smashing teams the way you suggest also tends to result in more contact injuries, that’s the biggest advantage we have now, we’re healthy. We have 29 players on board atm, the Storm, Roosters & Raiders combined have that many players sidelined.
I agree Brett. The attack will come over the next few weeks. I think we will be fireing come finals
It’s a COVID year Slugg, they’re handing trophies out like candy
All this over and over and over and over .Is giving me a Major Major Major Headache. Headache Headache
You’ve seen the future, have you ?
Raiders?
I agree with most things stated. However as long as we remain in the top 4 anything can happen. Once the semis commence a new comp starts. That is where we will see what we are made of. Canberra are 4 points behind us and could grab 4th spot.
Great comments fellas, especially when read in conjunction with the other blog about the "Biggest Ambush"!
Just a couple of points to add:
* It's pretty amazing that we're playing a defensive-structured game and have no injuries! Let's hope that continues.
* I find it confusing that the club talked up having Joey on the coaching team but then we've just said "fuck it, we're just going to defend and hopefully score some points whilst we're at it".
* Offloads, inside balls and shorter passes - can we just try that out one game and see what happens?
* We went through a spell where Moses and Brown were grubbering into the in-goal and we were getting repeat set after repeat set - can we do that again too please.