Watching all of Andrews plays in the game again.
The pass to Andrews was a nice play where the outside WR picks the LB 59 and the wheel route gets some separation because of the pick. He made the catch but I didn't think it was an exceptional play that many other RB couldn't make. The refs call holding on 59 after the play.
The next time Andrews gets the ball he gets 2 yards off the left side. Nothing exceptional about this play.
Later in the 2nd quarter with Mettenberger in Andrews gets a gut play behind the full back where he gets 3 yards but it able to get a second surge for an extra yard or two. This is alright but not exceptional in any way.
The next play he gets is a dump off near the LOS on the right side and is tackled immediately.
The last touch he gets is a run up the middle where there is a bit of a scrum and he tries to move the pile before eventually getting pushed back. I think he gets five yards on the play.
Not saying these are bad plays. They are effective for the most part aside for the dump off pass where Andrews couldn't get any additional yardage.
I watched many of the pre season games today and I saw better things from Orleans Darkwa and several other RB than I saw from Andrews.
Here is a synopsis of what I saw when Sankey was in the game:
1st run is to the left side where he follows his blocks for 3 yards. The next play is a play action of the same play where Mariota connects with Harry Douglas on the left side.
2nd run is Sankey trying to run up the middle off the right guards block. The defensive end is able to get off his block enough to grab ahold of Sankey slowing his momentum for a 2 yard gain. The next play they try an inside zone run with Sankey which only gets 3 yards but the defense was off sides.
There hasn't been much passing from Mariota and commentators are talking about how they are getting Mariota settled in with the run. This is part of why the defense is keying in on Sankey.
After going with a empty backfield where Mariota gets the ball to Anthony Fasano, they try play action to Sankey but Mariota is sacked. This is how they got into the 2nd and 21 situation that led to the interception on the attempted screen pass that was so poorly executed.
1st and 10 they line up with 2 WR to the right a TE to the left and a FB I formation. They try to pull the left guard and right tackle to left on this play and none of the blockers get out to the left and Sankey is dropped for a loss by the safety and a LB meeting him in where a hole should be. Poor effort with the pulling and down blocks.
2nd and long they go with 4 WR and they run a belly draw to the right with Sankey who gets 5 yards. The right guard and tackle seal off the defenders on the right making a lane up the middle that Sankey finds before being met by a LB at about two to three yards. He drags the LB for another two yards in part because of his angle forcing the LB to tackle him from behind.
On 3rd down Andrews is in and he runs a route to the right flat. Mariota is strip sacked and the Falcons score off the fumble.
After that turnover 1st and 10 they run Sankey to the right side for four yards but they get called for holding on Supernaw on the backside of the play.
Backed up 1st and 19. Number 93 shifts to the right defensive end spot before the snap and he gets past Lewans block to knife down on Sankeys run again to the right side. Sankey accelerates past 93 with a quick cut back inside. The defensive tackle 97 stumbled off the LG cut block a bit but is able to grab Sankey from behind as Sankey crosses the LOS. Sankey is able to drive forward for another four or five yards. Total on the run was 7 yards. This was the best run I saw from Sankey.
2nd and 12 they go shotgun 4 WR and try to run a draw play but 93 is able to get an arm on him to slow him down then the safety finishes him off for no gain. Fasano missed the block on the free safety, they had 3 receivers to the left side.
3rd and 12 Sankey is replaced by Andrews. Shotgun formation. Andrews chips the outside pass rusher and Mariota completes a pass to Harry Douglas for a 1st down.
Sankey back in on 1st and 10. They play action to Sankey on the right then run a WR screen to Wright on the left side for near a first down.
2nd and 1 shotgun. Mariota finds Douglas on the left side on a comeback route. Sankey ran a route over the middle where he was open.
1st and 10 shotgun. Mariota finds Fasano over the middle for 9 yards.
2nd and 1 single back 3 WR to the left. Fasano motions over to the right side and they run outside with Sankey who gets tackled for a loss by the defender number 88 failed to block. The RT Bell was driven into the backfield blowing up Sankeys ability to get to the edge on this run. Eddie George criticizes the play saying Sankey needs to get it upfield on short yardage like 2nd and 1.
The Titans switch to Andrews at this point on 3rd and 3. The pass to Andrews was a nice play where the outside WR picks the LB 59 and the wheel route gets some separation because of the pick. He made the catch but I didn't think it was an exceptional play that many other RB couldn't make. The refs call holding on 59 after the play.
1st and goal the Titans run with McCluster on the left side off of a good block from Lewan.
The next time the Titans get the ball, is with Zach Mettenberger. Andrews gets 2 yards off the left side. Nothing really exceptional about this play.
Andrews gets a gut play behind the full back where he gets 3 yards but it able to get a second surge for an extra yard or two. This is alright but not exceptional in any way.
The next play he gets is a dump off near the LOS on the right side and is tackled immediately.
The last touch he gets is a run up the middle where there is a bit of a scrum and he tries to move the pile before eventually getting pushed back. I think he gets five yards on the play.
Not saying these are bad plays. They are effective for the most part aside for the dump off pass where Andrews couldn't get any additional yardage.
So I don't think Andrews out played Sankey. Neither did much that I thought was very good. It is notable that Andrews got the work on 3rd downs.