Some time around the mid-point of yesterday's game, when the score was around 31-0, I stopped watching the ball, as I usually do when watching a game. Instead, I focused on #96, Mike Neal. In order to notice him, one actually has to ignore what is important to the game and watch happenings away from the ball or, as I found usually the case, underneath an O-lineman's body.
I am far from being an expert. But, Neal looks useless out there. He is being thrown in whatever direction the O-lineman wants to throw him. I never saw him put any presssure on the QB on any pass play, nor did I see him ever plug a hole, get a tackle, assist, even put an arm or a finger on a running back with the ball. If there was a pile, he was always, and I mean ALWAYS, on the bottom. He has no balance. No push. No anticipation. No motor.
Check the tape. On the TD toss by Palmer. Watch Neal on the pass rush. He gets EASILY shoved to the ground by single coverage lineman- actually, it looks like Neal just topples over with a single push. Then he lies face down on the turf-- not moving, not trying to get back up, not showing any initiative-- he just lies there doing nothing. The Raider lineman is just waiting for him to show signs of life to knock him again. But, Neal doesn't move. Meanwhile, Palmer is scrambling to his right, in the direction of Neal, but clearly has no worries as he nearly hops over his prone body while throwing the TD pass. After the play is completed, Neal props himself up and jogs to the sideline like his job was done. Un-fricking-believable.
To date this year: 0 tackles, 0 assists, 0 anything of any value. Geez-- how can one play as many snaps as he has thus far and have absolutely no impact, other than filling a space at the bottom of the pile.
At this rate, he is out of football in 2012.
