So what?

[barrett]

Agreed Chuck. The NFL is a league designed for every team to have 8-8 talent. It doesn't always work that way obviously. A small few are superior. A small few are inferior. And the middle 25 or so are pretty even in talent. This middle wins and loses depending on scheme. Basically can your coach "take his'n and beat your'n, or he could take your'n and beat his'n." It's a very small line between 5-11 and 11-5.

I think if we change the script and stay one back we become nearly impossible to defend. Nobody has secondary depth to deal with Slaton, OD, AJ, Walter, and Anderson/JJ on the field at once. When we put those guys out there we will face a steady diet of dime defenses and deep safeties. Now all of sudden our OL just has to guide an upfield DE out of the play while Slaton runs or catches it in the spot they just vacated. And our OL is good at this because they can move. Duane Brown's block on Slaton's screen was a thing of beauty. So put him in position to do that rather than asking him to push a DE off the ball.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by barrett

Agreed Chuck. The NFL is a league designed for every team to have 8-8 talent. It doesn't always work that way obviously. A small few are superior. A small few are inferior. And the middle 25 or so are pretty even in talent. This middle wins and loses depending on scheme. Basically can your coach "take his'n and beat your'n, or he could take your'n and beat his'n." It's a very small line between 5-11 and 11-5.

I think if we change the script and stay one back we become nearly impossible to defend. Nobody has secondary depth to deal with Slaton, OD, AJ, Walter, and Anderson/JJ on the field at once. When we put those guys out there we will face a steady diet of dime defenses and deep safeties. Now all of sudden our OL just has to guide an upfield DE out of the play while Slaton runs or catches it in the spot they just vacated. And our OL is good at this because they can move. Duane Brown's block on Slaton's screen was a thing of beauty. So put him in position to do that rather than asking him to push a DE off the ball.

If I were the OC my main objective would be to force the defense to play with two LBs - nickel, dime, whatever the package. I would then do everything I could to get the ball to Slaton in space. He is not the fastest guy out there nor is he going to run over anyone, but when he has a little room to work with very seldom does one guy bring him down. If I can get the defense into a two LB set I'll likely end up with one of them covering OD (which is a matchup I like just fine) and I'll also have plenty of space for screens to Slaton. You should also be able to run draw plays out of this formation until the cows come home easily racking up 8 yards a pop.

The team's OL is surprisingly adept at pass protection but what strikes me about them overall is that they are highly athletic. You can forget about their manhandling any DL at the LOS, but if you ask them to block guys on the move I think you'll see much better results.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by chuck

Force the defense to play with two LBs - nickel, dime, whatever the package. Get the ball to Slaton in space. I'll likely end up with one of them covering OD (which is a matchup I like just fine) and I'll also have plenty of space for screens to Slaton. You should also be able to run draw plays out of this formation until the cows come home easily racking up 8 yards a pop.

The team's OL is highly athletic. You can forget about their manhandling any DL at the LOS, but if you ask them to block guys on the move I think you'll see much better results.

I think we may have come to a consensus. Getting mismatches that are advantageous to our players makes good sense.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I think we may have come to a consensus. Getting mismatches that are advantageous to our players makes good sense.

And going one step further...the more good players on the field at once the more easier to get a mismatch. Thus the one back sets that spread a defense out and make them deal with all of our playmakers at the same time.

I also agree with you Roy that we don't have a back that could be a Wildcat triggerman. JJ had a few snaps there in the preseason and didn't look good. I'd be fine trying OD or Casey like you mentioned but am not sure they provide a real running threat. I think I'd try AJ back there just to put the ball in his hands more. Heck I'd give him a carry or a screen at RB on occasion if I'm having a hard time throwing it to him. There is nobody on our team (maybe nobody in the league) who is as talented. I don't think we can go wrong going to him in any situation.

[popanot]

Gee, you guys act like that flair-out screen to Leach doesn't send fear into the opposition! I get excited every time I see him rumbling and stumbling in anticipation for the killer big play.

But seriously, there were 4 or 5 plays last week were they sent OD in a tight motion. I was commenting to the guys I was watching the game with that they should just wildcat it and hand the damn ball to him. They ran it once close to our redzone and Schaub ended up passing it to him out in the flat anyway. It looked like it may have been able to pick up more yards had they just handed the ball of to him. It looked like he had a wide open corner and sideline every time they sent him in motion. I wish they'd do it once in awhile.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by barrett

I think I'd try AJ back there just to put the ball in his hands more. Heck I'd give him a carry or a screen at RB on occasion if I'm having a hard time throwing it to him. There is nobody on our team (maybe nobody in the league) who is as talented.

That was my original thought. Slaton would take the direct snap and read the DE as AJ came in motion. I'm sure Slaton could remember his W.Va days when he was with Pat White. Would be fun to see in 3rd and 4 situations as first.

[NBT]

The wildcat to Slaton seems to be a hell of an idea to me, but Kubes is so stodgy, I doubt if he would try anything so new.