Offensive Pace

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Totally agree. If the Texans had of drafted Russell Wilson or somebody like him last year with a midround pick as the Seahawks did, he'd most likely still be on the bench and would have never been given a real chance to compete with Schaub for the starting job.
Don't know if he's that stubborn or maybe that dense, or maybe he's just one of those people who is so risk aversive that he avoids change because of the uncertainty of the results ? I to wish the man was more flexible and willing to experiment. This is why I'm still almost amazed that Kubiak decided to go with that 4th down punt fake with Keo. Maybe that's a glimmer of hope that he (Kubiak) will loosen up a bit ?

Where does this idea come from that Kubaik won't change? Kubiak is conservative in gameplan but not in player usage. We start rookies every year, and high draft choices often start from day 1. We have had 1st and 2nd year players on the OL, DL, WR, DB, ST, just this year and last. Schaub was given the QB job with no real experience when Kubs could have gone with a vet. Foster won the starting RB job as and UDFA. We just kept 4 UDFAs on the roster this year, including 2 LBs kept ahead of mid round draft picks. We have 1 WR over 25 on the roster. We were the youngest team in the NFL last year and are even younger this year. We are a team that is very flexible in roster makeup and does not hesitate to let proven vets walk in favor of young/cheap potential.

[HPF Bob]

This has part of what I meant in the game thread about the game passing by Kubiak and Phillips. Kubiak is basically using the same thing that worked for the Broncos in the 1990s.

And if the Texans can grind it out on the ground as they can do at times, there's no need to play hurry up or throw the ball all over the parking lot. As more teams become lighter and faster to counteract no-huddle pass-happy hurry-ups, the ground game becomes even more effective when you stick with it. We eat up a lot of clock time and keep the defense off the field when we can march methodically down the field on offense.

But Kubiak's offense Is pretty much a known quantity and so is Phillips' defense. There's nothing particularly new or unpredictable in either one of them. That's okay when your team is more physically gifted than your opponents but, on a level playing field, it's a severe handicap when the other side can predict what's coming.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

This has part of what I meant in the game thread about the game passing by Kubiak and Phillips. Kubiak is basically using the same thing that worked for the Broncos in the 1990s.

And if the Texans can grind it out on the ground as they can do at times, there's no need to play hurry up or throw the ball all over the parking lot. As more teams become lighter and faster to counteract no-huddle pass-happy hurry-ups, the ground game becomes even more effective when you stick with it. We eat up a lot of clock time and keep the defense off the field when we can march methodically down the field on offense.

But Kubiak's offense Is pretty much a known quantity and so is Phillips' defense. There's nothing particularly new or unpredictable in either one of them. That's okay when your team is more physically gifted than your opponents but, on a level playing field, it's a severe handicap when the other side can predict what's coming.

The other side knows what is coming 99% of the time in the NFL. The confusion we create in the bootleg game (which returned last night after being absent weeks 13-16 last year) is as good as it gets when it comes to creating confusion in the opposition. Nothing Baltimore did was a suprise last year to anyone. Flacco launches deep balls to covered WRs and looks for PI bailouts, or he checks down to Rice and the TEs. They run out of Shotgun. Everyone in the NFL knew it. There defense was even more of a known quality. Every player, formation, and twist they had was on tape before the playoffs started. It's about execution, not the element of suprise. That's why Chip Kelly will get a few weeks or most of a season, but teams won't be caught flat footed for long (especially not teams that play NE who has run most of the Oregon offense for 2-3 years).

When our offense executes and puts pressure on the opposing defense with our play calling, we are tought to beat. When we shut it down (a gameplan issue, not a design of the offense thing) we lose to the Minnesotas and Indys of the world (and almost the SDs).

[Nconroe]

It seems the main question is pace, lots of variables in plays per game.

Anyways, after one week Texans had 75 offensive plays, the same as San Francisco and two less than 77 offensive plays by Philadelphia.

As far as team offensive stats, Texans were third behind Denver and San Fran.

Similarly team defense ranked third overall behind Titans and Seattle.

And Schaub was fourth overall ranked passer in yards and passer rating.

So, atleast after one week some of these theories discussed might not hold much water.

But sure, we could get better and hopefully we are progressing that way.

Now after four weeks or 16 weeks will have a better measure and who knows where this will end up.

[popanot]

Not sure I put much weight into offensive play totals. While it can give an indication of pace, there are a lot of other factors that go into it. Factors like the opposition turning the ball over (or just plain stinking it up with 3 and outs), or perhaps the offense has numerous long drives from dinking it up and down the field. Those can run up offensive play totals too.

Anyway, when I brought up pace, I wasn't necessarily talking quick-snap move-move-move all the time like the Eagles want to do. It's more about getting back after a play and being at the LOS quickly. And then if the situation merits a quick-snap, do it. The Broncos, 49ers and Packers use almost all of the play clock on the majority of their plays, but they're up at the LOS so fast it puts incredible pressure on the D.

I loved our pace in the 2nd half. I'd be happy with that pace if they ran it the majority time rather than only when they're down and in panic mode. I don't know, maybe this has more to do with Kubiak not having confidence in Schaub being able to run it or calling the right play/audible. Maybe Kubiak doesn't feel we can physically do it. It'd be nice to see them try it though. Maybe against the Titans??

[Foo'ball Fool]

This is a good thread. Yes the up-tempo offense is fun to watch, etc. Y'all have covered the bases here. New England does run a chunk of the Oregon offense, but what they do really well is change the pace. One play, it's hurry back to the line and throw a quick slant. Then they may hurry to the line, then audible to something else, using up the play clock. It makes it hard to substitute players, and it keeps the defense guessing. Someone mentioned that a disadvantage can be that you end up gassing your own defense. What the Pats do gives their defense some time to rest between possessions. The Eagles ran Kelly's offense the whole 1st half, and their defense was worn out in the 2nd half.The Texans defense occasionally gets caught napping when the other team, playing a "normal" offense, suddenly hurries to the line and runs a play. I'd definitely like to see the Texans do that once in awhile. Barrett was right. NFL coaches will learn ways to control that offense, just like they're figuring out how to defend the zone read, and how they figured out the Run-and-Shoot, the veer, etc.