Originally Posted by cdcox

It's the decreased production, not just the injury. Football Outsiders ran several articles on this last year predicting a significant fall off in production this year. The correlation between carries in season n and decreased produciton in season n+1 is very strong. Carries correlate more strongly with decrease in production that "touches" which include pass receptions. The typical pounding on a pass reception is less than a typical running play. LT's production has been off this year too, although not as sharply as LJ's.

Originally Posted by Rausch

I don't think last year has anything to do with it. There wasn't much open for him to run through and he was tentative. He wasn't use to getting the ball and seeing squat open up. He changed the way he ran and started looking like Donnel Bennet - straight up the center's but for 2 or three yards.

Smith is a smaller back and just seems to run with that "squirmy" style. Marcus ran that way as well. You didn't really see any hole there but it was just big enough to squeeze through.

Originally Posted by el borracho

“We have to play a certain way. We try to do that to protect the quarterback and make sure we can throw the ball. You have all of these fancy ideas there at the end and there are certain things we’re stuck with because of how we have to play."

The way we are playing has not protected the quarterback. I am, however, very curious what Herm would like to do if he had the players. Someone should ask him.

Originally Posted by cdcox

There is a middle ground between the Indy game and going in a spread formation every down.

Don't:
Talk in the press how 21 points is a lot of points, talk about circuis offense, etc.
Make all of your pass plays less than 5 yards.
Think that you have to use all 3 downs to get a first down.
Think that 1st and 15 is an impossible obstacle.
Consider that the purpose of the offese is to rest a defense.
Take your foot off the offensive accelerator when you enter FG range.
Make it tougher on your rookie QB by castrating the offense.
Run pass patterns where EVERYONE turns and faces the QB after going 5 yards downfield.
Run the same play from the same formation more than twice in a game.

Do:
Use first down and 2nd and 6 or less to throw intermediate routes of 12 to 20 yards. The pass rush is less on these downs.
Make the defense defend the whole field. Even if it is a decoy reciever, spread the defenders out.
Expect and trust your players to do their job. If you don't they will meet your bad expectation every time.
Expect your defense to make mistakes.
Have the intention and well-crafted plans to score TDs in the redzone.
Find some weakness in the defensive opponent and game plan to exploit it. If there is a weak point in thier line, send 3 blockers to that point of attack.

Originally Posted by Cochise

I think they are mistaken to coddle Croyle so much. Definitely. They should let him do what Damon tried to do today.

But I don't buy at all that Herm hates passing and all that. He has a different tolerance for risk than most coaches. Too low for most of our tastes including mine. But why this comment and why today? He didn't kill us today.

Call out the linemen for looking like they've quit, call out Huard for not being able to hit a receiver in the numbers... put the blame where it belongs. JMO

Originally Posted by el borracho

Yep.

On a related note, when was the last time a receiver didn't have to jump to catch one of Damon's passes?

Originally Posted by Mecca

Just go look at the offensive stats he had with the Jets......he had offensive talent most years he was there.

I'd say just look at what the Jets best offensive year was there...

Originally Posted by el borracho

Just to save me the trouble of looking it all up, would anyone who knows like to clue me in? What was the Jets offense like under Herm?

Originally Posted by el borracho

What else do we know about it? Was it a run first offense? Timed routes? Play action? Ball control? I can't say I ever really paid attention to the Jets so I have no idea what they were like.

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Seriously...and this is going to sound bad...but the only reason I can see for Herm Edwards being a head coach is because he's black...and no other reason. I just don't see any kind of accomplishment that would indicate otherwise. I must be missing something.