Offensive Playcalling vs. The Fish

[petegz28]

Ok, after a day to soak it all in and discuss around the watercooler one has to really pin down Haley, Muir, Zorn and even Cassel to a lesser extent.

We had a shitload of 3rd downs. The run-right, run-left then convert 3rd and 5 is old. Sad as it may seem Cassel is our offense right now with our WR's. Stop the running of Dex up the middle. How many games do we have to see it not work to figure it out?

On more of a coaching aspect though I have to call out Haley, Muir and Zorn. Cassel was being mauled, hit, sacked, hurried, you name it. The one constant was the pocket or lack thereof. Maybe I didn't see it but we never rolled the pocket or slid the pocket to either direction. We kept having Cassel drop back to the same spots all game. Straight drops.

I can remember back when Vermeil was here when he would say that when the other team was getting pressure we would start moving the pocket around so the defense couldn't just target a spot and go for it. Is it really that hard of a concept?

No misdirection plays, no quick slants and no hot routes. That falls on the OC. Even if Cassel doesn't hit the hot route on a play or 2 one of the coaches has to get in his ear about it. The fact we consistently did not have hot routes, or so it appeared, falls on the playcallers.

We were as predictable on offense as we could be and we made sure Cassel was at the same spot every down for the defense.

When teams blitz like the Fish were yesterday there seem to be some bread & butter plays you would go too and I have to wonder why we didn't? Quick slants, skinny posts and TE's off the edge.

WHERE WAS IT???

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Fritz88

Has Haley EVER made adjustments during a game?

Well yes he has but out of necessity and not so much strategy though one can lead to the other, I guess. The 2nd half of the first Chargers game and the 2nd half of the Vikings game they figured out we were going to have to throw the ball downfield in order to have a chance.

This does look like Herm's offense though. We never went downfield with Herm until the 2nd half and we were trailing.

In some defense of the coaches injuries are hurting us. There were a few times yesterday where Battle would hit the hole for 2-3 yards where Charles would have broken off 10 or more just because of his speed alone.

But we don't have JC. We have a practice squad guy, an over the hill guy and a midget. We also have 3 stud WR's that probably on any other team would just be tearing shit up.

I don't think Cassel is that stupid that he can't pick up a blitz ever. I think it has more to do with the plays called, the time they have at the line and what he is or isn't allowed to audible too. Not always but again, when it is this consistent there has to be more to it than the QB not making a read.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Well yes he has but out of necessity and not so much strategy though one can lead to the other, I guess. The 2nd half of the first Chargers game and the 2nd half of the Vikings game they figured out we were going to have to throw the ball downfield in order to have a chance.

This does look like Herm's offense though. We never went downfield with Herm until the 2nd half and we were trailing.

In some defense of the coaches injuries are hurting us. There were a few times yesterday where Battle would hit the hole for 2-3 yards where Charles would have broken off 10 or more just because of his speed alone.

But we don't have JC. We have a practice squad guy, an over the hill guy and a midget. We also have 3 stud WR's that probably on any other team would just be tearing shit up.

I don't think Cassel is that stupid that he can't pick up a blitz ever. I think it has more to do with the plays called, the time they have at the line and what he is or isn't allowed to audible too. Not always but again, when it is this consistent there has to be more to it than the QB not making a read.

While I think Baldwin will eventually be a "world beater", I think we've given him too much credit...too soon. Yesterday Cassel threw him a TD ball (he owed him one after missing a wide open Baldwin in a previous game) and he turned the wrong way and didn't get to it.

I think we have two stud WR's right now and one who still has a ways to go.

[notorious]

Half-Time adjustments define the quality of coaching.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by notorious

Half-Time adjustments define the quality of coaching.

Well our quality is of the Jimmy Ray variety right now. I want the Al Saunders way.

The problem I have with our coaching is they build our team with "play makers" and an undersized line then go out and try to play the game like they have Okoye and Alt, Baldinger,Szott and Shields. I think our heaviest O--lineman is probably lighter than the lightest guy Marty ever had.

[jspchief]

I said this in my coaching thread. Its as if they call plays with no regard to what's actually happening on the field.

If tomorrow it came out that they were just going down a list, I'd believe it.

And the same can be said for the defensive playcalling. If what they are doing isn't working, they just keep doing it anyway.

Sent from my ADR6350

[FAX]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Ok, after a day to soak it all in and discuss around the watercooler one has to really pin down Haley, Muir, Zorn and even Cassel to a lesser extent.

We had a shitload of 3rd downs. The run-right, run-left then convert 3rd and 5 is old. Sad as it may seem Cassel is our offense right now with our WR's. Stop the running of Dex up the middle. How many games do we have to see it not work to figure it out?

On more of a coaching aspect though I have to call out Haley, Muir and Zorn. Cassel was being mauled, hit, sacked, hurried, you name it. The one constant was the pocket or lack thereof. Maybe I didn't see it but we never rolled the pocket or slid the pocket to either direction. We kept having Cassel drop back to the same spots all game. Straight drops.

I can remember back when Vermeil was here when he would say that when the other team was getting pressure we would start moving the pocket around so the defense couldn't just target a spot and go for it. Is it really that hard of a concept?

No misdirection plays, no quick slants and no hot routes. That falls on the OC. Even if Cassel doesn't hit the hot route on a play or 2 one of the coaches has to get in his ear about it. The fact we consistently did not have hot routes, or so it appeared, falls on the playcallers.

We were as predictable on offense as we could be and we made sure Cassel was at the same spot every down for the defense.

When teams blitz like the Fish were yesterday there seem to be some bread & butter plays you would go too and I have to wonder why we didn't? Quick slants, skinny posts and TE's off the edge.

WHERE WAS IT???

We threw the ball a ton on first down. Even in the first half. A lot of first down throws. Most were incomplete, though.

FAX