Tuesday Morning Armchair Quarterbacking

[hail2skins]

Here's your chance. Okay, so you're now Al Saunders the braintrust behind the scenes of the Redskins offense. Your team hasn't been getting the ball downfield for a number of reasons. Pass blocking, QB issues, etc...You've been facing a Deep Cover-2 defense and you want to exploit it.

What would you do as offensive genius that you are. Gibbs has told you that there will not be a QB change.

What plays would you run and be specific about the blocking schemes, package, routes being run by receivers etc....

[RedskinsATW!]

Heavy Jumbo (Where's Riggo?).

[smoak]

Easy. Run the football until Portis and Ducket can barely stand. Then hit some mid range passes behind the LBs so that the safeties are forced to cheat up. Then run a mid range route for Moss and if the S bites, have ARE in deep behind him. The Texans secondary is vunerable as I will cover in my weekly scouting report.

[PennSkinsFan]

Double doses of Portis and Duckett open up the deep ball. Duckett has been so mis-used, I don't even know what to say about that.

[MONK_in_HOF]

While I am not one to question Al Saunders and his proven system, here is what I wouldn't mind seeing more of.

1. I would like to see more plays with ARE and Moss in motion where they are an option to receive a handoff. I think this would keep defenses honest and hestitant. I would also like to see the reverse/end around run off this play.

2. As much as I didn't like the WR screen and hitch plays, I think Moss and ARE are the 2 perfect WRs to receive this type play. Plus if Brunell is having trouble getting the ball downfield, for whatever reason (confidence, arm strength, lack of time), this play could really be useful IMO.

3. Stating the obvious, I would like to see any of our 3 WR getting downfield more often.

4. I would like to see less rollout/sprint out type plays that basically take portions of the field out of the play.

Those are just some things I would like to see, but I trust Saunders offense and think in time it will click.

[dj_stouty]

1. I would instill several quick-slant routes to Moss and ARE in the slot. Those plays do not require 5 or 7 step drops...and after completing the first quick slant to Moss or ARE, the LBs would then have to stay in coverage instead of contributing on the blitz.

ARE and Moss are some of the most deadly receviers in the open field. A quick slant to them would allow them to make a play, while giving a low-risk high-reward option for Brunell.

2. I would incorporate more stretch running plays. I would force the defense to spread out and allow more eventual mismatches in the passing game later in the series/game.

3. Put ARE in the same role as Az-Hakim was during the Rams' powerful offensive days several seasons ago. Line him up in the slot and make him run down the field on almost every play. Either he takes defenders with him, or he gets open. It would stretch the field and allow more productive running and passing plays. At a minimum, it would probably give Moss more 1-on-1 situations on his side of the field.

[vbskins]

run wideout screens and reverses because our receivers are good at those

run slants and curls between the coverage, brunell is smart enough to click with our receivers, where they can find the open holes in the D if the safties are sitting deep.

then run the ball hard up the middle. alot

i would like to see some two back splits with portis and duckett/sellers w/ ouick hits to the big guys and misdirections

[JoeDaSchmoe]

How about passing to that, uh, Koolie guy, or whatever his name is? Don't we have someone on the team with a name like that? I don't really remember, I think he was here last year, though.

[shally]

run the ball. then run the ball some more.. oh... and run the ball

not another sideline route.. all throws to be in the middle of the field.

commit to throwing to the tight ends and sellers at least 10 times in the next game.

don't forget about the screen pass.

[Ibleedburgundy]

More crossing routes (and more "accidental" picks and chips, everyone is doing it) more dump offs, and more receivers coming back to the QB when he is in trouble.

More Sellers and Duckett up the gut.

And throw in a few more max protect schemes until the O-line gets comfortable so we can really go deep down field.

[redwolf1218]

i've been surprised at the number of wide-receiver screens, i mean the ones that are actually laterals. that's about a 15 or 20 yard lateral and a really dangerous play, even though we've had some success with them. teams will be on the lookout for those, so if we spread the field, with corners up and safeties deep, we should be able to run up the middle.

[bergiemoore]

3 WR set, single-back formation, Portis off-tackle opposite the TE.

Next Play

Same formation, have the weak-side receiver run a fade route, strong side runs a curl, slot receiver runs a slant, Portis stays in to block while Cooley blocks and releases then runs down the seam. Hit Cooley after 5 yards.

Next Play

2 WR, split backs (Portis and Sellers), 1 TE. Sellers gets the run up the middle behind Thomas.

Next Play

I-Formation, Moss runs a deep cross, Sellers goes out to the flat, Portis stays in to block, Lloyd runs a streak. Hit Moss as soon as he makes his cut. (Sellers is the saftey valve).

Next Play

Single-back, 2 TE set. Stretch run left.

Next Play

3 WR set, single-back. Run off tackle.

Next Play

3WR set, WR option w/ Randle El. Lloyd streaks while Moss curls, Portis blocks.

[bergiemoore]

More crossing routes (and more "accidental" picks and chips, everyone is doing it)

I've noticed this. I saw it called once in week 1, but it has happened sooooo often, I think we will see a "Rule Emphasis" next year.

[joethefan]

I would tell the oline that they stink. Then I would work thier butts to death....As opposed to telling them that they have guts and they have character...CRAP...I had to get that out...

Portis, and Duckett. All day till it begins to work. Stop the trick plays. Go with more three Recievers Sets. W/O Cooley.

I would line Moss and Lloyd up on one side of the field. and Cooley opposite at the TE position and work that. Put Portis and Sellars in there and power the ball up the middle and towards the edges. This would beingthe Saftey up and then I sould Chllenge them down field.

I would also work the Seem routes with cooley. I would even try some 4 reciever sets. Looking for a mismatch with a linebacker...ala Glenn/Marshall Sunday.

I would stay with the run as much as possible and take my shots when needed.

[LATrueRedskin]

In a Cover 2, you have to get the ball to Cooley, and then use him to drive defenders away from Moss, leaving him one-on-one with some poor sap trying to cover him.

First and foremost, we have to run the ball and run it effectively. Blockers have to block like the DLine slapped their mama. Running effectively will bring the safeties up and keep their eyes in the backfield. Then we can playaction and get the ball downfield to our playmakers.

I'd still like to see a lot of 3-wide formations, but my bread and butter would be a 2 TE set and just run Clinton and T.J. until the defense says uncle.

When passing the ball, I'd like to see some quicker slants and curl routes ran by our quick receivers. It will keep the blitz off our backs and will keep the chains moving, all while we set up some big plays downfield. Running shorter routes will bring the CBs up to play the receivers more closely, then we can exploit that using our speed for some bigger gains, and have Cooley and Sellers mismatched with some linebackers.

None of this works, however, if our OLine can't block. That's the key to doing anything on offense, and we haven't shown that thus far. Mark needs to relax in the pocket, and trust his guys in the trenches, and he'll be much more effective.

[hail2skins]

1. I would instill several quick-slant routes to Moss and ARE in the slot. Those plays do not require 5 or 7 step drops...and after completing the first quick slant to Moss or ARE, the LBs would then have to stay in coverage instead of contributing on the blitz.

ARE and Moss are some of the most deadly receviers in the open field. A quick slant to them would allow them to make a play, while giving a low-risk high-reward option for Brunell.

2. I would incorporate more stretch running plays. I would force the defense to spread out and allow more eventual mismatches in the passing game later in the series/game.

3. Put ARE in the same role as Az-Hakim was during the Rams' powerful offensive days several seasons ago. Line him up in the slot and make him run down the field on almost every play. Either he takes defenders with him, or he gets open. It would stretch the field and allow more productive running and passing plays. At a minimum, it would probably give Moss more 1-on-1 situations on his side of the field.This is the kind of response I'm looking for.

[hail2skins]

In a Cover 2, you have to get the ball to Cooley, and then use him to drive defenders away from Moss, leaving him one-on-one with some poor sap trying to cover him.

First and foremost, we have to run the ball and run it effectively. Blockers have to block like the DLine slapped their mama. Running effectively will bring the safeties up and keep their eyes in the backfield. Then we can playaction and get the ball downfield to our playmakers.

I'd still like to see a lot of 3-wide formations, but my bread and butter would be a 2 TE set and just run Clinton and T.J. until the defense says uncle.

When passing the ball, I'd like to see some quicker slants and curl routes ran by our quick receivers. It will keep the blitz off our backs and will keep the chains moving, all while we set up some big plays downfield. Running shorter routes will bring the CBs up to play the receivers more closely, then we can exploit that using our speed for some bigger gains, and have Cooley and Sellers mismatched with some linebackers.

None of this works, however, if our OLine can't block. That's the key to doing anything on offense, and we haven't shown that thus far. Mark needs to relax in the pocket, and trust his guys in the trenches, and he'll be much more effective.Some more good stuff.

[LATrueRedskin]

1. I would instill several quick-slant routes to Moss and ARE in the slot. Those plays do not require 5 or 7 step drops...and after completing the first quick slant to Moss or ARE, the LBs would then have to stay in coverage instead of contributing on the blitz.

ARE and Moss are some of the most deadly receviers in the open field. A quick slant to them would allow them to make a play, while giving a low-risk high-reward option for Brunell.

2. I would incorporate more stretch running plays. I would force the defense to spread out and allow more eventual mismatches in the passing game later in the series/game.

3. Put ARE in the same role as Az-Hakim was during the Rams' powerful offensive days several seasons ago. Line him up in the slot and make him run down the field on almost every play. Either he takes defenders with him, or he gets open. It would stretch the field and allow more productive running and passing plays. At a minimum, it would probably give Moss more 1-on-1 situations on his side of the field.

Great points, dj, especially about the QB dropbacks. Brunell has been fairly successful when using a 3-step drop and getting rid of the ball quickly, and failed miserabley when having to use a 5- or 7-step drop. I'd like to see Mark do for us what Brad Johnson did against us.

[hail2skins]

More crossing routes (and more "accidental" picks and chips, everyone is doing it) more dump offs, and more receivers coming back to the QB when he is in trouble.

More Sellers and Duckett up the gut.

And throw in a few more max protect schemes until the O-line gets comfortable so we can really go deep down field.You should win an award because in all the talking that's been going on, no one mentioned what I have bolded above.

That's the big difference between Gibbs and Saunders right now. Gibbs used more max protect schemes because he believes in protecting the QB. If you don't then you need quick hitters which we have been seeing so far because of the lack of time the QB has to get the ball downfield.

[bergiemoore]

None of this works, however, if our OLine can't block. That's the key to doing anything on offense, and we haven't shown that thus far. Mark needs to relax in the pocket, and trust his guys in the trenches, and he'll be much more effective.

If we run the ball effectively, like you said, and are able to effectively execute these short slants/curls/seam patterns, I think that things will get much easier for the O-Line. Keep the defenses spread out, and guessing.

Right now, I think that the playcalling is actually alright. Our Skins just aren't executing. W/ Portis back, I think that our running game will have much more of an impact. I also hope that after last week, the coaches realize that TJ is the better option over Ladell.

[firehawk157]

I would, of course, give it a whole lot to Portis and make those safeties cheat up. Keep an eye on them, until they cheat up a little, just keep pounding the ball with Portis, hit Cooley in the seam and some small 5 yard routes and even give it to Sellers in the flats.
You can hit them with some screens and the shorter slant routes until the safeties know they have to be within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage, once they get there, fake a screen to Moss, send B Lloyd on a slant and ARE and Cooley will fake like they are blocking for that fake screen, then have Moss streak down the sidelines, Cooley come across the middle and ARE do a post or slant. Brunell can dump it off to cooley if he has heat, or he's got the option to go over top to Moss or hit the post with ARE based on where that safety is sitting.
Keeping running the ball, and mix max protect with having cooley chip and then heading out, they hardly ever account for him when he chips. But always leave either Sellers, Fauria or Portis (very little of Portis with that shoulder of his) in to block unless it's like 3 down linemen and no one else within like 10 yards of the LOS.

[whistleandthumb]

Line up 3 wide, and run it. Come back to the LOS...

Line up 3 wide, and run it... again. Come back to the LOS...

Line up 3 wide, and PA fake to Cooley.

Line up 3 wide, and run it.

Do that about 15 more times, then send all 3 WR's deep, and score a TD.

[redskin_rich]

You should win an award because in all the talking that's been going on, no one mentioned what I have bolded above.

That's the big difference between Gibbs and Saunders right now. Gibbs used more max protect schemes because he believes in protecting the QB. If you don't then you need quick hitters which we have been seeing so far because of the lack of time the QB has to get the ball downfield.
I'm not sure we have the personnel for max protect to be very effective. Fauria is limping around, Cooley is an adequate blocker at best and that certainly isn't using him to his strength. Neither Betts nor Duckett are good blockers, we need a healthy Portis on the field, not only for the running game but for the passing game as well.

I would run the ball between the tackles more and have the Guards pull. Counter trey anyone? ;) Some will disagree with me but I would throw a lot of short passes to the backs (Portis, Duckett, Betts, Sellers) and Cooley, until the Safetys come up from the cover-2, then I would try going over the top with play-action or even a flea-flicker, with Moss running a post.

[hail2skins]

I'm not sure we have the personnel for max protect to be very effective. Fauria is limping around, Cooley is an adequate blocker at best and that certainly isn't using him to his strength. Neither Betts nor Duckett are good blockers, we need a healthy Portis on the field, not only for the running game but for the passing game as well.

I would run the ball between the tackles more and have the Guards pull. Counter trey anyone? ;) Some will disagree with me but I would throw a lot of short passes to the backs (Portis, Duckett, Betts, Sellers) and Cooley, until the Safetys come up from the cover-2, then I would try going over the top with play-action or even a flea-flicker, with Moss running a post.Well, we ran it last year with these folks. I'm not saying use it a lot but more than we're doing now. I was also pointing out a contrast between Gibbs and Saunders.

[BurgundyNGold]

I think we need to sign this guy and put him in the backfield...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/Kool-AidMan.jpg

He'll work on the cheap. Just give him his own Kool Aid bucket instead of Gatorade, lol.

[hail2skins]

Don't turn this thread into jokes folks.

[Axegrinder]

Power football until they start cheating up towards the line of scrimmage.
If they start to blitz,throw screen passes.

Personally,I think our lack of mobility at the QB position is a hinderance to our Portis-less offense.

[Meatsnack]

The cover-2 is exploited between the hashmarks.

Without a great MLB, it is vulnerable to center/guard gap runs, TE seam routes (remember what Ben Watson did to us when we spent much of preseason game #4 in cover 2?), and WRs running from the slot or in motion and running up the seam.

With that in mind, I would run Duckett up the middle and use passes to the TE up the seam. I would exploit Moss in motion running up the middle of the field. I would use ARE in the slot and in motion. I would overload the formation ocassionally with three wides to one side to flex the defense and bring misdirection to the opposite field.

If the running game can get 3 yards per carry or better in the first half, I keep after it to attempt to break the cover 2 and get the 2nd safety committed down to run support. If I can break the cover 2, I pass deep on first down until it works.