DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Offensive Scheme PT 2

Good point about the offset I ... something I hadn’t really thought about and it makes sense.

Yes we do...

j/c....

Interesting...

I think David Njoku being back against the Dolphins could be helpful with some of our redzone issues.

You think so? I dunno, man. I don't think adding another weapon is going to fix our issues.

I think it does help, due to size and athleticism.

If I thought personnel size/speed/etc was one of our 3 biggest problems in RZ, i would wholeheartedly agree with you.

Him back certainly won't hurt... but I don't see it making a huge impact.

All of Njoku's 2018 TDs were as a result of redzone passes. Before going down with an injury in 2019, Njoku's TD was a RZ score.

12 of the 21 endzone TD passes in 2018 came from Duke Johnson, Rashard Higgins, David Njoku, and Darren Fells. Two are no longer on the team, one is injured, and one has barely been used. I think not seeing these guys on the field has been an issue as well as play calling. Higgins' only target on Sunday was a RZ score!

Callaway was suspended for four games and a healthy inactive for another. He accounted for 4 himself in 2018.

That's 16 of the 21.

Chubb (2), Gordon (1), and Landry (2) make up the remainder. I expect Kareem Hunt to help us in this department moving forward.

So, compared to 2018 at least, we are missing the players (for one reason or another) who aided us the most in RZ scoring.

j/c

I think the lack of having even ONE viable TE is a huge issue and large contributor to our issues...issues with an S. A good TE is a safety blanket...a very-good-to-great TE is a weapon(s).

12 of Lamar J's 15 completions on Sunday were to a TE. 12. Baker had 2 caught by his TE Sunday. Throws to the TE is THE staple of the Ravens passing game and they were brilliant in securing 3 viable TEs to pair with Lamar's limitations in passing. That stat is the norm for a Ravens games this year and not a one - or two - off kind of thing.

Watch Wentz and D Watson. Those guys too should include their TEs when they take the OL out for dinner. TEs are a young QBs best friend...and a vet QB's long-time buddy.

We've spent most of these 9 games without ONE viable TE and last year's security blanket on the bench or in the tub. I think the 2 back sets may help slow down the defense a bit, but a good-to-very-good TE would be a huge asset to our struggles. JMO.

I’ve been banging that drum for weeks as well ... our lack of reliable TE is hampering our offense from every angle. I wouldn’t be shocked to see us try to draft the best TE available

The decision to cut Darren Fells and then keep Brown over Seth DeValve continues to boggle the mind each week. Especially Darren Fells.

The guy has 6 TDs so far and avg. a TD every 4th reception. Ironically enough, all have been RZ TDs too.

Fells and Charles would work wonders for our roster IMO ... Brown’s not nearly as effective as either

Forgot about Orsen as well. Not sure if he is with a team though. I guess he's still be a better option over Brown.

I thought he was with someone but got injured, but I’m not sure either

The fade to OBJ on Sunday is a TD with Njoku.

I agree...and was a pathetic attempt by OBJ at that. Somewhat off-topic so I apologize in advance.

yep, that’s a Njoku staple

Look, I'll be happy to admit I was wrong.

I have no interest in turning this into the gajillionth "what's wrong with Freddie/Baker" thread, but it's along those lines that I just don't see how adding another passcatcher is going to magically cure our RZ woes.

No , but a big Snobber knocker Fullback with decent hands would .. Feel free to pass that on to Dorsey and Fred.

I certainly don't want to debate right or wrong. In Njoku we have a pass catcher like no other pass catcher on the team...well...his hands are similar to OBJs thus far...but he's a big guy and very athletic. If he could block better he'd be a big help as the back 7 have to account for him if he does NOT block...rather than simply assuming he will NOT block.

Other teams' young QBs use the TE very frequently. We almost cannot. To your point, if Njoku never missed a game/snap, we'd likely STILL have/have-had many of the other issues we've seen. Whooopty heaven...you are right and not-right.

I feel like I often see people say we don't run enough screens.

I thought the issue was that we don't run enough screens properly.

That was certainly our MO coming into the Kitchens era.

The Vikings are a GREAT screen team .. not surprising

Predictability and the Cleveland Browns Offense

By rufio Nov 13, 2019, 10:43pm EST

https://www.dawgsbynature.com/2019/11/13/20961412/predictability-and-the-cleveland-browns-offense

Offenses in any sport who have called plays, actions, or “set pieces” have two advantages: they know where they will go, and they know when or how they will go there.

This is as true for a pick and roll in basketball as it is for a corner kick in soccer, as it is for a called play in football. Though there may be reads and real-time adjustments to plays, the offense knows the play and the defense doesn’t.

Or, at least, the defense shouldn’t.

In football, good offensive design is about creating multiple legitimate options off of one look for the defense. Whether that means the triple option from a wishbone formation, an RPO from a spread set, or a play action pass from the I formation is a matter of style. The substance is getting your play action and your run to look exactly the same so that the defense cannot key in on the differences and know which is coming.

The 2019 Browns have an issue with predictability. Shaquill Griffin reportedly knew which plays the Browns would run, a trend that doesn’t look like it has stopped in recent weeks.

I took a look at the Browns offense against the Denver Broncos in this week’s breakdown:

Honest question...

Is it possible that Chubb and Hunt can be leveraged to mask/replace our deficiency at TE?

Put another way, can we use Chubb and Hunt to essentially be TEs, just lined up next to the QB vs on the line (in terms of their pass-blocking and catching ability, when they're not running the ball)?

Kinda, but not nearly as well, no.
They simply lack the mass and reach of a TE to effectively slow a DE. They might do Ok against a rushing LB or CB/S, but that's it... they'd barely be a speed bump against a DE.

I was recently thinking the same thing. Here's Purps quote:

"Kinda, but not nearly as well, no.
They simply lack the mass and reach of a TE to effectively slow a DE. They might do Ok against a rushing LB or CB/S, but that's it... they'd barely be a speed bump against a DE."

Purp is spot on...but I'm thinking about what the defense must do to deal with two backs like that...while not at all thinking about having either of the two backs even THINK about taking on a DE.

I'm guessing the D would want another coverage-backer (not a plentiful item) or better-yet another DB to cover the "second" receiving threat back. They are already worried about OBJ and don't really have to think twice about the TE.

I dunno. Maybe a much more savvy X's & O's guy than am I (a VERY plentiful item ) have some thoughts?

Purp and WSU,

Thanks for pointing that out. That makes a lot of sense. Sounds like on passing plays it makes little sense to leave both those guys in to block on any plays. Maybe one to pick up a blitzer and the other should be an outlet.

If you leave them to read/react and decide whether to stay in or leak out, that might work rather well.

ex: they both stay in at the start of the play and read if a rusher is coming on their side; if not, first look to help chip, then they leak into the flat as an outlet.... with that happening on both sides, it could keep a pass rush on its heels

I agree throughout with what you have said. I still am interested in rolling Baker out (less chance of getting knocked down pass) and easier look. Might run. But these RBs could be chips or lead him to the open without needing to devastate somebody. Just a wrinkle, but give the D another look in a wrinkle, make it react, complicate them a little more. Shooting Bakers in a barrel if he sits. Not a cure all, but if you can be versatile, then be versatile.

Can Hunt throw? I have no idea. How about Hammer? I like the idea of a big rugby guy showing a fake punt or two (or placeholder).

Unused tool in my opinion. I wish he was a huge impact, but our red zone issues continue.

Since Baker has been our quarterback, he's thrown 31 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in the red zone.

We are also the 20th red zone offense this year...

And what do you deduce from that ??

Seems like a solid way to build chemistry between the QB and WRs on the field...

Ahh, so he thinks hoge and ratley are better players than Higgins....

The whole Higgins thing is just weird.

Looked like a player on the rise last year. A mid round guy the team stuck with and developed. Like organizations are supposed to do. Makes huge catch on first drive of season seemingly picking up where he left off...and poof...hurt and pretty much never to be seen again.

Not to mention has a good egg. By all accounts teammates like him, never any trouble, etc. The only "rumor" about him before this season was how hard a worker he is.

I know for sure at least one of those three bounced off Callaway - and somehow UP - at the goal line. Curious as to the other two.