Originally posted by dtg_9er:
Originally posted by NCommand:
Here's a hint...
- Don't run up the middle on 1st down
- Use your TE's right behind the blitzing LBers
- Don't roll out right naked and only target Crabtree
From your lips to Roman''s ears!
Great post NC! Agree with most and have just a couple of comments--
Formations--Harbaugh/Roman will continue to use massive numbers of formations and run different plays from them…just have to wait and enjoy seeing what they do. I'm not sure whether some of the problems over the past two years involve the players being not quite ready for every formation, but this year should be a break out year for the passing game.
Divided Roles--not sure whether Harbaugh will change this too much, but the coaches may work better together for the same reason as stated above for the players…time together or more synergism. One reason to keep all the coaches involved is to replace a guy if he finds a better job elsewhere and to keep them all in the game.
James is a better pure runner than Sproles (IMO). He can work on his hands but Hunter is closer to Sproles than James at this point…although I don't like that comparison either. This has to be the best backfield in the NFL…by far! I can't think of another team with four potential stars at HB.
Non-roster spots: I see BJ as making the team as a ST player or practice player, but not sure he would replace either Colt or Scott at the QB spot. I hope they can protect their non-roster players but that will be very difficult this year. May have to count on the second tier guys to come back on the PS after some guys are signed elsewhere.
Lastly, this coming year I hope they attack the middle in the passing game a bit more, especially in the RZ, and limit the runs into a stacked D. Spreading the field will help CK and the RBs and would be a return to a WCO staple. Mangini will help Roman and crew understand what defenses will be doing in the game prep more than scripting plays or calling plays.
NC's Concerns:
· Bone-headed calls at the worst times--some very odd calls
· Plays often seemed to come in very late esp. during critical times (even later)--time in system should help here.
· Outsmarted on several occasions (clearly)--this will happen but I hope Mangini helps lessen the impact here.
· Very slow starts (the anti-WCO approach)--wouldn't mind if the first series was used to set up the D but not sure this is happening.
· Not playing to momentum--this has been too frequent. They seem to have a plan and stick with it rather than giving players their heads. Trust?
· Tunnel vision plays (Gore, Gore, Crabtree)--trust? I believe they did not totally trust the young guys and relied too heavily on Gore and Crabtree, especially after Hunter and other injuries.
Wow, nice post!
And you made me think about the trust issue. Why is that? Is it b/c a guy like Jenkins is being asked to learn all three WR positions plus potentially, learning plays where he is lined up out of the Q formation next to CK? So is it the players issues with retaining or is our playbook/philosophy is so complex it takes at least 2+ years to learn. Now granted, in a real, pure WCO, it takes a minimum of 3 years to master (many say the 3-4 defense is the same). So keep that in mind. But with all the personnel, shifts, formations, jumbo packages, etc. is it just much harder to execute and as a result, teams are identifying "dead give-aways" and plays are getting off rushed and ill-prepared?
And like you said...perhaps another off season of experience will make all of this a moot point.