Originally posted by Giedi:
The HaRoman offense has had redzone problems since the Alex smith days. I think I've beaten to death Colin needing to improve, Goodwin needing to be replaced, and Vance also needing to improve.
Bruce miller, Hyde, the two Martins and Lattimore will play a role in improving the redzone offense.
Having said that -- Scheme - wise I just don't think the offense deals very well with extreme coverages, whether it be zero coverage or 8 dropping back. Somehow I think a three tight end set should be incorporated in the rezone offense. It's a good formation to run or play - pass out of. Specially if we run 70% in the red zone. Also I think it's very difficult for defenses to keep track of personnel substitutions - like if the suddenly we go 3 WR or 3 o-linemen. The WR's can run the TE routs and the tight ends can run the WR routes and it's just a matter of running the particular pass play that matches up with a particular red zone defense.
In the case of zero coverage, a guy like vance, stevie or ellington can run an ally oop or a post up route against the defender. In the case of 8 men dropping back, everybody blocks and Colin runs and slides down before he takes a hit. (As an example of a Infante route adjustment)
In other words - those plays are built in *scheme-wise* to deal with extreme coverages that have been *historically* problematic for the team. So in addition to improving our redzone personnel, an analysis should be made as to what defenses have given our redzone offense trouble and install counter measures directly in the scheme to deal with them. DC's aren't stupid. They will play defenses that historically give an offense problems. So, in my opinion, the HaRoman offense should deal with those situations with schemes built in from day one In TC, so by the time regular season is here those adjustments are automatic.
No question about it. I remember when we had audio of one of the coaches instructing CK that if the first read wasn't there, that he was to take off and run. I think the next phase will be to continue the delayed check downs by the RB's (stay in to block and then flare out under the primary routes) and CK being instructed to USE them rather than run himself but I think your final point (bold) is really a critical piece to this all.
We badly need to incorporate much easier 2nd and 3rd routes in the designs. This is the thing that stood out to me the most on many of these passing designs. Either the primary read was open and it worked (that includes the high-low reads in a quadrant) or CK was in insta-scramble mode either buying time for an ad lib pass or running to pick up yards. There weren't many built in safety valves.
The INT in the NFCCG schematically is what has been wrong with our passing game to a tee...we used the wrong personnel (you use Boldin, not Crabtree on a fade to the corner of the EZ esp. on Sherman) and they flooded the left side of the field while trying to attack single coverage on the right side. Based on interviews, it "sounded" like this was an AR1 play from the huddle as the design WAS to create isolation for Crabtree on the right (all or nothing - which is why CK went there despite Dick clearly being ahead of Crabtree in his own route) and finally, the only other options CK had in this critical high pressure moment was was back on the left side(line) of the field of which he had just had a sack-strip a few plays previous (the rush was getting there). And watching the gif, it looks like if CK "had" made it all the way back to the left, it would have been another strip-sack (Davis fail). So where was his outlet if Crabtree was covered? His legs? Where was the Bill Walsh T.O. moment where Harbaugh says, "OK, we're going to the fade here but if Crabtree is covered, watch for Hunter's release under his route. Hunter, make sure you are running to the sideline and get up field and out of bounds as soon as possible. Break!"
So to recap, we need to use better personnel (to our strengths), need to assess our successes/weakness in the RZ better like you noted (includes where we struggle against certain defensive calls), design plays that have MANY more outlets built in (under the primary routes) and take a T.O. and settle your QB down in big moments esp. if you lost the Superbowl the year prior on the same type of route concept!
I like David and Oscars points about expanding on the concepts we already run...pass more to the middle of the field (easiest passes), create more built-in easy outlets, educate CK on utilizing the check-downs, attack the edges more (more edge WR screens from the bunch formation, middle RB screens, TE's in soft zones, etc.), practice the fade routes to the same spot every time until you have the right personnel and connection (timing), etc. The coaches have lots to improve upon themselves scheme-wise and coaching-up CK that can really help him and this offense take off IMHO. We have all the tools we need.
[ Edited by NCommand on Jul 11, 2014 at 12:04 PM ]