Collin
soap and water
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2004
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Everything hurts right now, but this is not the end of the world. We aren't going to go 5-11 and we aren't guaranteed to miss the playoffs. We can come out of the bye on fire and we have ended seasons strongly under Fox before. We can do it again, here's how:
#1) Convert more third downs
We are last in the NFL in third down conversions by a pretty large margin. Part of it has to do with drops, another part is questionable protection, part of it is play-calling, and part of it is inaccuracy from Jake. So far it hasn't mattered whether the third downs have been long or short, although short is obviously preferable.
We fix this problem by using the bye to work on Jake's mechanics, then design plays giving him multiple options that don't require 7 step drops. Have Key running ins and outs at the first down marker with Smith running drag routes or vertical routes that challenge the defense to stay with him. Also, keep the tight end in to help more with pass protection so that we can get Foster out into his patterns. Third downs are our biggest problem by far right now, as we were 6th best in the NFL last season and are currently 32nd. Fix this and we have a much better chance to win games.
#2) Tackle somebody
The number of missed tackles is positively embarrassing, and it's inexcusable. The corners, safeties, and linebackers in particular need to work on their tackling form. They have to stop going for the hit with the arms tucked and start putting their head across the ball carrier's body, wrapping up with their arms, and bringing the offensive player down. Right now there are far too many arm tackles because defenders are coming up out of control, and there are too many instances of players trying to deliver the knockout punch or trying to strip the ball away instead of making sure the ball carrier comes down. Tackle first, then strip as they're going down.
#3) Make the linebackers stay in their gaps
We continue to have problems with the linebackers flowing to the line action and taking themselves out of the play when the RB cuts back. Fox, Trgovac, Flajole or someone needs to drill it into their heads that they have an area of responsibility and they are not to leave that area unless the RB is running free. We need to force running backs from the inside out instead of flowing to the edges and giving up yards up the middle.
#4) Stop dropping passes
No off-days for any of the receivers over the next 14 days. They need to report to the practice fields every day to catch 500 balls out of the machine. Too often they are looking downfield for where to run instead of securing the ball. This has been a problem for most of our guys, which means it's a concentration issue and not being emphasized enough in practice. Fix it.
#5) Run more effectively in short yardage
Using Hoover on the FB dives is fine, but it's not going to fool people often. Instead I'd like to line up Foster a little closer behind Delhomme and fire off somewhere between the tackles. We don't get great push directly up the middle, but on the TD today Gross got some good movement so he may be our best option. Maser needs to get the guys working on staying low, using their hands, and driving with power. Gross and Wahle are getting paid enough to handle this. For Hoover and the tight ends, I don't like their strength enough to give them hole-opening assignments, but wham blocks where they hit defenders at angles to get them off balance might help.
#6) Call better runs
Al Michaels noted that we have a higher percentage of our runs between the tackles than any team in the league. Foster has speed, so we should be using it. Unfortunately it seems like the only thing we run outside is the toss play, and defenses read that too well. We need to have naked counter action with Foster taking his first step as if he's coming inside but then bouncing it out by design. We can kick out with one guard or Hoover as well, but we have to stop designing all our runs to go behind the line's movement. Defenses always read that and beat us to the spot. More misdirection is key to keeping defenses off balance and will help even when we do run behind the line's movement.
#7) Find a return man
If we have to bring up Efrem Hill, so be it. If we need to have Smith handling punts and kickoffs, that's fine too, but something needs to change. We cannot keep having ball security issues on returns, and it would help tremendously if we had better starting field position. The front office has ignored this for far too long, so if there is a free agent out there with returning experience, we need to cut Hankton and go get him.
#8) Correct our return coverage
Our special teams coverage units are downright sorry. We are giving up one big return after another because our guys do not stay in their lanes and do not tackle when they have opportunities. Forget the big hit, we need to wrap up and bring people down. Crossman needs to have his guys do tackling drills for the next two weeks, and if they aren't tough enough to handle it correctly, cut them and find people who will.
#9) Play tighter in the secondary
I know that Fox likes the umbrella scheme where we don't take a chance on allowing big plays and instead keep everything in front of us, but we are getting killed by short throws and yardage after the catch. The corners need to play closer to the line and be more aggressive about challenging passes in the air. Similarly, the safeties need to play closer and take away some of those middle zones where tight ends and other receivers have been killing us. This will increase the risk of big plays, but we're being nickel and dimed to death already.
#10) Be willing to adjust
Part of success is not abandoning what you do well or making changes just for the heck of it, but this coaching staff has been very slow about doing the things necessary to fix problems. Unfortunately I suspect that many of the suggestions above will not be addressed precisely because we don't make adjustments in scheme. We need to be less arrogant and more aggressive, realizing that things are not working with the current approach. This has to start at the very top, but I have my doubts as to whether or not Fox will be willing to take such radical steps.
Meanwhile I'm absolutely sure that the players do care about winning, and I think people who don't have probably been too removed from sports to remember the competitiveness of athletes, but I do think that this blind faith in the system that Fox has encouraged breeds denial when things aren't going well. We approach games with an even-keel where we trust that things will work out the way they've been planned. We need to come out with more of an edge than that, and admitting that some things need to be changed will hopefully produce the attitude we need.
If we do some or all of these things, we can get right back into the playoff race. We have the talent and we have the opportunity, we just have to regroup during the bye week, prepare, and attack each remaining game with the seriousness they deserve.
#1) Convert more third downs
We are last in the NFL in third down conversions by a pretty large margin. Part of it has to do with drops, another part is questionable protection, part of it is play-calling, and part of it is inaccuracy from Jake. So far it hasn't mattered whether the third downs have been long or short, although short is obviously preferable.
We fix this problem by using the bye to work on Jake's mechanics, then design plays giving him multiple options that don't require 7 step drops. Have Key running ins and outs at the first down marker with Smith running drag routes or vertical routes that challenge the defense to stay with him. Also, keep the tight end in to help more with pass protection so that we can get Foster out into his patterns. Third downs are our biggest problem by far right now, as we were 6th best in the NFL last season and are currently 32nd. Fix this and we have a much better chance to win games.
#2) Tackle somebody
The number of missed tackles is positively embarrassing, and it's inexcusable. The corners, safeties, and linebackers in particular need to work on their tackling form. They have to stop going for the hit with the arms tucked and start putting their head across the ball carrier's body, wrapping up with their arms, and bringing the offensive player down. Right now there are far too many arm tackles because defenders are coming up out of control, and there are too many instances of players trying to deliver the knockout punch or trying to strip the ball away instead of making sure the ball carrier comes down. Tackle first, then strip as they're going down.
#3) Make the linebackers stay in their gaps
We continue to have problems with the linebackers flowing to the line action and taking themselves out of the play when the RB cuts back. Fox, Trgovac, Flajole or someone needs to drill it into their heads that they have an area of responsibility and they are not to leave that area unless the RB is running free. We need to force running backs from the inside out instead of flowing to the edges and giving up yards up the middle.
#4) Stop dropping passes
No off-days for any of the receivers over the next 14 days. They need to report to the practice fields every day to catch 500 balls out of the machine. Too often they are looking downfield for where to run instead of securing the ball. This has been a problem for most of our guys, which means it's a concentration issue and not being emphasized enough in practice. Fix it.
#5) Run more effectively in short yardage
Using Hoover on the FB dives is fine, but it's not going to fool people often. Instead I'd like to line up Foster a little closer behind Delhomme and fire off somewhere between the tackles. We don't get great push directly up the middle, but on the TD today Gross got some good movement so he may be our best option. Maser needs to get the guys working on staying low, using their hands, and driving with power. Gross and Wahle are getting paid enough to handle this. For Hoover and the tight ends, I don't like their strength enough to give them hole-opening assignments, but wham blocks where they hit defenders at angles to get them off balance might help.
#6) Call better runs
Al Michaels noted that we have a higher percentage of our runs between the tackles than any team in the league. Foster has speed, so we should be using it. Unfortunately it seems like the only thing we run outside is the toss play, and defenses read that too well. We need to have naked counter action with Foster taking his first step as if he's coming inside but then bouncing it out by design. We can kick out with one guard or Hoover as well, but we have to stop designing all our runs to go behind the line's movement. Defenses always read that and beat us to the spot. More misdirection is key to keeping defenses off balance and will help even when we do run behind the line's movement.
#7) Find a return man
If we have to bring up Efrem Hill, so be it. If we need to have Smith handling punts and kickoffs, that's fine too, but something needs to change. We cannot keep having ball security issues on returns, and it would help tremendously if we had better starting field position. The front office has ignored this for far too long, so if there is a free agent out there with returning experience, we need to cut Hankton and go get him.
#8) Correct our return coverage
Our special teams coverage units are downright sorry. We are giving up one big return after another because our guys do not stay in their lanes and do not tackle when they have opportunities. Forget the big hit, we need to wrap up and bring people down. Crossman needs to have his guys do tackling drills for the next two weeks, and if they aren't tough enough to handle it correctly, cut them and find people who will.
#9) Play tighter in the secondary
I know that Fox likes the umbrella scheme where we don't take a chance on allowing big plays and instead keep everything in front of us, but we are getting killed by short throws and yardage after the catch. The corners need to play closer to the line and be more aggressive about challenging passes in the air. Similarly, the safeties need to play closer and take away some of those middle zones where tight ends and other receivers have been killing us. This will increase the risk of big plays, but we're being nickel and dimed to death already.
#10) Be willing to adjust
Part of success is not abandoning what you do well or making changes just for the heck of it, but this coaching staff has been very slow about doing the things necessary to fix problems. Unfortunately I suspect that many of the suggestions above will not be addressed precisely because we don't make adjustments in scheme. We need to be less arrogant and more aggressive, realizing that things are not working with the current approach. This has to start at the very top, but I have my doubts as to whether or not Fox will be willing to take such radical steps.
Meanwhile I'm absolutely sure that the players do care about winning, and I think people who don't have probably been too removed from sports to remember the competitiveness of athletes, but I do think that this blind faith in the system that Fox has encouraged breeds denial when things aren't going well. We approach games with an even-keel where we trust that things will work out the way they've been planned. We need to come out with more of an edge than that, and admitting that some things need to be changed will hopefully produce the attitude we need.
If we do some or all of these things, we can get right back into the playoff race. We have the talent and we have the opportunity, we just have to regroup during the bye week, prepare, and attack each remaining game with the seriousness they deserve.
