Keeping Drives Alive

[sharpe1027]

First, thanks for the great answers from everyone, especially all the detailed discussion of formations and strategies.

Second, I think I understand the point about respecting the running game. However, assuming a team doesn't have confidence in their running game, how would a team usually attack a cover 2? Is it susceptible to deep routes by multiple WRs? Does it take away the short options? Might that explain the play calling or Rodger's choices?

[ThunderDan]

First, thanks for the great answers from everyone, especially all the detailed discussion of formations and strategies.

Second, I think I understand the point about respecting the running game. However, assuming a team doesn't have confidence in their running game, how would a team usually attack a cover 2? Is it susceptible to deep routes by multiple WRs? Does it take away the short options? Might that explain the play calling or Rodger's choices?

The best way to attack cover 2 is to have a fast athletic TE who runs right down the middle of the field (Read as J Finley) In a cover 2 the MLB is resposible for the deep middle zone. If you have a TE that is faster and more athletic you can rip off 15-20 yard chunks at a time.

The other way is to run and run effectively. Force the D to bring a safety into the box to make it 7 vs 8. That leaves only 1 safety deep and changes coverage. Forcing the safety to play over the top of one of the WR while the other WR has 1-on-1 verses a CB.

[sharpe1027]

The best way to attack cover 2 is to have a fast athletic TE who runs right down the middle of the field (Read as J Finley) In a cover 2 the MLB is resposible for the deep middle zone. If you have a TE that is faster and more athletic you can rip off 15-20 yard chunks at a time.

The other way is to run and run effectively. Force the D to bring a safety into the box to make it 7 vs 8. That leaves only 1 safety deep and changes coverage. Forcing the safety to play over the top of one of the WR while the other WR has 1-on-1 verses a CB.

Thanks again for the breakdown. I guess that losing Grant and Finely explains why they will be seeing a lot of cover 2 from here on out and why they are having difficulties attacking it.

[Tony Oday]

Quarless is a 6-4 252lb beast that runs a 4.69 40....Finley is a 6-5 236 lb 4.82 40...seem pretty damn similar to me. Quarless needs to get up on the playbook and assert himself.

B Jack has been running great the last two weeks...when he gets the rock.


Our drives are working with 4-5 yard hitches. I dont understand why there is not a run EVERY time there are 7 in the box...no excusses.

[ThunderDan]

The best way to attack cover 2 is to have a fast athletic TE who runs right down the middle of the field (Read as J Finley) In a cover 2 the MLB is resposible for the deep middle zone. If you have a TE that is faster and more athletic you can rip off 15-20 yard chunks at a time.

The other way is to run and run effectively. Force the D to bring a safety into the box to make it 7 vs 8. That leaves only 1 safety deep and changes coverage. Forcing the safety to play over the top of one of the WR while the other WR has 1-on-1 verses a CB.

Thanks again for the breakdown. I guess that losing Grant and Finely explains why they will be seeing a lot of cover 2 from here on out and why they are having difficulties attacking it.

Yeh, it will be harder losing Grant and Finley. In Sunday's game verses Miami, the throw to Crabtree was exactly what we needed to loosen the D up. The ran the play once and didn't run it again which surprised me. Maybe they did but Crabtree or Quarless couldn't beat the MLB. Also, I thought we ran the ball effectively when we ran it. We should have kept running until Miami put the safety into the box.

The other thing we are missing is delays and short flairs to the RBs to attack the areas where the DEs are rushing from. They could have helped Bulaga out by allowing the DEs aggression to create voids in the D coverage and slip the ball in where the DE needs to have contain.

[sharpe1027]

Quarless has a lot of the same tools, but I don't see him as being comparable to Finley right now. Quarless uses his body to catch the ball and/or cradles the ball. He also looks less fluid and doesn't seem to use his height and body to its full advantage when going for a catch and beating a defender to the ball.

I don't understand why Jackson isn't getting the ball more. Maybe they are concerned that if he gets hurt they are completely done?

[Tarlam!]

The other thing we are missing is delays and short flairs to the RBs to attack the areas where the DEs are rushing from. They could have helped Bulaga out by allowing the DEs aggression to create voids in the D coverage and slip the ball in where the DE needs to have contain.

I've seen college teams do this better than the Packers! I'm glad to see one of our experts pick up on this point. I've often wondered why M3 doesn't employ the delayed hand off, or flea-flickers or end arounds. I know the latter are trick plays, and you shouldn't do it often. But how about a shotgun snap directly to the the HB?

It seems to me the Packers offense is as predictable at times as the infamous U71 finally became.

[bobblehead]

First, thanks for the great answers from everyone, especially all the detailed discussion of formations and strategies.

Second, I think I understand the point about respecting the running game. However, assuming a team doesn't have confidence in their running game, how would a team usually attack a cover 2? Is it susceptible to deep routes by multiple WRs? Does it take away the short options? Might that explain the play calling or Rodger's choices?

The best way to attack cover 2 is to have a fast athletic TE who runs right down the middle of the field (Read as J Finley) In a cover 2 the MLB is resposible for the deep middle zone. If you have a TE that is faster and more athletic you can rip off 15-20 yard chunks at a time.

The other way is to run and run effectively. Force the D to bring a safety into the box to make it 7 vs 8. That leaves only 1 safety deep and changes coverage. Forcing the safety to play over the top of one of the WR while the other WR has 1-on-1 verses a CB.

donald lee was running that route very well in '07...what the hell happened since then?

[bobblehead]

Quarless is a 6-4 252lb beast that runs a 4.69 40....Finley is a 6-5 236 lb 4.82 40...seem pretty damn similar to me. Quarless needs to get up on the playbook and assert himself.

More to it than that. Finley just plain plays big. He uses his body to shield a defender very well and catches most everything he gets his hands on.....playing the ball in the air if you will. He also has a knack for catching a ball in full stride. Some guys have that, others do not...Jerry Rice was probably the best I ever saw at it.

I would venter to guess I could find 20 TE's in the league who you don't know with similar measurables that you have just listed....My guess, not fact mind you.