Posts
Wide Receiver talent
The talent at wide receiver right now is the worst in over 10 years. Here is a list of receivers over the past 10 years:
2001-2003: Michael Jenkins (WR for Minnesota Vikings) Chris Gamble, Drew Carter
2004-2005: Santonio Holmes (#1 receiver for NY Jets) Ted Ginn (WR for San Francisco) Anthony Gonzalez (starter for Colts until injuries)
2006: Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez
2007-2008: Brian Robiskie (contributor on Cleveland Browns) Brian Hartline (starting WR for Miami Dolphins)
2009-2010: Posey and Sanzenbacher (contributor on Chicago Bears in rookie season)
That is some serious talent. Every year we have been fortunate enough to have at least 2 NFL receivers. Now compare that to this year....YIKES! The only receiver on the depth chart right now that I can see ever having a shot at making it in the NFL is Devin Smith, but he is not at that level right now. When you watch the games so far this year, our receivers can't get any separation and they lack any playmaking ability. Posey's suspension and Philly Brown's injury were devastating to this team. Our receiving core still would not have been great, but they would have been pretty good with Posey and Brown outside with Devin Smith in the slot.
Playcalling:
I never thought I would find myself longing for Jim Tressel calling the plays. Tressel was conservative, but he always had a plan with the playcalling. Even when we couldn't run in the past, he would continue to call running plays to keep defenses honest when he did want to pass. The lone exception I found while watching tapes was the Florida game, and our offense this year actually looks very similar to that game. In that game, we gave up on the run very early in the game (even before the game was getting out of hand). This allowed the defense of Florida to pin their ears back and just go after Troy Smith. No adjustments were made and the rest is history that I'd like to forget.
If you watch the playcalling this year, it is very similar. When we have gotten behind or when the run doesn't seem to be working, we give up on the run and put Miller back in Shotgun with 1 back. This has allowed the defense to rush Miller without any regard to much running threat. We should be running our offense primarily out of the "I" formation. Boren is probably the best player on this offense, so we should have him in the game. Playing out of the "I" forces the defense to always have to account for the run. This should allow us to run effective play action passes and boot legs for Miller that will give him some time to throw or run without everyone on the defense focusing on him.
I also noticed that when we have had what appeared to be bad offensive lines in the past, we also had QB's who held onto the ball too long. When we are going to have Miller pass, we need to call passing plays that are simple and quick developing. We need more WR screens, quick slants, and then every now and then mix in a deep thrown to keep the safeties honest.
QB Coaching
I miss Joe Daniels as the QB coach. Since Nick Siciliano has become the QB coach, I have seen no development of out quarterbacks. Bauserman has obviously not improved, Pryor never really developed as a QB, and Miller is still looking as lost as he did his first game. Go back to previous QB's and look at the development. Look at the progression that Krenzel, Smith, and Boeckman made over their careers. I understand it is very early to look for any development of Braxton Miller, but I get so upset when I look at the sideline after the offense comes off the field and Miller is standing there by himself just watching the game. There needs to be a coach down there going over the previous series with him and discussing the next drive.
Final Thoughts
Of course the suspensions are the main reason this offense is so pathetic. Miller, Devin Smith, and Evan Spencer were all forced into action a year earlier than they should have been. Having Pryor, Posey, and Adams would have made a world of difference, but we can't dwell on that because nothing is going to change for the better with that situation. All we can hope for is that the playcalling gets better, and that Miller and the young WR's develop quickly.
The talent at wide receiver right now is the worst in over 10 years. Here is a list of receivers over the past 10 years:
2001-2003: Michael Jenkins (WR for Minnesota Vikings) Chris Gamble, Drew Carter
2004-2005: Santonio Holmes (#1 receiver for NY Jets) Ted Ginn (WR for San Francisco) Anthony Gonzalez (starter for Colts until injuries)
2006: Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez
2007-2008: Brian Robiskie (contributor on Cleveland Browns) Brian Hartline (starting WR for Miami Dolphins)
2009-2010: Posey and Sanzenbacher (contributor on Chicago Bears in rookie season)
That is some serious talent. Every year we have been fortunate enough to have at least 2 NFL receivers. Now compare that to this year....YIKES! The only receiver on the depth chart right now that I can see ever having a shot at making it in the NFL is Devin Smith, but he is not at that level right now. When you watch the games so far this year, our receivers can't get any separation and they lack any playmaking ability. Posey's suspension and Philly Brown's injury were devastating to this team. Our receiving core still would not have been great, but they would have been pretty good with Posey and Brown outside with Devin Smith in the slot.
Playcalling:
I never thought I would find myself longing for Jim Tressel calling the plays. Tressel was conservative, but he always had a plan with the playcalling. Even when we couldn't run in the past, he would continue to call running plays to keep defenses honest when he did want to pass. The lone exception I found while watching tapes was the Florida game, and our offense this year actually looks very similar to that game. In that game, we gave up on the run very early in the game (even before the game was getting out of hand). This allowed the defense of Florida to pin their ears back and just go after Troy Smith. No adjustments were made and the rest is history that I'd like to forget.
If you watch the playcalling this year, it is very similar. When we have gotten behind or when the run doesn't seem to be working, we give up on the run and put Miller back in Shotgun with 1 back. This has allowed the defense to rush Miller without any regard to much running threat. We should be running our offense primarily out of the "I" formation. Boren is probably the best player on this offense, so we should have him in the game. Playing out of the "I" forces the defense to always have to account for the run. This should allow us to run effective play action passes and boot legs for Miller that will give him some time to throw or run without everyone on the defense focusing on him.
I also noticed that when we have had what appeared to be bad offensive lines in the past, we also had QB's who held onto the ball too long. When we are going to have Miller pass, we need to call passing plays that are simple and quick developing. We need more WR screens, quick slants, and then every now and then mix in a deep thrown to keep the safeties honest.
QB Coaching
I miss Joe Daniels as the QB coach. Since Nick Siciliano has become the QB coach, I have seen no development of out quarterbacks. Bauserman has obviously not improved, Pryor never really developed as a QB, and Miller is still looking as lost as he did his first game. Go back to previous QB's and look at the development. Look at the progression that Krenzel, Smith, and Boeckman made over their careers. I understand it is very early to look for any development of Braxton Miller, but I get so upset when I look at the sideline after the offense comes off the field and Miller is standing there by himself just watching the game. There needs to be a coach down there going over the previous series with him and discussing the next drive.
Final Thoughts
Of course the suspensions are the main reason this offense is so pathetic. Miller, Devin Smith, and Evan Spencer were all forced into action a year earlier than they should have been. Having Pryor, Posey, and Adams would have made a world of difference, but we can't dwell on that because nothing is going to change for the better with that situation. All we can hope for is that the playcalling gets better, and that Miller and the young WR's develop quickly.
No comments:
Post a Comment