SB Nation User Blog: DolphDallas

a Ginn-Friendly Offense

DolphDallas — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:41:23 -0000

What? Design an offense around a gutless pass-dropper?

I'm designing an offense and a formation around a speedy player who may have suspect hands and suspect route running abilities. "Good luck with that" you say?

There are four players on the roster who are absolute dynamite in the open field IF they have the ball in their hands:

Ricky Williams, Ted Ginn, Pat White, and Kory Sheets.

The problem is obviously getting the ball into their hands (without dropping it) and finding a way to get them into space.

Facts to consider:

Some NFL teams put their best receiver in the tailback position in the backfield and have them run their route from there. Sometimes it allows them to get a favorable matchup on a LB.
Ricky, Teddy, Pat, and Kory would all be great on kickoff returns if the risk of injury /muffing the kick were not so great.
If teams continue to stack the box against the Fins to stop their rushing attack and a speedy guy were to break through the line somehow (managing to hold onto the football), it would be an automatic TD (how's that for chunk yardage) and to counter the threat, the defense would be forced to back off the line.

Here's the formation:

Put Ted Ginn (or Ricky or White or Sheets) as KR/WR deep in the backfield...like 20 yards deep. Hopefully Henne won't be joining him on a 15 yard sack :)

BH _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LT LG C RG RT _ _ _ _ _ _ _GC

_ _ _ _RW _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _RB

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _CH

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _WR/KR

You can have the KR/WR start in a three-point stance or sprinter's stance and start running at the snap of the ball toward the line of scrimmage at full speed zig-zagging in misdirection as needed to position himself for an open "return lane". Note that the "kick returner" DOES NOT HAVE THE BALL at this time.

The QB (Henne or Thigpen) is in a shallow shotgun or pistol formation.

Option 1 occurs as the "kick returner" comes within 5 yards of QB depth. A decision has to be made whether to flip/pitch/pass the ball to the up and coming KR/WR. The reason this must happen at this moment is that the transfer will be considered a backward lateral. For someone like Pat White, but also for Ginn and Williams, it would allow him the option to throw a forward pass. I have no information on how well Sheets can throw the ball. Catching this "pass/lob" would be similar to fielding a soft-tossed punt/kickoff.

Option 2 occurs after the KR/WR passes the QB depth position and before the KR/WR arrives at the LOS. Now the transfer is considered a forward pass. This is now basically a Bubble Screen, but the KR/WR is in full stride and running primarily north/south. To catch this pass will require more skill, but it is still a rather easy and somewhat short throw. A pump fake toward the KR/WR would be a good strategy here to try to get the defender to bite or at least freeze the run defense.

Option 3 occurs as the KR/WR passes the LOS. This is basically a slow developing slant play. The advantage is that instead of the WR/KR beginning to speed up and catch and run on a slant, the WR/KR is now at full speed hopefully catching the ball in stride. A pump fake would also be advantageous here.

Option 4 occurs as the KR/WR attempts to finish the "go" part of the "slant and go" hoping to run by a defender trying to stop the bubble screen slant or at least stretch the defense deep and leave the underneath routes open.

Clearly with all the running, you will need multiple WR/KRs and I feel that Ginn, Williams, Sheets, and White would be a deep enough rotation that you wouldn't wear them all out.

Bottom Line: you have a dynamic runner in space catching an easy throw behind the LOS at top speed with defenders scrambling laterally to "tackle a kick returner" as a distraction/side show to your normal spread offense play calls. Precision route running and great hands not a requirement here. Just really fast legs. You utilize Ginn's talents and make use of Pat White's skills as well as Sheets and Ricky.

We don't have a go-to receiver to make the defense back off. Could we use this gimmick to do the same thing with the players we already have (and some wish we didn't). Your thoughts?

Poll

I see this idea as

Improving the Pass Rush

DolphDallas — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:34:42 -0000

Any thought to moving to more of a 3-4 Hybrid Defense or at least a 3-4 Hybrid formation?

I realize that you can't just change your entire defense mid-season, but I read that the Patriots had to do some 3-4 hybrid stuff out of necessity due to injuries.

Could we make some adjustments to our defense to take into account underperformance/injury (Joey Porter, Matt Roth, Jason Ferguson, Channing Crowder) and get our playmakers into position to make plays (Randy Starks, Cam Wake)?

I say that Randy Starks is our best defensive player right now and it would be to our advantage to get him in position to put more pressure on the QB. The RDE position in the 3-4 is important, but it is not a prime position to get pressure on the QB. Richard Seymour and Haloti Ngata were able to be effective because their supporting cast put pressure on the offense. We don't have a Mike Vrabel/Terrell Suggs putting pressure on the outside to free up rushers from the inside.

I am not advocating a full shift into a 3-4 hybrid defense. Basically I am suggesting lining up in a 4-3 formation with one of the OLBs with his hand on the ground. From here, you would either attack as a four-man nickel D-Line OR shift at the last moment back into a 3-4 standard alignment. I believe that the shift at the last moment would create enough confusion with the Offensive line that you would be able to get a rusher free (either a D-lineman or a blitzing OLB). Add to that Cornerback blitzes off-and-on and you would have a recipe for aggressive pressure without the risk of all-out blitzes. Your safeties are back in coverage helping your rookie corners or covering the TE. The pressure is coming from D-Line and OLB alignment shifts and unpredictable, but frequent CB blitzes.

Here's a sample of a suggested hybrid 3-4 formation:

_ _ _ _ _ _ LDE (Merling/Moses) LDT (Soliai/Langford) RDT (Starks/McDaniel) RDE (Taylor/Wake) _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _SLB (Walden/Wake/Taylor) _ _ _MLB (Torbor/Kershew) _ _ WLB (Ayodele/Nate Jones - nickel)

I'm calling for SS (Tyrone Culver) and FS (Chris Clemons) to provide coverage whenever Davis/Smith are sent on CB blitzes.

Note that if the hybrid shifts back at the last minute to a 3-4, there might be some times when Kendall Langford is caught at NT and Quentin Moses is caught at LDE in a 3-4 alignment which might be a disadvantage against the run, but Langford is 6-6 290 and Moses is 6-5 260, so it is not a total mismatch and if they are slanting into the line, they might even make a tackle for loss play in the backfield. On a pass rush, they would definitely have a quickness/mobility advantage in addition to the surprise effect of a last-second shift.

Bottom Line: I am putting Randy Starks/Tony McDaniel into a position to make an Albert Haynesworth type impact on a game attacking from the RDT(4-3)/RDE(3-4) spot.

An additional benefit is that instead of having Quentin Moses, Jason Taylor, and Cam Wake try to attack and adjust to a new/unfamiliar OLB technique, they can attack more instinctively from a more familiar DE spot (obviously, they will need practice reps at these new positions).

You can get additional pressure by blitzing the SLB/LOLB off the strong side. I highly recommend it since the safeties I've chosen are decent in coverage.

Pass coverage improves with Culver/Clemons from the safety position playing deep centerfield.

Addtional pressure comes from big/fast/physical CB surprise blitzes or from CBs playing physical press coverage at the LOS.

Note: to defend the 3 WR set, you insert Nate Jones for Akin Ayodele as the nickel corner. The SLB and MLB become nickel linebackers.

SAMARY:

Sit Joey Porter, Matt Roth, Yeremiah Bell, Gibril Wilson, and deactivate Charlie Anderson (Moses active).
Move Quentin Moses to a hybrid LDE position and Kendall Langford to a hybrid NT/DT position
Get more snaps for Erik Walden and Cameron Wake (especially from a hand-on-the-ground position).
Use the uniqe talents of our current players to have an impact on the game from creative positions in the formation - minimizing the learning curve (and sitting loud-mouth underperformers).

Poll

This defensive adjustment is...

I'm for Braylon Edwards...

DolphDallas — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:46:08 -0000

I realize that if the Jets will attempt to resign him, but we can afford to overpay since we are saving money at the QB spot. I think this game proved that Chad Henne is the real deal.

If you overpay for Braylon Edwards, you will get improved play out of Chad Henne, not to mention he will have a Plaxico Burress effect on the running game.

He has problems with drops, so he's not perfect, but he does have a history with Henne, and if he starts acting up, just get his fellow Alum Jake Long to keep him in line.

It weakens the Jets and makes the Fins stronger in an area of need.

I had hopes for Pat Turner to fulfill this role, but the coaching staff refuses to let him play.

Edwards is an NFL-ready WR with immense talent and would yield pro-bowl production from Henne (ala his freshmen season at Michigan).

Braylon Edwards would be our #1, Greg Camarillo would make a great #2 (eventually replaced by Brian Hartline who needs to spend some quality time with Camarillo to learn how to catch like he does). Davone Bess would make a great #3 in the slot. Convert Patrick Turner to TE ala Ernest Wilford.

Poll

Should we pursue (and overpay for) Braylon Edwards?

Your Game Plan v. the Pats

DolphDallas — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:50:54 -0000

Suppose Tony Sparano asks you for your input into the Offensive and Defensive game plans for New England.

Post your comments below and let's discuss the pros and cons.

If you have a real job and real job responsibilities and have no time/desire to comment, just vote in the poll below.

Options are:

Be creative/radical/aggressive/risky in all three areas (Offense/Defense/Special Teams). Go for broke.
Be creative/aggressive/risky in two of the three areas (Offense/Defense/Special Teams), play it safe in the remaining one.
Be creative/aggressive/risky in one of the three areas (Offense/Defense/Special Teams), play it safe in the other two.
Be conservative in all three areas. Keep it simple and just execute better. The Patriots are over-rated and ripe for the taking. Don't beat ourselves with fancy/risky innovations.

Poll

My gameplan is...

Joe W. Guest Blogger (Sun-Sentinel)

DolphDallas — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:26:15 -0000

Joe W. Guest Blogger Sun-Sentinel

Great analysis and write up, especially about our offensive struggles.

Here's a sample:

"Last week I noted how the Saints started blitzing their corners off the edge when we went into the Wildcat. Well, the Jets took it a step further. They went with 4 down lineman, 2 OLB that were lined up outside the TE’s, 2 ILB and a safety or sometimes 3 ILB’s and a safety. That’s 9, 10 guys in the box at the snap of the football. No wonder our running game went no where. It’s a calculated risk because there is no one left deep, but with us running out of the formation 99% of the time it seems like a good bet. When Ricky runs across the formation the outside linebackers attack the edges funneling everything back inside. If teams are going to do this in the future then we have to try and find a way to threaten them deep with a pass from the pocket because roll outs go right into the OLB’s who are keying on Ricky and Ronnie. One potential counter, if Henne is lined up as a WR, is to have Ronnie throw a backwards pass to Henne and then have Henne hit the TE who would streak down the middle where there is no one. It’s risky, but without a consistent pass game to threaten this overloaded formation I don’t think the Fins can have much more success.

Smith v. Edwards WWF goal-line play

DolphDallas — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:56:37 -0000

I've watched this video over and over and I think that Sean Smith had the ball BEFORE Edwards crossed the goal-line.

In fact, it looks like Braylon is beginning to lose possession right after he lunged backward toward the goal-line and Smith grabbed the ball with Clemons keeping Edwards out of the Endzone. There's alot of professional wrestling going on and I've got no real complaint against the line judge, but I am glad that the Fins won because it would have been tragic if they lost and the Fins were yet again victimized by a bad End Zone turnover call.

Edwards' TD

Poll

After further review, I think that...

The Offense: Wildcat Adjustments?

DolphDallas — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:22:33 -0000

The Wildcat could have been the secret weapon to pull off an upset against a potent Saints offense by burning TOP and wearing out the Saints D. The Saints corner blitzed it (and Fasano/receivers dropping passes that failed to convert 3rd downs didn't help).

Is the Wildcat solved?

Are there adjustments that can be made which will make the Wildcat dangerous again?

Is Miami's base offense good enough to stand alone (assuming Hartline for Ginn brings some explosiveness in the pass game OR Turner active???)?

Here are some thoughts from Greg Cosell's Coaching Tape on the Saints game.

Dolphins initial use of the “Wildcat” in this game had Henne on the field split wide outside the numbers; Also it was evident that FS Sharper stayed deep to guard against a possible pass by Brown

On the first 3 snaps Henne was not in the game in the “Wildcat”, the Saints attacked with both corners blitzing; The corner to the side that Williams went in motion was especially aggressive, since he had safety help – It was an effective tactic

Dolphins clearly had more success running out of the “Wildcat” when Henne was on the field split wide, The Saints did not corner blitz with Henne on the field

SS Harper very effective as an add-in defender in the run game, Attacks downhill with aggression and control

Saints really picked up their blitz frequency in the second half, and the Dolphins did not handle it well

Dolphins very limited offense out of conventional sets, both run and pass; They really struggle to run the ball with Henne under center, and their pass game features an inexperienced QB behind an average pass protecting OL and an average group of receivers – Without deception, the Dolphins has very little

Saints blitzed the “Wildcat” with Henne on the field for the first time in third quarter on a 3rd + 2, and they stopped Brown for 1 yd

Dolphins still clearly protecting Henne, A very limited passing game

The “Wildcat” breakdown: 16-35, 2.2 yds per play – The “Wildcat” was not a significant factor in this game

If they fired Dan Henning now and hired you, what would you do?

Poll

If I'm the new OC I would...

Fixing the Pass Defense

DolphDallas — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:21:13 -0000

Here's my thoughts on how to fix the pass defense AND utilize the strengths of our rookie corners.

Note this quote from an analysis by Greg Cosell's Cosell's Coaching Tape 10/26/09

S Bell is a significant liability in pass coverage, He looks and moves like a LB on film

Dolphins safeties Bell and Wilson are liabilities in pass coverage

step 1: Start Tyrone Culver and Chris Clemons at safeties (if we use interchangeable strong safety types, can't we use interchangeable free safety types as well?). Keep them well back to give these young players time to react and take away the big play. Expect to see some interceptions on long passes down the field. The main reason they are kept back is to allow Davis and Smith to PRESS COVER their receiver. Use their physical skills to jam their receiver and allow the pass rush time to get to the QB. Both of them are quick enough to recover and run with their receivers downfield. ALSO use one/both Davis and Smith to corner blitz the run or pass (both have enough size to get to the QB or make the tackle on a running back). Instead of having safeties up near the lOS supporting the run (and vulnerable to play action), you have sizeable CBs zipping in to tackle the running back for a loss or sack the QB. Utilizing AGGRESSIVE CBS with size and speed. If Culver and Clemons get tired, bring in Nate Jones and Jason Allen to sub for them as safeties in the deep cover 2 (both Jones and Allen have experience at safety). That way, on a corner blitz, you have two deep corners covering the WRs.

step 2: Alternate Cam Wake and Erik Walden at LOLB (and they can run and cover the TE on occasion if not rushing the passer)...and alternate Jason Taylor and Joey Porter at the ROLB weakside. Alternating will keep the vets (and young guys) fresh and while maintaining one veteran pass rusher available to pressure the QB.

step 3: Do we really need 6 OLBs? Especially 2 inactive for game day? I say cut Charlie Anderson and Quentin Moses and sign Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain. They provide veteran depth at the #5 and #6 CB spots and (in case of injury) can step in and play without a lot of practice reps during the week. You can use them as deep safeties in a "four corners" defense as deep DBs who will take the WR one-on-one when you blitz the CBs at the LOS. Even when they are inactive and not even dressed for games, you can give them Bushnall binoculars (ones with video cameras embedded) and they can spotlight the rookies from the sidelines. Then when the offense is on the field, they sit next to Davis and Smith and go over their technique and improvements, tricks of the trade, and have a live Q&A during the game. No more of this "well we'll have to look at the game film to see what we did wrong" stuff. Here you've got in-game adjustments and corrections and tutoring from former All-Pro Corners. Davis and Smith seem to have good football IQ and do make adjustments and changes in game. Todd Bowles will have his hands full coaching up the new safety tandem of Clemons and Culver. This frees him up to do that while our Rookie Corners get personalized attention from Madison and Surtain.

So what do you think?

Poll

What do you think?

The Weakness of the Wildcat

DolphDallas — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:57:34 -0000

I like the Wildcat. But the Wildcat has three main weakness:

Third and Long
The ability to consistently pass
Playing from behind, where the Wildcat grind-it-out methodology plays into the hands of the leading opponent burning valuable clock and shortening the game.

The remedy is to have some kind of shotgun spread with 3 and 4 wide to try to catch up, but it makes you vulnerable to sacks with a rather immobile QB since the pass rush is just pinning the ears back and attacking. It also plays to the weakness of your OL which is run-blocking as opposed to pass-protection.

Solution: The Ricky and Ronnie Double Wing Spread

I would advocate making Patrick Turner active for this multiple wide-receiver set for fresh bodies and I think he could do some great things in it. Combined with the Wildcat packages, it could give a dynamic passing attack complement to the Wildcat.

What it looks like:

DB _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LT LG C RG RT _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _GC

_ _ _ _ _ _ _RW _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ RB _ _ _ _TG

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CH

Ricky and Ronnie on the wings helps our run-blocking line not get beat on the edges and they are both excellent receivers. If desired, you can send all 5 into the pattern to get a mismatch if you make a quick throw. I would also advocate ALOT of shovel-passes to either Ricky or Ronnie up the middle to take advantage of the defense spread out and the superiority of the run-blocking of our line as opposed to pass-blocking, especially on a overload outside blitz call on one side. As far as depth, Harline and Turner would sub on the outsides and DB or GC would be fine in the slot, though Kory Sheets would help stretch the defense from the slot. Hilliard is the sub for either RW or RB, but obviously not as explosive. Kory Sheets would bring some excitement as a shovel-pass recipient into the middle. I would also have Teddy Ginn in motion a lot to find a mismatch on a 4th or 5th corner on one of the sides. I think I have actually seen the Fins dabble with this formation, but they have never used this frequently as a base offense alternative. I would recommend that. Lots of shovel passes to Ronnie and Ricky up the middle. Even if the defense is expecting it, they still have to contend with our superior run blocking and our superior backs. It is a safe throw and almost like a handoff.

Just trying to find ways to maximize the unique skill sets of our personnel

Anyway, your thoughts are appreciated...

Poll

This formation

is flawed and won't work. Not worth the additional practice

13 votes

should be used once in a while, but not more

20 votes

should be used as a base offense alternative to the Wildcat

14 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

Onside Kick Analysis

DolphDallas — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:54:56 -0000

How would it be possible to beat the Saints?

I'm not guaranteeing a win, I'm just contemplating how it would be possible to win.

For the purposes of argument, let's assume that

the Saints score TD every time they have the ball (sadly realistic with our pass defense) AND
the Dolphins are able to ANSWER every Saints TD drive with a TD of their own. (I suggest going for it on fourth down instead of punting and even in field goal range, but that may not be necessary)
the Dolphins attempt an onside kick every time instead of kicking it away (successful 1/3 of the time)

Here's how the scoring might unfold:

Saints win the toss. Fins opening kick off (onside kick failed). Saints score (short field) 0-7

Fins answer with a TD instead of a FG (7+ min drive) 7-7

Fins kick off (onside fails). Saints score (short field) 7-14

Fins answer Saints with a TD not a FG (7+ min drive) 14-14

Fins kick off (onside succeeds) settle for a FG 17-14

Fins kick off again (onside fails), Saints score 17-21

Fins answer with TD not FG (7+ min drive strategically running out the clock for the half) 24-21

END OF FIRST HALF

Fins receive the kickoff settle for a FG (7+ min drive) 27-21

Fins kick off (onside fails), Saints score 27-28

Fins answer with a TD instead of a FG (7+ min drive) 34-28

END THIRD QUARTER

Fins kick off (onside succeeds) settle for a FG 37-28

Fins kick off (onside fails) Saints score 37-35

Fins answer with TD not FG (7+ min drive, Saints D is exhausted) 44-35

Fins kick off (onside fails), Saints score 44-42

Fins answer with game-winning drive, run out the clock against an exhausted Saints D 51-42

Even if the Saints get the ball back, they can get at most 8 points Fins win 51-50

END OF GAME

onside kick analysis: Fins succeed only 2/8 times, yet win 51-50.

Obviously this hypothetical scenario is heavily dependent on the assumptions above.

Key Considerations:

1. Fins must be creative in their onside kick plays and must execute well.

2. By giving the Saints a short field, they are not able to mount time-consuming drives. Provided the Fins can convert 3rd downs, fourth downs, and stay out of third down altogether, they will wear out a very good Saints D with long physical drives in hopefully unseasonably hot and humid weather.

3. This scenario is not dependent on the Fins D AT ALL. Hopefully they can get some deflections at the line on third down, but the assumption here is that the Saints score every time and they score TDs not FGs.

4. Special Teams TDs count the same as answering a Saints TD with a TD. Not as much value in the TOP category, but as long as the Saints always have a short field, they will lose the TOP battle.

5. It is unreasonable to expect that the Fins will answer every Saints TD with a TD of their own, but as you can see from the scoring analysis above, if you can score a TD off of an onside kick recovery or be more successful on onside kicks, you can afford fourth down failures and the consequential Saints scores deep in Fins territory.

Here are some Onside Kick plays that I thought of utilizing some of the fastest and tallest players on the Fins who have good ball skills (since we don't anticipate kicking off, no need for big burly fast guys who can't hang onto the ball).

Onside Kick Play 1. Normal kickoff formation with special kick recovery players. Halfway through their run up to the kick off line, they all plant their left foot and make a 45 degree angle cut toward the right. Carpenter kicks the ball into the ground to get it high into the air toward the right. Receiving team is back on their heels or possibly leaning/sliding to the right. The entire 10 man kickoff team is angling toward the right. Fins outnumber Saints at the 10 yard mark two to one, maybe three to one.

Onside Kick Play 2. Normal formation. Players perform the 45 degree swerve to the right as before but just as Carpenter reaches the ball, the entire team makes a sharp cut to the left. Saints are caught leaning/sliding to the right. Fins outnumber/outjump/volleyball the ball to an open man on the left.

Onside Kick Play 3. Normal formation. Players on right head 45 degrees to the right. Players on left head 45 degrees to the left. Saints receiving team leans with the Fins motion. Carpenter has apparent option to kick left or right. When Carpenter contacts the ball, Fins on both sides make counter cuts to the middle of the field. Fins outnumber Saints in the middle. Carpenter squibs the ball to the middle.

Onside Kick Play 4. Anticipating the Saints moving entire receiving team forward, Carpenter picks a Saints player, informs the team in the huddle and kicks a line drive right at the player. Entire team runs to fumble recovery of ricochet off of Saints player. Fins know where to run, Saints don't. Fins outnumber Saints.

Onside Kick Play 5. Normal formation. Carpenter kicks deep to a predetermined open area behind the bunched up recovery lines of Saints. Fins run through Saints lines to get to spot first. Fins know where to run, Saints don't. Fins outnumber Saints.

Fins have 5 different plays to run (with variants), they simply choose and focus on one. Saints must prepare for all 5 and guess which one is coming. Advantage Fins.

Sorry for the length.

Poll

Onside Kicking is risky, but it is the best option v. New Orleans

I'm a believer. This is preferable to Brees v. Wilson/Bell

10 votes

You are selling our defense short, make them drive the length of the field

11 votes

Creative but you are overlooking certain key factors that make this a bad idea

13 votes

34 votes | Poll has closed