Camp Offense vs. Defense

[IAColtsFan]

I was just wondering what one's veiwpoints on offense vs. defense battles during Training Camp are.  As in, would you rather see:

 

• The OL keep a clean pocket or the DL/LBs get to the QB?
• The OL clear holes for running lanes or the DL plug them?
• The offense complete 3rd/4th downs or the defense stop it?
• The offense burn the defense on passing routes or the defense backend hold contain?

If there are any other situations one can think of, please list them.  I really would like to see how others usually view these situations during camp. 

[jmac_48]

I think we are going to see a little bit of all of that.

No one phase is going to be perfect all of the time.

 

Full pads, now this is going to get interesting!

[throwing BBZ]

We can expect Castonzo & Cherilus to give up a LOT of pressure again, so what we need to see is for our Interior lineman to show a big improvement over last year.

 

I expect a huge jump in our run D so it should be a good test and experience for all of our blockers. So a slow start running against our D is what i hope to see.

[Smurphy1]

That's the problem with trying to tell how good you are from playing against your own team. If something good happens to one side is it the result of that side being good, the other side sucking, or both?

[BlueCollarColts]

Basically I want to see the offense drive it down their throats a few times, and then the defense force a 3 and out or similar a few times. 

[Nobody]

That's the problem with trying to tell how good you are from playing against your own team. If something good happens to one side is it the result of that side being good, the other side sucking, or both?

Well that's a problem with playing against anyone. But it's a problem here for evaluating players going forward.

[Nobody]

To answer the question, I want the OL to dominate, please.

[Yoshinator]

That's the problem with trying to tell how good you are from playing against your own team. If something good happens to one side is it the result of that side being good, the other side sucking, or both?

I think it depends on the player. If someone like Bjeorn Werner is dominating Cherilus or Constanzo for example, then it is perceived as Werner is very good now and is rapidly improving. You could also say the same for someone like Newsome if he did the same. Basically people with unknown potential doing well is a good sign. Someone that we know how they such as Robert Mathis, if he just destroyed Costanzo and cherilus every time, may make you a bit worried because you know his talent level 100% and you don't want to see Luck's O-Line get destroyed in the regular season to top D-Lines and Linebacking crews.

[Bluefire4]

I'd like to see it close to even but I'd lean towards the defense doing good because if they can stop this high powered offense, they can stop lesser offenses as well.

[Black-Vell]

Its not really like that. The result of the play is almost irrelevant. What the coaching staff is looking at is proper technique. The ability to make proper reads, then react effectively and efficiently. How to explain.

 

We all should be familiar with how Peyton Manning gets the credit for getting his team into the best plays from the LOS. What that means is no play works against every defense. To go further, the exact same OFF passing play will have a different route progression against different defenses. Right now in camp they in the stage of intentionally putting players in good/bad situations to see if they can succeed under pressure. If a RB gains 6 yards on a run, that could be good for the RB, but bad for the OL or vice verse. The RB could have bounced it outside, ran through wrong hole, NT got held......all kinds of things. 

 

Outside of WR's catching the ball to complete a play, there isn't much us outsiders can learn until preseason games. Unfortunately, this time of year is when the coaches earn their checks while we pray for no injuries and try to patiently wait to support their position-battle decisions starting when the preseason games begin.

 

 But to answer the question, I feel the maturation of an OL takes the longest to achieve due to its 5-7 moving parts, so I wish them the most success.