Rivers influence on Offense

[CR91]

They can atleast do fakes out of shotgun. We gotta do something to help our run game especially since teams aren't afraid of our offense throwing the ball deep so they crowd the line.

[lincolndefan]

8 hours ago, Boondoggle said:

In answer to the OP's question...  The starting QB has a lot of impact on play action.  It's one of those things that looks a lot easier than it is in fact.  You gotta put practice and reps into control of your upper half so the LBs and safeties see the same motion whether it's a fake or a handoff.  So when you have a vet QB who doesn't do that, you're gonna have tells all over the place not to mention increased risk of fumbles.  Thus the answer is when it's a vet who isn't a smooth play action type you gotta take that as is.

 

And btw that upper half thing applies to RBs too.  You'll notice the good offenses coach their RBs to keep their shoulders square to the line as they approach it even if they want to bounce it out.  Why?  Because that freezes the off ball backers and safeties.  When the RB has his shoulders slanted or perpendicular to the LOS it telegraphs where he's going and makes it hard for the OL to get in their way second level.

 

And lastly to run play action effectively of course you need a strong run game.  The Colts could actually do a fake once in a while to great effect since it's not something defenses are taught to key on in preps.  But to really suck those LBs up and create space they have to be afraid of your run game.  And the run game is the area where the Colts offense needs to improve most, which is why I think Taylor will be a big impact to this offense once he gets up to speed and is playing fast in this scheme.

 

I would like to thank this poster for his well thought out posts in this forum. It's like a breathe of fresh air. I know this is probably not the place to do this but i felt compelled to do so. For you sir ... SALUTE!!!!

[Dogg63]

On 11/16/2020 at 12:08 AM, EastStreet said:

I don't think Guge is with Miami this year. I know he was there in 2019, but isn't Marshall their OL coach now?

 

[EastStreet]

13 minutes ago, Dogg63 said:

 

He seems to always get a shot somewhere when things aren't going well. 

[DougDew]

IMO, the lack of play action is determined by the type of passing game that's employed.  Rivers stays in shotgun to see the field and to read the defenses to throw a quick pass.  (doesn't have to turn his back to hand off the ball).  Its also why there are fewer long passes.  Chunk plays in the short passing game come from receivers with real YAC ability, which we saw with Pittman, Harris, and Hines.  Short pass, but a 50 yard pass "play".  

 

That's also the difference between Chud-like O with Luck and the kind of O Reich wants (and probably Ballard, to protect his QB)

 

You can PA from the shotgun, but its not as effective because the defender can see the ball and neither the QB or the RB sell the fake very well from the shotgun, IMO.

 

However, when you have a running QB, a team can do the read-option.  QBs tuck the ball in the gut of the RB then pull out and take off depending upon the DE play.  That's kind of a PA from the shotgun in that its a fake to the RB.  When you have success with that play, then a PA pass off of that similar QB to RB motion is a better sell than if you have a statue like Rivers trying to sell the PA from the shotgun.  Why bother trying.

[danlhart87]

[Sumo63]

4 hours ago, danlhart87 said:

"Looking 14" is only about 8 years off.....I think his veteran teammates took him to the barbershop.  That * looks like hazing to me.

[Dark Superman]

You gotta be able to establish the run against teams in order to use the play-action to your benefit.