(06-23-2019, 08:06 PM)EatonFan Wrote: We need to execute better on 3rd down. This seems obvious, but it truly is the key to increasing the # of offensive plays. Secondarily, we need to win the turnover battle. This also increases offensive plays. I think Zac really wants to improve our running game. I think that helps in this area. A good running game will open up the play action. A poor running game and the defense will stop you more often on 3rd down as you will be (as Lap often says) 'off schedule'.

(06-23-2019, 08:19 PM)fredtoast Wrote: All we need to do on offense is improve our passing game and run the ball better.

On defense we just need to stop the run more consistently and play better pass defense.

(06-23-2019, 08:26 PM)XsandOs Wrote: Fred, you are the stats guy on this board. How do we compare to Rams in terms of turnovers?

The ran about 130 more plays than us.

The interesting Team is KC. They were near the bottom in terms of number of plays against them.

(06-23-2019, 08:52 PM)fredtoast Wrote: The ONLY good thing our offense did was hold onto the ball.  We only had 17 turnovers last year.  Only 4 teams had fewer.  Rams had 19 (tied for 11th fewest)

However the Rams forced 30 turnovers (3rd) while we only got 18 (21st).

We had a positive 1 turnover margin, so that was not the reason we ran so few plays and our opponents ran so many.  We just stunk at getting first downs or stopping other teams. 

(06-23-2019, 09:06 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: On offense over the last 3 seasons we've ran (overall) a pretty vanilla offense. Teams, even ones outside our division knew way to much about our tendencies, what we were going to do and when we were going to do it. What formations we ran what out of and so on. Add in a mostly bad at run blocking O line and teams disregarded our running game. It's like a MLB pitcher that only has one pitch, he's gonna get drilled !

We have to get more versatile, more unpredictable, and run the ball better. Being able to convert on 3rd and four on the ground opens up the play action and so much else. We have to get better at using our weapons, letting them do what they do well.

Over the last couple seasons on defense we've been one of the worst teams in the NFL getting off the field on 3rd down. The first half of last season we gave up a ton of 3rd and 7 plus it was just nuts, we gave up several 3rd and super long - 10+ One of the bigger reasons we've been the NFL 3rd down door mats has been our LBer play, inability to cover anybody ! Other teams have known it and exploited it. Overall we've played very soft on D. You can't have your defense put on a tutu for the entire game ! Very little stunting, very little blitzing, again very vanilla. A defense has to mix it up as well and take some chances.

(06-23-2019, 11:36 PM)Joelist Wrote: First things first, thanks Fred for pointing me to Pro Football Reference; it let me do a lot of detailed breakdowns of last year. Here are some to chew on...

On third down we AVERAGED 7.87 yards to go - 24% of the time it was 11+ yards to go.

On second down we AVERAGED 8 yards to go - and only 35% of the time we were in 2nd and 6 or fewer yards to go.

This indicates that the offense was not winning first or second down so third down was starting out in low probability territory.

As far as run/pass balance, we were a pretty balanced 52.8% pass on first down. Second down it zoomed to 62.5% pass and on third down it was 80% pass (which makes sense when the AVERAGE is 3rd and 8).

And some more interesting things to look at, namely what were our tendencies in those rare times we had third and manageable (4 yards or less):

3rd and 1: 73.7% rush. Okay that seems reasonable.

3rd and 2: 29.4% rush....interesting

3rd and 3: 25% rush....see a pattern?

3rd and 4: 20% rush...this actually sort of makes sense as 4+ is typically where most offenses start saying "passing down".

If anyone still wonders why ZT and Callahan have focused on blocking in the offseason this is why. It tells a story of an offensive line that did not win at the line of scrimmage and that the prior coaches seemed not to trust to be able to consistently do so.

(06-24-2019, 07:26 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Great thread with great responses. The stats on 3rd & 2 and 3rd and 3 are ridiculous. Our execution on 3rd down on both sides of the ball were horrible as well.

(06-24-2019, 10:19 AM)impactplaya Wrote: I want to see this offense keep defenses off balance.
make the LBers overthink everything.
its funny how our LBers got exposed last year
underneath.
biting on play fakes misdirections etc
yet Lazor and Lewis were too dumb to apply the same
mindset to teams were playing.
I want to see Ross used as a weapon instead of a decoy
I want to see this offense dictate the tempo of a game.
which was a rarity last year.
this offense last year was designed in 2018 not to lose instead
of trying to win.
I think ZT and his progressive thinking will be the X factor
in the offense this year

(06-24-2019, 07:26 AM)HarleyDog Wrote: Great thread with great responses. The stats on 3rd & 2 and 3rd and 3 are ridiculous. Our execution on 3rd down on both sides of the ball were horrible as well.

(06-23-2019, 10:36 PM)XsandOs Wrote: Makes sense.

I would like to see a power run, clock controlling offense.

(06-24-2019, 12:12 PM)fortyyearfan Wrote: Without our offensive line playing lights out,we are going to suck again.And with Johan Williams possibly out for the season,who knows,we are going to struggle.Glenn cannot handle super fast d-ends and he is going to get andy killed.I see us winning maybe 8 games,as good teams will figure you out by 3 games in unless ZT really keeps it real and outcoaches coaches.I am not convinced we are a playoff team.I hope players still say positive about this staff,we shall see.I am one to say SHOW ME,DON'T TELL ME.I want wins not lip service.Injuries always play a big part and for whatever season this franchise is always HURT. :paul: