Why does Zac Taylor even use Hubbard there?

[ChaseThis]

First off, yes, Hubbard has been bad defensively this year... I know this.

But why in the world do we even have to get cute and use Hubbard on offense in that situation? Why does Zac Taylor have to try and be the smartest guy in the room all the stinkin' time?

We have SEVERAL TE's on this roster. We have two in particular that are known are blocking TE's, so let's not try to say "well Hubbard would be a good blocker here"...

We have a defense that has been god awful and an offense that has been clicking....... so we're going to start using defensive players on offense too?

I just can't fathom the logic behind it. At all. Someone make it make sense for me.

[higgy100]

(12-16-2024, 04:49 PM)ChaseThis Wrote: First off, yes, Hubbard has been bad defensively this year... I know this.

But why in the world do we even have to get cute and use Hubbard on offense in that situation? Why does Zac Taylor have to try and be the smartest guy in the room all the stinkin' time?

We have SEVERAL TE's on this roster. We have two in particular that are known are blocking TE's, so let's not try to say "well Hubbard would be a good blocker here"...

We have a defense that has been god awful and an offense that has been clicking....... so we're going to start using defensive players on offense too?

I just can't fathom the logic behind it. At all. Someone make it make sense for me.

It worked didn't it? Cinci. is basically a ZERO threat to run the ball at that distance  especially with 7-8 guys in the box and based on those situations multiple times. Isn't football about out-scheming your opponent?Put one of your thoroughbreds out there including MG and they'll all command attention. Hubbard is a heck of an athlete.

FB is a violent game and injuries happen.

[KillerGoose]

Zac explained this in detail after the game.

Quote:He's played fullback in the goal line in 2018. We put him back in there and he's typically on the backside of the run game and the goal line just to work on the backside. So, you have to pick your moment at some point this season to release him and give it a shot. Usually that's going to come pretty wide open; they had two backers leave the game, so they had back up linebackers in there, so we thought it was a good time to call it, catch them sleeping and they covered it really well, and Sam made a heck of a catch.

TL;DR - Element of surprise

[ChaseThis]

(12-16-2024, 04:53 PM)higgy100 Wrote: It worked didn't it? Cinci. is basically a ZERO threat to run the ball at that distance  especially with 7-8 guys in the box and based on those situations multiple times. Isn't football about out-scheming your opponent?Put one of your thoroughbreds out there including MG and they'll all command attention. Hubbard is a heck of an athlete.

FB is a violent game and injuries happen.

Isn't that exactly what Drew Sample is supposed to be? A blocking TE / FB?

"Hubbard is a heck of an athlete"

Hubbard 6'5" 265 ran a 4.91 40 at the combine (he's way slower now)

Sample is 6'5" 260 and ran a 4.71 at the combine.

I wouldn't even label Sample as a heck of an athlete, so why exactly is an older / washed up Hubbard a heck of an athlete? 

[Bengalion]

Just a trick play. We should be glad it worked out.

[higgy100]

(12-16-2024, 05:03 PM)ChaseThis Wrote: Isn't that exactly what Drew Sample is supposed to be? A blocking TE / FB?

"Hubbard is a heck of an athlete"

Hubbard 6'5" 265 ran a 4.91 40 at the combine (he's way slower now)

Sample is 6'5" 260 and ran a 4.71 at the combine.

I wouldn't even label Sample as a heck of an athlete, so why exactly is an older / washed up Hubbard a heck of an athlete? 

You don't think that TD catch wasn't an athletic catch? Wake me up the 1st/next time Sample catches a ball and gets more than 3-4 yards at the most. He's a pile of bricks on a pallet the way he moves. 

Hubbard was a heck of an athlete in HS, played Lacrosse and was an excellent S. Ain't easy to make the transition to DE at OSU and become an all conference player.

[Goalpost]

He moved fairly well to spike the ball, but then came up lame on the sideline. I'm sure he had adrenaline though.

[*Wyche'sWarrior*]

(12-16-2024, 04:56 PM)KillerGoose Wrote: Zac explained this in detail after the game.



TL;DR - Element of surprise

That and to give Sam a shot at a touchdown. Of the all the things to gripe about....

[*ochocincos*]

(12-16-2024, 04:49 PM)ChaseThis Wrote: First off, yes, Hubbard has been bad defensively this year... I know this.

But why in the world do we even have to get cute and use Hubbard on offense in that situation? Why does Zac Taylor have to try and be the smartest guy in the room all the stinkin' time?

We have SEVERAL TE's on this roster. We have two in particular that are known are blocking TE's, so let's not try to say "well Hubbard would be a good blocker here"...

We have a defense that has been god awful and an offense that has been clicking....... so we're going to start using defensive players on offense too?

I just can't fathom the logic behind it. At all. Someone make it make sense for me.

"THEY'LL NEVER EXPECT IT!" - Zac Taylor

[Mer]

Right after it happened I said, "that was a dumb play in that situation", quickly followed by, "unless you were already planning on going for it on 4th down.". I too was perplexed by such an iffy play call.... Even if it did work, this time.

[sandwedge]

(12-16-2024, 04:49 PM)ChaseThis Wrote: First off, yes, Hubbard has been bad defensively this year... I know this.

But why in the world do we even have to get cute and use Hubbard on offense in that situation? Why does Zac Taylor have to try and be the smartest guy in the room all the stinkin' time?

We have SEVERAL TE's on this roster. We have two in particular that are known are blocking TE's, so let's not try to say "well Hubbard would be a good blocker here"...

We have a defense that has been god awful and an offense that has been clicking....... so we're going to start using defensive players on offense too?

I just can't fathom the logic behind it. At all. Someone make it make sense for me.

Really? You gripe about being predictable, non-creative play calling. 
Hubbard catches a TD pass and you cry about that?? 

[Isaac Curtis: The Real #85]

Hubbard got hurt on the play.

He's still a good run defender for a DE (but not an elite one). But is one of the worst pass rushing DE's in the league.

Via PFF, he is 51st of 202 DEs vs the run (67.7) but 193rd of 202 vs the pass (47.6).

His overall grade is still 2nd amongst our DEs.

He has been playing through injury, reportedly. Again. If healthy, do we think his play rebounds? Enough to justify the salary?

DE's: Player, D Snaps, PFF Score O/PR/RD (Rank of 202)

1. Hendrickson, 674, 85.4/90.1/68.6 (11/5/42)
2. Hubbard, 523, 58.9/47.6/67.7 (114/193/51)
3. Ossai, 426, 57.2/59.2/55.4 (127/106/136)
4. Murphy, 270, 55.5/56.4/47.3 (145/129/179)
5. Johnson, 57, 61.5/54.7/66.3 (99/147/60)
6. Cam Sample (2023): 376, IDK, mid fifties?

You gotta think we add at least 1 somehow, via FA or draft. And Murphy will make the roster in dome capacity.

That's 3 spots taken: Hendrickson, 1 new DE, + Murphy. Hubbard and Johnson are signed. Ossai & Sample FA's.

Hubbard would not rank at the top of my list of guys I'd cut to save $$ (Cappa & Rankins), but he is in the 2nd tier with Stone (who is playing better), Moss, McPherson, and Pratt.

Free agency & the draft will impact the thinking. But if I need Hubbard's $$ to upgrade IOL, S, or DL in FA, I would do it. Or bring back BJ Hill or Gesicki. Maybe even Hilton. But I cut Cappa, Rankins, and Moss first.