Zac's use of shotgun.

[*SHRacerX*]

(04-19-2022, 08:57 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: I understand the conventional logic behind this - it makes sense. I believed it as well, but it just doesn't work that way. Play-action just flat out works, no matter what. Those LBs always have to respect the run. Maybe in college you will see more freelancing, but in the NFL, you can't afford to do that. You have to keep in mind that these guys, back-ups and all, are NFL caliber running backs. So, if the LBs stop respecting the run, Samaje Perine is now running wild on you. Take the below screenshot...



This is a screenshot from the 2000 defensive playbook for the Indianapolis Colts. This section is detailing run fits. When those backers read run, they are playing run, regardless of if you are the worst rushing team or the best. It really benefits a team to run play-action more because of this. It just works, regardless of whether or not your run game is good. And yes, the run game this past season was well below average in most measures, the most disappointing of which being short yardage situations. I fully expect that to improve this season. 

I understand your point, and I appreciate the screen shot (cool stuff), but I also know human nature.  When I played safety, and were facing a team that threw the ball 80% of the time, I ALWAYS keyed in on the TE running a misdirection pattern away from the run.  Why?  Well, we had some hella fast LBs that could chase down almost any RB, but I hardly ever got burned on a handoff where the RB might break a tackle and need me to finish the tackle, but I got burned once flying in for run support and I never wanted to give up a big play again.

I know that is nothing like an NFL team, but I can't help but think that the speed of these LBs and safeties can close so quickly on a handoff that they aren't buying the play-action as much as they are watching for receivers to come firing off the line.  

Maybe I am making it overly simplistic, but I think we are arguing the same point:  The Bengals should run more PA and now that they have better personnel, perhaps they will.  It doesn't really matter now that they didn't run as much as we would have liked last year.