01-04-2016, 06:59 PM
(01-03-2016, 11:14 PM)SHRacerX Wrote: Play aggressive.
Don't rush four when you have a lead and hope the other team can't execute 10 yards in three plays with zero pressure. This is the playoffs. Teams that can't do that aren't in the playoffs. Get pressure. Even when he gets a throw off, make sure he is getting hit.
Attack their weakness on defense: the secondary. Attack them down the field with multiple receivers in a pattern. Keeping extra blockers in just allows them to have more players near the line of scrimmage, which hurts the running game, and it also makes it tougher for the few route runners to get separation.
Don't stop attacking when you get a lead. Keep your foot on the gas, full throttle. That goes for defense and offense.
Be creative.
Don't line up Sanu in the wildcat and just have him run in the middle. That is the only thing you have shown this year. Have him read-option keep it, take a step back, and heave the ball down the field. That should be one of at LEAST 5 deep shots taken down the field.
Run a reverse with Marvin Jones. He is the fastest of the WRs and can catch them in over pursuit of a Gio run to the outside.
Zimmer ran a fake punt the first offensive series of the game against the Packers. Let your team, and their team know that all bets are off this game. They will realize right away that this isn't the conservative "play not to lose" teams of your past.
Make receivers other than Antonio Brown beat you.
The Ravens had a great game plan against the steelers with two deep safeties on every three receiver play of the steelers. Nothing over the top. Force Pig Ben to check it down. He will become impatient and force a mistake. Getting the pressure mentioned earlier from an additional pass rusher might also force an errant throw. Most importantly, your DBs won't be forced to cover a very good WR squad for 5-6 seconds.
Get the damn plays called in sooner so AJ has a chance to survey the field, do some hard counts, and run the play before risking a delay of game penalty.
Have a "GO" play ready named "steeler", where the offense runs to the line, snaps the ball, and takes a deep shot down the field. Each time you run it, use a different AFC North team name. So many times, after a positive play, our guys wander up to the line and wait, and wait, and wait for the call from the sideline, and watch Mccarron hustle up and snap the ball on one in an effort to avoid a delay of game. When something good happens, shout "steeler" and have everyone sprint to the formation and do a quick snap. Big plays often come when your opponent is a little unprepared. Stop allowing the other team to gather themselves after every decent play you have by taking forever to get the play in.
An added twist: the second time you run it ("Baltimore"), do a hard count, and see if you can get a free play.
I'm not asking, I'm pleading. Your conservative nature will allow you to beat teams you are simply better than, but you will rarely beat a team that is even your equal if you never attack them. I think your team would love to hear you say at this week's team meeting: "We are going to be aggressive". And then actually implement an aggressive game strategy.
I believe in the team. I worry about your strategies in big games. Attack them, be creative, and play fast.
Good luck.
Good post SHRacerX. This is my only concern, Marv being the classic conservative Marv.
The team is better than the Steelers, but we were better than the Chargers too and lost that game.
We need to be aggressive on Offense and force Pig Ben to check it down so we can unleash viscious hits on their Receivers.
Adam will be big cause he played Brown extremely well the first time around. Also, we should put Adam back there on Punts
a few times if he is not tired to maybe break the game open with a big Return. At anytime he can break one, use him in the
Playoffs if he is not tired from playing too much Defense.
