OLine, Cam holding the ball too long, or bad play calling?

[hdevonxz]

I wanted to start a discussion some statistics I've been looking at concerning last year's offensive line and Cam, as well as the questionable play calling we did, basically to gain others personal interpretations of the stats and why they were the way they were and what do you guys think we will do to change it this year.

 

Cam was hit/sacked/hurried more than any other QB in the league last year.  At times I thought he was being just plain in decisive, his lack of throwing the ball away, and lack of getting it out of his hands on time made me wonder if our QB coach is working with him as well as he should, and if our OC is picking the appropriate plays for our personnel and situations.  The 49ers game still leaving a bad taste in my mouth, as welll as several other instances in which Cam doesn't progress through his reads fast enough or has to end up running for his life as a result of the play breaking down or line breaking down.  A few key stats I found interesting:

 

Cam dropped back 555 times

He was hit as he threw 9 times. Tying for the league lead with Tom Brady and Joe Flaco, Brady and Flacco both however took over a 120 more drop backs than Cam.

He was sacked a total of 44 times (5th over all in league)

Our WR's dropped a total of 23 passes (21st over all in league) Relatively good given who we had catching, I wonder how well new WR crop will do. Avant has sure hands, as well as veterans.  KB, however, is speculative.

Cam threw away the ball on 18 drop backs. (12th overall in league)

Cam's average yards per attempt 7.1 ( 17th overall in league)

 

Our current penciled in LT is Byron Bell

Last year he was graded responsible for 9 sacks, 6 QB hits, and 31 QB hurries

All 3 statistics are the top 5 WORSE in the NFL among starters. 

 

Gross gave up 1 QB hit, and 21 QB hurries, finishing a grade of top 5 among tackles.   This is scary.

 

 

 

I think what concerns me the most is how dependent our offense is on Cam being agile, durable, and able to take many hits.  I think our main focus should be on limiting Cam's hits, hurries, and sacks, as they will begin to add up and take their tole.  As well as anyone coming off of a surgery on their legs and limbs, they will need time to adjust and re acclimate their selves to the field.  As shady as teams are about injuries these days who knows what the surgery might really have been a result of, maybe he wouldn't have needed it had he not been in duress so many times on so many pass attempts.  I really hope our O line improves because we simply can't repeat our same success if it doesn't. I also hope a break out receiver some how emerges, a home run hitter, a person who can take it to the house when the ball is in their hand at any given moment, that potential is a game changer, and we haven't seen it since 2011/2012 Smith...even then he was much slowed down.

 

[MHS831]

One more variable--WRs not getting open.

[Growl]

Receivers not getting open was an enormous hinderance last year.

[TheRed]

Or WR's just standing around watching Cam scramble.

[hdevonxz]

Good point fellas, I had not thought about that

[hdevonxz]

Who do you guys think will be our top route runners this year that will consistently create separation ?

 

 

I also think that play calling plays effect into who gets open, it seemed like our throwing situations tended to be long developing routes, that took time to happen.  Why not more short under neath throws, slants, or hell even running back screens.....

[Peppers90 NC]

i'm not sure there is one of those areas that are more of a problem than any other, all can be improved upon.  but losing Gross this year, it will take better play calling from Shula, better anticipation and reads from Cam, and better work from the receivers because to me, I think there will be a drop off in pass protection from the line, especially Cam's blind side.  

[KSpan]

All were a significant factor at one point or another.

[TheRumGone]

shula also had a problem earlier in the season with calling long winded routes when our O-line couldn't block for poo.

 

the beginning of the cardinals game was probably the most zoned in i've seen Cam throwing the football and it was dink and dunk all the way to the endzone where smitty dropped it.

 

We need our OC to scheme so that our deficiencies at o-line can be masked and obviously our receivers need to get open. Cam is more than capable of going through his progressions quickly and making the correct decisions he showed that time and time again last year. play calling will be key imo

[PantherWake]

WRs not getting open

[MHS831]

Here is how we addressed the problem already:

 

Released Smitty and thanked the others for their services.  Lotta reasons to keep Smith, but there were more reasons to send him packing.  Age, mouth, legs, cap, and influence all factors.Let Lafell, Hixon, and Ginn get overpaid elsewhere.  How will we ever replace the 120 yards on 10 catches these WRs were bringing each week?

 

Signed a receiving TE

Signed an unselfish veteran, sure-handed possession WR

Signed another unselfish veteran, sure-handed possession WR

Signed a WR who flashed for the Bus who can stretch the field. 

Drafted a large target who does pretty much what a pass-catching TE can do and more.

Drafted a right guard (this does not sound like much, but it allows Chandler to focus on LT, and Williams, Bond to focus on RT).  Kugbila and Turner are the RGs).

Drafted a RB who is a good blocker and can pick up blitzes. 

 

Sounds to me like we are going to a shorter, less-vertical passing game.  More play-action slants and outs.  TE drags and seam routes.  Fewer gos, fewer deep out and deep digs. 

 

This is why PERHAPS that OT was not that big of a deal to Gettlemen.

 

 

 

 

[Jangler]

shula also had a problem earlier in the season with calling long winded routes when our O-line couldn't block for poo.

 

the beginning of the cardinals game was probably the most zoned in i've seen Cam throwing the football and it was dink and dunk all the way to the endzone where smitty dropped it.

 

We need our OC to scheme so that our deficiencies at o-line can be masked and obviously our receivers need to get open. Cam is more than capable of going through his progressions quickly and making the correct decisions he showed that time and time again last year. play calling will be key imo

 

To me it it was like Shula was trying to run the game plan he had going into the game, instead of changing and running plays to fit the team we were playing. Good winning teams (OCs) change the game plan when the one you have isn't working. Shula also seemed to change when it was working...I understand making them guess, but if you are consistently getting 10 minute drives why change?

[TheRed]

Yeah we can just hope that the Ramsdell hire will help Shula substantially.

[hdevonxz]

Here is how we addressed the problem already:

 

Released Smitty and thanked the others for their services.  Lotta reasons to keep Smith, but there were more reasons to send him packing.  Age, mouth, legs, cap, and influence all factors.Let Lafell, Hixon, and Ginn get overpaid elsewhere.  How will we ever replace the 120 yards on 10 catches these WRs were bringing each week?

 

Signed a receiving TE

Signed an unselfish veteran, sure-handed possession WR

Signed another unselfish veteran, sure-handed possession WR

Signed a WR who flashed for the Bus who can stretch the field. 

Drafted a large target who does pretty much what a pass-catching TE can do and more.

Drafted a right guard (this does not sound like much, but it allows Chandler to focus on LT, and Williams, Bond to focus on RT).  Kugbila and Turner are the RGs).

Drafted a RB who is a good blocker and can pick up blitzes. 

 

Sounds to me like we are going to a shorter, less-vertical passing game.  More play-action slants and outs.  TE drags and seam routes.  Fewer gos, fewer deep out and deep digs. 

 

This is why PERHAPS that OT was not that big of a deal to Gettlemen.

 

Receiving TE?  We have one of the best already....and Ed Dickson has been underwhelming for years now. 500 yards the past 29 games? lol

 

Sure handed ness is awesome, but I dont think dropping balls was our receivers biggest problems last year...as noted by a large number of people separation, etc.  Crotchety, Avant, both seem old and slow.....

 

the 6th round running back pass protector on a team that already has 5 rbs lol How can you justify putting him on the field over a healthy Tolbert, Williams, or Stewart (I know).  3rd down duties Tolbert is the man.