Now that the trade noise has died down...(Offense Talk)

[davos]

I'm really interested to see what this offense looks like tomorrow.  

We shouldn't expect the running game to magically arrive but I do think we'll be changing things up a bit for better or worse (Yes, even with Shula as OC).  

Devin Funchess & Curtis Samuel are being given a big opportunity to make a name for themselves.  Devin looked the part to start the season and I have consistently been high on Samuel (Yes, his lateral fail was bad).  I think Samuel's speed translates and passes the eye test, it's just the mater of getting good receptions now in a rhythm with the offense rather than being sprinkled in here and there.  Only 8 games into his career, but tomorrow will be a big test for the young dude.  

The thing that I feel is the most missed right now is Olsen.  If we can pull off a win, then take care of Miami, we could be 7-3 with an Olsen return on the horizon.      

What I will be watching for: The 4Cs

-Curtis' Performance

-CAP's increased role?  Before Ajayi arrived, the Eagles had a nice committee with Blount, Smallwood and Clement.  I think CAP could be used like Clement is being in Philly.  

-If CMC's role is slightly changed without KB.  Could he be getting more time in the slot tomorrow?  

-How Cam operates with these guys.  The offense will be different and we now have a better shot of getting him open receivers.  

Dilly dilly

Bold Predictions

-CAP gets an 8-50 and TD type line

-Defense allows ATL to under 16 points...we score 20.  

 

Panthers win. Davos and Khal Drogo (the dog) are happy

Salud.

[davos]

I would also like to issue a friendly reminder that Curtis Samuel has the 4th fastest 40 time in the last 6 years at the combine (4.31)

I think he finally breaks one for a TD against ATL's secondary.  

[LinvilleGorge]

Hated the trade.

Very curious to see what our offense looks like tomorrow.

Very disappointed with Shula's ability to draw up plays to get CMC and Samuel the ball in space because IMO that's where they would excel. However, losing Ginn to blow the top off the D was a big blow. Not gonna lie. We gotta establish a deep threat. I don't care who it is. Samuel, Clay, Byrd, whoever. We have to make people fear Cam's deep ball again. Gotta take the top off the D.

[LinvilleGorge]

18 minutes ago, davos said:

I would also like to issue a friendly reminder that Curtis Samuel has the 4th fastest 40 time in the last 6 years at the combine (4.31)

I think he finally breaks one for a TD against ATL's secondary.  

None of that matters to be honest. Anyone that saw him play at OSU knew he wasn't going to be an NFL deep threat right away. That was even before he missed the entire offseason. He was a jack of all trades type player who played at least as much out of the backfield as he did split out. 

I think he could possibly develop into a deep threat, but so far I haven't seen the natural ball skills out of him that I have CMC. What I have seen though is better natural ability with the ball in his hands. We may need to switch up their roles in the meantime. We may have expected Samuel to be the deep threat, but he just doesn't have the ball skills right now. Let CMC take it deep and let Samuel work underneath. CMC doesn't have Samuel's deep speed, but he has elite ball tracking skills and hands. Samuel lacks those ball tracking skills and hands right now, but that guy can flat out make people miss and catch people by surprise with his speed with the ball in his hands. For right now, switch 'em.

[Davidson Deac II]

Interesting thing if you look at the stats is that of the few deep balls we have had this year, Kelvin caught the majority of them, primarily because he was the best we had at catching the ball in traffic.  Funchess has shown this at times, but not consistently.  I haven't seen anything from Samuel, or Sheppard or the others that says they can make the tough catches.  But as much as I disliked the trade, I do hope that at least one of the replacements can step up and become what the staff seems to think they can.  At this point, Shepard is the most likely candidate and I assume he will be starting tomorrow.  

[Popsickle]

Still a stupid fuging move by the team, highly doubtful anything to change and huddle to coddle somebody on the teams cock who is at blame. 

[davos]

22 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

None of that matters to be honest. Anyone that saw him play at OSU knew he wasn't going to be an NFL deep threat right away. That was even before he missed the entire offseason. He was a jack of all trades type player who played at least as much out of the backfield as he did split out. 

I think he could possibly develop into a deep threat, but so far I haven't seen the natural ball skills out of him that I have CMC. What I have seen though is better natural ability with the ball in his hands. We may need to switch up their roles in the meantime. We may have expected Samuel to be the deep threat, but he just doesn't have the ball skills right now. Let CMC take it deep and let Samuel work underneath. CMC doesn't have Samuel's deep speed, but he has elite ball tracking skills and hands. Samuel lacks those ball tracking skills and hands right now, but that guy can flat out make people miss and catch people by surprise with his speed with the ball in his hands. For right now, switch 'em.

I don't think we need to be playing him like a deep threat.  Just have him out there as the Y and see what happens.  I think he could break something open off a slant or short route.  I'm more on the positive side with him but I guess I'll find out if my Samuel optimism is warranted quite soon.  

[ItsPantone278]

I'm guessing well see a lot of different combinations of WRs.  It's like our preseason starts yet again.  We will be experimenting to see what works and what doesn't.

[CarolinaSamurai]

51 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

None of that matters to be honest. Anyone that saw him play at OSU knew he wasn't going to be an NFL deep threat right away. That was even before he missed the entire offseason. He was a jack of all trades type player who played at least as much out of the backfield as he did split out. 

I think he could possibly develop into a deep threat, but so far I haven't seen the natural ball skills out of him that I have CMC. What I have seen though is better natural ability with the ball in his hands. We may need to switch up their roles in the meantime. We may have expected Samuel to be the deep threat, but he just doesn't have the ball skills right now. Let CMC take it deep and let Samuel work underneath. CMC doesn't have Samuel's deep speed, but he has elite ball tracking skills and hands. Samuel lacks those ball tracking skills and hands right now, but that guy can flat out make people miss and catch people by surprise with his speed with the ball in his hands. For right now, switch 'em.

Yeah I didn't realize he was so fast till last game tbh. I can't remember what play but he was flying and it shocked me. Then I got pissed he wasn't doing Funchess routes that FunFun kept being a step behind the ball he was so slowwwww

[LinvilleGorge]

45 minutes ago, davos said:

I don't think we need to be playing him like a deep threat.  Just have him out there as the Y and see what happens.  I think he could break something open off a slant or short route.  I'm more on the positive side with him but I guess I'll find out if my Samuel optimism is warranted quite soon.  

Gotta establish a deep threat though. Right now, the opposing DBs aren't scared of getting beat deep. That means no open room underneath. Hate to say it, but we miss Ginn badly and N.O. is greatly benefiting from him. Yeah, he's a one trick pony but damn if that isn't one helluva trick.

[cookinbrak]

Curtis Samuel should get a jet sweep at least 5 times a game. He'll take one to the casa.

[I'm the Mike]

No more jet sweeps please!

No more window dressing, no misdirection, no overly complex screens or blocking schemes. Need to stick with what works. 11, 12, and 21 personnel sets. Stew and CAP between the tackles with a FB. CMC can run inside or outside zone and then some play action read to spring Cam (I know heresy). Each lineman picks up a man 3-5 yards from them and block that guy.

[Achilles]

I too am interested to see what this offense looks like without KB.

Honestly, I was aghast at first after reading about the trade.  I thought Marty got swindled, but the more I read and think about it, the less it bothers me.

Yes KB is a rare specimen.  However, his mental preparation as well as his effort and commitment to teammates was always a concern.

When we went 15-1 and he missed the entire season, the offense clicked.  Now, before anyone flames me for repeating that tired cliche, there were two huge difference between then and now:

1) Ginn.  Not the best hands in the biz, but the man had 10 TDs that year.

2) Olsen.  He became our possession guy and was that and 10 times more as a leader.

Right now, we have neither and that worries me.  We have no proven deep threat and Dixon is a fine football player, but he is no Greg Olsen.

CMC has had mixed results.  Sure he has a lot of receptions, but we don't really have a lot of points to show for it. I think the NFL is just too fast and his speed in college in more evenly matched.  Maybe he will start breaking long plays, but hasn't really threatened as of yet.

Samuel flashed a little last week, but really hasn't proven he can get open deep.

Unfortunately, both of these players are more about getting open in space near the LOS and weaving their way to 30+ yard gains.  Having two players that can do that is nice, but how will that work in Shula's scheme?

The OC has already shown that he can't deal with two players on the field having the same skill set.  It makes the offense completely predictable.

So...I'm hopeful that there will be a rebirth of sorts, but I worry that the offense will remain stagnant at least until Olsen returns.  And even then...idk.

[Jeremy Igo]

I have to be optimistic. 

 

I just cannot let myself think the offense can get worse. 

 

If it does.... this week will be very bad.