Balancing Our Offense Will Be A Fine Art

[TylerDurden]

If we're even able to do it successfully.

Why?

Aside from the obvious reasons, the general premise isn't breaking news, but the game has dramatically changed. As has been discussed ad nauseam here, "3 yards and a cloud of dust" philosophies aren't just outdated now, they're ancient.

Look at the stats from yesterday's opening day games and the picture becomes that much clearer...

Can you guess the league's leading rusher?

Terrelle Pryor. A QB. He ran for 112 yards.

Now another interesting stat. Shane Vereen was the only RB in the league to eclipse the 100 yard mark in week 1.

Wow, we picked a good time to invest boat loads of money in a football philosophical dinosaur.

So, I certainly hope Shula plans to utilize our RBs to our advantage without handicapping our offense's ability to make big plays in the passing game. He must find the right balance between using Cam to his maximum potential in the passing game while utilizing him effectively in running situations along with our RBs without turning our offense into a Woody Hayes' wet dream.

I have to say, I was not happy with the lack of designed runs for Cam yesterday. His ability to run on designed plays often is the difference between scoring or sending out the punting unit on any given drive. I hope to see more of that going forward b/c the beauty of Cam is the pressure he puts on a defense with his potential for big plays passing or running is invaluable. Shula must find that balance. There's a time for buckling your chin strap and using a show of force running the ball, but it doesn't require you to abandon what makes your offense successful and dynamic.

[The Huddler]

Just put it in the fuggin endzone

[teeray]

I agree with using Cam in short yardage situation. Or at least using Cam as a threat to run.

That was really my only criticism of Shula yesterday.

[Peppers90 NC]

Amazing AP takes the first carry of the game for 78 yards and only ends up with 93 after 17 more carries.

[countryboi]

trends in the NFL come and go. if you start winning games and kicking peoples ass by running the ball then next year half the league will be 3 yards and a cloud of dust. we need to just win

[TheRed]

On the designed runs from Cam, I definitely want them in there to keep the defense honest. But we have far too much money invested in our running backs to be depending on our franchise QB to be a battering ram all the time.

 

If we utilize our backs properly and our OL doesn't suck, they should be more than able to get the job done for us.

[Peppers90 NC]

On the designed runs from Cam, I definitely want to them in there to keep the defense honest. But we have far too much money invested in our running backs to be depending on our franchise QB to be a battering ram all the time.

 

If we utilize our backs properly and our OL doesn't suck, they should be more than able to get the job done for us.

Unfortunately, he is the only one I trust with short yardage situations.  Although, Tolbert grinded one out.  There was some pretty nice designs in there that were executed well, but plenty blahs that weren't.

[Cary Kollins]

Speaking of designed Cam runs, it's especailly frustrating in short yardage situations.  The 3rd and 2 comes to mind, I believe it was the first drive of the game.  We were moving the ball well with a mix of runs and intermediate throws.

 

Then we get the ball across the fifty and have a 3rd and 2, and Cam throws an incomplete pass.  I think that's the perfect situation for Cam to run the QB draw or QB power.  It's almost guaranteed to pick up a couple of yards.  If you are going to throw a pass there, at least make it a play-action. 

[TylerDurden]

On the designed runs from Cam, I definitely want them in there to keep the defense honest. But we have far too much money invested in our running backs to be depending on our franchise QB to be a battering ram all the time.

If we utilize our backs properly and our OL doesn't suck, they should be more than able to get the job done for us.

But that's why Cam's designed runs are so crucial. They don't require him to be a "battering ram." In my observations, his biggest gains come from designed runs out of pistol and/or spread formations. There wasn't nearly enough of those in there yesterday. We don't need him to run straight into a pile of defenders out of a goal line formation. He needs to operate with the chance that the pass could be coming, which is what makes him so dangerous to defenses.

[teeray]

On the designed runs from Cam, I definitely want them in there to keep the defense honest. But we have far too much money invested in our running backs to be depending on our franchise QB to be a battering ram all the time.

If we utilize our backs properly and our OL doesn't suck, they should be more than able to get the job done for us.

I care more about first downs than who is getting paid what

[kdrh5]

I don't think we have any excuses to not be able to put points on the board for our defense. Green Bay has an offensive line full of no-names. I can't remember when Pittsburgh was ever good at pass protecting. San Francisco, like us, has one great, yet aging slot receiver, a juiced up tight end as their number two option, and a bunch of guys, yet their QB just passed for 10,000 yards yesterday. There are plenty of winning teams with holes in their rosters just as big, if not bigger than ours, but they have success in spite of. That needs to change here and I expect better on Sundays.

[TylerDurden]

I also thought the HB screens were underutilized as well.

And as far as Cam, I also think they've been telling him to get down quicker which makes me think that using him as a runner is something they're trying to deemphasize and avoid. There were a few times when he did run yesterday that it appeared he dropped voluntarily a lot quicker than he ever did before, even when the first down was within reach. He appears to be avoiding contact as much as possible, which is smart, but I think it signals a shift in overall philosophy as far as how they want to use him this season... And that, I don't like

[Peppers90 NC]

Speaking of designed Cam runs, it's especailly frustrating in short yardage situations.  The 3rd and 2 comes to mind, I believe it was the first drive of the game.  We were moving the ball well with a mix of runs and intermediate throws.

 

Then we get the ball across the fifty and have a 3rd and 2, and Cam throws an incomplete pass.  I think that's the perfect situation for Cam to run the QB draw or QB power.  It's almost guaranteed to pick up a couple of yards.  If you are going to throw a pass there, at least make it a play-action. 

Later in the game Cam ran some power runs

[rayzor]

that sounds like an awful lot of work. maybe i'll just have guys run the ball and cam throw it a couple times.

 

- mike shula