(09-16-2024, 07:45 AM)Caldrac Wrote: Not sure what to expect a week from now with this game. It will probably be physical, maybe a close contest. As that's been the tendency between our two teams the past few years. For us to win, I think it comes down to the following:

1. BTJ needs more targets, a lot more. I think 8 targets needs to be the new norm moving forward, that's just 2 targets per quarter. Figure it out. Give him a deep shot route on a play action concept at least 2x, give him a few quick hitters to see if he can use his speed to separate and create some much needed YAC. 

2. Get away, literally, RUN THE [BLEEP] away from running the football on downs that consist of 1 - 3 yards. It's not [BLEEP] working. It's not. Time to get more creative there. Time to figure out some new concepts. Maybe use more Strange with Engram in twin TE sets there if he's healthy after the hamstring issue on gameday. Maybe use more bootlegs, RPO's and QB sprints with layered concepts to one side of the field to give Lawrence some easier options. 

3. Keep Allen in the pocket on defense. Allen is the most dangerous QB when you let him outside the pocket and you let him get his legs going, he's capable of taking over any drive at any point in the game if you let him and he's chirpy and doesn't backdown. You have to match his energy, his tenacity and you above all, must make him PAY for running with the football. You cannot let him be Superman. Your front seven MUST deliver the kryptonite in these situations with him. 

4. Don't give into the obvious narrative. This shouldn't be Gabe Davis Vs. his old team. It's corny, it's cheesy. Use that to your advantage. Use that in your play design. Don't send him deep. Stack him and have him block downfield with screens designed to BTJ, Kirk, etc. Then maybe wait for a rope-a-dope moment and get one good shot in there to him later on. Build it up. Put it in the script, just don't make it too obvious. Lull them into thinking we're the same old Jags.

Nice points. I’d like to highlight your #2 point. This is all on the play caller. What’s crazy is Press played QB in JUCO and won back to back championships, so he knows the pocket needs to move, or the QB needs to be running ‘move’ plays to neutralize the blitz. 

Against the Browns, it got so bad against the blitz because our backs just couldn’t block it, they had to bring in Luke Farrell who actually did an excellent job. It just crippled the offense because now you’re  using a skill position to block, which allows the defense to have a rover lurking and this causes Trevor to have to hold the football longer since he is also having to read disguised coverage after the snap. 

All of this can be dealt with with bunch formations, trips, twins, stacked, motion….which will change the defenses presnap look. Also a run game is needed. Etienne needs to have a 20 carry and 125+ and 2 TD type of night. They gotta do something to get the running game going. Ezra Cleveland and Mitch Morse gotta be better.

Screen passes will also help slow a defense down. I don’t think Press called 1 screen play to offset Myles Garrett. 

Brian Thomas definitely needs more looks. This dude has the potential to be a premier #1 in the league. We need some deep shots, some quick stuff, and some WR screens to get him more involved. Why not stack him and Kirk and put pressure on the defense with Thomas running option routes at the top of the tree and let Kirk jerk route the defense to sleep. Ain’t nobody running with Thomas stride for stride.

Press Taylor: what’s this guy doing? 4th quarter with 1:48 left and we need 3 points to tie. We needed to gain about 70 yards with no timeouts. He put 2 guys on seams, Thomas ran an out and up, Davis was stacked with Kirk, Davis ran a 3 yard stop and Kirk ran a clear out fly. Which means Davis was the hot. Kirk ran a very very lazy flare to the right. It was against a 4-3 zone.  

The play was junk from the get go. Why not run the ball and get 5 or 6 yards, and then go hurry up and get something to the sideline with a TE matched up with a LB to about the 20 yard line and stop the clock. Now you gotta go about 50 more yards to get in FG range with about 1:00 on the clock. The defense is going to P-drop and give you the middle so get Thomas or Kirk on a 10-15 yard in spike the ball with about :40 on the 45. Now you have a shot to tie it up.

Not-so-Fun Fact: Etienne is ranked 29th in rushing yards. He’s behind Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Jayden Daniels. Etienne has 3 more rushing yards than Anthony Richardson.

---