Quote:Two TEs. Lewis stays in to block and give Blake time. X WR runs a post to the middle of the field to take the CB with him and hopefully draw the Safety. Harbor takes the wheel along the sideline. I could be wrong, but Harbor seems to be the quicker TE with Thomas out. Sure he has had a case of the dropsies in the preseason, but you gotta give him a shot at redemption. Their LBs kept our TEs in check for most of the game. When their best one goes out, you have to challenge the next man up.

 

Quote:What kind of coverage are you expecting from them that you are calling this route combo?

 

Thanks Kotite and SpeedyG for your input here. 

 

A few points.

 

1.  The overall effectiveness of passing from a 2 TE set is based in part on the run look that it presents to a defense.  If there is an equal or close to equal possibility of run or pass, that personnel grouping has more likelihood of success.  But with about 5 or so minutes left in the game and you are down by 8, the defense knows it is increasingly a passing situation.  Aren't you kind of spitting into the wind with that personnel grouping?

 

2.  Having your TE running a wheel route and the X running a post, those are two long patterns.  Even though Harbor is pretty fast for a TE, he is still slower than most WRs.  Longer patterns take longer to develop, especially with a TE running them.  If it takes longer to run the pattern, it takes longer for the linemen to hold their blocks, something the team showed it couldn't do well in the 4th quarter.  Do you still run that play?  What if they show blitz?  Do you instruct Bortles to audible, altering the routes and the protections, or do you leave the playcall as is?

 

3.  As Speedyg pointed out, your choice of playcalling is based in part on what personnel and coverage you are expecting based on the scouting of their tendencies.  Would your choice of this playcall differ if your scouting indicated Carolina is more apt to play, say, a four across coverage that takes away deep outside routes, as opposed to man?

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