Quote: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? - With it basically being a one score and two point conversion to tie situation with 5 minutes left, it presents an opportunity to show run and max protect with a TE and RB staying home to allow the play to develop.


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? - you want the QB to have the option to audible to a safer play, but if they show blitz you can have a hot route with the other WR or have the RB chip block and try to get open for a screen. Hopefully max protect gives the QB enough time as the formation could lead the D to think we are not trying to give up on the run.


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? - the scenario implies we have 5-6 minutes so the D would hopefully send out 4 DBs and 3 LBs to match up with the offensive personnel. It all comes down to the execution of course whether or not it works, but I think it would be a less predictable call than just lining up 4 wide and tipping our hand a bit. At that point in the game our OL was getting pushed around pretty good and 4 wide tells the DL to pin their ears back and just go for the QB. A less obvious formation for a deep pass may have gotten them just off balance enough. Of course this is all hypothetical and I am not a pro OC.