Out offense is currently rated near the bottom of the league while the Raiders' defense is currently rated at the bottom of the league. 

 

Jags fan says, "Our offense should finally break out this week.  The Raiders' defense sucks." 

 

Raiders fan says, "Our defense should finally get better this week.  The Jags' offense sucks."  

 

Every single week, we look at the stats and say our opponent can't stop the run so we should be able to run the ball this week, or our opponent can't protect the passer so we should get some sacks, etc etc etc, and it doesn't happen!   Why?  Because these teams have coaches, and they fix things, they make adjustments, they realign formations, they deal with stuff. 

 

I just wish we could go out there and deal with what's in front of us in real time, and not count on the other team doing exactly what they have done in the past.  Scripting the first 15 plays is fine, but as Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke said, "No battle plan ever survives contact  with the enemy."   If your 15 play script includes 3 runs off tackle because you anticipate the defense lining up a certain way, and they don't line up that way, for God's sake, throw out the script!  

 

Why is it that we never score on our first drive?   Why are we so much better in a helter-skelter end of game, no huddle offense?   Is it because our first 15 plays are scripted?  

 

Why is it that so often early in the game, an incomplete pass on first and 10 is followed by a running play?  Is it because we scripted a running play for the second play of the game?   Is our script so locked in, so cast in concrete, that we don't adapt to down and distance?  

 

I think we should give up scripting the first 15 plays.  If all we do is go 3 and out when following the script, what are we accomplishing? 

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