Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
What we were deprived of seeing for much of this past season is the kind of free-wheeling offense Bruce Arians loves to employ. When QB Carson Palmer and RB Andre Ellington were healthy, this was a quick-strike offense that kept defenders on their heels and made them defend the entire length and width of the field.
When Palmer and Ellington were injured, Arians chose to don a far more conservative approach in an effort to keep games close and to allow the team's aggressive defense to create auspicious scoring opportunities and advantageous field position. Play calling became predictable and, in time, the offense, which was converting third downs with aplomb under Palmer and Ellington, was consistently trying to recover from negative yard plays on first and second down which resulted in an inordinate number of third and longs.
Compounding the third and long issues, was Arians' continued propensity to call on empty backfield sets which made the conversions much more pressure packed, time-wise, for lesser experienced QB's Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley. As a result we saw a number of 3-4 yard quick passes under pressure that resulted in incompletions, dropped/deflected passes or tackles made well inside the chains.
As the offense became more conservative, it didn't appear as if Arians was trying nearly as much to exploit coverage mismatches, as Fitzgerald was not using his body to shield defenders nearly as well as he could have out of the slot, and mismatch nightmare John Brown was ignored for long stretches. Michael Floyd was still targeted for 2-3 downfield shots and out passes per game...but attempts to feed him passes over the middle resulted in skittish runs, sometimes backwards in nature and sometimes leading to turnovers.
The toughest receiver over the middle was Jaron Brown...but as the throws to him started coming out later rather than sooner, he was getting nailed upon each catch by converging DBs.
Ted Ginn Jr. was getting open opposite Floyd on out passes, but oddly was almost never posed or established as a deep threat.
The running game received a spark when Kerwynn Williams came in and started hitting the holes faster and refusing to go down on first contact. This was nice to see after watching an over-used and injured Ellington dive and crawl for yards in order to protect himself. Stepfan Taylor ran hard as well. Nothing fancy, but usually good for 3-4 yard blasts.
But the issue with the running game, as i see it, is the unnecessary complexity of it. What BA and Harold Goodwin prefer to do is run a series of trap plays, some straight up and some in misdirection. Part of the problem with these trap plays is that the Cardinals' interior linemen are not adept or athletic enough to run crisp and efficient trap blocks.
What other teams saw on tape was that they could key the guards and shoot the ILBers through vacated pulls and get into the backfield to disrupt the plays before they could get started or develop.
A classic example of this was in the playoff game versus Carolina on a key 3rd and 1, Arians called a counter dive to FB Robert Hughes. What happened was that C Lyle Sendlein blocked down on the DT to his left and got good movement. Initially that hole in the left gap was wide open thanks to Sendlein's good block. Had the play been a straight dive---it's an easy first down. But, Lindley pivots to his right to hand the ball off and by the time FB Hughes cuts back to the open hole, the ILB has shot the gap and meets Hughes in the hole for no gain---which leads to yet another Drew Butler punt.
The reason why Arians and Goodwin run so many pull and trap plays is that they are loath to use a FB. So what they are trying to do is free up an inside blocker who can get to the second level to block the LB. But here are the problems: (a) the LBs key and shoot the gaps to bust up the play before it can even get started; (b) the play takes too long to develop; (c) often times when the guard is able to turn the corner, it's hard to square up and get a good isolation block on the LB.
With a FB, iso blocks on the LB are faster and much more direct. ILBs need to be punished. If you let them run around in tuxedos all day, they will dance away with the victories.
In the NFC West---if you don't block Bobby Wagner, Patrick Willis or James Laurinaitis---chances are you are not going to have success running the football.
In this past week's playoff game the Cardinals rarely blocked Luke Kuechly or Thomas Davis---and thus made their jobs a piece of cake all game long. On one series the Cardinals ran two straight plays at Davis, who wasn't even breathed on by a blocker and thus davis dumped Kerwynn Williams for two 2 yard losses and forced a 3rd and 14 which led to another Drew Butler punt.
In 2015, the Cardinals are going to have to change the way they run the football, if they wish to have a balanced attack. The two TE, one RB sets were not effective, as teams loaded up the box and one or two defenders could get to the unprotected RB consistently quickly.
The Cardinals need to add and develop a FB. They also need to run a series a basic isolation plays (double team the DT and fire the FB straight at the ILB---or double team the DE and fire the FB straight at the OLB) and then sprinkle in some misdirection and trap plays---not the other way around.
Can Robert Hughes be that FB? He looks the part---but he's been spoiled this past year being used as a Larry Centers-type FB. We need a Bruce Miller type. It's possible Hughes can rise up and play that role, but it would be wise to go out and add a bruiser.
As a rookie, Stepfan Taylor made some big blocks in cameo appearances at the FB position. He would need to put on some weight to command that role. But, he has the toughness and the technique.
Moreover, Arians and Goodwin need to develop a mauler mentality up front. That's the next big major step for Jared Veldheer and Bobby Massie.
Hopefully, Jonathan Cooper will get in tip-top shape this year and be the dynamic factor he was drafted to be at LG. At C, Lyle Sendlein is solid. He's more physical than some give him credit for. But, he needs to be pushed for his starting job by a younger player.
At RG, Paul Fanaica is a banger at the point of attack, but he's more of a stand-his-man- up blocker than a hip roller. What the Cardinals really need is a RG who can sink his hips into his blocks, maintain his base (which Cooper struggled with this year---partly because he was reluctant to put too much stress on his leg) and root his man out of the hole.
At TE, two good potential blocking TEs are now on the roster in Darren Fells and Troy Niklas. Both of them made some progress as receivers in the short alley.
At RB, seeing as there are already two speedy options in Ellington and Williams, it would be good to bet a banger lead back in FA or the draft.
At WR, the most exciting improvement this year could very well be the more frequent use of Andre Ellington in the slot. Talk about mismatches, even versus the speedy Seahawks' LBs---Ellington should be able to shake and bake them with his quickness and quick cutting ability.
Adding another speed WR would help if Ted Ginn Jr. isn't one of the answers.
To finish on a very positive note---Arians and Goodwin did an excellent job this past year of improving the pass protection. That improvement should not
be under-recognized or under-appreciated. if there was one thing more than any other to improve, it was the pass protection.
This year it is time to build the high-flying Birdgang "Cardinal Tough" running game.
When Palmer and Ellington were injured, Arians chose to don a far more conservative approach in an effort to keep games close and to allow the team's aggressive defense to create auspicious scoring opportunities and advantageous field position. Play calling became predictable and, in time, the offense, which was converting third downs with aplomb under Palmer and Ellington, was consistently trying to recover from negative yard plays on first and second down which resulted in an inordinate number of third and longs.
Compounding the third and long issues, was Arians' continued propensity to call on empty backfield sets which made the conversions much more pressure packed, time-wise, for lesser experienced QB's Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley. As a result we saw a number of 3-4 yard quick passes under pressure that resulted in incompletions, dropped/deflected passes or tackles made well inside the chains.
As the offense became more conservative, it didn't appear as if Arians was trying nearly as much to exploit coverage mismatches, as Fitzgerald was not using his body to shield defenders nearly as well as he could have out of the slot, and mismatch nightmare John Brown was ignored for long stretches. Michael Floyd was still targeted for 2-3 downfield shots and out passes per game...but attempts to feed him passes over the middle resulted in skittish runs, sometimes backwards in nature and sometimes leading to turnovers.
The toughest receiver over the middle was Jaron Brown...but as the throws to him started coming out later rather than sooner, he was getting nailed upon each catch by converging DBs.
Ted Ginn Jr. was getting open opposite Floyd on out passes, but oddly was almost never posed or established as a deep threat.
The running game received a spark when Kerwynn Williams came in and started hitting the holes faster and refusing to go down on first contact. This was nice to see after watching an over-used and injured Ellington dive and crawl for yards in order to protect himself. Stepfan Taylor ran hard as well. Nothing fancy, but usually good for 3-4 yard blasts.
But the issue with the running game, as i see it, is the unnecessary complexity of it. What BA and Harold Goodwin prefer to do is run a series of trap plays, some straight up and some in misdirection. Part of the problem with these trap plays is that the Cardinals' interior linemen are not adept or athletic enough to run crisp and efficient trap blocks.
What other teams saw on tape was that they could key the guards and shoot the ILBers through vacated pulls and get into the backfield to disrupt the plays before they could get started or develop.
A classic example of this was in the playoff game versus Carolina on a key 3rd and 1, Arians called a counter dive to FB Robert Hughes. What happened was that C Lyle Sendlein blocked down on the DT to his left and got good movement. Initially that hole in the left gap was wide open thanks to Sendlein's good block. Had the play been a straight dive---it's an easy first down. But, Lindley pivots to his right to hand the ball off and by the time FB Hughes cuts back to the open hole, the ILB has shot the gap and meets Hughes in the hole for no gain---which leads to yet another Drew Butler punt.
The reason why Arians and Goodwin run so many pull and trap plays is that they are loath to use a FB. So what they are trying to do is free up an inside blocker who can get to the second level to block the LB. But here are the problems: (a) the LBs key and shoot the gaps to bust up the play before it can even get started; (b) the play takes too long to develop; (c) often times when the guard is able to turn the corner, it's hard to square up and get a good isolation block on the LB.
With a FB, iso blocks on the LB are faster and much more direct. ILBs need to be punished. If you let them run around in tuxedos all day, they will dance away with the victories.
In the NFC West---if you don't block Bobby Wagner, Patrick Willis or James Laurinaitis---chances are you are not going to have success running the football.
In this past week's playoff game the Cardinals rarely blocked Luke Kuechly or Thomas Davis---and thus made their jobs a piece of cake all game long. On one series the Cardinals ran two straight plays at Davis, who wasn't even breathed on by a blocker and thus davis dumped Kerwynn Williams for two 2 yard losses and forced a 3rd and 14 which led to another Drew Butler punt.
In 2015, the Cardinals are going to have to change the way they run the football, if they wish to have a balanced attack. The two TE, one RB sets were not effective, as teams loaded up the box and one or two defenders could get to the unprotected RB consistently quickly.
The Cardinals need to add and develop a FB. They also need to run a series a basic isolation plays (double team the DT and fire the FB straight at the ILB---or double team the DE and fire the FB straight at the OLB) and then sprinkle in some misdirection and trap plays---not the other way around.
Can Robert Hughes be that FB? He looks the part---but he's been spoiled this past year being used as a Larry Centers-type FB. We need a Bruce Miller type. It's possible Hughes can rise up and play that role, but it would be wise to go out and add a bruiser.
As a rookie, Stepfan Taylor made some big blocks in cameo appearances at the FB position. He would need to put on some weight to command that role. But, he has the toughness and the technique.
Moreover, Arians and Goodwin need to develop a mauler mentality up front. That's the next big major step for Jared Veldheer and Bobby Massie.
Hopefully, Jonathan Cooper will get in tip-top shape this year and be the dynamic factor he was drafted to be at LG. At C, Lyle Sendlein is solid. He's more physical than some give him credit for. But, he needs to be pushed for his starting job by a younger player.
At RG, Paul Fanaica is a banger at the point of attack, but he's more of a stand-his-man- up blocker than a hip roller. What the Cardinals really need is a RG who can sink his hips into his blocks, maintain his base (which Cooper struggled with this year---partly because he was reluctant to put too much stress on his leg) and root his man out of the hole.
At TE, two good potential blocking TEs are now on the roster in Darren Fells and Troy Niklas. Both of them made some progress as receivers in the short alley.
At RB, seeing as there are already two speedy options in Ellington and Williams, it would be good to bet a banger lead back in FA or the draft.
At WR, the most exciting improvement this year could very well be the more frequent use of Andre Ellington in the slot. Talk about mismatches, even versus the speedy Seahawks' LBs---Ellington should be able to shake and bake them with his quickness and quick cutting ability.
Adding another speed WR would help if Ted Ginn Jr. isn't one of the answers.
To finish on a very positive note---Arians and Goodwin did an excellent job this past year of improving the pass protection. That improvement should not
be under-recognized or under-appreciated. if there was one thing more than any other to improve, it was the pass protection.
This year it is time to build the high-flying Birdgang "Cardinal Tough" running game.
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