Offensive/Defensive Strategy Changes

[spanky]

This year it seems we have subtely changed how we traditional have done business on the field. Offensively we have simplified the playbook and gone from "exotic" to "elementary"......by that I mean we have focused on a meat and potatoe, running game complemented by a passing strategy that will focus on what the WR's do AFTER they catch the ball. Sure, the occasional deep pass will be thrown, but look for a short to medium pass route scheme that brings in the TE and the RB's more than in past years. We have a veteran line with the size to run right over people and we will feature this on offense I think.

Defensively, it appears that we have a strategy of moving away from a two gap to a one gap philosophy. This is to encourage more of a attack versus react style of play and is designed to capitalize on speed versus brawn. Of course, this will mean that our LB's will be more exposed than in the past. Perhaps this is why we have so many LB's in camp....... this new system needs faster more athletic personnel at the LB position than we have historically fielded.

Of course, the biggest strategy change this year has been to allow for Rod Graves to "conduct things differently" from top to bottom.......from freedom to draft players and negotiate contracts as we have never done before. We have made significant strides to improve ourselves..........I'm starting to think it will be three straight wins out of the blocks before the rest of the league knows what hit them. Maybe there is merit in flying under the radar screen.

 

[football24/7]

These changes are fine with me. The O-line needs to beat the hell out of the other line and let Smith and Shipp rack up the yards and chew up the clock. The opposing D will stack the line of scrimmage once again and force us to beat them thru the air. I believe Blake will be a huge weapon because of his arm strentgh and accuracy. On D, switching to an attack style on the line is great. Read and Re-act my ass. Lets unleash these guys and take the training wheels off. One BIG key to this year that no one has mentioned is that the Cards must play better in the first quarter and first half. No more coming out of the gates asleep at the wheel. I think Sullivan will be the giant foot in the ass that this team needs during weekly prep, before kickoff, and making changes during the game. His attention to detail will pay dividends. The Cards will play hard every game, win or lose the only thing I want to see is creativity on Offense, and a solid all around improvement on defense

 

[cardzfan]

The read and react defense is a poor philosophy. We really do not know how good or bad our pass rush was last year because of the scheme. Being more aggressive will result in more QB pressure and more turnovers and sacks. We have "fast athletic linebackers" who should be able to play well against the short stuff and make plays on balls. If Starks would get his head out of his a$$ we would have a decent secondary with Jackson and Wilson.