The Two-TE Set

[Stout]

I cannot recall the exact number, but during the Vikings game the announcers said that we're averaging a very high YPC running the ball out of the two tight end set. I say we keep using it--a lot--more than we even do now. Why? Because we have two good run blockers in Patrick and Becht (I do recall saying it was an excellent signing) that can set the edge. We still get two of our big three WRs on the field (Fitz and either Boldin or Breaston). We can put either Beanie or Hightower back there, without tipping our hand. We can even split our RB out wide and motion him...what kind of fits would THAT give a defense, motioning our RB into the backfield in a two tight end set?

I say we use it more than we have, and we will have a killer running game moving into the playoffs, and our passing game will only get more potent.

 

[Shane]

We still get two of our big three WRs on the field (Fitz and either Boldin or Breaston).

Just wanna say that we should say BIG 2 WR's.

I love me some Steve Breaston but the guy just isnt at the caliber of either Fitz or Q. His production as a WR the last 3 weeks has been almost non existent. The punt return was great however.

So if we have to pick two I hope its Fitz and Q.

 

[splitsecond]

pretty sure we had a lot of our successes last season out of the two TE set as well. part of the reason we didn't go to it as much early was the lack of ben patrick.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I agree.

But I would also like to mention that you can swap Ben Patrick and Anquan Boldin in and out when it comes to "effectiveness in run blocking".

I would dare to say that a classic 2 TE set and having a 3 WR set but putting Boldin in motion across the line is about the same setup.

I saw Boldin clear out a OLB last week, and it was ridiculous.

 

[SuperSpck]

Also

It works for a lot of reasons, including the fact that we don't see the set as often as we do other formations.

 

[Duckjake]

pretty sure we had a lot of our successes last season out of the two TE set as well. part of the reason we didn't go to it as much early was the lack of ben patrick.

Patrick really makes a difference in the ability to run a two TE set because he is at least somewhat of a threat as a pass receiver. Spach and Becht were not.

 

[splitsecond]

Patrick really makes a difference in the ability to run a two TE set because he is at least somewhat of a threat as a pass receiver. Spach and Becht were not.

absolute truth, and I am pretty sure Whis has flat out said that several times.

Now if only we can luck out and pick up Gronkowski when he finally hits the draft...

 

[lauraw]

2nd that split second!!!

 

[Russ Smith]

Patrick really makes a difference in the ability to run a two TE set because he is at least somewhat of a threat as a pass receiver. Spach and Becht were not.

Exactly, that is the whole key. Even using Boldin as a TE as someone said has a different effect because people would cover Anquan with at worst a Safety if not an extra CB. With Patrick they usually cover him with a LB and that moves the Safety back which helps us run.

We were over 8 yards per carry from 2 TE sets against the Vikings.

 

[nooch]

I'm glad they decided to hang on to Ben Patrick after his suspension. I believe in the past they would have cut him. Cardinals generally steer clear of troubled players.

I shudder to think if we still had Pope.

 

[NashDishesDimes]

Two TE set is good but it seems like as soon as cards start playing conservative sets like this they begin to struggle...I would say use it more to waste time and keep possesion of the ball but not to much during the flow of the game...

 

[BACH]

A traditional two TE set is two TEs, FB, HB and 1 WR.

Because we're a passing attack first and do not use a traditional two TE set, but runs it 2 TEs, 2 WRs and a RB. This formation and the quality of our receivers, this makes the opponent's defense much more unsure of what to expect.

 

[Perfectionist]

Sando keeps track of this information, attached are two links.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/10513/becht-patrick-help-power-cards-run-game

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/index/_/count/16

Against the Vikings when we ran out of a two tight end set we averaged 8.3 yards per carry on ten carries. By far the most successful.

4 wide receivers was by far or most successful and dangerous passing formation and you can see how confortable Kurt is by his qb rating.

You can see how dangerous this offense is now, by keeping the opponents defense off balance.

I think we will see the two tight end set becoming a staple of this offense, it looks like the way to really keep the ball and run time off the clock.

 

[JeffGollin]

It's hard to know exactly what the Cards are doing with 2 TE's from within the narrow confines of the TV screen, but it doesn't seem to be your basic average 2-TE set (with a TE on either side of the offensive line.

Instead, the Cards usually line one TE up on the LOS and the other one step back and to the right as a "flanker."

On running plays, the 2 TE's do a great job of "cross-blocking" to wedge open an outside hole or lane for the RB.

I'm guessing that when on passing plays, one or both TE's are available to either (a) pass block straight on, (b) slide to the outside to pick up a blitzing LB or DB or - when they read "blitz" (c) sneak out into the flat as a hot receiver.

Obviously, you don't do it every time; otherwise, opposing defenses will catch up to it. But it's nice to have in the arsenal - one of the strengths of our offense is our ability to put various personnel packages on the field and make the defense scramble around to counter these with substitutions. This enables us to maintain the initiative and make it hard for our opponents to keep up with our tempo or make last-second adjustments.

 

[Treefiddy]

Because we're a passing attack first and do not use a traditional two TE set, but runs it 2 TEs, 2 WRs and a RB. This formation and the quality of our receivers, this makes the opponent's defense much more unsure of what to expect.

On Madden, this is the standard Single Back formation.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Just wanna say that we should say BIG 2 WR's.

I love me some Steve Breaston but the guy just isnt at the caliber of either Fitz or Q. His production as a WR the last 3 weeks has been almost non existent. The punt return was great however.

So if we have to pick two I hope its Fitz and Q.

Co-sign.

Last week's punt return was huge for momentum, but he normally comes up blank. That only other big punt return I can remember is the one he ran back against Pittsburgh 2 years ago. We need more production from that from the PR.

 

[Russ Smith]

Jeff you're right we often line up one TE as a slot or flanker. SF does the same thing with Vernon Davis they have Walker at TE and Davis at flanker quite often, it's how they get all those mismatches with Davis, and I expect we'll see it alot on Monday given how much trouble we've had covering TE's.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Sando keeps track of this information, attached are two links.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/10513/becht-patrick-help-power-cards-run-game

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/index/_/count/16

Against the Vikings when we ran out of a two tight end set we averaged 8.3 yards per carry on ten carries. By far the most successful.

4 wide receivers was by far or most successful and dangerous passing formation and you can see how comfortable Kurt is by his qb rating.

You can see how dangerous this offense is now, by keeping the opponents defense off balance.

I think we will see the two tight end set becoming a staple of this offense, it looks like the way to really keep the ball and run time off the clock.

Agree with the original poster, and everyone in the thread. MIN had the best rushing defense in the league coming into the game, but we made plenty of good plays on the ground, including Timmy's back breaker in the 4th.

Also agree with the last two sentences of the above post.

We let up against MIN, and went conservative most of the 4th quarter. We might have been able to score 40 if really needed that many to win the game.

I'm starting to convince myself, that maybe, just maybe, our defense could contain Brees enough so that we might be able to beat NO in a shoot out. It's going to be tough though.