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RE: Interesting Article on Musgrave's "Predictable" offense in Minnesota - takeitdown - 09-18-2011 02:34 AM
(09-17-2011 10:06 PM)Radical Wrote: I can think of numerous examples of using match-ups and route combinations to get someone open. Post pattern to Roddy White for a TD against the 49ers in 2009, where they used Gonzalez to pull down the SS while Roddy went deep across the formation. In 2010 against the Bengals, we got a big YAC play where they sent Roddy in motion across the formation and he ran a drag while the rest of the receivers pulled the defenders in the opposite direction. Against the Cardinals, we used Tony Gonzalez to clear out the coverage in the middle of the field for White to come in almost uncovered for a TD.
The examples are there, and those are just a few of the "highlight reel" ones. I'm sure there's numerous other examples in almost every game, some successful and some not, of using route combinations and overloading coverage in order to beat the defense.
We're just not going to fully agree on this...but I do like real debate and counterexamples instead of random rambling.
I'm not saying Mularkey doesn't run route combos. By definition, any time you run 2 guys out on the same side of the formation, you've run a route combo. And I stated earlier I'm sure he runs the shallow/dig, or drag/square in etc. combo, as it's a part of any pass based offense. What I say is he doesn't run complex route combos. That is, it's usually just a 2 person common combo. Sometimes those work, but if you incorporate more of your offense into it, it'll work more often. So, of course we use Tony short to open up Roddy on a post behind it. Of course we use Roddy on a clear out deeper to give Tony a 1 on 1 with a LB.
The point is, these are basic route combos, that most defenses are prepared for, and won't leave a guy wide open. When you throw a third element in there, you start to see more open.
I'm certainly willing to change my tune if I see more this year, and I'll figure that he felt limited with the talent he had (I may not agree that he shouldn't have tried, but I won't care.) I just don't have a lot of confidence in that aspect of MM. He does a good job of running the same plays from myriad formations, and I give him credit for that. I don't think the guy can do no right...I just think he uses basic route combos that don't stress good defenses.
I think most of the ones you mentioned are those...they still rely heavily on a bad decision by the D, or a very athletic play by the WR, as opposed to just "opening up" a guy.
I have a touch of trouble fully faulting him because, as I may have mentioned, I think we need a seam stretching TE and a quick, shifty back who can run or catch well to truly start to exploit mismatches optimally (however, MM has never shown facility with using a large variety of weapons, so I think he more prefers the type we have as opposed to 5 guys out in routes)...but I think you have to work in that direction as an OC. It's something we'll see over the course of the season. I know I loved playing DB against the kind of offense Atlanta employs...and so I'm probably harder on Mularkey than some, but I just think it's a very easy to defend offense...because you don't have to worry about which guy to cover, and once you know who you're covering, you know you can drive down on him, and move on his first move, because they won't do a double. It lets you play fast and easy. I want the defense to be confused and on their heels.
Martz is great w combos, though his are very slow to develop often. But Payton and McDaniels do well on this. I think it would be hard to argue Mularkey is in the Payton range on that front, or in the top 10 even.