Week 5: Non Packers

[Kerb Hohl]

I'm not suggesting teams don't use deep drops, but Martz's 5-7 step drops that he uses way too often are killer.

Use the shotgun, brah.

[El Duderino]

McCarthy though also uses a lot of 5 step drops and even some 7 step ones.

The Packers offense still gets labeled as a "West Coast" scheme, but i really don't think there is much accuracy in that label anymore. I think people/analysts/announcers just say that because McCarthy was with Holmgren.

The Packers offense under Holmgren involved significantly more passing to the backs on screens and short slant routes to hopefully get receivers yards after the catch. This current offense under McCarthy throws the ball downfield/vertically as much or more than any team in football. Many of those routes take time and require at least a five step drop.

McCarthy can be so aggressive because the line has been pretty good at pass blocking and the other massive key is that Rodgers can so often avoid would be sacks. Just look at how often in the last two Atlanta games that Aaron turned likely would be sacks if say Matt Ryan was back there, and instead Rodgers will just either deftly step away from pressure in the pocket, spin then move outside the pocket for a big throw on the run, or his lightning quick release allows him to get the ball out right before getting hit.

Lastly, when Rodgers steps back in his 5 step drop plays compared to Cutler, Aaron not only has a better line in front of him, he has a vastly vastly superior receiving core so in most cases once Rodgers hits his 5th step on his drop, the ball can come out right away because someone is open. Cutler not only has a terrible pass blocking line in front of him, he has to hope guys like Knox, Hester, and/or a washed up Roy Williams will be open when he hits the last step of his drop so the ball can come out quick. They to often aren't open and by the time he tries scanning the field for an option, he's toast even though Cutler isn't immobile.

[an_also]

I kinda feel sorry for cutler these days.

[trwi7]

That was some awesome clock management at the end of the game. I know the chances of the Bears winning were slim to none but why not kick a field goal once you got relatively close? You're going to need one anyways and chances are if you go all the way down for a touchdown (assuming you even get a touchdown before time expires) the clock will be so low that if you recover the onside kick you're not going to have time for a field goal or you'll be so far away that you'll have to do a hail mary like you would if you just kick the field goal.

I think there were like 25 seconds left and it would've been about a 42 yard field goal. Kick that, clock goes down to 20-21 seconds. Recover the onside kick, clock goes down to 18ish seconds. Run a play for about 10-15 yards and get out of bounds. That puts you at the 40-45 yard line of the Lions with about 8 seconds left. Then you get a couple shots at the end zone or you can run another quick play to get closer.

And it's not just Smith. This happens with all coaches, it's like they don't realize they don't have the time to drive all the way down for a TD, get the onside kick and then get into field goal range.

[LUKE23]

Lions have a decent shot to head into the bye at 8-0, their next three are SF at home, ATL at home, and at DEN.

[Newz]

Calvin Johnson is without at doubt (IMO) the best non-QB player in the NFL. Not even close.

[Kerb Hohl]

El Dude, there is no way you can tell me that the Packers use worse drops than the Bears. Maybe I'm missing something, but every other play I watch Cutler drop back, he's gliding back a bunch of steps. On those drawn out play actions the Packers do I'm fine with big 5-7 steppers, but they're in the gun most of the time. Cutler is literally sprinting backwards half the time.

And I guess I'm talking more to the 7 steppers than the 5.

The Bears fans complain about that stuff a fair amount.

Plus, if you know you have an awful line, then why do you keep running it? Let Cutler run some screens out of the gun.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Calvin Johnson is without at doubt (IMO) the best non-QB player in the NFL. Not even close.

I miss BucksRuleAll22.

[El Duderino]

El Dude, there is no way you can tell me that the Packers use worse drops than the Bears. Maybe I'm missing something, but every other play I watch Cutler drop back, he's gliding back a bunch of steps. On those drawn out play actions the Packers do I'm fine with big 5-7 steppers, but they're in the gun most of the time. Cutler is literally sprinting backwards half the time.

And I guess I'm talking more to the 7 steppers than the 5.

The Bears fans complain about that stuff a fair amount.

Plus, if you know you have an awful line, then why do you keep running it? Let Cutler run some screens out of the gun.

The Bears run a ton of screens, it's a major staple of the Martz system, look at the number of catches Faulk had and now Forte gets.

I certainly could be wrong though on the number of 7 step drops they run with Cutler, it's just when watching them a few times now this year, i didn't recall seeing a consistent diet of deep 7 step drops. I know that personal observations can often end up being wrong factually.

Either way, even though Cutler may be a douchebag, he's not exactly been given much to work with there. A terrible line in front of him and possibly the worst WR core in the league. Besides Cutler and Forte, the rest of their offensive pieces are mostly just mediocre to garbage. Angelo has done a terrible job getting pieces to fit what Martz wants to do, especially at receiver.

[Kerb Hohl]

Oh I agree with a lot of that stuff, I'm just saying Martz should adapt. The screens are deadly with those drops and that's about the only thing that the offense has going for it.

[El Duderino]

I wonder if Martz is even capable of adapting? He seems rigid in his schemes, hell, he won't even let Culter audible out of plays.

One thing i love about McCarthy in running the offense is he strikes me as a very flexible type who is willing to adjust his scheme and play calling to the talent on hand. I love when reporters regularly ask him questions about why he called X number of runs the prior week, but the next week he called significantly less or more, he almost always gets an exasperated look on his face like how many times do i have to explain this to you peons that the defense and game situations that day dictate his play calls.

Yea, the Packers obviously have tons of talent on offense, but i do think McCarthy is a very bright offensive mind. McGinn had quoted various scouts and assistant coaches who all had high praise for McCarthy's schemes and play calling. I think some offensive coordinators, even with a Rodgers and many receiving weapons would still force running the ball more simply because that's what they believe in whereas MM doesn't strike me as having any sort of set philosophy beyond scheming around his talent and then calling plays each given week based on what he feels a defense is doing that given day. Plus, just recently i heard both Jennings and Rodgers give praise to McCarthy for his willingness to let truly take input from players based on what they are seeing and that not all coaches will do that.

I really hope the Thompson/McCarthy duo are here for a long time. Ted obviously is a drafting savant and from the get go McCarthy completely bought into Ted's vision for this being an almost strictly draft and develop franchise. We never heard any stories of McCarthy pushing Ted for more veterans or free agent signings, even after say the 6-10 season. No stories either of McCarthy getting power hungry and thus wanting more say in personnel matters. Mike trusts Ted to get him talent and Ted trusts that McCarthy and his staff will develop those players. Fairly often when an NFL team has a good amount of success over multiple years, egos between head coach and GM can lead to problems forming, but i don't see that happening here even if the Packers were to win another title or two.