The Bark
12-23-2012, 08:08 PM
Play-action pass.
This had been a staple the last few years and proved to be very effective in allowing Ben to throw downfield, completing a high percentage of passes - particularly on third down.
Looking back this year, I don't recall too many instances where play-action was actually used - surely nowhere near as much as in previous years. Although this is often dependent on establishing a running threat, I don't think it was in the team's arsenal much when even when the ball was being run effectively.
Time and time again, it appeared the big passes downfield were missing this year. Much was made of Wallace's holdout and ineffectiveness, but in hindsight, I wonder how much he benefitted from the use of play-action?
As I recall, Ben was completing these attempts with an astonishing level of accuracy the past few years so it seems hard to swallow that, even with a change in coordinators, this was something essentially abandoned from the arsenal. Of course, there are also other contributing factors including an inconsistent, ever-changing offensive line - but honestly, they've been consistently inconsistent so what else is new there? It also doesn't help to continually fall behind on opponents while trying to establish the run early in games, but it seems a play-action call early in the game would help open up the offense.
Anyway, as the season has progressed under the new offensive coordinator, this is one area I would have thought to have been a no-brainer to continue.
This had been a staple the last few years and proved to be very effective in allowing Ben to throw downfield, completing a high percentage of passes - particularly on third down.
Looking back this year, I don't recall too many instances where play-action was actually used - surely nowhere near as much as in previous years. Although this is often dependent on establishing a running threat, I don't think it was in the team's arsenal much when even when the ball was being run effectively.
Time and time again, it appeared the big passes downfield were missing this year. Much was made of Wallace's holdout and ineffectiveness, but in hindsight, I wonder how much he benefitted from the use of play-action?
As I recall, Ben was completing these attempts with an astonishing level of accuracy the past few years so it seems hard to swallow that, even with a change in coordinators, this was something essentially abandoned from the arsenal. Of course, there are also other contributing factors including an inconsistent, ever-changing offensive line - but honestly, they've been consistently inconsistent so what else is new there? It also doesn't help to continually fall behind on opponents while trying to establish the run early in games, but it seems a play-action call early in the game would help open up the offense.
Anyway, as the season has progressed under the new offensive coordinator, this is one area I would have thought to have been a no-brainer to continue.