Make or break year for Shula (I hope)

[Chimera]

I've said it before: Shula will own just about any 4-3 zone defense. He is average to below-average against 4-3 man defenses. He is downright awful against the 3-4.

I hope Rivera has taken time this offseason to mentor him on what a 3-4 is designed to do. You have to understand defense to beat said defense.

[SCP]

For those talking about Ramsdell having this huge impact on our passing game, I wouldn't hold your breath. I asked Bill Voth about him and he didn't think, based on what he'd seen at OTAs, that Ramsdell would have a very influential role.

[Mr. Scot]

No team is perfect at every position. But you can't tell me a team that has Newton, Smith, Tolbert, Olsen, Williams, Gross, Kalil, Ginn is average on offensive talent. Cam alone would make any offense average. Throw in the solid vets around him and the offensive talent was very much above average.

 

I'll concede Newton, Tolbert, Olsen, Williams, Gross and Kalil all qualify as varying levels of good, but even with all six on the field that's still only about half the unit.

 

Steve Smith of a few years ago I'd have given you.  Steve Smith of last year?  He was the best receiver in the unit, but not what he used to be, and beyond him the unit was anywhere from inconsistent (Ginn) to borderline awful (LaFell).

 

I'd add that when only two of your five starting OL can be consistently counted on, you're gong to have problems.

 

I certainly wouldn't call the playcalling last year perfect, but I generally found it decent.  When I look back at last season, the biggest problem was OL play and a receiving corps that didn't strike fear into anyone (and yes, that includes Smith).

[Brothergrim427]

Totally agree with you. I had mentioned this in another thread as well. We finished 12-4 in spite of Shula, not because of him. Our defense and some good bounces helped us to that record. We overachieved to be honest. Nothing wrong with wanting a more potent offense to go with a great D. The offense was good in spells but we definitely need more of an offense in case our D has an off game.

Do people not remember how many times Shula drew up a long-developing play on 2nd or 3rd and 3? Or how many times Cam himself had to bail us out? Not to say there weren't bright spots but let's be real here.

to be fair that's the down and distance where you wanna take a shot,and if you can't hit it you convert the easy 3rd or 4th and like 3 logically a defense wants to stop the short game and may not have the guys deep to defend, also kinda hard to call something short when the opponent gets tired of the short game and decides to load the box and come up in coverage 11 man box = 1on1 on the outside. So there

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[teeray]

"We NEEED to get back to those high total scoring offenses and 6-10 records!11!!1"

 

 

OC is ALWAYS the most ridiculed coaching position by fans, usually by people who don't know what the hell they are talking about.

[teeray]

does possession = points? 

 

when did we start judging offenses on possession?

 

lol

 

PPG is the only stat that matters. 

 

 

This is the post where you should have just stopped

[MedellinHeel]

This is the post where you should have just stopped

 

Thats ok. 

 

Won't do you any good if you hold the ball for 15 and drive down to the opponents 40 and have to punt every time. 

 

22ppg is about as average as it gets. We need to be scoring 27-30+ppg. 

[teeray]

Thats ok. 

 

Won't do you any good if you hold the ball for 15 and drive down to the opponents 40 and have to punt every time. 

 

22ppg is about as average as it gets. We need to be scoring 27-30+ppg. 

 

I'd rather win the NFC South than average 27-30 points

[MedellinHeel]

I'd rather win the NFC South than average 27-30 points

 

Id rather win the superbowl than average 22ppg and win the south. 

 

;)

[Johnny Rockets]

Thats ok. 

 

Won't do you any good if you hold the ball for 15 and drive down to the opponents 40 and have to punt every time. 

 

22ppg is about as average as it gets. We need to be scoring 27-30+ppg. 

 

 

Not sure where you get that, Shula's offense was top 10 in the NFL in points per drive last year.

[Mr. Scot]

Fire Henning!

Wait... :unsure:

[iamhubby1]

My main problem with Shula last year was that he gave up on what was working. During our midseason win streak, he was calling tons of short and mid range passing plays which Cam was nailing because our receivers were able to get open off the line. Then to end the season and into the playoffs, that got abandoned. He went back to slow developing routes which sputtered out and ended drives.

Whether that was actually Shula's play calling, or Cam wanting to force the big play, I'm not sure. But it was shades of Fox's "I know we just had record breaking rushing season, but let's have Delhomme pass it 50 times in Arizona" 2008.

The ONLY thing about last years Offense that I wish we can improve is the Red Zone efficiency. We went from one of the better teams, to average. That was when we started to struggle. If we can get back to top of the leagueish, which I think we can. We will be one scary/dangerous team.

 

Not sure where you get that, Shula's offense was top 10 in the NFL in points per drive last year.

Sometimes you just gotta let fans be fans. What they want, and what is reality are usually two different things.

We were very good moving the ball. If we can improve our Red Zone efficiency, and get back to where we were during our winning streak. We will be a team that actually does scare folks.

[Jangler]

which are you hoping for? make or break

 

 

title has been bothering me

[Chimera]

I'd rather win the NFC South than average 27-30 points

 

I'd rather have an offense that can get past the other two elite defenses in our conference and win the conference.