Urban Meyer's Football Philosphy For Our Offense

[Frizzy350]

So a few years ago I read an interesting article on Urban Meyer's philosophy on how play call decisions were made during his time in Florida with The Golden Calf of Bristol while coachin' up a young Cammarooski.  What was so interesting about it was how incredibly simple everything was - all they did was count the players in/out of the box to determine run or pass, and then count up the defenders on each side of the field to determine the direction of the play.  You would then simply run the play where you have more guys than them.  The numbers advantage will likely yield a successful play.  The key to the entire offense however, was the requirement that the quarterback be a legitimate threat on it's own, giving you a full 11 men on offense involved in every play.

I am now taking the liberty upon myself to apply this theory as to why our offense is so groovy, and to prove (with numbers and stuff, bro!) just how impossible the ole "contain cam double olsen" slogan of shame really is.

Seriously we need to stop quoting that stupid statement. I've grown to cringe seeing it because of this site.  We say it more than they say it, but they still say it.  Know what I'm saying?  But really, I deserve some shame for even bring it up.  Onward!

So let's start with the most important men in the game, the linemen.  The offense always has 5 linemen on the field so who will match up with them?  I think it is fair to say the 3 defensive line along with Ware and Miller.  5 other guys, ok that is an even match up.  So right now this table looks like this:

US                                          Them

 5              Linemen                    5

Cool!  Let's fill this out with the rest of the team.

So we've got Greg OIsen and he's pretty much always on the field.  That's one.

We have Jon Stewart, or a runningback at least, usually on the field as well. That's another.

We usually have 2 receivers out there.  If we are in a 1 wide out set, consider the TE #2 a receiver.  That's two.

There's also another dude out there.  This guy is a third receiver, it's Mike Tolbert, it's Ed Dickson.  That's one dude, who will be called the "Dude".

Then there's the big bad voo-dude, Cam Newton.  Cam what a season man, say it with me if your still reading - Caaaahhhaaaaam!  He's always on the field and always a threat.

US                                          Them

 5              Linemen                    5

 1              Olsen                        1

 1              Stew                          1

 2              Receivers                  2

 1              Dude                         1

 1              Ace Boogie                1

Look at that!  That is some evenly matched up 11 on 11 football!  The Broncos defense even has a guy accounting for the always dangerous Cam Newton.  Let's break this stupid table now and make things unfair.

"Double Olsen..."  I'll stop there.  Go ahead pour some more shame on me brah.  Anyway since you HAVE to double Olsen, you'd likely drop a lineman out and have a less-impressive yet suitable pass rush while slightly exposing yourself to the run.

US                                          Them

 5              Linemen                    4

 1              Olsen                        2

 1              Stew                          1

 2              Receivers                  2

 1              Dude                         1

 1              Ace Boogie                1

There is one, I repeat one key ingredient that was needed for us to tip these scales in our favor massively: Ted Ginn baby.

Are you really going to allow Ted Ginn to run free down the field with one guy?  How on earth do you now move these numbers around to deal with a level of speed that nobody else can match?

US                    A                     Them    

 5              Linemen                    3       

 1              Olsen                        2        

 1              Stew                          1        

 2              Receivers                  2       

 1              Stupid Fast Ginn       1       

 1              Dude                         1       

 1              Ace Boogie                1      

 

US                      B                   Them

 5              Linemen                    4

 1              Olsen                        2

 1              Stew                          0

 2              Receivers                  2

1              Stupid Fast Ginn        1

 1              Dude                         1

 1              Ace Boogie                1

 

US                   C                       Them

 5              Linemen                    4

 1              Olsen                        2

 1              Stew                          1

 2              Receivers                  2

1              Stupid Fast Ginn        1

 1              Dude                         0

 1              Ace Boogie                1

Option A sucks: No pass rush.  Cam will murder you with time.

Option B: Leave Stew uncovered?  Realistically if nobody is held accountable for the runningback on defense, that runningback will have a field day.

Option C: Yea that's those games where Cotchery suddenly has a little giddyup in his game and goes nuts.  It's those games that make Mike Toldozer a Pro Bowler.

So people have successfully contained Cam and doubled Olsen, we've ALL seen options A and C happen at points of the year, and it burns opponents with ease.

 

TLDR

How exactly do you allocate the resources to deal with all our threats, especially when our threats are so unconventional?  Methinks your best chance is actually to... NOT double Olsen, or don't contain Cam, or don't cover a receiver, or hope Ted Ginn drops it, or...  Who cares?  All those options suck.  If the Broncos want to beat this offense, their best bet is to completely forget the playbook and run around like lost deer.  Seriously, go nuts and gamble like crazy.  When you play the Panthers offense, anything "conservative" you do on defense presents a gamble already as illustrated above, so you might as well double down and hope you get lucky (like the Falcons).

 

PS:  Andrew Norwell is a large man that was destined to fly.  Nothing brings more joy to my heart than to see him gallop downfield.  Watching the earth quake beneath his feet, his rangy, mountain-man hair freeing itself to the wind.  His.... large man rolls swaying... jubilantly.  I hope he flies to SF and flies out the endzone.

[UpstatePanther]

17 minutes ago, Frizzy350 said:

PS:  Andrew Norwell is a large man that was destined to fly.  Nothing brings more joy to my heart than to see him gallop downfield.  Watching the earth quake beneath his feet, his rangy, mountain-man hair freeing itself to the wind.  His.... large man rolls swaying... jubilantly.  I hope he flies to SF and flies out the endzone.

Well... looks like @Jeremy Igo has some competition in the man-crush arena...

[2jakefansinva]

Read Kirwin's book...."take your eyes off the ball."

[pstall]

Arizona didn't just let their de stand still. They tried lbs. The key is coverage on a read option and hitting the qb a lot. If no pressure than it will be a long day.

I think the best way to handle a read option team is ball control offense and constant rotation of def players. Easier said than done.

[The Huddler]

[GRWatcher]

Great write up. I'd like to point out that the "dude" has also been an eligible #60 Darryl Williams in the red zone. Even if he isn't covered it has wreaked havoc on the defense. Olsen runs free or someone carries the ball into the end zone or Cam does an over-the-top. Dancing ensues.

[Peppers90 NC]

Surely they will play some zone

[joemac]

If they blitz a lot and play man to man Cam is gonna run for 100 by himself...not to mention Stew and everybody else.

[Chaos]

For some reason I believe that they will attempt to use Von Miller to come after Cam on every play, either as a passer or a runner.  He will need to deliver quick strikes instead of holding on for the deep shot.  I have a feeling our o-line will get more of a push against them then they have throughout the playoffs.  But I know they'll be ready.

Kalil, Norwell, Trai fuggin Turner - we're loaded up front.

[Ricky Spanish]

I don't think your math adds up there OP...

[shaqattaq]

8 hours ago, Frizzy350 said:

His.... large man rolls swaying... jubilantly.

hehe...worth having to do math first thing in the morning for this line alone.

[Toker Smurf]

If the coaches can find a way to sneak 12 men on most of the game, like you're suggesting, then yeah, its great.

[CPantherKing]

I see it more like this...

7 - LoS - 5 : Panthers commit 7 blockers to their DL + Von + Ware. The Goal here is to always double Von and Ware. Always. If Von or Ware release in pass coverage, then the FB/TE assigned to block them releases into the flat or crosses the defense on a short route. The free OL doubles down on the DE breaking his contain and pushing him wide or into the NT while looking for a zone blitz.

1 - QB - 2 : There will always be 2 of the 4 LBs keying on Cam. One to contain him if he cuts to the inside of the OL and another one to come off the edge if Cam breaks the pocket.

1 - RB - 1 : Will be an ILB or S

2 - Receivers - 3 : Safety deep and the 2 CBs. Expect the Panthers to push them deep all over the field with crossing routes and Olsen attacking the seam. If they get cocky and believe they can run 50 yards clear across the field with 1 defender on Ginn or Brown, expect a deep shot by Cam. If it is a single WR with Olsen running a route, I expect Olsen to get the ball on a corner route if the safety is deep to help with Ginn. If the safety brackets Olsen, I expect Ginn to get the ball on a deep crosser behind the safety and challenge the DB to keep up with him from sideline to sideline.

The key is committing 7 blockers at the LoS with the primary assignment to block 5 to 6 defenders. As soon as the 2 flex blockers read a 3 man rush, they release into the flats or shallow crosses. This will destroy the Broncos defensive scheme.

Von and Ware operate on an option pass rush from the outside. If they 

From these 7 blocker formations keep running the power running game on them until they prove they can stop it. The key to this game will be Trai Turner, Ryan Kalil, and Andrew Norwell getting a quick 2 yard push off the line on Sylvester Williams and releasing to the Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall. Mix this in with a QB power off the run option for an extra blocker at the second level and it will be a long day for the interior of the Broncos defense.

Also, to set the tone I would like to see Cam Newton truck Brandon Marshall up the middle on a play or two in the 1st quarter. On defense just blitz TD against the run and pass all 1st quarter while he is feeling his best. If TD can get hits on the smaller backs in the backfield and Manning in the pocket over the course of the 1st quarter it will set the tone for the rest of the game. The last thing you want is to put TD in a position to fight through blocks at the second level against the OL all game with his arm.

[Moose Hoover]

35 minutes ago, CPantherKing said:

From these 7 blocker formations keep running the power running game on them until they prove they can stop it. The key to this game will be Trai Turner, Ryan Kalil, and Andrew Norwell getting a quick 2 yard push off the line on Sylvester Williams and releasing to the Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall. Mix this in with a QB power off the run option for an extra blocker at the second level and it will be a long day for the interior of the Broncos defense.

 

I really believe this game is so ripe for a power run approach. Their LBs (Ware, Miller, Trevathan, and Marshall) are undersized and aggressive. This is a speed defense vs. a power offense.