Offensive Review: Giants

Gtripp, always great stuff. I really hope your Olineman stat works out.

I would be very interested in seein the result at the end of the year. Even Samuels sample size isnt high enough. The rule of thumb is 30, but in this case it depends on N(the number of time Samuels will run block in his career) to calculate a decent sample size to potentially make an accurate statement about each lineman. Yeah, I took a ton of stat classes.

If you are interested in football stats, look into take some multiple regression/econometrics classes. You could compile a bunch of stats, try to isolate vars and reach some meaningful conclusions.Yeah, it takes about 3 games before I'll have any semblance of a meaningful sample on the left side of the line, and probably about twice that for anything on the right side of the line.

I also might run into a problem where Guard numbers are just higher than tackle numbers, figuring that if a running back can ever find a hole off guard, he probably won't run to the tackle.

In the end, when I have a significant sample size, I'll probably adjust the numbers so that the mean lineman yards figure equals the yards per carry average for the Redskins backs. Right now, it's just a very raw average without any context.

Yeah, it takes about 3 games before I'll have any semblance of a meaningful sample on the left side of the line, and probably about twice that for anything on the right side of the line.

I also might run into a problem where Guard numbers are just higher than tackle numbers, figuring that if a running back can ever find a hole off guard, he probably won't run to the tackle.

In the end, when I have a significant sample size, I'll probably adjust the numbers so that the mean lineman yards figure equals the yards per carry average for the Redskins backs. Right now, it's just a very raw average without any context.

Yeah, but it's great stuff nonetheless. I guess overall it wouldn't make sense to compare the number for a G vs an OT just straight up. Rather we could use other factors, or just use the raw stats and compare tackles to tackles, etc.


Imagine at one point we might even have a formula, with which we could calculate how effectively(on avg) the Oline could be. I am thinking a y= Ax+Bx+Cx+....obviously not just linear, and even vars to calculate each of the dlineman, and their impacts on the olineman too. Obviously this is all theory but is it nerdy to get excited over this? lol.......

Yeah, but it's great stuff nonetheless. I guess overall it wouldn't make sense to compare the number for a G vs an OT just straight up. Rather we could use other factors, or just use the raw stats and compare tackles to tackles, etc.


Imagine at one point we might even have a formula, with which we could calculate how effectively(on avg) the Oline could be. I am thinking a y= Ax+Bx+Cx+....obviously not just linear, and even vars to calculate each of the dlineman, and their impacts on the olineman too. Obviously this is all theory but is it nerdy to get excited over this? lol.......Not until it's proven pointless!

In pass protection, Heyer may be the weak link of the group, but he held up pretty well against Justin Tuck all things considered.First off, great job as always GTripp, good read.

IMO, Heyer must do a better job of aggressively working to engage the DE. Again, I know he was going against Tuck and likely not wanting to whiff, but his backpedaling hurt us. Especially on the 3 & GL from the 6 in the 2nd half, where JC didn't have time to hit the open China route by ARE behind Cooley's seam.

What was really impressive about the Redskins offensive line is that all of the cohesion problems of last season appear to be in the past. The offensive line only had one or two hits on Campbell that could have been picked up, which is roughly 500% better than it was last year.Agree, overall pass pro was very good. Run game not so much, but part of this was due to playcalling. Note to Zorn, there are other run plays than the Stretch and not every play needs to be Zone blocked. A trap or counter never hurt anyone, especially out of a spread set.


Passing Game
......They come out in a power formation, with Fred Davis and Chris Cooley to the right and Santana Moss split to the left with Portis and Sellers in an I-Formation. Campbell takes the snap, play actions a lead play to Portis (the Redskins never actually run a lead play though), and sets up deep, about 9 yards behind the Center.

Here are the routes: Moss is running a skinny post, and is double covered. Fred Davis is running a drag and is not open. Chris Cooley made an outside release and is running the over (the middle) route at about 12 yards. Campbell wants to go to Cooley with the football, and sets up waiting for him to come open. Except, as Cooley heads across the middle of the field, he never does come free. With only 3 receivers in downfield patterns, the Giants have the play defended.

Campbell has room to step up and run with the football for at least three or four yards, but never steps up. At the last second, his eyes go to Mike Sellers to check the ball down in the middle of the field, but as soon as his hands break, Osi gets to the ball and strips him. Normally, the Redskins have a back in the backfield to make the recovery or at very least, the tackle, but on this particular play, both backs were in check down routes.......Just to add a little to this, the drag by Davis and Over by Cooley are a very common route combo used in a basic play called Waggle. It is designed to put the LB in no-man's-land. If JC remembered his fundamentals and kept the ball at mid-chest or shoulder level and stepped up in the pocket he would've had the extra half second for Davis to clear the LB, and with Moss' clearout, Davis or Cooley would've come open.

I thought the playcalling left a lot to be desired in the second half initially, but a closer look shows that Jim Zorn did make a half time adjustment to try to force the the Giants defense out of having it's best players on the field: he moved to a series of 3 WR sets. 23 out of 28 offensive plays were run with 3 WRs on the field. What this did was it forced the Giants to take a linebacker off the field on those 23 plays, and put an extra defensive back (rookie CB Bruce Johnson) on the field.Zorn's personnel selection was good. I saw a few mentioning the lack of 2TE sets. Zorn actually ran a decent amount of 2TE sets.

However on the negative side
- The ARE reverse couldn't have been in the script, very bad call. Even after the big run....stay on script. A good OC has his script designed to probe the D and set up plays later in the game, exploit weaknesses seen on film early, and see how the D reacts to certain plays/sets.
- No need for JC to be under C with an empty backfield. It's just unnecessary. JC has good speed, but not real quick feet or excellent footwork. Zorn has to see this and must make that change to help JC. Gun allows him to see the field better.
- On consecutive series in the 2nd half, Zorn calls a 3WR, I-form set, Sellers motions to a TE and they run a Stretch. Next play is a 3WR, I-form A-gap lead. First series the two plays work, on the second series of course they're unsuccessful.
- WR screen on the +6 ?????
- When the run isn't consistently successful and the OL isn't moving people off the ball, you've got to go to the air. The passing game was pretty solid outside of the big mistakes (fumble/INT).

Overall I'd give the playcalling a C-

A couple of other thoughts:
Moss: Bad game.
- Awful effort on deep comeback (JC INT). The route he was running on this play was a deep comeback and is part of a different variant of the Waggle play mentioned earlier. Moss isn't a primary on this play but a 3rd read. He is supposed to sell the Go and break it off into a 18 yd Comeback. His effort was embarassing.
- Late Post break 25 yds downfield after a weak sell of the Go route. Then he looks back at JC like it's JC's fault????
- Penalty with Webster (on which he got the worst of the exchange). Moss is a veteran and should be able to bait defenders into penalties and mistakes, not the other way around.

JC - must eliminate mistakes and improve play.
- It's OK to run and take 7-8 yds. Don't force the ball (INT targeting Moss).
- It's also OK to tell Moss to stop whining and looking frustrated for not getting the ball. Tell him to STFU, run his routes hard and correctly, and he'll get the ball. If he's going to give half-ass effort, make sure he knows you'll make even less effort to get him the ball.
- Still the damn tendency to drop the ball to his waist and double pump before releasing. It's not even a "pat", it's a full pump and completely wasted motion (time).
- Throw behind Moss on drag behind ARE's clearout on key 3rd down. Got to make that play if you're "The Man".
We'll see how JC performs over the next 5 games, hopefully well. I'm optimistic. If he can get his confidence up and be more consistent he can be a top QB and will earn himself a big payday.

Should there be any concerns about Cooley fumbling the ball once (which went out of bounds) and almost fumbling it later on (his knee hit the ground about a millisecond before the ball came loose)? He's such a good target, but I really thing he needs to hold on to that ball...I mean I don't know if this just the Giants being good at stripping the ball, but I was a bit disturbed about that.

Sweeeeeeeeet! These are easily my fav threads on the warpath. I'm excited to see how the new lineman yards approach settles out after three games.

GTripp, I was watching the game with some very "passionate" skins fans. All were complain that even before the fumble or the pick, JC looked flustered. They said he looked/played better in the opening, but later in the game, his motions/face/movements etc. were flustered therefore impacting his place.

They were basically saying he was adversely affected(I guess mentally) by the G-men and the medowlands. Did you notice any of this during your review? Thanks.

GTripp, I was watching the game with some very "passionate" skins fans. All were complain that even before the fumble or the pick, JC looked flustered. They said he looked/played better in the opening, but later in the game, his motions/face/movements etc. were flustered therefore impacting his place.

They were basically saying he was adversely affected(I guess mentally) by the G-men and the medowlands. Did you notice any of this during your review? Thanks.If anything, there was some frustration with the amount of time Zorn was taking to pick one of 14 different versions of the exact same screen and get the play in, I'm certain that Campbell just wanted to call a play and go run it, instead of having to run up to the line and quickly snap the ball or take a timeout.

I'm pretty sure nothing actually flusters Jason Campbell. The team had to dangle him out by a thread this offseason before we could confirm he even has emotions.

If anything, there was some frustration with the amount of time Zorn was taking to pick one of 14 different versions of the exact same screen and get the play in, I'm certain that Campbell just wanted to call a play and go run it, instead of having to run up to the line and quickly snap the ball or take a timeout.

I'm pretty sure nothing actually flusters Jason Campbell. The team had to dangle him out by a thread this offseason before we could confirm he even has emotions.

LOL good one.

I'm curious what you're opinion is on this one trip: what if Zorn just put the ball in Jason's hands so to speak? I know he's still climbing the learning curve of the WCO but I think we all know he studies his butt off...at this point he's probably got the playbook down. This question is sort of like asking who's offensive instincts do you trust more, Zorn or JC?

LOL good one.

I'm curious what you're opinion is on this one trip: what if Zorn just put the ball in Jason's hands so to speak? I know he's still climbing the learning curve of the WCO but I think we all know he studies his butt off...at this point he's probably got the playbook down. This question is sort of like asking who's offensive instincts do you trust more, Zorn or JC?Let me put it this way: tomorrow, I'm doing a breakdown of Lions-Saints for my NFL blog. The average Lions game takes ~3:25. The average Skins game takes about a hour less than that.

What does this have to do with what you asked? The Skins offense (and defense) manages to make 9-10 total possessions last an entire game, whereas a team like the Lions who actually throws some incomplete passes and interceptions can get 14-16 possessions into regulation. That ends up being a difference of 20-25 plays per game. In a Redskins game, a wasted play can cost the Redskins what, two points or so in offensive potential? Good offenses only score on about 40% of their possessions, so if Zorn's offense scores 4 times in a game, it's doing well for itself.

Of course, 2 TDs and 2 FGs is what, 20 points? That's less than people would like to see, and that's the offense doing well for itself.

To answer your question, I think Jason and Zorn both have high football IQs, but if you put the ball in Jason's hands 40 times a game, it increases the margin for error. Zorn wastes too many plays to have a high powered offense. If Jason got more chances, he could make more plays and I think, in the long-run, win more games.