A New Look Offense or the Same but Better?

their opponents aren't complete strangers, "setting the tone" on the first play of a game doesn't have the same importance

Isn't the opening play call pass/run relatively inconsequential both to the type of offense and to the overall gameplan?

I'm not entirely sure. But one of the reasons why they did that type of play calling was probably because of the bad caliber of QB play. I can remember the second Giants game, which was one of the four games where Kyle Shanahan called a pass play as the first play from scrimmage, and Grossman threw a pick. Maybe they were comfortable handing the ball to Helu Jr., or Hightower istead of having Grossman and Beck throw the rock during the first play from scrimmage. With RG3, it wouldn't be at all surprising if they pass it the first play from scrimmage in most of the games this coming season.

I'm not entirely sure. But one of the reasons why they did that type of play calling was probably because of the bad caliber of QB play. I can remember the second Giants game, which was one of the four games where Kyle Shanahan called a pass play as the first play from scrimmage, and Grossman threw a pick. Maybe they were comfortable handing the ball to Helu Jr., or Hightower istead of having Grossman and Beck throw the rock during the first play from scrimmage. With RG3,I don't like to get into the speculation on why a coach makes a particular playcall because so much goes into every call.
I think its a gross minimization to say well they probably called play X because of Y.
And the theory that they called runs on the opening play call because they didn't trust Rex/Beck doesn't really hold water for me.
Over the course of the year the pass/run ratio was heavily titled towards the pass at a ratio of 60 to 40, that doesn't happen if a team is more comfortable handing the ball to their backs.

But, were talking about the opening play call without knowing where ours shake out in regards to the other teams.
Are we middle of the pack in terms of pass/run ratio? Head of the pack? Bottom of the pack?


it wouldn't be at all surprising if they pass it the first play from scrimmage in most of the games this coming season.I still don't see the import of the opening playcall in regards to the offensive scheme/game plan.
Whether they pass more/less on the opening play doesn't equate to a change in the type of offensive scheme.

Imo the opening playcall probably comes down to a team calling what they view as their most successful play or the play with the highest percentage of gaining positives yards and therefore creating a manageable 2nd down to create a manageable 3rd down to sustain the opening drive.

To my untrained eye, Kyle's offense changed to more rollouts/bootlegs when Beck briefly replaced Grossman last season. Looking forward to seeing a much more wide-open offense with RG3.

To my untrained eye, Kyle's offense changed to more rollouts/bootlegs when Beck briefly replaced Grossman last season. Looking forward to seeing a much more wide-open offense with RG3.
I guess it depends on what you mean by change.
The difference between the playcalling with Rex to bootlegs w/ Beck during the Panthers game I don't consider a change in the offense as much as a shift in the playcalling.
To my eye the Panthers gameplan was still within the framework of the offense; in fact I think that run heavy/boot-action passing is more true to the Texans/Denver WCO playcalling/gameplan/scheme.

But, depending on what you mean by more wide-open that would be a true change.
I'm assuming you mean more shotgun-spread passing?

I think we'll see a mix of what we say last year+some Texans 5-7 step drop deep passing+5-7 step drop/roll-out heavy Jake Plummer Denver WCO.

The baseline on these DVOA stats is against both runs and passes. So first round run calls are being compared to all first and ten plays leaguewide. Etc. These are the Redskins rates and ranks from the 2011 season.

The Redskins are still pretty dreadful on third downs, but the third down conversion percentage improved from 2010 because they were a lot better on first down this year, so they weren't in quite as many third and longs (and in third down less often altogether).

1st down pass
36.5% (7th)

1st down run
-2.2% (20th)

All first downs
13.6% (10th)

2nd down pass
-8.6% (25th)

2nd down run
-10.0% (30th)

All 2nd down
-11.6% (28th)

3rd/4th passes
-23.6% (27th)

3rd/4th runs
53.2% (4th)

All 3rd/4th down
-18.9% (26th)

All downs (passing)
3.5% (22nd)

All downs (rushing)
-0.5% (17th)

All Downs
-2.1% (19th)

I guess it depends on what you mean by change.
The difference between the playcalling with Rex to bootlegs w/ Beck during the Panthers game I don't consider a change in the offense as much as a shift in the playcalling.
To my eye the Panthers gameplan was still within the framework of the offense; in fact I think that run heavy/boot-action passing is more true to the Texans/Denver WCO playcalling/gameplan/scheme.

But, depending on what you mean by more wide-open that would be a true change.
I'm assuming you mean more shotgun-spread passing?

I think we'll see a mix of what we say last year+some Texans 5-7 step drop deep passing+5-7 step drop/roll-out heavy Jake Plummer Denver WCO.I agree with you, that with Beck it wasn't a different playbook than Grossman, just different play calling.

I should have been more clear on "wide-open". I have no clue if we're running more shotgun/spread this season.

I'm just thinking this season will seem like night and day between Grossman scrambling, and Griffin running the same play. With more bootlegs/rollouts from under center called.

Yeah, would love to see the deep passing you're talking about on the rollouts. I thought McNabb did once in awhile while he was here, and Grossman tried to do the same.

The baseline on these DVOA stats is against both runs and passes. So first round run calls are being compared to all first and ten plays leaguewide. Etc. These are the Redskins rates and ranks from the 2011 season.Thanks G, very interesting.

What is the percentage in the figures?
Is it the percentage chance of converting for a 1st down?

Can you post or link the complete data set?

I'm just thinking this season will seem like night and day between Grossman scrambling, and Griffin running the same play. With more bootlegs/rollouts from under center called.Yep, some of the yards that Grossman left out there because of mobility and lack of arm strength/velocity, deep ball accuracy Griff will capitalize on.

Yeah, would love to see the deep passing you're talking about on the rollouts.I def think we'll see more 5-7 step drop intermediate passing:

Matt Schaub Houston Texans Highlights - YouTube

I def think we'll see more 5-7 step drop intermediate passing:

(snip pretty cool video)Hated the first play lol, but nice video. Hope we do see more of that this season.