Question about Pass-Play Selection

Longtimefan · 12-11-2005, 09:24 PM

After watching our passing game struggle from time to time this season I have one question relative to selection, and pass routes.

Why do we not ever throw the ball down the middle of the field? Why are all our pass plays of the same basic variety, short in the flat to Cooley,wide receiver screen? It appears the opposing defenses have only to cover our passing game outside the hashes and never have to defend the middle of the field. In today's game Brunell only threw one pass inside the hash marks that was complete (to Moss) one other on the post was forced, and intercepted.

Discuss

LadyT · 12-11-2005, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longtimefan

After watching our passing game struggle from time to time this season I have one question relative to selection, and pass routes.

Why do we not ever throw the ball down the middle of the field? Why are all our pass plays of the same basic variety, short in the flat to Cooley,wide receiver screen? It appears the opposing defenses have only to cover our passing game outside the hashes and never have to defend the middle of the field. In today's game Brunell only threw one pass inside the hash marks that was complete (to Moss) one other on the post was forced, and intercepted.

Discuss

Why is most of the offensive play-calling so predictable and conservative? Better ask that question of Gibbs, not us.

skinsguy · 12-11-2005, 09:28 PM

If Moss was open all day long in the middle, the ball would get to him. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. You have to take what the defense gives you sometimes.

skinsguy · 12-11-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyT

Why is most of the offensive play-calling so predictable and conservative? Better ask that question of Gibbs, not us.

So how would call the game from start to finish?

MTK · 12-11-2005, 09:35 PM

We're playing the hand we've been dealt.

This is a team thats strengths lie in a conservative attack. Nobody is going to mistake this offense for the Colts or Bengals, and there's no use in trying to make us that way. That's like trying to force a square peg through a circle hole.

Beemnseven · 12-11-2005, 09:38 PM

It seems that most of Moss routes are fly patterns designed to go straight for the endzone. He is the only wideout of any threat to opponents. Jacobs and Farris are worthless. You're right though, there aren't many passes set up in the short to intermediate range in the middle of the field. In reality, I think it's more of a lack of quality receivers behind Moss and Cooley.

I wonder why there aren't more screens to Portis.

illdefined · 12-11-2005, 10:14 PM

lack of possesion type receiver. remember the McCants controversy? not that McCants was the second coming of Art Monk, but Moss and Patten are small and NOT suited to outmuscle linebackers and safeties over the middle, much less take the shots. God bless Cooley, but he's not going to dart right into the middle on a slant.

SUNRA · 12-11-2005, 10:31 PM

Did you catch the offensive formation on the second to last possession we had? On second down Gibbs had one receiver on the line and no FB as a blocker for Portis which resulted loss yardage. Why in the hell would Gibbs have one receiver on the line and no one in motion? Our playcalling was geared toward the run and it did not work. Rock Cartwright deserved to get some handoffs. Betts was not that productive to handle all the carries besides Portis.

sniks · 12-11-2005, 10:59 PM

plain and simple we do not have the talent at w.r.

sniks · 12-11-2005, 10:59 PM

besides moss

LadyT · 12-12-2005, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinsguy

So how would call the game from start to finish?

For one thing, I'd try and go downfield a lot more and to do that you need a QB who can throw it long - Ramsey, not Brunell. Not necessarily bombs all day long, but whatever happened to the 15 to 25 yard pass? We seldom if ever see it called. Our offense is very predictable and has been for a long time. The Gibbs innovations that were his trademark in the 80's simply are nowhere to be seen the last year and a half. Hence, the inability to score more than 20 points in most of our games under Gibbs.

onlydarksets · 12-12-2005, 08:26 AM

I would say size. Even a mediocre but large receiver could take a couple of shots over the middle. Like someone else said, though, Moss just isn't big enough for that to be an effective part of our game.

skinsguy · 12-12-2005, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyT

For one thing, I'd try and go downfield a lot more and to do that you need a QB who can throw it long - Ramsey, not Brunell.

Please that argument is old and has been debunked a long time ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady T

Not necessarily bombs all day long, but whatever happened to the 15 to 25 yard pass? We seldom if ever see it called.

We see it called quite often, but our ONE receiver can't get open when he's double and tripled teamed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady T

Our offense is very predictable and has been for a long time. The Gibbs innovations that were his trademark in the 80's simply are nowhere to be seen the last year and a half. Hence, the inability to score more than 20 points in most of our games under Gibbs.

Oh please, that is another argument that has been debunked a long time ago. Again, I ask you how you would have called the game from start to finish, and all you can tell me is you'd put in Ramsey and tell him to throw it deep. But you haven't given me a specific gameplan nor have you told me what you'd tell your qb to do if the receiver is not open downfield.

MTK · 12-12-2005, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyT

For one thing, I'd try and go downfield a lot more and to do that you need a QB who can throw it long - Ramsey, not Brunell. Not necessarily bombs all day long, but whatever happened to the 15 to 25 yard pass? We seldom if ever see it called. Our offense is very predictable and has been for a long time. The Gibbs innovations that were his trademark in the 80's simply are nowhere to be seen the last year and a half. Hence, the inability to score more than 20 points in most of our games under Gibbs.

More easily said than done, obviously.

If it's not there it's not there.

Defenses have focused on taking away Moss deep. Or do you think the team has just made a conscious effort to stop going down the field like they were earlier in the season?

skins052bgr8 · 12-12-2005, 08:38 AM

I would agree that we have limited times gone over the middle, but when we have we have had success. If Moss is being double teamed and he runs a corner route it should clear it out for a Tight end, Cooley, or the play we have scored on a couple times and also had big gains the TB out of the backfield on a seam route down the middle of the field. We do work the edges and flats a lot. I can only hope Gibbs is holding some plays for this week. I think he will test Dallas deep this week, especially after that last deep pass against dallas that set up the FG yesterday, right across the middle and that is where we had our success in the previous game. Dallas is going to bring the house, so we will probably have some slants and short to intermediate passing this game. Moss should have a cushion this week also.

12-11-2005, 09:24 PM	#1
Longtimefan Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Germantown, Md. Posts: 4,832	Question about Pass-Play Selection After watching our passing game struggle from time to time this season I have one question relative to selection, and pass routes. Why do we not ever throw the ball down the middle of the field? Why are all our pass plays of the same basic variety, short in the flat to Cooley,wide receiver screen? It appears the opposing defenses have only to cover our passing game outside the hashes and never have to defend the middle of the field. In today's game Brunell only threw one pass inside the hash marks that was complete (to Moss) one other on the post was forced, and intercepted. Discuss

12-11-2005, 09:28 PM	#3
skinsguy Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 6,766	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection If Moss was open all day long in the middle, the ball would get to him. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. You have to take what the defense gives you sometimes. __________________ "Fire Up That Diesel!"

12-11-2005, 09:35 PM	#5
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,741	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection We're playing the hand we've been dealt. This is a team thats strengths lie in a conservative attack. Nobody is going to mistake this offense for the Colts or Bengals, and there's no use in trying to make us that way. That's like trying to force a square peg through a circle hole.

12-11-2005, 09:38 PM	#6
Beemnseven Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Virginia Beach Age: 51 Posts: 5,311	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection It seems that most of Moss routes are fly patterns designed to go straight for the endzone. He is the only wideout of any threat to opponents. Jacobs and Farris are worthless. You're right though, there aren't many passes set up in the short to intermediate range in the middle of the field. In reality, I think it's more of a lack of quality receivers behind Moss and Cooley. I wonder why there aren't more screens to Portis.

12-11-2005, 10:14 PM	#7
illdefined Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: nyc Age: 48 Posts: 2,631	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection lack of possesion type receiver. remember the McCants controversy? not that McCants was the second coming of Art Monk, but Moss and Patten are small and NOT suited to outmuscle linebackers and safeties over the middle, much less take the shots. God bless Cooley, but he's not going to dart right into the middle on a slant. __________________ a fan. not a cheerleader.

12-11-2005, 10:31 PM	#8
SUNRA The Starter Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,680	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection Did you catch the offensive formation on the second to last possession we had? On second down Gibbs had one receiver on the line and no FB as a blocker for Portis which resulted loss yardage. Why in the hell would Gibbs have one receiver on the line and no one in motion? Our playcalling was geared toward the run and it did not work. Rock Cartwright deserved to get some handoffs. Betts was not that productive to handle all the carries besides Portis. __________________ Redskins Member since 1970

12-11-2005, 10:59 PM	#9
sniks Camp Scrub Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: CT. Age: 65 Posts: 97	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection plain and simple we do not have the talent at w.r.

12-12-2005, 08:26 AM	#12
onlydarksets Playmaker Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: all up in your business Posts: 2,693	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection I would say size. Even a mediocre but large receiver could take a couple of shots over the middle. Like someone else said, though, Moss just isn't big enough for that to be an effective part of our game.

12-12-2005, 08:38 AM	#15
skins052bgr8 Special Teams Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Richmond, Va. Age: 49 Posts: 288	Re: Question about Pass-Play Selection I would agree that we have limited times gone over the middle, but when we have we have had success. If Moss is being double teamed and he runs a corner route it should clear it out for a Tight end, Cooley, or the play we have scored on a couple times and also had big gains the TB out of the backfield on a seam route down the middle of the field. We do work the edges and flats a lot. I can only hope Gibbs is holding some plays for this week. I think he will test Dallas deep this week, especially after that last deep pass against dallas that set up the FG yesterday, right across the middle and that is where we had our success in the previous game. Dallas is going to bring the house, so we will probably have some slants and short to intermediate passing this game. Moss should have a cushion this week also.

Question about Pass-Play Selection

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