Offense this year

[gortiz]

Obviously, the offense has to catch up with the defense for us to have a chance in 05. What are the top three things the skins have to do to improve the offense?

I say,

1. More Shots down the field, at least 3-4 a game. Even if they are not successful. This will keep D's honest and give Clinton a little more room to run. I can remember a 2 games with out one pass attempt over 25 yards.

2. Better reads by Patrick. If his first read wasn't there he was in trouble.

3. Play calling. I know this is a sticky one cause we now are doubting St. Joe but it seems to me like he was out of sync the whole year. Maybe it was the shorter play clock, too many 3rd and longs, or the play of Brunell and the inexperience of Patrick. Or just being gone for 12 years.

Whats your top three???

[TheMalcolmConnection]

1. Evolve our receivers. We have a bunch of guys that I consider to be average to above average #2s. I do think that the entire group has potential to be #1s except for a select few.

2. Generate more turnovers on defense. I think this will take care of itself with LaVar coming back. Also towards the end of the season we generating many more so I think that problem SHOULD be solved.

3. Get lucky. Definitely something you can't draft, buy, or teach, but we lost a lot of close games and I would just like to see luck swing in our favor this year. Winning the close ones is what separates mediocre from great.

[AndySkinUK]

1. Better play by the OL but that will come with a healthy Jansen and the addition of Rabach.

2. A No2 WR that can catch, and Patten will do that.

3. Ramsey being told he is the full time starter so he doesn't have to keep looking over his shoulder. That hsa already happpened as well.

So i see no reason why we can't go 16-0 and set a new points record

[Yellow31]

1. more shots downfield
2. mix up the playcalling, seems like he kept calling the same plays over even if they didn't work the first 5 times
3. Get Portis the ball more on the outside and freaking throw the ball to him he is a great receiver out of the backfield

[TheMalcolmConnection]

ALSO, Ramsey being protected so he ALSO doesn't have to look over his shoulder.

That was much improved this year and it will only get better with Jansen and Rabach.

[MTK]

Simply continue what was happening during the last 5 games.

Jansen's return and the acquisition of Rabach will definitely bolster the offensive line and that alone will make a huge difference.

With Patten, Moss, Jacobs and Thrash we have guys who can stretch the field, we definitely need to take advantage of this. This also gets back to the OL as better protection means more time for Ramsey to take shots down the field.

An improved line also means a more effective running game, which will also help open up the field.

It all starts up front.

[Schneed10]

1) Continue to use zone-blocking schemes when running Portis. Running the old 50-gut and counter-trey like they used to run with Riggins doesn't work as well with Portis. Those old-school plays end up with a bunch of lineman all pushing at the same spot and the RB running in behind them. Portis's strength is his quickness and ability to cut, not moving piles. Zone-blocking schemes are designed to let him pick his spot and make a cutback, beating defenders to the hole. Having Casey Rabach is a big improvement over Raymer's athleticism, Rabach should be able to get out and block better.

2) Don't be afraid to use Betts when it's 3rd and 1. We were terrible at converting the short first downs last year, and especially terrible at the goalline. I think Betts should be used here.

3) Definitely throw downfield to Moss & Patten.

4) Run reverses and end-arounds to David Patten. He's so good at that, and it keeps overaggressive defenses honest.

5) How bout a fake punt once in a while? I'm not asking for one every game, but a couple trick plays over the course of the year would keep defenses on their toes.

6) STAY HEALTHY. Jansen coming back is huge, we need him and the rest of the guys to stay on the field.

7) Ramsey needs to improve his touch passing. He has proved that he is tough, poised, and can make the strong throws. We need to see him put a little air under the ball when necessary, and take something off his throws when necessary.

8) Get in synch early in the season. If the offense needs a few games to get used to each other or gel or any of that other crap, we're in trouble. In the NFL change is the only constant. You know you're going to have new players who have to learn the system. Whoever picks things up quickly has a big advantage.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

1. Evolve our receivers. We have a bunch of guys that I consider to be average to above average #2s. I do think that the entire group has potential to be #1s except for a select few.

2. Generate more turnovers on defense. I think this will take care of itself with LaVar coming back. Also towards the end of the season we generating many more so I think that problem SHOULD be solved.

3. Get lucky. Definitely something you can't draft, buy, or teach, but we lost a lot of close games and I would just like to see luck swing in our favor this year. Winning the close ones is what separates mediocre from great.

I thought we had a pretty go year in turnovers last year. Our problem was we only scored one defensive TD.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Maybe that's what I meant... Sorry about that!

[Daseal]

1. More dynamic WR routes and maybe the addition of a few more formations. Maybe spread the field from time to time. Run routes that allow for YAC!

2. Let Portis use his speed a bit more. More zoneblocking and runs to the outside. More dump passes to Portis.

3. No more QB controversey. Wasn't good for the team last year, won't be again. Let Ramsey get all the snaps in practice, let him know he's your guy. Let's get a core of receivers and keep them here so he can play chemistry.

4. Less predictable playcalling. Mix it up.

[FRPLG]

Everyone has good ideas it seems. I am wondering if anyone with some more technical knowledge of offense can discuss the notion of going down field. I didn't feel that our inability to go downfield (meaning deep ruotes at 20 or 30 yards) was our particular problem last year. I felt like we couldn't complete a pass over 10 yards. Intermediate routes were where we got killed much of last year. It seems that o-line play and route running would be the key issues there. I'd definitly like to see our intermediate pass offense start clicking. That will open up downfield play making and give us a good shot on 3rd downs. It seems Ramsey was a little mroe successful than Brunell on this type of stuff. What wasn't he beter at?

[Daseal]

I agree FRPLG - we need to start with the 10-14 yard routes, once we complete those they'll have to respect our receivers a little bit when we try to go down field. Hense making Portis's job easier.

[Daseal]

I also think that goalline playcalling must be changed a bit, along with being less conservative and more aggressive. TO's are dangerous, but don't harp them so hard you scare everyone!

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I also think that goalline playcalling must be changed a bit, along with being less conservative and more aggressive. TO's are dangerous, but don't harp them so hard you scare everyone!

Yeah it was like Gibbs had a stroke every time we got inside the 5 yard line. I mean it really isn't that hard to get 5 yards. I guess our crappy o-line was a big part of that but we looked at our worse in goal line situations.

[Daseal]

Well - 3 runs up the middle isn't THAT hard to defend.