5 Things Jim Zorn Should Change Right Now

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 44Deezel

5 - WHERE ARE THE PASS INTERFERENCE CALLS? The Lions managed to free up single coverage downfield several times and got a pass interference call and one TD that got called back. Why can't we get a guy downfield in single coverage and put the ball in a place that the Receiver can make an attempt at it??? Not even once in 3 games? We were dead last in pass interference calls last year. Maybe something to work on this year?!?!?!

Good point here.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by 44Deezel

1 - Where are the passes purposely thrown behind the Receivers. I don't know the name of the route, but other teams throws those passes effectively a couple times a game.

2 - Why don't they roll Campbell out by design every once in a while?

3 - Why not a QB draw in the red zone, or bootleg (naked even), or play action pass to the TE???

4 - Why not a WR screen to Kelly? He stiff-armed some dude for the Jags in the pre-season and made the first down. It brings the corners up and sets them up for passes over the top. I used to hate the excessive use of this play during the Gibbs Deuce tenure, but I do recall it went for a 78 yard TD to Moss once. It can be effective.

5 - WHERE ARE THE PASS INTERFERENCE CALLS? The Lions managed to free up single coverage downfield several times and got a pass interference call and one TD that got called back. Why can't we get a guy downfield in single coverage and put the ball in a place that the Receiver can make an attempt at it??? Not even once in 3 games? We were dead last in pass interference calls last year. Maybe something to work on this year?!?!?!

I was going insane when I saw Campbell roll out to the right all by himself when they ran it in RZ on 4th and 1. He could have walked in the endzone untouched.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by 44Deezel

5 - WHERE ARE THE PASS INTERFERENCE CALLS? The Lions managed to free up single coverage downfield several times and got a pass interference call and one TD that got called back. Why can't we get a guy downfield in single coverage and put the ball in a place that the Receiver can make an attempt at it??? Not even once in 3 games? We were dead last in pass interference calls last year. Maybe something to work on this year?!?!?!

Exactly, the NFL is very pass friendly and you can easily move the ball 20, 40, 60 yards or what have you on a single call like that, just as good as getting the catch itself. Campbell needs his guys to be about 5 yards open like it's college ball though.

[RobH4413]

From my limited, but not entirely ignorant, offensive knowledge here are a few things I believe can be done with the current personnel.

1) Bring back the WR screen.

Those of you who are familiar with me on this board know I favor this play. There's a reason. It works.

Santana Moss and ARE are absolutely the perfect kind of receivers to run this play. Even Cooley runs it extremely well. It's a perfect play to add an extra element to the offense. It's a low risk, potentially high yielding play that is proven with the players we have on the roster. They don't take long to develop, and you can add an extra element to defend. Running fake screens can open up doors elsewhere.

2) Encourage Campbell and his receivers to improvise.

We have seen Campbell in the past ad lib plays when things fall apart and he has proven to be effective, especially in the red zone. He needs to use his feet more, bootleg out, call some audibles, scramble. Receivers need to become aware when the play breaks down and get open for Campbell.

Side note: Our route running has been pathetic. It's like when our receivers know they aren't getting the ball they run half speed routes. I'm calling out Stan Hixon for this one. Selling your route, even when your not getting the ball, is crucial in dictating what the defense will do....

3) Stop running trick plays

Like seriously. Just stop. When you run the HB pass every other series, it stops becoming a trick play. It becomes a bad offense. We need settle down on offense. I feel like Zorn isn't sure what the strengths of this team are, so he's putting a little here, a little there... and has not committed to anything. Part of gaining an identity as a team, is to establish that identity. Dictate the tempo on offense. Obviously, either said than done, but I'm sick of wasting drives on these cute little trick plays. They aren't working... use them sparingly.

4) Mike Sellers

4th and 1. Give him the ball. 3rd and 2. Give him the ball. He needs more touches on the ground. The man can get those yards. I don't know why we haven't been utilizing him. Plus it's a great way to set up a stupid play action dump in short yardage. Just saying.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

4) Mike Sellers

4th and 1. Give him the ball. 3rd and 2. Give him the ball. He needs more touches on the ground. The man can get those yards. I don't know why we haven't been utilizing him. Plus it's a great way to set up a stupid play action dump in short yardage. Just saying.

I like all your points except for this one. As I was saying in another thread yesterday, Sellers isn't as good at running in short yardage as we all seem to think he should be. He leaves his feet too quickly and gives up all of his power and momentum. Unless he's recently learned to stop trying to dive through the hole he needs to focus on making the right blocks and clearing the lane for Portis better than he has been so far this season.

[mlmdub130]

Play Orakpo at RDE and Jarmon at LDE. Chris Wilson is supposed to be a SLB now, so let him play the position. If nothing else, those moves should provide improvement in the speed of our defense.


Exa-fing-tacly those changes needed to be made in the preseason, Orakpo is a damn good DE but as a LB he can't cover TE's for s

[tryfuhl]

"Sanatana Moss."

"Mario Mannignham"

also, moreso isn't a word

I'm not sure why you mentioned Bugel being a possible playcaller either, what reasoning would you have behind that? Sherman Smith I can follow, but Zorn decided to take it over his first year, if he gives it up now he's writing his own ending.

Jarmon did play some.

[NYCSkin]

1. Landry to SS and Moore starts at FS.
2. Orakpo to DE and Carter as 3rd down specialist. Wilson to OLB for Orakpo.
3. Portis or Betts (whoever practices ALL WEEK) plays all 3 downs on offense. If you can't practice--you are not playing. That goes for the whole team for that matter.
4. Script the first dozen plays and start the game and second half in the hurry up offense.
5. Thomas and Aldridge on KR and Aldridge on PR

[30gut]

Originally Posted by PennSkinsFan

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/09/if-i-were-jim-zorn-5-changes-now.html

4. More shot gun, more no huddle offense. We are beginning to think one of Jason Campbell's main problem is--- he is overcoached. I half think at times Jim Zorn treats Campbell as a robot. It's often said that coaches who used to be quarterbacks regard their current quarterbacks as extensions of themselves on the field, but that's not what they should be. Quarterbacks, like every other NFL player [only moreso] need to use their brains on the field. Let Campbell play quarterback in ways that suit him, such as more shotgun and more no huddle.

+1

Zorn shouldn't turn over the playcalling we move the ball well form 20 to 20.

Zorn needs to improve the gameplan inside the RZ and especially inside the 10 goal to go.

[CultBrennan59]

1. Defense has to be moving around on third down and not be set right in the 4-3, like have our DLman moving around standing up, whose coming who isnt.
2. Corners need to play tighter, and be like a guessing game with the QB, is he pressing is he backing off etc.
3. have WR's run more slants and digs, go's, screens, and less comeback routes
4. more outside running game and lead draws. and screens to portis.
5. more 5 WR sets, and jet sweeps.

[CultBrennan59]

oh and play Jarmon at DE more and Orakpo to DE full time aswell

[JoeRedskin]

I agree that the Orakpo experiment should be ended and that he and Jarmon should be the two ends.

Blache doesn't like rookies? Sorry, time to move on - Daniels is too slow and Carter is no better than an average to good pass rusher and average to poor run stopper. Let CWilson "learn" the SLB position - he's been playing it all camp. I think these moves increase our team speed enormously (mainly by the huge jump of Jarmon over Daniels). Will there be mistakes? Yup. Are there now? Yup. At least with Jarmon and Orakpo at the ends, they may have the speed to make up for their mistakes.

DE is not that complex: Generally, maintain containment - get to the QB. The only concern is Wilson at SLB -I haven't seen him playing in space, but I bet he would be okay, at least as good as Orakpo. As I recall, Wilson is no slacker in the speed department.

Of course, key to it all is Blache being innovative on defense and looking to disrupt and confuse offenses rather simply trying to man-up on them.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Of course, key to it all is Blache being innovative on defense and looking to disrupt and confuse offenses rather simply trying to man-up on them.

Actually key to it is Blache getting his own lips off of his own ass and realizing that sometimes "poor execution" is an unconscious euphemism for "bad play calling".

I am tired of both of our play callers treating their scheme like the bible. Your schemes aren't f*cking working jackasses. Figure out how to get the players that you have to be successful. Shortest point from A to B. Stop dicking around with your theories and identify the few things that are working and do those more. I am tired of having no faith that we can develop schemes week to week that maximizes our talent and exploits the other teams weaknesses.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Actually key to it is Blache getting his own lips off of his own ass and realizing that sometimes "poor execution" is an unconscious euphemism for "bad play calling".

I am tired of both of our play callers treating their scheme like the bible. Your schemes aren't f*cking working jackasses. Figure out how to get the players that you have to be successful. Shortest point from A to B. Stop dicking around with your theories and identify the few things that are working and do those more. I am tired of having no faith that we can develop schemes week to week that maximizes our talent and exploits the other teams weaknesses.

Exactly; you're going to have to mold it to the talent that you have.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

I agree that the Orakpo experiment should be ended and that he and Jarmon should be the two ends.

Blache doesn't like rookies? Sorry, time to move on - Daniels is too slow and Carter is no better than an average to good pass rusher and average to poor run stopper. Let CWilson "learn" the SLB position - he's been playing it all camp. I think these moves increase our team speed enormously (mainly by the huge jump of Jarmon over Daniels). Will there be mistakes? Yup. Are there now? Yup. At least with Jarmon and Orakpo at the ends, they may have the speed to make up for their mistakes.

DE is not that complex: Generally, maintain containment - get to the QB. The only concern is Wilson at SLB -I haven't seen him playing in space, but I bet he would be okay, at least as good as Orakpo. As I recall, Wilson is no slacker in the speed department.

Of course, key to it all is Blache being innovative on defense and looking to disrupt and confuse offenses rather simply trying to man-up on them.

I agree. Would there be a big dropoff from Orakpo to Wilson at SAM? I doubt it. Would there be an increase in QB pressure with Jarmon and Orakpo in place of Daniels and Carter? You can pretty much count on it. Is this what Blache wants? Probably not. Can you imagine Jarmon and Orakpo at DE and Wilson blitzing from the LB spot? Or Doughty for that matter. He's done well so far. Daniels and Carter could be used in spot duty and keep the d-line fresh. I think some defensive coaches would be having a field day with the possibilities and be getting the most production from these guys playing them where they, can be, the most productive. Blache...not so much.