The "hurry - up offense"

[bawlmerbob]

Reportedly, Jim Caldwell is a big proponent of the hurry-up. Also, Joe Flacco really likes, and feels most comfortable, in the hurry-up. And certainly, it has been very effective at times this year, However, there are some downsides. One, it is not a balanced offense. It stesses primarily short, quick passes, and uses the run basically to keep the defense honest. This tends to keep Vonta Leach off the field, and limits Rice's rushing touches.

Secondly, 3 and outs obviously use up very little clock. That is not a good thing for a defense that is old, banged up, and already has a tough time getting off the field.

I just hope that the Ravens do not become too pass happy. Joe is not Peyton. Rice has to get 20 - 25 touches per game. We have seen what happens when his offensive role is minimized.

[OriginalColtsFan]

LOL. This post made me laugh.

[Ravens2006]

You can still run the ball in a hurry up offense. Whether they attempt to do so or not remains to be seen, but hurry up / fast paced offense doesn't necessarily preclude involvement by the RBs / FB.

[AntiMoon]

According to NST B Pollard threw an epic tantrum after the game because the defense hates the no huddle cause all it does is speed the defense's return to the field.

[ivanbalt]

According to NST B Pollard threw an epic tantrum after the game because the defense hates the no huddle cause all it does is speed the defense's return to the field.

3 and outs will do that regardless of "hurry up" vs "traditional huddle" offensive schemes.

[bawlmerbob]

LOL. This post made me laugh.

If I knew that you were going to read it, I would have simplified it.

[TheIcon]

I still don't understand why do we always say the defense is tired. Isn't the offense just as tired since they are out there too. CB are tired of running. Aren't the WR tired of running. I never understand that reasoning.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I still don't understand why do we always say the defense is tired. Isn't the offense just as tired since they are out there too. CB are tired of running. Aren't the WR tired of running. I never understand that reasoning.

Good point. Not to mention the fact that the D tires ITSELF out by not being able to get more 3 and outs. It's not the O's job to "protect" the D; it's the D's job TO PROTECT ITSELF. It's the most warped logic I've ever heard.

[PEZ]

I bet the D really hates it when Jacoby Jones scores a TD on a return then! If the D complains about being tired then force more 3 and outs! Oooooo.....That means that they actually have to tackle!

[cprenegade]

According to NST B Pollard threw an epic tantrum after the game because the defense hates the no huddle cause all it does is speed the defense's return to the field.

I don't really think the no huddle is what speeds the defense return to the field. New England runs it and and they don't have that problem. But New England is also real good at moving the chains on third down. That is the problem. The Ravens don't have an O-line like New England. And New England has a QB and receivers that find ways to get open for a first down. The Raven's o-line lets in pressure on Flacco, he doesn't read progressions as quickly as he should, and his throws are inconsistent at times. If the Ravens had a third down percentage as good as New England's there would be no problem with the no huddle.

[NCBirdfan]

I still don't understand why do we always say the defense is tired. Isn't the offense just as tired since they are out there too. CB are tired of running. Aren't the WR tired of running. I never understand that reasoning.

Time of possession is not just a meaningless stat. Teams that control the clock tend to be more successful. When an offense is on the field less, whether it is by scoring quickly, going 3-and-out, or turning the ball over, it puts stress on the defense; if it happens too often, the defense will eventually get tired and break down.

Conversely, that is why coaches like long, clock-consuming drives from their offenses. When teams score quickly, opposing defenses are usually fresh the next time around. It has been proven that long sustained drives wear out the opponents' defenses. That is one of the main things an offensive coordinator tries to establish in a game. That is why teams that score frequently and quickly most-often also give up a lot of points.

[OriginalColtsFan]

I don't really think the no huddle is what speeds the defense return to the field. New England runs it and and they don't have that problem. But New England is also real good at moving the chains on third down. That is the problem. The Ravens don't have an O-line like New England. And New England has a QB and receivers that find ways to get open for a first down. The Raven's o-line lets in pressure on Flacco, he doesn't read progressions as quickly as he should, and his throws are inconsistent at times. If the Ravens had a third down percentage as good as New England's there would be no problem with the no huddle.

NE also has an OC who works WITH, not AGAINST, his QB.

[OriginalColtsFan]

Time of possession is not just a meaningless stat. Teams that control the clock tend to be more successful. When an offense is on the field less, whether it is by scoring quickly, going 3-and-out, or turning the ball over, it puts stress on the defense; if it happens too often, the defense will eventually get tired and break down.

Conversely, that is why coaches like long, clock-consuming drives from their offenses. When teams score quickly, opposing defenses are usually fresh the next time around. It has been proven that long sustained drives wear out the opponents' defenses. That is one of the main things an offensive coordinator tries to establish in a game. That is why teams that score frequently and quickly most-often also give up a lot of points.

The flip side of that is that "long, time consuming drives" ALSO increase the likelihood of turnovers. The job of the offense is simple: score points. All this convoluted "protect the O; run time off the clock" stuff is just mental gymnastics. Keep it simple; let the O do its job, and let the D do its job. Does anyone say: "Oh...the D got too many 3 and outs and tired out the O?" Of course not; it's absurd.

[NCBirdfan]

The flip side of that is that "long, time consuming drives" ALSO increase the likelihood of turnovers. The job of the offense is simple: score points. All this convoluted "protect the O; run time off the clock" stuff is just mental gymnastics. Keep it simple; let the O do its job, and let the D do its job. Does anyone say: "Oh...the D got too many 3 and outs and tired out the O?" Of course not; it's absurd.

If you ask most coaches they would disagree with you. The game is about field position and the battle of the lines. It definitely is more complicated than you think.

[OriginalColtsFan]

If you ask most coaches they would disagree with you. The game is about field position and the battle of the lines. It definitely is more complicated than you think.

And much less complicated than you're making it out to be. KISS...offense does ITS job; defense does ITS job; Special Teams does ITS job. That's the MODEL of CONSISTENCY. Do you think for ONE SECOND that Vince Lombardi had meetings to tell his offense to do his defense's job? I doubt it; that's more a creation of the "Combine/Pseudo-Science" of Stat Football in the 21st century. It's an illusion. Games are still won and lost in the trenches and by EXECUTING well crafted game plans. All this other garbage is Madden-laden nonsense, for the most part. It's really NOT as complicated as you're making it out to be.

But let's assume you're right. Tell ya what...YOU go ask all 32 NFL head coaches what they think, document it, then get back to me, okay? This business about "if you ask coaches...blah blah blah" is nothing but pure speculation. Go DO it, document the results, THEN tell me exactly what they say. If the DON'T say that the game of football is about all 3 units EXECUTING their roles, then I'll buy into what you're saying. But here...I'll offer you what ONE NFL head coach, Bill Belichick, says REPEATEDLY (and it's BEEN documented on an NFL N special): "Go out and DO YOUR JOBS". That's what really GOOD coaches say to their teams.

[Frank Costanza 831]

I don't really think the no huddle is what speeds the defense return to the field. New England runs it and and they don't have that problem. But New England is also real good at moving the chains on third down. That is the problem. The Ravens don't have an O-line like New England. And New England has a QB and receivers that find ways to get open for a first down. The Raven's o-line lets in pressure on Flacco, he doesn't read progressions as quickly as he should, and his throws are inconsistent at times. If the Ravens had a third down percentage as good as New England's there would be no problem with the no huddle.

Not to mention that New England's receivers are actually coached to come back to the ball unlike our receivers. After they run their vanilla straight line routes they stand there looking stupid until Flacco either gets sacked or checks it down to Rice.......or actually whatever scrub RB Cam has in there in place of Rice

[NCBirdfan]

And much less complicated than you're making it out to be. KISS...offense does ITS job; defense does ITS job; Special Teams does ITS job. That's the MODEL of CONSISTENCY. Do you think for ONE SECOND that Vince Lombardi had meetings to tell his offense to do his defense's job? I doubt it; that's more a creation of the "Combine/Pseudo-Science" of Stat Football in the 21st century. It's an illusion. Games are still won and lost in the trenches and by EXECUTING well crafted game plans. All this other garbage is Madden-laden nonsense, for the most part. It's really NOT as complicated as you're making it out to be.

But let's assume you're right. Tell ya what...YOU go ask all 32 NFL head coaches what they think, document it, then get back to me, okay? This business about "if you ask coaches...blah blah blah" is nothing but pure speculation. Go DO it, document the results, THEN tell me exactly what they say. If theDON'T say that the game of football is about all 3 units EXECUTING their roles, then I'll buy into what you're saying. But here...I'll offer you what ONE NFL head coach, Bill Belichick, says REPEATEDLY (and it's BEEN documented on an NFL N special): "Go out and DO YOUR JOBS". That's what really GOOD coaches say to their teams.

Nobody is saying that players don't need to do their jobs. But, this is not a sport where there isn't an opponent trying to stop you. While one team tries to EXECUTE, the other team is trying to EXECUTE as well.

The most important things on both sides of the ball are field position and possession. If a team can master both of those, the team usually wins.

The offensive unit's job is not to score as many points as possible. Who cares if the team scores 42 points if it gives up 45 in the process. The offense's job is simply to score more points than the other team. The best way to do it is wearing down the defense on long-sustained drives. When the offense fails to say on the field for a good amount of time, the defense will usually suffer in one way or another.

Great defenses can overcame most of it where the average fan cannot see the damage; poorer defenses usually fail when they are on the field too long. And yes, I know this from experience and discussing with other coaches.

Bottom line: No matter how the NFL tries to make it more of an offensive show, football still is a team sport. When an offense's possession is frequently short-lived, the defense suffers. That is true from junior high to the pros.

[OriginalColtsFan]

Nobody is saying that players don't need to do their jobs. But, this is not a sport where there isn't an opponent trying to stop you. While one team tries to EXECUTE, the other team is trying to EXECUTE as well.

The most important things on both sides of the ball are field position and possession. If a team can master both of those, the team usually wins.

The offensive unit's job is not to score as many points as possible. Who cares if the team scores 42 points if it gives up 45 in the process. The offense's job is simply to score more points than the other team. The best way to do it is wearing down the defense on long-sustained drives. When the offense fails to say on the field for a good amount of time, the defense will usually suffer in one way or another.

Great defenses can overcame most of it where the average fan cannot see the damage; poorer defenses usually fail when they are on the field too long. And yes, I know this from experience and discussing with other coaches.

Bottom line: No matter how the NFL tries to make it more of an offensive show, football still is a team sport. When an offense's possession is frequently short-lived, the defense suffers. That is true from junior high to the pros.

We'll agree to disagree. The rules have clearly been tilted towards the offense, and smart teams have caught on and taken advantage of that reality. IMO, you're living in a long gone reality. But hey...that's your choice.

Peace.

[CajunRaven]

Not to mention that New England's receivers are actually coached to come back to the ball unlike our receivers. After they run their vanilla straight line routes they stand there looking stupid until Flacco either gets sacked or checks it down to Rice.......or actually whatever scrub RB Cam has in there in place of Rice

Cam never called plays where the receivers stopped and came back to the ball. Everything was a go route. Once in a while you have to call the come back.

[CajunRaven]

Nobody is saying that players don't need to do their jobs. But, this is not a sport where there isn't an opponent trying to stop you. While one team tries to EXECUTE, the other team is trying to EXECUTE as well.

The most important things on both sides of the ball are field position and possession. If a team can master both of those, the team usually wins.

The offensive unit's job is not to score as many points as possible. Who cares if the team scores 42 points if it gives up 45 in the process. The offense's job is simply to score more points than the other team. The best way to do it is wearing down the defense on long-sustained drives. When the offense fails to say on the field for a good amount of time, the defense will usually suffer in one way or another.

Great defenses can overcame most of it where the average fan cannot see the damage; poorer defenses usually fail when they are on the field too long. And yes, I know this from experience and discussing with other coaches.

Bottom line: No matter how the NFL tries to make it more of an offensive show, football still is a team sport. When an offense's possession is frequently short-lived, the defense suffers. That is true from junior high to the pros.

Football is also a game of deception. Make the opponent think you're doing one thing when you're actually doing something else. Our play calling was all too predictable.