Play Calling

[alleycat]

I looked through the other threads and didn't see anything about this specifically, so I'm starting a new one.

Does anyone else see a connection between the Bengals offensive performance and the level of desperation in the game? This is an attack offense that we keep caged all game long and when we finally get aggressive we make the plays. Wow, what a shock.

It seems like we are just so worried about playing it safe and avoiding turnovers that we don't use our weapons until it's too late. It's like having a ferrari but never driving it because you're afraid of getting it scratched.

I was absolutely livid about the decision to run the ball at the end of the first half. A minute and half left. With Carson Palmer and those receivers to throw to. That potential field goal was the difference in the game. Perhaps Marvin is so defensive minded in his philosophy that he thinks that a decent offense that doesn't make mistakes coupled with a competent defense means wins. NEWSFLASH: we don't have a competent defense! It's also deflating to a team. Whatever message Marvin and Co. were trying to send, the one that was actually received said: "we don't have confidence in you."

I found Brat's playcalling typically vanilla and I was never persuaded by the first four games. It's the talent on this team that makes us dangerous, but we're wasting it. The silver lining in the loss for me is that it started to feel like we were trying to protect our record instead of go out there and kill someone and now that we have that blemish we might return to meeting our potential. An offense that tastes blood is the most dangerous.

I was happy with the decision to go for it on fourth and one, and appalled by the play that was called. Despite all of the hype he's gotten as such, Rudi has never been a power runner. He is a smallish back that noses his way through piles and if their are holes there he might slip through them before someone trips up his six-inch-per-step feet. I don't care what his numbers were. Rudi almost NEVER gets the hard short yards. He just doens't have the power to lower his head and knock someone backwards. He also thinks that if mills about for long enough, a hole just may miraculously appear for him. We were making short passes all night long. Why abandon that?

I see I'm ranting now but I really felt like the offensive play calling was way too conservative and often wrong for the situation. How many times did we try to hit a receiver 20-30 yards down field on 3 and 4?

Any thoughts?

[membengal]

Yes.

Solid post.

I have nothing to add and think you are spot on. I would like to see Carson unleashed a lot earlier in games too, and was appalled by the play call on that 4th and 1. If ever a team had been set up for play action fake and a quick pass, it was Jax on that play.

[buck3y3d]

Why did we not run a QB sneak or a naked boot with Carson. I was extremely unhappy, has a run into the line ever worked for the Bengals. It brought memories of Dillon running straight into the line for a loss right back.

The decision to run at the end of the first quarter upset me a little, but Marvin is conservative and i kind of expected this. We could have at least tried a safe out route though. I also wonder why PERRY was in to block for Carson on the last drive. Either send him underneath as a reciever for a safety pass, or put Rudi in to block. Perry is not known for blocking and got bum rushed on the play Palmer fumbled.

I was disturbed by some coaching decisions yesterday. I felt like i was watching an Ohio State game.

[Jet23]

Ditto on the conservative play call. I like what Dallas did yesterday against Philly. The threw all over them. What is wrong with passing to set up the run? I expected the Bengals to come out with a nothing to lose attitude, but instead they indeed played not to lose. I thought that if the Bengals survived Jacksonville's initial punch in the mouth, they could make a move. But, it took them too long to open it up. Easier said than done against a stout defense though. Just ask Indy.

Believe it or not, I do agree with running the clock out at the end of the first half. I was more concerned with Jacksonville getting the ball back. They had to run the ball to get them to burn their timeouts. However, unlike the Bengals, the Panther D can stop the run when they know it's coming.

[Kirkendall]

I was absolutely livid about the decision to run the ball at the end of the first half.

1:39 on our 10 yard line. Running the clock out, down 13-7 is fine by me. It would have been nice, but there was still 30 minutes left to play and an interception could have been too costly.

I found Brat's playcalling typically vanilla and I was never persuaded by the first four games. It's the talent on this team that makes us dangerous, but we're wasting it.

I disagree. Look at some of the other talented teams that lack an offensive core philosphy. Typically they are called "over-rated" teams. I'll agree the play calling seemed conservative, but at the same time, it was working. Running Rudi and Perry was working. So if anything, we didn't stick to the rush enough and had to put up Chad's whining and embarrasment cry-baby antics on national television.

I was happy with the decision to go for it on fourth and one, and appalled by the play that was called. Despite all of the hype he's gotten as such, Rudi has never been a power runner.

True. But Rudi needs linemen to block. Rudi also needs a play that doesn't include the entire JAX defense in the box. If running Rudi up the middle, the play should have been spread out more.

I still think the biggest problem with this team is injury and penalties. Two things put in the back of the book in the complaint department this week.

[lando griffin]

Does it bother anyone else that every time we have a short yardage run play we motion a receiver into the box? Whats the point of bringing that extra corner into the box, its not like the receivers are going to create any wholes up the middle, they just make it congested?!?

[CBin2k7]

I think the play calling was fine, the only thing I question is when we got the 1st down at the JAX 45 with under 2 mins left and all three timeouts, why didn't we run a draw? That would have been the perfect play call with Chris Perry in the game at the time, not to mention you have your timeouts.

If you remember back to the Pittsburgh game in 03 on the final drive of the game, Brat called a draw to Bennett when the Steelers least expected it, I think it picked up 10+ yds and set us up in field goal range.

That is the only question I have.

[Kirkendall]

Does it bother anyone else that every time we have a short yardage run play we motion a receiver into the box? Whats the point of bringing that extra corner into the box, its not like the receivers are going to create any wholes up the middle, they just make it congested?!?

I really don't get bothered by much when it comes to sports. But to answer your question, YES!

That is the only question I have.

I question god sometimes. And the true ingredients in my mom's guacamole dip. Perhaps it's the guacamole, but it could be something else green and pukey.

[DesperateDerelict]

Does it bother anyone else that every time we have a short yardage run play we motion a receiver into the box? Whats the point of bringing that extra corner into the box, its not like the receivers are going to create any wholes up the middle, they just make it congested?!?

So . . . . the alternative is a 3 or 4 receiver set? Run Rudi up the middle? I like it!

[ArmyBengal]

The decision to run the ball at the end of the first half DID irritate the hell out of me !!! Call it conservative, call it smart ball only being down by less than a TD, or whatever you want... However, this offense can and (get this) HAS ran the no huddle quite effectively through the first 4 games and has been a reason we have put points on the board. There have been numerous comments about how being able to put points on the board prior to the half has made a world of difference to this team and now we should just accept the play call to be conservative ?? I call BULLS**T on that one !!

The run up the middle was (in retrospect) a bad call, but must admit "as I was watching it" was thinking we would be good. Nothing more about that, just being honest.

Overall, the Jags played great D, and our injured people were missed on the field. I'm not happy, but I'm not worried about this loss either. Weren't most people calling this game as our our first possible loss ??

WHODEY !!!