2nd Down Play Calling

SkinsLove24/7 · 10-01-2006, 10:33 PM

I noticed a lot this season and especially in the first half today against Jacksonville that the Skins will get into a 2nd and 8,7,6 or 5 and always call a run play. It seems like you would want to throw to get the first down or at least cut it down so you have a 3rd and short. With a run on 2nd and 7 that goes a yard or two is gonna leave you with a 3rd and 5 or longer. It seems as if throwing on 2nd and long would make more sense. Even take a shot downfield because what is the difference between a 1 or 2 yard gain compared with a long pass attempt down the field . If it's completed then big gain and first down and if it is incomplete then you have a similar 3rd and long as if you had run for a short gain. I think the offense needs to be more dynamic on second down basically.

What are some thoughts as to the play calling on second down??

Mc2guy · 10-01-2006, 11:03 PM

Our Skins scored 36 points against one of the best Defenses in the league today...the same defense that allowed only 14 offensive points against the best offense in the league in Indy last week. I'm not going to second guess the play calling that netted us 22 first downs. Kudo's to Saunders.

SkinsLove24/7 · 10-01-2006, 11:54 PM

Oh yea...I'm not tryin' to harsh to winning buzz at all this is just something i noticed over the first couple games but i guess if you are converting your 3rd downs, like 50% today, then a big 2nd down play isn't necessary.

Skinsfanmania · 10-02-2006, 12:43 AM

We're averaging over 23 points per game. I'm not one to 2nd guess Al Saunders offense and obviously neither are you.

saden1 · 10-02-2006, 01:05 AM

Yes, the Skins were trying to get into manageable downs. At one point I was like "here we go again, settling for a field goal." It was fortunate that Moss showed up today. He made everyone look good.

ArtMonkDrillz · 10-02-2006, 08:12 AM

SkinsLove, we were saying the same thing during the game. Did we use a play action fake once during the game? There were a few times when it seemed like the perfect call; but then again, I'm not a coach and I'm not all that great at Madden, so what do I know?

MTK · 10-02-2006, 08:19 AM

If you look around the league 2nd down has become a popular running down simply because teams are trying to stay out of 3rd and longs.

Schneed10 · 10-02-2006, 08:20 AM

If first down doesn't produce much and you end up in a second and long, I love running plays there. You're in a much worse position if you end up throwing incompletions on 2nd and 9, thus ending up in 3rd and 9s all day long. Then you get blitzed and you're often punting.

Plus the continued threat of the run pounds the defense, controls the clock, and makes the D tired. It helps open up the field.

I like attacking through the air when you have 2nd and 5 or better. If it's incomplete, you still have a 3rd and manageable to pick it up.

GoSkins! · 10-02-2006, 09:01 AM

Running the ball on 2nd and long is as much about punishing a defense as anything else. Sooner or later, running, more than passing, wears them down and makes everything easier.

JWsleep · 10-02-2006, 06:18 PM

I also noticed this, but it's about establishing the run, and, most likely, setting up plays for later in the game. You throw out of that same run formation late in the game, and the D bites on the fake.

Anywho, it worked, whatever the reason behind it.

skinsguy · 10-02-2006, 07:43 PM

It worked! And it's what has made the Skins' sucessful in the past..... don't worry, I'm sure down the road, it's going to set up something big...

dmek25 · 10-02-2006, 08:05 PM

we scored 36 points on a very good defense and someone is complaining? wtf?

10-01-2006, 10:33 PM	#1
SkinsLove24/7 Special Teams Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bowie, MD Age: 38 Posts: 423	2nd Down Play Calling I noticed a lot this season and especially in the first half today against Jacksonville that the Skins will get into a 2nd and 8,7,6 or 5 and always call a run play. It seems like you would want to throw to get the first down or at least cut it down so you have a 3rd and short. With a run on 2nd and 7 that goes a yard or two is gonna leave you with a 3rd and 5 or longer. It seems as if throwing on 2nd and long would make more sense. Even take a shot downfield because what is the difference between a 1 or 2 yard gain compared with a long pass attempt down the field . If it's completed then big gain and first down and if it is incomplete then you have a similar 3rd and long as if you had run for a short gain. I think the offense needs to be more dynamic on second down basically. What are some thoughts as to the play calling on second down??

10-01-2006, 11:03 PM	#2
Mc2guy Special Teams Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Burke, VA Age: 48 Posts: 287	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling Our Skins scored 36 points against one of the best Defenses in the league today...the same defense that allowed only 14 offensive points against the best offense in the league in Indy last week. I'm not going to second guess the play calling that netted us 22 first downs. Kudo's to Saunders.

10-01-2006, 11:54 PM	#3
SkinsLove24/7 Special Teams Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bowie, MD Age: 38 Posts: 423	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling Oh yea...I'm not tryin' to harsh to winning buzz at all this is just something i noticed over the first couple games but i guess if you are converting your 3rd downs, like 50% today, then a big 2nd down play isn't necessary.

10-02-2006, 12:43 AM	#4
Skinsfanmania Special Teams Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 122	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling We're averaging over 23 points per game. I'm not one to 2nd guess Al Saunders offense and obviously neither are you.

10-02-2006, 01:05 AM	#5
saden1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Seattle Age: 46 Posts: 10,069	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling Yes, the Skins were trying to get into manageable downs. At one point I was like "here we go again, settling for a field goal." It was fortunate that Moss showed up today. He made everyone look good. __________________ "The Redskins have always suffered from chronic organizational deformities under Snyder." -Jenkins

10-02-2006, 08:12 AM	#6
ArtMonkDrillz Franchise Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Age: 42 Posts: 8,029	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling SkinsLove, we were saying the same thing during the game. Did we use a play action fake once during the game? There were a few times when it seemed like the perfect call; but then again, I'm not a coach and I'm not all that great at Madden, so what do I know? __________________ "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man." The Dude

10-02-2006, 08:19 AM	#7
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 52 Posts: 99,832	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling If you look around the league 2nd down has become a popular running down simply because teams are trying to stay out of 3rd and longs. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

10-02-2006, 08:20 AM	#8
Schneed10 A Dude Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Newtown Square, PA Age: 46 Posts: 12,458	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling If first down doesn't produce much and you end up in a second and long, I love running plays there. You're in a much worse position if you end up throwing incompletions on 2nd and 9, thus ending up in 3rd and 9s all day long. Then you get blitzed and you're often punting. Plus the continued threat of the run pounds the defense, controls the clock, and makes the D tired. It helps open up the field. I like attacking through the air when you have 2nd and 5 or better. If it's incomplete, you still have a 3rd and manageable to pick it up. __________________ God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.

10-02-2006, 09:01 AM	#9
GoSkins! The Starter Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorktown, Va Age: 56 Posts: 1,587	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling Running the ball on 2nd and long is as much about punishing a defense as anything else. Sooner or later, running, more than passing, wears them down and makes everything easier. __________________ Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. A. Einstien

10-02-2006, 06:18 PM	#10
JWsleep Propane and propane accessories Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston, TX Age: 56 Posts: 4,719	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling I also noticed this, but it's about establishing the run, and, most likely, setting up plays for later in the game. You throw out of that same run formation late in the game, and the D bites on the fake. Anywho, it worked, whatever the reason behind it. __________________ Hail from Houston!

10-02-2006, 07:43 PM	#11
skinsguy Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 6,766	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling It worked! And it's what has made the Skins' sucessful in the past..... don't worry, I'm sure down the road, it's going to set up something big... __________________ "Fire Up That Diesel!"

10-02-2006, 08:05 PM	#12
dmek25 MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: lancaster,pa Age: 63 Posts: 10,672	Re: 2nd Down Play Calling we scored 36 points on a very good defense and someone is complaining? wtf? __________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." courtesy of 53fan

2nd Down Play Calling

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