Hats off to Mark Brunell setting a NFL record!

[RiggoRules]

The Skins had a game plan and came in and did something they haven't this year: executed.

Mad props to #8 for doing so and doing so in a way that no one had ever done before.

That said, what does this particular game plan really say?

-Does it say that the coaching staff does not want MB throwing deep?
-Is this a game plan that will survive the Jags defense?
-How much of what happened against the Texans was due to #26 being on the field?

If you view a -3 to 5 yard pass (distance down the field before the catch) as merely an extension of the running game, then yesterday the Skins ran 95%+.

Another area of excellance was 3rd down. This is a 3rd down league. The first two games, 3rd down ratios on both sides of the ball were bottom 5. Yesterday, they were top 5.

Finally, for all the problems this year, at least we aren't the Giants. Giant fan has some serious problems to deal with.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by RiggoRules

-Does it say that the coaching staff does not want MB throwing deep?

I believe they said they felt Houston's overly aggressive D would be susceptible to this short stuff. I don't think that necessarily says anything about their confidence in MB's downfield throwing.

-Is this a game plan that will survive the Jags defense?

Personally I think a little more balance in terms of passing range is usually a better game plan. Aganist the Jags that would seem to be the appropriate course. I think we'll see a heavy dose of CP though. We will be run oriented against the Jags.

-How much of what happened against the Texans was due to #26 being on the field?

From what I could tell most of the underneathe stuff was available because of a lack of quality play at the LB position. Whether that was due to their attention being on CP or I don't know. They looked like crap even when CP was out of the game.

If you view a -3 to 5 yard pass (distance down the field before the catch) as merely an extension of the running game, then yesterday the Skins ran 95%+.

Yeah but on many of the passes the WRs had basically one guy to beat to break a big play. I'll take SM/ARE/BL with one guy to beat all the time rather than CP straight up the middle. CP will wear you down but the WRs will SCORE. It is why I love the WR screen. Best play in football. If you have an athletic WR. It is also why when we ran the play with Cooley that I screamed. That play won't be a big gainer with Cooley running it. Worst play call of the game for us I think. Take the play out of the book.

Another area of excellance was 3rd down. This is a 3rd down league. The first two games, 3rd down ratios on both sides of the ball were bottom 5. Yesterday, they were top 5.

Great stat from Fox yesterday.
Before the game we were first in the league on 1st down and 29th and 31st respectively on 2nd and 3rd down. To me that reflects bad play calling. Your players don't just turn into suckholes after first down. Clearly you are not putting them into position to suceed with that type of drop off in production.
Better play calling on second down gave us better opportunities on third down yesterday. Kudos to the coaches on that.