What's your defnition of 'conservative playcalling'?

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

It certainly is not. That very same conservative offense served us well in 2005, when our offense was running over everyone. The only problem is that, right now, it is not serving us well. As a run-first, smash-mouth team that cannot run the ball effectively, we do need to start passing a little more to open up the running lanes.

However, as I said above, the injuries to the O-line undoubtedly have a big effect on the offense and it is unclear if Saunders is failing to call deep/intermediate passing plays or JC is simply checking down. Moreover, the deep passing game has been there in weeks past, just not against the Cards.

Although all of our woes on offense cannot be attributed to the injuries to the O-line, it is pretty crazy to argue that they don't have a dramatic effect on the offense. Losing the entire right side of the line and playing with a wounded second-string right tackle IS going to affect your play-calling and player execution of those plays. Our team has relied on the strength of its O-line for awhile and that strength has become a weakness.

in 2005 we had a solid/healthy O-line and a Moss that was catching the ball...but i think you've touched on a good point, what constitutes conservative play-calling?

In my mind, play-calling becomes conservative when you know you are unlikely to get the first down, but you do it anyway to eat clock. While there is certainly a time and place for this strategy (end of game or when you are up by 3 possession at the start of 4th quarter) i think we start playing the clock game too early (not enough of a lead). We seem to be willing to accept (though clearly they want to get first downs) burning a min or two off the clock via a run, run, short pass play calling that often results in 3 and outs, and then relying on the D to hold yet again.

In 2005, our line was good enough to run for first downs- and thus could legititmarely expect to achieve/obtain first downs via the run- with our current patchwork line, this is not the case...