Matty Ice and Julio Jones

[ATL96Steeler]

As an expert football mind, there's is a behavior that I believe is a large part of Matt Ryan's identity: there's no way anyone watches a Matt Ryan performance without Matt running a Bootleg.

Good point, but recent.

The boot is a Kyle Shanahan staple...prior to him coming here, Ryan may have run 4 boots his whole career.

 

[redseat]

LOL nice middle school back champ.

hahaha... haven't heard that one in years. Bringing it back old school, I like!

 

[cdumler7]

CJ is going to go for about a buck fifty combined yards and 2 scores.

I really hope so. Would love to see him get back on track. The run game has been lacking the last couple of games. Teams have really geared up to stop the run but even with that our OL has just not been good at getting any kind of push recently.

 

[cdumler7]

Is the game on yet? This thread has left me wanting. Nothing like a couple of elite powerhouses clashing on TNF! I wonder if Kaepernick's hair is bigger. He's gonna tip over when kneeling if he doesn't get that bush trimmed soon.

Well he might not have to worry about concussions. That extra about 4 inches of padding should take care of that.

 

[cdumler7]

Good point, but recent.

The boot is a Kyle Shanahan staple...prior to him coming here, Ryan may have run 4 boots his whole career.

Yup. The Shanahan system is very Pro-Boot. His dad ran it, the OC's under Shanahan have always ran it, and Kyle Shanahan has rarely been around other coaches who didn't run the boot leg play. What we saw last year is the growing pains of running that system. With the ZBS up front and honestly it is a system that has very different verbiage compared to any other scheme in football it takes a while for players to adjust. Manning talked about how last year he and the WR's had trouble getting on the same page because when a defense runs a certain scheme most systems allow that to dictate where the WR goes. Play inside leverage then you run an out route for example. Where Shanahan's system that type of defense might tell them to run a out and up as they want to hit the deep ball. So it is a system everybody has to adjust to in how they see the football field. It is why some players can really thrive in a system like this but fail every where else.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yup. The Shanahan system is very Pro-Boot. His dad ran it, the OC's under Shanahan have always ran it, and Kyle Shanahan has rarely been around other coaches who didn't run the boot leg play. What we saw last year is the growing pains of running that system. With the ZBS up front and honestly it is a system that has very different verbiage compared to any other scheme in football it takes a while for players to adjust. Manning talked about how last year he and the WR's had trouble getting on the same page because when a defense runs a certain scheme most systems allow that to dictate where the WR goes. Play inside leverage then you run an out route for example. Where Shanahan's system that type of defense might tell them to run a out and up as they want to hit the deep ball. So it is a system everybody has to adjust to in how they see the football field. It is why some players can really thrive in a system like this but fail every where else.

Admittedly I've been down on Kyle's work to date...not because it doesn't work. He's pretty talented when it comes to putting an effective game plan together. But everywhere he went, (WAS, HOU, CLE and of course ATL) it seems like when teams adjust to it, he didn't have a response and the OFC bonged down.

There's nothing wrong with misdirection, actually it's a good thing, but a steady diet of will get your QB hit hard eventually. I have to give it to Ryan...he worked very hard to improve his footwork and throwing on the run with better accuracy to be better prepared to run the plays. Where Shanny seems to have self checked...he's not so ironclad in the system, he's running a lot more stuff that Matt has been successful with, namely the no huddle where Matt is more in control of the plays and spreading the ball around a lot more.

As I've been saying...this week will be a good challenge to see where the duo is.

 

[cdumler7]

Admittedly I've been down on Kyle's work to date...not because it doesn't work. He's pretty talented when it comes to putting an effective game plan together. But everywhere he went, (WAS, HOU, CLE and of course ATL) it seems like when teams adjust to it, he didn't have a response and the OFC bonged down.

There's nothing wrong with misdirection, actually it's a good thing, but a steady diet of will get your QB hit hard eventually. I have to give it to Ryan...he worked very hard to improve his footwork and throwing on the run with better accuracy to be better prepared to run the plays. Where Shanny seems to have self checked...he's not so ironclad in the system, he's running a lot more stuff that Matt has been successful with, namely the no huddle where Matt is more in control of the plays and spreading the ball around a lot more.

As I've been saying...this week will be a good challenge to see where the duo is.

Yeah honestly the Kubiak/Shanahan system the big thing is it needs the right players to function. Again a reason why it sometimes struggles in the 1st year. If you can find the right QB to run the system then it is one of the more deadly systems in the NFL. Teams can know what you are going to do yet still struggle to ever stop it. I look at the mid-90's Broncos with Elway at the helm and that was the best I have ever seen this system run. You just couldn't stop it. And it is a system that is a defenses best friend because it is geared towards developing the run game to set up the pass game. I am seeing in just watching some of what Atlanta is doing that yeah they have changed up a few things to really fit the talent they have. Hopefully that is showing the growth of Shanahan as an OC to realize sometimes you have to be willing to go away from some of your scheme if it is for the betterment of the team. We are seeing it here in Denver where Kubiak is willing to have a bit more shot gun spread a team out style that Manning loved to run. He has kept some of that in this year. Against Carolina people thought the Broncos would just run the football like it was going out of style and what do they do but open in 4-wide shot gun and throw the football I think the first 5 plays of the game.

To me the best coordinators are the ones who are willing to adjust to his players. We see in New England that while they do have a base scheme they might only run it 5 plays of the game depending on the opponent they are playing. They find players that can actually work in multiple schemes who might not be the most talented players but have high intelligence that can handle a lot of information from week to week. So it is hard to game plan for the Patriots because they adjust so much.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yeah honestly the Kubiak/Shanahan system the big thing is it needs the right players to function. Again a reason why it sometimes struggles in the 1st year. If you can find the right QB to run the system then it is one of the more deadly systems in the NFL. Teams can know what you are going to do yet still struggle to ever stop it. I look at the mid-90's Broncos with Elway at the helm and that was the best I have ever seen this system run. You just couldn't stop it. And it is a system that is a defenses best friend because it is geared towards developing the run game to set up the pass game. I am seeing in just watching some of what Atlanta is doing that yeah they have changed up a few things to really fit the talent they have. Hopefully that is showing the growth of Shanahan as an OC to realize sometimes you have to be willing to go away from some of your scheme if it is for the betterment of the team. We are seeing it here in Denver where Kubiak is willing to have a bit more shot gun spread a team out style that Manning loved to run. He has kept some of that in this year. Against Carolina people thought the Broncos would just run the football like it was going out of style and what do they do but open in 4-wide shot gun and throw the football I think the first 5 plays of the game.

To me the best coordinators are the ones who are willing to adjust to his players. We see in New England that while they do have a base scheme they might only run it 5 plays of the game depending on the opponent they are playing. They find players that can actually work in multiple schemes who might not be the most talented players but have high intelligence that can handle a lot of information from week to week. So it is hard to game plan for the Patriots because they adjust so much.

Good post.

Agree, most here that watch the Falcons on a regular basis have seen the adjustments as well. His plays LY were very WR1, as the 1 read heavy and Julio raked up a bunch of yards as a result just like Josh Gordon did. Clearly this yr, Julio is not the 1 read as much which will make them harder to defend.

I saw the same progression with Haley in PIT...Bruce Arians is not in PIT now, because he had a tough time running the ball and eventually the Rooneys felt that was not Steeler football and decided not to renew his contract. To Arian defense, he didn't have a talent like Bell to hand the ball to.

Ben was not happy at all about that, and the 1st yr with Haley was difficult. He still needs to realize that he must change up the game plan vs BAL imo but they have definitely grown together the last few seasons. It took Haley to come over to his QB's side a little...Kubiak with Manning LY, Shanny is doing the same thing.

I've said many times Josh McDaniels is the best big game play caller I've seen in a while.

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

Richard Sherman is the most overrated blowhard in The NFL. His self promotion has gotten old as hell to boot.
As far as covering Julio, RS only plays his quadrant of the field, he doesn't match up against any WR, he has as easy a job as any DB in football.

Sherman is one of the top corners in football, period ... If you watched him week in and week out you would realize how good he is...

 

[cdumler7]

Good post.

Agree, most here that watch the Falcons on a regular basis have seen the adjustments as well. His plays LY were very WR1, as the 1 read heavy and Julio raked up a bunch of yards as a result just like Josh Gordon did. Clearly this yr, Julio is not the 1 read as much which will make them harder to defend.

I saw the same progression with Haley in PIT...Bruce Arians is not in PIT now, because he had a tough time running the ball and eventually the Rooneys felt that was not Steeler football and decided not to renew his contract. To Arian defense, he didn't have a talent like Bell to hand the ball to.

Ben was not happy at all about that, and the 1st yr with Haley was difficult. He still needs to realize that he must change up the game plan vs BAL imo but they have definitely grown together the last few seasons. It took Haley to come over to his QB's side a little...Kubiak with Manning LY, Shanny is doing the same thing.

I've said many times Josh McDaniels is the best big game play caller I've seen in a while.

Calling games has never really been McDaniels issue. Heck there are people in Denver who still talk about how they have never seen someone with such intelligence about the game. I mean just what he sees is down right impressive. The issue for McDaniels is his ability to communicate with those around him. In Denver it was his way or the highway. A great example is the Broncos defense. Through the first 6 games Mike Nolan had that defense playing lights out. They were a top-10 unit. Well then we hit our Bye week and McDaniels told Nolan that he didn't like the way he was calling games and wanted to call them like McDaniels would. The two of them fought the rest of the year and our defense slowly fell apart as did the season. Same thing happened with Jay Cutler. McDaniels was listening to some trade offers and when Cutler wanted to have a sit down to talk about what was going on McDaniels spent the entire meeting telling him why he didn't like his game.

And from what I understand while I do think some team will hire him very soon to be Head Coach they have asked him what he would do differently than what he did in Denver he has answered "nothing." I'm hoping that is not the case as he made quite a few mistakes along the way.

 

[Flux2Flux]

hahaha... haven't heard that one in years. Bringing it back old school, I like!

OG baby

 

[Fountain City Blues]

You guys better hope Denver wins,

If not you're really not going to like me...

( Of course I know I already live rent free in your head, but that beside the point )

Please do beat Denver. The amount of hot takes about Denver are off the charts right now. Would get the local chuckleheads to STFU for a bit.

 

[Broncos6482]

Please do beat Denver. The amount of hot takes about Denver are off the charts right now. Would get the local chuckleheads to STFU for a bit.

I don't think it's a hot take to say their defense is really, really good.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Good point, but recent.

The boot is a Kyle Shanahan staple...prior to him coming here, Ryan may have run 4 boots his whole career.

Yep, I remember reading a ton of complaining about it last offseason on the SBN site for the Falcons. Interesting evolution in Matt Ryan's career nonetheless.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I don't think it's a hot take to say their defense is really, really good.

Nah, the other ones. Cmon now... You know better.

 

[Broncos6482]

Nah, the other ones. Cmon now... You know better.

I honestly don't. All offseason I heard was because we lost Manning and Jackson and Trevathan we were going to take a huge step back. Now I'm hearing, yeah, maybe we underestimated how good Denver's defense is. So if someone is out there throwing hot takes, I haven't heard it.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

I honestly don't. All offseason I heard was because we lost Manning and Jackson and Trevathan we were going to take a huge step back. Now I'm hearing, yeah, maybe we underestimated how good Denver's defense is. So if someone is out there throwing hot takes, I haven't heard it.

Well actually:

2015 DVOA on defense: -25.8% (2nd unadjusted DVOA was Carolina at -18.4%)

Passing: -28.0%
Rushing: -22.8%

2016 DVOA on defense so far: -17.8%

Passing: -32.6
Rushing: -0.7%

That actually is a pretty decent sized drop if that continues. Hasn't mattered because the offense for Denver has been good. Smartasses could argue rush defense doesn't matter much if you're always playing with a lead and thus leveraging the passing game more, but /shrugs.

For reference, -7-8.0% on its own would be a top 10 defense in most years.

 

[wingsauce7]

I honestly don't. All offseason I heard was because we lost Manning and Jackson and Trevathan we were going to take a huge step back. Now I'm hearing, yeah, maybe we underestimated how good Denver's defense is. So if someone is out there throwing hot takes, I haven't heard it.

No joke. You don't have to go far to find almost everyone down on the broncos' chances this season prior to game 1.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Calling games has never really been McDaniels issue. Heck there are people in Denver who still talk about how they have never seen someone with such intelligence about the game. I mean just what he sees is down right impressive. The issue for McDaniels is his ability to communicate with those around him. In Denver it was his way or the highway. A great example is the Broncos defense. Through the first 6 games Mike Nolan had that defense playing lights out. They were a top-10 unit. Well then we hit our Bye week and McDaniels told Nolan that he didn't like the way he was calling games and wanted to call them like McDaniels would. The two of them fought the rest of the year and our defense slowly fell apart as did the season. Same thing happened with Jay Cutler. McDaniels was listening to some trade offers and when Cutler wanted to have a sit down to talk about what was going on McDaniels spent the entire meeting telling him why he didn't like his game.

And from what I understand while I do think some team will hire him very soon to be Head Coach they have asked him what he would do differently than what he did in Denver he has answered "nothing." I'm hoping that is not the case as he made quite a few mistakes along the way.

McDaniels...I think Bowlen gave him too much power to start, but bottomline, he wasn't ready to be a HC then.

From what I've heard about BB's coaching style, he's very detailed and very involved in all phases during the work week, but on game day, he lets the other coaches do their jobs. Guys that leave the flock and get HC jobs are normally have failed, in McDaniels case, maybe he's just better suited to be an OC...it's not a bad living.

 

[Broncos6482]

Well actually:

2015 DVOA on defense: -25.8% (2nd unadjusted DVOA was Carolina at -18.4%)

Passing: -28.0%
Rushing: -22.8%

2016 DVOA on defense so far: -17.8%

Passing: -32.6
Rushing: -0.7%

That actually is a pretty decent sized drop if that continues. Hasn't mattered because the offense for Denver has been good. Smartasses could argue rush defense doesn't matter much if you're always playing with a lead and thus leveraging the passing game more, but /shrugs.

For reference, -7-8.0% on its own would be a top 10 defense in most years.

The rush defense has been worse, the pass defense has been better. But I still am curious about the hot takes you talked about.