The 3rd down solution...are you listening Holmgren?

by silkybrown on Dec 24, 2007 4:26 AM PST

As I'm sure most of you know, our conversion rates on 3rd down and short yardage suck anus. I would like to make a suggestion that I wish would have been implemented about 5 weeks ago. The fact I am suggesting it is a horrible indictment against our O-Line, but hey...both they and Alexander aren't getting the job done. So here is my suggestion. I say on any 3rd & 2 or shorter, Seneca Wallace should be put in at QB. He should be allowed to run some quarterback sweeps, some quarterback draws, and some naked bootleg plays. With the sweeps and bootlegs, Seneca would have the option to run or pass. I'd love to see him in the open field on a bootleg. Put a receiver to the side he will bootleg to and have him clear the corner out. If the corner comes up to stop the run, then a short pass over the top to the receiver. I think it would be worth looking into. Especially for next year if our line has not significantly improved. This would put Seneca in a position to make some good plays for us. I just know that he would occasionally break a big one for us doing this. Especially if teams put 8 in the box and bite on play action. What are your thoughts?

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But I don't think it would be an improvement. Absent a dominant power rushing game, success on third and short is dependent upon options. The more ways in which an offense can plausibly gain the first down, the more options the defense must plan for.

Example: Hawks 3rd and 1 on their own 45. Beck at QB, Morris or Shaun at HB and Weaver at FB. The defense must assume it's going to be a run (esp. if they've studied Holmgren's playcalling, haha). However, because Beck is a stud, they must also guard against a short rollout pass to Will Heller, a slant to Branch, or even a deeper pass, like the one Beck audibled to against the Ravens. All of those options, each reliant upon having a QB who can read coverages and deliver the ball accurately, force the defense to avoid committing itself entirely to the run, which in turn makes the run, if it is called, more effective.

Seneca, while he would add the threat of running the ball, would significantly diminish the threat of throwing the ball for the first down because he's, well, not Matt Hasselbeck.

So, if Beck in there is better, why hasn't it worked? I think because Holmgren has not called enough pass plays out of that situation, so teams have largely discounted that scenario. Also, Holmgren has been reluctant (although less so against the Ravens) to give the ball to Weaver, which also would have the effect of forcing the defense to focus on a player other than the HB.

This team has a good QB and talented WRs. It also has a good TE, who for some reason does not factor into this offense in any significant way. The risk of an incomplete pass is well worth it to mix things up on third-and-short and give the running game some room to succeed.

by jeager on Dec 24, 2007 7:28 AM PST reply actions

I think it's a great idea

but it won't, and shouldn't, happen.

You don't take your franchise QB out of the game in pressure situations. Seneca's skillset could really help, but the psychological upset to Matt and the rest of the team wouldn't be worth it.

That said, I'd love to see Seneca get some PT next week.

by johnbai on Dec 24, 2007 11:54 AM PST reply actions

Put Seneca in at receiver as a

Distraction. It seems to befuddle a lot of defenses when our backup QB comes onto the field. They start to think "trick play" and that might get at least one or two linebackers leaning the wrong direction of whatever we're really doing.

DAMNIT!

by TIF @ Field Gulls on Dec 24, 2007 5:46 PM PST reply actions

Seneca

It's been a really long time since we've run a play to Seneca successfully. At some point, we're going to have to use him effectively or the value of his presence on the field as a distraction or otherwise will erode.

I think we'll see something with him in the playoffs.

by jeager on Dec 25, 2007 7:53 AM PST reply actions

I do this in Madden

A fair amount. Seneca is one of the best part about the Hawks in that game. Except I run 4 receiver single back sets with out routes and go routes, and scramble out... That works great. In the NFL as mentioned above I think you don't pull your most valuable offensive weapon on 3rd down. But, to refer to the all-mighty Madden once again, the fullback dive or the fake fullback dive tailback sweep works amazing. 3-4 yards EVERY time. I think those plays are great. So are play action passes where Matt rolls out and has Pollard on a post or an out route. I fucking love Pollard...

by man on soap box on Dec 26, 2007 10:06 PM PST reply actions