Introduction to Beating the Cardinals with the Stretch
by John Morgan on Oct 16, 2009 1:25 PM PDT
23 comments
There's a lot to cover, so I won't get cute. Seahawks fans understand the stretch play. It is a fundamental play in Greg Knapp's offense. It is a good play: Simple, and therefore with a short learning curve, quick-developing and also able to be run against about any type of defense. The inherent weakness of the stretch play is backside pursuit. The trailing tackle does not block the opposing defender. The running back is entrusted to pick, get to and through the hole fast enough to nullify that defender.
The Arizona Cardinals have invested heavily into their defensive line. That is typically the smartest method to developing an effective 3-4. Linemen have long careers and long peaks, and good defensive linemen make the linebackers around them play better. With its good size, power and athleticism in the middle, running backs typically have to elongate their routes to find a hole and that allows Arizona to be the best team in football at ‘stuffing' the run. Rushers get caught in the blocks, not allowed to build up speed before entering the hole and slow enough and indecisive enough to allow the Cardinals form-tackling linebackers and secondary to swarm.
The Cardinals lack good team speed. Their linebacker corps is mostly constructed of system correct retreads. Julius Jones has had trouble getting into and through his hole without being chased down, but with the exception of the Jaguars, he has faced teams with quick, agile linebackers. The best way to attack a team that freezes the middle is to attack the edges, keep its big bodies moving and simply outrun the backside pursuit. It won't work without execution. In the following series of posts, I will explain each step of execution required for Seattle to effectively run this vital play.
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Cool.
John, do you have any thoughts on this (I think it’s relative to this post and this week’s game):
ESPN’s Mike Sando predicts that Justin Forsett’s role in the Seahawks’ backfield will increase going forward.
Sando is clued into the Seahawks beat as a former reporter for the team. Already the ‘Hawks’ best pass-catching back, Forsett is averaging 6.56 yards per touch to Julius Jones’ 4.34 and Edgerrin James’ lifeless 3.02.
Sando also notes that Forsett is “challenging to become the best pass-blocking back on the team.”
That ties into at least one question regarding Forsett. I’ve noticed his one-cut-and-go style lends itself well to what we’re doing offensively. My impression is that Forsett is more decisive than Jones in the running game. If his pass-blocking really is that improved, how big will his role become? It seems rare when Forsett is caught for loss or no-gain on running plays. I wonder what your thoughts are?
Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.
by Misfit74 on Oct 16, 2009 1:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Forsett's yards per carry total is inflated because of his role as a third down back
He hasn’t outperformed Jones in any meaningful way, as is shown by their similar DVOAs. He isn’t challenging to be Seattle’s best pass blocker by a mile, but he has improved enough, especially at cutting, that he can be trusted to keep the heat off. Forsett isn’t more decisive, I don’t think, he just has a faster first gear and that allows him to get into the hole quicker. If anything, Forsett’s problem is he bounces around too much and is sometimes caught in the hole. I don’t know what “increase going forward” exactly means, but for now he is still mostly a third down back.
by John Morgan on Oct 16, 2009 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the response.
I thought that material (Sando’s) was pretty elaborate and that certainly you would dispute the pass-blocking. And though I’ve seen improvement there, that’s a major stretch with both Jones and James being good-great pass-blockers ahead of him. The quicker first gear vs. decisiveness being the problem makes sense. Jones having less favorable down-distance runs also makes sense. I would agree that Force isn’t taking Jone’s job anytime soon (or ever barring injury).
Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.
by Misfit74 on Oct 16, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
third down back
I like this role for Forsett. I think most defenses won’t expect a run from a guy like Forsett on 3rd down so it leave a whole, bigger than the one in Owen Schmitt’s head, for play calling.
I would like to see Forsett get a couple more first down carries out of the shoot but I don’t think that will happen as Julius Jones has done fairly well thus far.
I would like to see if Rankin can be a strong runner in this league. I liked what he showed against us in the pre-season game vs. Oakland.
I ROCK out with my HAWK out, therefore I am....
by durteehawk on Oct 16, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stopping the backside pursuit
On stretch plays, have we been using the QB (or should we be) to block the backside rush? I’m under the impression that he rolls out after hand-off to seek safe ground. While it probably is dangerous for Matt H. to engage an pursuing OLB, a sneaky blindside block could up-end the defender.
And it would make for a great highlight.
by Birdfeeder on Oct 16, 2009 2:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I doubt any team is stupid enough to do this.
by John Morgan on Oct 16, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oakland!
I will smash your face into a jelly.
by Phildopip on Oct 16, 2009 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In their case, it might work for several reasons
So they will never do it.
by John Morgan on Oct 16, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why not use your QB like an OL
if he’s built like one and passes like one.
"Its not that I can't read and write, its just that I don't like to read and write."
-Charlie
by ninjasocks on Oct 17, 2009 10:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, I already (jokingly) suggested this in another thread.
Someone else suggested we line up Matt outside for an extra block. Call it the “MattCat” baby.
by Groundhog on Oct 16, 2009 2:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stupid or risk-seeking?
Brett Favre is still lighting up CBs with cheap shots at age 70.
by Birdfeeder on Oct 16, 2009 2:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
But he's having fun out there!
October 11th, 2009: The day Justin Forsett became loved by Seahawks fans forever.
by SSreporters on Oct 16, 2009 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Need an artillery tank for a QB
The superweapon: big enough to lead block, cannon arm with range and accuracy. The closest there is Roethlisberger, Russell, Garrard?
by Birdfeeder on Oct 16, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jamarcus Russell
minus accuracy. Sure, he’s worse that most college QBs, but he is huge, he has one of the biggest arms in the league. He’s just dumb as a sack of buttholes. He’d make a good fullback though.
by DJ C-Raig on Oct 16, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
dumb as a sack of buttholes
My white-trash lingo may have just been trumped. Nice!
Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer, Sam Bradford*.
by Misfit74 on Oct 16, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0ObP-BIGXE
Please block more Tebow.
by DJ C-Raig on Oct 16, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He just a big ol' kid
who loves the game of football. He plays pick-up games in the mud with his jeans and dog. And Brett Favre pick up games have O-lines…
by DJ C-Raig on Oct 16, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This post read like it needed a suspenseful
music score to go with it, getting us pumped for the details to come
by illwillbli on Oct 16, 2009 3:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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