LSSpam
Practice Squad
Offline
First Half Grades
Rather then trying to discuss every position in complete detail (something I’m not entirely qualified to do) I’m going to grade the positions and then just discuss a few things on my mind in relation to the position.
Offensive Line – B
It’s hard to argue with only 1 sack allowed a game. Whether this is due to Brees or more so the O-Line is really inconsequential. Brees is having a career year; obviously the O-line is “good enough” in that regard.
The question that many people have is “why does it seem the O-line blocks for Deuce rather then Reggie Bush?”
This is an interesting discussion because, while yes, Reggie does fail to see the cutback lane and tries to drag runs to far outside, he also often has defenders deeper in the backfield. Really we’re talking about a 1 yard loss vs. a 2 yard gain, not the 4 yard gains Deuce gets.
The reason is, I believe, the offensive line is simply better suited for the type of runs typically called for Deuce as opposed to Reggie Bush. The overwhelming majority of Deuce’s runs seem to be, relatively speaking, the exact same thing. Zone-Slant-Left or Right. Just your basic zone blocking scheme, Deuce runs behind the line, picks his gap or cuts it back. Very simple and straightforward.
What makes Deuce so deadly in this is his patience, acceleration, and field vision. He hits the hole with authority but is always aware of his cutback lane where he picks up his long runs.
Reggie Bush runs few of these plays. He ran more at the beginning of the season, but has steadily ran less as time has gone on. And, in my mind, for good reason. It’s wasteful. Deuce will, in all likelihood, be the better runner in that regard for the rest of his career. You give Bush a few of those runs to keep teams honest, but by and large, there’s no reason to have Reggie poach on Deuce’s turf.
Where you would, theoretically, want to use Bush is more on the outside. Pitches, stretches, sweeps, that sort of thing. Reggie, ideally speaking, would be best shifting and picking his way outside. The problem, I believe, is that the offensive line simply isn’t very good at this sort of play.
Part of it may be simple practice/expertise. The Toss-Sweep is a complicated play in terms of blocking and difficult to execute. This may be a situation that will simply resolve itself over another off-season.
But part of it may also be individual skill/technique. One of the biggest problems I’ve noticed is that the Tackles seem to have trouble holding the corner vs. DE’s. The Guards sometimes have trouble getting out there on the pull as well. Jeff Faine is the only one who seems ideally suited to be pulled out of the interior linemen currently. Jahri Evans is certainly athletic enough however.
On the whole I think the net result is that, for now at least, things like screens, sweeps, stretch plays, etc, will prove difficult for the Saints, and not entirely due to Bush (though due in some part).
Rather then trying to discuss every position in complete detail (something I’m not entirely qualified to do) I’m going to grade the positions and then just discuss a few things on my mind in relation to the position.
Offensive Line – B
It’s hard to argue with only 1 sack allowed a game. Whether this is due to Brees or more so the O-Line is really inconsequential. Brees is having a career year; obviously the O-line is “good enough” in that regard.
The question that many people have is “why does it seem the O-line blocks for Deuce rather then Reggie Bush?”
This is an interesting discussion because, while yes, Reggie does fail to see the cutback lane and tries to drag runs to far outside, he also often has defenders deeper in the backfield. Really we’re talking about a 1 yard loss vs. a 2 yard gain, not the 4 yard gains Deuce gets.
The reason is, I believe, the offensive line is simply better suited for the type of runs typically called for Deuce as opposed to Reggie Bush. The overwhelming majority of Deuce’s runs seem to be, relatively speaking, the exact same thing. Zone-Slant-Left or Right. Just your basic zone blocking scheme, Deuce runs behind the line, picks his gap or cuts it back. Very simple and straightforward.
What makes Deuce so deadly in this is his patience, acceleration, and field vision. He hits the hole with authority but is always aware of his cutback lane where he picks up his long runs.
Reggie Bush runs few of these plays. He ran more at the beginning of the season, but has steadily ran less as time has gone on. And, in my mind, for good reason. It’s wasteful. Deuce will, in all likelihood, be the better runner in that regard for the rest of his career. You give Bush a few of those runs to keep teams honest, but by and large, there’s no reason to have Reggie poach on Deuce’s turf.
Where you would, theoretically, want to use Bush is more on the outside. Pitches, stretches, sweeps, that sort of thing. Reggie, ideally speaking, would be best shifting and picking his way outside. The problem, I believe, is that the offensive line simply isn’t very good at this sort of play.
Part of it may be simple practice/expertise. The Toss-Sweep is a complicated play in terms of blocking and difficult to execute. This may be a situation that will simply resolve itself over another off-season.
But part of it may also be individual skill/technique. One of the biggest problems I’ve noticed is that the Tackles seem to have trouble holding the corner vs. DE’s. The Guards sometimes have trouble getting out there on the pull as well. Jeff Faine is the only one who seems ideally suited to be pulled out of the interior linemen currently. Jahri Evans is certainly athletic enough however.
On the whole I think the net result is that, for now at least, things like screens, sweeps, stretch plays, etc, will prove difficult for the Saints, and not entirely due to Bush (though due in some part).
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