Possible cure for "pink zone"--- Pistol formation?
Have the Eagles' red-zone formations become too predictable? Opposing defenses seem to be able to play off primary red-zone pass routes with technique, forcing Vick or Kolb to check it down most of the time...
This is one of those whimsical blurbs again...don't shoot the dreamweaver! I've had one foot here and the other over at PE.com's new format launch for On The Inside... I found many navigational difficulties there, but wished Dave and his crew good luck. It's a complex format with so many hidden bells and whistles it probably requires a tutorial. There were some glitches, too, as my "Bon Voyage" post took many failed atempts and error messages, finally resulting in a quadruple post. Part of the blundering was just me... but I also remember some of the programming difficulties involved with the launch of the Livefyre comments section here... So I will remain optimistic for Spadaro's eventual fine-tuning of his new platform.
Meanwhile, I was studying up on Matt Bowen's piece on red-zone routes... and I was particularly intrigued by this pattern---the Double China- 7:
Double China-7
This route is designed for a Tight End who can match up with and beat a Strong Safety. The Eagles have this one in their playbook...but for some reason their tight end (labeled "Y") rarely ends up as the ultimate target the play is designed for...since usually the play develops too slowly, and Vick or Kolb (and McNabb before them) end up checking down to a back or WR...or, in Vick's case, taking off downfield.
How it's supposed to work... vs. Cover 1, you have the TE matched up with a SS running away from the help in the middle of the field (FS). "Think of Antonio Gates, Jermichael Finley, Todd Heap, Tony Gonzalez, etc." says Bowen. "With the two underneath routes taking both the closed side CB and the Nickel back inside, the TE now has room to work and get to the back of the end zone."
I believe that both Brent Celek and Clay Harbor have the ability to beat a good safety on this design. But I got to thinking, maybe what's missing is a little more deception in the Eagles' formation starting point in red-zone routes like the one above.
Brent Celek, TE. 6-4, 255
Clay Harbor, TE, 6-3, 250
In Detroit, what they do is use Brandon Pettigrew out of the same Double China-7 formation above... but help him out with a variation of the route known as "The Pistol"...
It adds deception...optional variations to run the route...pre-snap shifts...now nobody on the defensive side of the ball is really sure where the Tight End is going...or when. The Lions have used "The Pistol" to some advantage in improving their own red zone results.
In "The Pistol", the QB is in a shorter set than standard shotgun formation, with the TailBack (marked "W") lined up directly behind him...
Using the Double China-7 route tree from the Pistol, you'd have Jeremy Maclin at "X" and Brent Celek or Clay Harbor at "Y"... and the threat of increased run options from the Pistol with the running back or fullback ("R") and tailback ("W") both starting out in the backfield...
Now the defense has to overplay Maclin on the fade. Now they have to play Celek straight up on the stick nod. Now the QB can look for the best one-on-one matchup with a linebacker in the flat if Celek can't beat his coverage.
It opens things up for the run off tackle by the "Pistol"-back, too.
Most of all, I like the idea of the "Pistol" giving Celek or Harbor a lot more room to work with...as well as increased confusion caused to the defensive secondary in coverage. The "Pistol" may not have much impact against a "Cover 3"... but I wouldn't mind seeing it used more against Cover 1 or 2 in the Birds' "pink zone"...
3D got DRUNK with Harry Caray...on Rush St...arguing with him that the Cubs were ONLY good because of all of the Phitens on the team in '84. Harry and me drinking BUD...and Harry said...How do they make it so good and sell it so cheap? Harry...you are the mayor of Rush St.
YO...Kenny...3D lived in Chicago for 4 years...'82-'86...was transfrerred out there by the company I was working for. Lived in 'Hoffman Estates'...where 58 and 72 joined up. Saw my Phitens at Wrigley...Eagles at Soldier.
YO..Lurch...is that how you make $ on this site? 3D has to keep putting dollar bills in the 'SHOW MORE' box...at least put some naked chicks on here.
Boner is a 'Limp DICK'...3D will crush him. YO...BROZ make some coffee...this little 'French Hotty'...won't shut the HELL up.
YO...Lurch...Why do I need to keep asking the 'French Hotty' to 'SHOW MORE' leg to see the posts on your site. Looks like 'Old 3D' brought you to over 500 on his return. Sonny...turn over your wife-man has a new strap-on.
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well dang nabit it cants wait no longer... sadly I must depart without going yard thanks to the stubborn TJ who's probably at this moment spell checking his work (perfectionist that he is)... or texting his pal Somalia to tell him to "coincidentally" sign on and post... mmm hmmm. I see how youse is Lupes... fine, I'm more of a single ya to death kinda slap hitter than pwer threat anyway. Night
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by the way... youse were some chatty MF'ers tonight... especially with da councilman all tooted up on barley and hops... not that there is anything wrong wit dat
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Ok Lupes... seems I'm all alone here, and just ready for youse to tee one up for me. Remember I like the hard stuff right down the middle.... yeh, that's what she said!
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Lupes, can say we outdid Bri's 500. Good job on the blog. One way to look at this site is to compare what Spuds with all his "manpower" is going through. With that I bid you good night. Of course it time for wine man to come out and hit a HR
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The other thing about the negotiations is that the players had their conference call earlier in the day. Have been chatting for over 6hrs since. I don't suppose any owners want to be there over the holiday weekend, neither will the good judge Boylan. So why not try and finish this thing tonight or tomorrow?
Of course that's the fan in me talking
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jentlemen... i am off to find that aforementioned "soft landing". Lupes, I want to thank you.... mainly for what you let this site become....when it comes down to it, we are guests in your home. You took us in, let us gather our wits, post all willy nilly style, and yet, didnt send us out on any kamakazi missions when you could have. baffled as to how you are so above the frey. anywhoze... luv u... luv this site.... luv that everyone found us...and luv me some good old fashioned beer.
@jtrent You give me way too much credit, brother Trent... without you and the Bored...I am nothing...
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Trent, btw I like D Manning. Don't know if I will take him over Nate, but he brings that toughness, is blue collar and his KR are special
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Lupes, don't know if Hudson is still up but they are still talking, past 11pm ct. Surely they can't do all this and not come away with a deal by 7/4
@Kenemeka Ken, you are on to something... a July 4th announcement of a new CBA would make both sides look like winners...
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Top players make such outrageous money now...when they hit their FA year. I remember guys like Jim Bunning and Jim Palmer and Dick Allen making $100,000....and they were okay with that.
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You ghostin' us mf'er. I don't care who you are back in the world... you give away our position one more time... I'll bleed ya... real quiet... leave ya here. Got that?
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me likey danielle kene... but i have such a deep disrespect for dabears that i couldnt face myself in the morn if we signed him lol
@Kenemeka @Tom Manual refresh only... a real disappointment. Navigation is cumbersome... but actually the thing has a lot of word-processing capability once you get into the second layer...which you do by clicking on your time-stamp---which woulda been nice to know from the get-go...Tutorial required.
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Trent, I hear D Manning probably won't be resigned by the Bears. Think we should be interested? The guy is a bad arse KR specialist and his speed shows up at the S position as well
@jtrent One of my favorite lines from Ahnold in "Running Man": "Hey Dynamo! Hey Light Bulb! Hey Christmas Tree! Over here!!!..."
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Alright gents and trents! I am gonna go sit on the couch and read mah book! be back soonly.
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My first red stripe was quaffed actually in Jamaica b4 it was exported here,..and a day before i nearly croaked. i'll never go back there.
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Trent, meant to ask earlier, how do you guys drive on that Dan Ryan to O'Hare? Coming from the Skyway, I must have been on the road for an hour. Then I had the misfortune of returning after a lunatic took out a "billboard" and was re routed thru 55. Terrible trip. Wasn't that bad when i was there,
@Kenemeka Oh Ken, that is my worst nightmare... unfamiliar turf, a little bit lost, and then an accidental "detour"...
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Trentmeister that sure is a pretty color dress you be wearing!! Goes perfect wiff your blondilocks!!
