Offense 2010

[disciplineandpunish]

Yes, Bratton has been impressing me so far this season. Runs hard, isn't afraid of contact, and always fights for yards after catch.

[disciplineandpunish]

Found something interesting in Herb's article from yesterday:

But Trestman stressed his offensive philosophy won’t change. He said runs were frequently called - close to 20 alone against the Ticats - but Calvillo chose to pull the ball and pass. When Calvillo has done so in three seasons under Trestman, the coach said the Als have completed more than 90 per cent of their passes.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/A ... z0ucKeSXBe

I may have done Trestman and Milanovich an injustice if Calvillo is keeping the rock on the zone read, but even so, I think Trestman's stance here is a bit disingenuous. I saw many pass plays during Thursday's game that involved no zone read of any kind, plays where the running back vacated or went to block as soon as the ball was snapped. Maybe Calvillo needs to give Cobourne the rock more, but the coaches also need to call more running plays, particularly on second and medium (2nd and 4, 2nd and 6). Teams are blitzing the crap out of us on second and medium and getting sacks, which is unacceptable. You take a defense out of those tendencies by running a few draws and screens on second down to loosen up that pass rush and keep the linebackers honest. Instead, we have Calvillo sitting in the pocket waiting for long timing routes to develop while the pocket collapses and 300-pound linemen give him illegal hits below the knees.

We're giving up an average of three sacks a game through the first four games. If we maintain this average for the remainder of the season, we will beat the 2007 team's total sacks allowed, which would be a miserable thing to do. Moreover, Calvillo will not finish the season if we can't give him better protection through improved line play and better playcalling.

[disciplineandpunish]

Calvillo will not finish the season if we can't give him better protection through improved line play and better playcalling.

In fact, I'll go out on a limb and say that if we can't do a better job of protecting Calvillo, he will get injured within the next 1-3 games. At age 37, he's already absorbed 12 sacks this season. I don't care how much quinoa you eat; there is only so much punishment a body can take. We got very lucky in the Hamilton game with that (dirty) MacIntyre hit. It was only a ligament strain, but could have been much worse. Unlike teams such as Winnipeg, Toronto, Calgary, B.C., and Saskatchewan, we don't have a mobile QB who can consistently make plays with his feet when the pocket breaks down. As such, it's vitally important for us to keep Anthony clean through 60 minutes of a given game. No QB can find his rhythm when he's constantly on the turf or running for his life.

While I am as keen as anyone to see our quarterbacks of the future (Leak and eventually McPherson when he's healthy), we're tied for the division lead and in the business of winning games. In the here and now, Calvillo gives us the best chance to win.

[MadJack]

With respect to the running game (or, more properly, the lack thereof), look at this article in the Gazette. Is it just me or is there a contradiction here?

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/f ... story.html

First, Trestman is reported to say the following:


"But Trestman stressed his offensive philosophy won’t change. He said runs were frequently called - close to 20 alone against the Ticats - but Calvillo chose to pull the ball and pass. When Calvillo has done so in three seasons under Trestman, the coach said the Als have completed more than 90 per cent of their passes. “The way we’re going to use Avon is never going to change,” Trestman said. “This (approach) is in the best interest of our team. Most of the runs that were called resulted in (pass) completions, which moved the sticks. That’s one of the reasons why our offence moves.”

Then, he says this:


“We handled their run very well, making them one-dimensional,” Trestman said.

See what I mean? First he says we won't change our offence, but eliminating Hamilton's running game made the Cats one-dimensional. . . is not our offence equally "one-dimensional" by his own choice?

[HfxTC]

What Trestman is saying is that the decision is left to AC to make and if he does not plan to change that because AC has proven that he can make it work. Then he explains what the implications are.

Trestman is basicaly telling his QB its your call but this is what is going to happen when you do what you do. Flory has commented that with the type of offense Montreal runs this will happen. Cobourne has said he wants the ball more.

Its up to Anthony to do what is smart...

All I'm going to say is that I usually watch the offensive line in frame by frame during commercials and half time and Cobourne is an exceptional blocking back and I don't know how many times I've seen him take the opposing tackles and LB out of a play and if Cobourne decides he's not taking the hits for his QB for any reason. Anthony is going to be in big, big trouble...

Run the damn ball Anthony ! Please.

[disciplineandpunish]

And again, I find Trestman's stance on this issue disingenuous. Yes, Anthony has the option to keep the ball on the zone read, but I have seen many plays where there is no read option at all and the back is either blocking, running a route, or check-releasing into a route. I don't see how that can be Anthony's fault, since he's not the one calling the play. Flatly, Trestman does not call enough running plays, nor does he do so early enough in the game.

[disciplineandpunish]

The truly baffling part is that Avon has been running the ball very well when he's gotten the chance. With 228 yards on 44 attempts, he sports a 5.2 yards per carry average. I could understand the reluctance to run if for whatever reason the ground game wasn't there, but man alive, we have a premier running back who is pounding out solid yardage every time he gets the rock.

Give him the ball.

[disciplineandpunish]

It looks like Calvillo is loving the built-in transmitter in the helmets, because he is audibling protections at the LOS way more frequently than in the past, and it's yielding results. On one play in last night's game against Toronto, he stopped the receivers at the line, changed the protection to keep Bratton in the pocket to block, and found Cobourne on a hook zone for a big catch-and-run play.

[HfxTC]

Told you he would do the smart thing

[disciplineandpunish]

Told you he would do the smart thing

Don't know why he waited until week 5 to do it. I mean, honestly, did he like getting sacked 13 times in four games?

The line didn't give up a single sack last night (well, Calvillo was taken down once but it was wiped out by a Toronto illegal contact penalty). Last night's game just vindicates the argument most of us here have been making to get Avon into the game and give him his touches.

[disciplineandpunish]

Having survived the hellish start to the season and emerged with a winning record, the team should now have adequate practice and preparation time in which to work out the remaining issues in their game. And we'll need that time, with the Riders coming into town next week. Somehow, our defense has to find a way to stop Durant, Dressler & co.

[Niagara Als]

Richardson showed his old form. We should remember that he is a slow starter- last year in particular when he was just getting over pnemonia. He is now back to form with two TD catches- with Green, Watkins, Bratton, Cahoon and Richarson we have great receivers. None will win the receiving title as Calvillo really spreads the ball around and Colbourne is having a great year both with the run and the pass.

[tony]

Als have 6 of the top 20 receivers (yards) in the CFL right now.

[disciplineandpunish]

Als have 6 of the top 20 receivers (yards) in the CFL right now.

Misleading, as we have played one more game than six of the other seven teams. Expect that to level out at the end of the week.

[disciplineandpunish]

Is it just me, or is Kerry Watkins the least-talked about top receiver in the Canadian Football League? Perennial 1000-yard man, third currently in receiving yardage, tied for first in receiving TDs, and he gets no pub whatsoever.