01-07-2014, 03:30 PM
two thoughts:
1. one of the distinctive -- and odd -- features of the offense this year has been the insertion of random guys for hyperspecific roles. For example on the final drive of the game Ricky Seale was exhumed to run a four-yard screen. Earlier in the year Rollins Stallworth was our "red zone specialist" and actually targeted a couple times. Sanders coming in randomly fits in perfectly with that trend. I have no particular thoughts about this -- it's a bit different, but is mostly tangential to my main problem with personnel matters in this year's offense. (Which was including so-so skill players for large chunks of the game -- i.e. less Pratt/Trojan and more Rector. Less TEs, more 3 WR/1 FB/1 RB sets.)
2. With respect to the Barry J. Sanders punt return question -- again, that's been the m.o. all season. Whitfield handles the fair catches when field position is poor, Sanders gets to make people miss otherwise. Sanders has had some trouble tracking the ball in the air -- I think he muffed (but fell) on a punt once or twice, IIRC. This is one area Christian McCaffrey might provide an instant boost -- we really missed Terrell, who was better statistically and wonderful at fooling gunners (thereby letting the ball fall into the endzone for a touchback).
1. one of the distinctive -- and odd -- features of the offense this year has been the insertion of random guys for hyperspecific roles. For example on the final drive of the game Ricky Seale was exhumed to run a four-yard screen. Earlier in the year Rollins Stallworth was our "red zone specialist" and actually targeted a couple times. Sanders coming in randomly fits in perfectly with that trend. I have no particular thoughts about this -- it's a bit different, but is mostly tangential to my main problem with personnel matters in this year's offense. (Which was including so-so skill players for large chunks of the game -- i.e. less Pratt/Trojan and more Rector. Less TEs, more 3 WR/1 FB/1 RB sets.)
2. With respect to the Barry J. Sanders punt return question -- again, that's been the m.o. all season. Whitfield handles the fair catches when field position is poor, Sanders gets to make people miss otherwise. Sanders has had some trouble tracking the ball in the air -- I think he muffed (but fell) on a punt once or twice, IIRC. This is one area Christian McCaffrey might provide an instant boost -- we really missed Terrell, who was better statistically and wonderful at fooling gunners (thereby letting the ball fall into the endzone for a touchback).