Tom Clements Has Plan For Offensive Improvement

titmfatiedNo Code

quote:
Tom Clements has plan for offensive improvement
Green Bay Press Gazette
by
Mike Vandermause on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

On what areas he most wants to see improved this season:
There are probably two things, probably a little bit related. We gave up too many sacks, we talked about it (Monday). That’s not just the line, that’s everyone that has responsibility for that. The backs, the quarterback and the receivers, so we’re going to try to eliminate the ones that are truly the bad sacks. We have Aaron, he’s a very good scrambler, but we’ve always said it’s a fine line between ‘should I throw it away’ or ‘should I try to scramble?’ Sometimes a scramble makes a big play, sometimes a scramble can get sacked. So we’re never going to give that up. We want to avoid the big hits and avoid the sacks that are very avoidable. If we can do that it will help us.

"The second thing we need to do is we played well in the red zone (but) we did not get there as much as we wanted. We were third as far as touchdown rating, we were about 19th as far as number of times down there per game. If we get down there a couple more times per game ... that’s a big plus for us. We want to continue to play as well as we did, but we need to get down there more often.”

On the offensive linemen adjusting to their new positions:
“I think initially it took some getting used to. In the IPWs (individual player workouts) they worked on it. Bryan (Bulaga) played the left side before. I think Josh (Sitton) played the left side in college. They just had to get re-acclimated. It wasn’t as if it was entirely new. … We just thought it would make us an overall stronger line to re-position the guys the way we did.”

On how the decision to make the line changes occurred:
“During the course of watching cut ups from last year, just discussing how we wanted to move forward, I don’t know who initially threw it out, it might have been Mike (McCarthy). We talked about it, then thought it made sense and would solidify the line.” continue

More past the click.

5/23/136:15 PM

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

ilcuquiTHE F*** WITH FASHION

Here's hoping for a big jump for Clements in his second year as OC. Its been remarked upon before but IMO Joe Philbin's departure really affected the offensive staff. Hopefully MM, Clements and company will have figured out how to replace that second set of eyes and ears that Philbin brought to the offense.

5/23/136:34 PM

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

Something tells Me we're not going to see too much 2-shell this season.
We're going to be damn tough to stop on offense. If the defense simply holds up their end of the bargain, we'll be right there at the end.

5/23/136:41 PM

FedyaMember

How about effective run blocking?

5/23/137:16 PM

Tavis SmileyMember

"We" have Effin Eddy Lacy now. No need for blocking schemes.

5/23/138:01 PM

Timmy!TIMMAAAAYYY!!

quote:
...and avoid the sacks that are very avoidable. If we can do that it will help us.

Man, I love 'coachspeak'!

It's not new news that more success on offense begins and ends with OL performance. Rushing attack is a close second, WR/TE performance would be third.
I just like that the team is addressing each of these areas, and doing what they can to better themselves. Not to mention doing it in a logical, efficient manner while still looking at the future, but I digress.....
Because of the breakdowns on the OL last year, I think it's hard to 'judge' Clements' results. It could be he had the perfect play called at the perfect time, but because of a whiff and sack, we'll never know.
I do like the attitude of the coaches on this switch. The talk hasn't been "we're experimenting", or "we're trying some things"; it's been "we've made the switch, the players will adapt, and that's how it is going forward".

5/24/131:32 AM

AZPackerBackerMember

quote:

"The second thing we need to do is we played well in the red zone (but) we did not get there as much as we wanted. We were third as far as touchdown rating, we were about 19th as far as number of times down there per game. If we get down there a couple more times per game ... that’s a big plus for us. We want to continue to play as well as we did, but we need to get down there more often.”

Like on the first possession of each half.

5/24/137:28 AM

YATittleMember

Yeah, cut down on the "slow starts" and we'll be somewhere. Attack like you're Bill Bellicheck and never let up.

5/24/137:33 AM

BadgemanMember

I have been pissing and moaning for years about MM and his lack of committment to the run game. So, while I applaud the decisive o-line changes, I hope that MM also changes his offensive philsophy in calling plays. While it's understandable that he wants his best player (AR12) with the ball in his hands, there are entirely too many 3-and-out series. The offense would have the ball 25 seconds and the defense is right back on the field.

My biggest hope for this fall is the combination of a better o-line and the drafting of two marquee (at least in college) running backs will mean some semblance of a dedication to the run game. It would:
1. hopefully bring the opposing defenses out of the 2-deep safety look
2. reduce the sack totals
3. take some pressure off the o-line (not having to pass protect 50 times a game)
4. it would help the defense stay rested, and
5. it would help the offense get to the red zone more often, as Clements says, where Rodgers and the Packers' O is one of the best in the league.

Hell, they might even pick up some of these 3rd and 1 situations.

5/24/138:05 AM

"We"-Ka-BongYou ungrateful biscuit eating son of a bitch

link

I knew it went down, but I was surprised how much it went down from 2011

5/24/139:59 AM

FreeSafetyI wonder what the poor people are doing?

Last year was the first time I really took notice of games where they'd have back to back to back 3 and outs. Often in the second half of games. I think there was a game were 5 of the 7 second half possessions were 3 and out. Kills momentum and field position and defensive energy when they get no rest. I hope that is something they are really looking at.

5/24/1310:04 AM

FLPACKERMember

quote:
Originally posted by El-Ka-Bong:
link

I knew it went down, but I was surprised how much it went down from 2011

...dropped even more in this category:

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/yards-per-play

which is an indication of significantly less "big" plays (gains over 20 yards), which is a manifestation of how defenses were playing us.
which resulted in the coaching staff realizing that we were going to have to run the ball when every DC with any sense will play us with only 6-7 guys in the box.

5/24/1310:20 AM

BorisPerson Man Camera Dildo Shop - NFLFU®

Damn, look how bad Arizona & Jacksonville are at 3rd down %. Hatin' life!

The last time someone tried to play us man-up, (The Texans) they got torched for 6 TD passes. I don't think 1 team tried it after that Texan game.

Now we have some RB's. Things will be different this year, especially on the left side of the line. My biggest concern with the offense? CENTER!

5/24/1310:51 AM

Music CityMember

Running the ball is a pretty useful tool at the start of halves. Sets the tone, helps build momentum. All passing makes momentum hard to build- especially when all it takes is a dropped pass to kill it. But if you're consistently running the ball, there is far greater margin for error in the passing game, not to mention the opportunity to mix up plays to get the opponent off balance.

5/24/1311:42 AM

michiganjoeMember

I still don't understand why MM went away from the run against the Niners when Harris was so effective. Hopefully the two draft picks will improve his mindset and he'll be more willing to stick with it when it's working.

5/24/132:08 PM

Satori"...going where the climate suits my clothes"

quote:
Originally posted by FreeSafety:
Last year was the first time I really took notice of games where they'd have back to back to back 3 and outs.

Part of what makes it so noticeable is that we all got spoiled in 2011...

Here are some stats from Football Outsiders that show info on drive efficiency and the drop in rankings from 2011 to 2012 is significant

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestats

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestats2011

The drop in yards/drive and points/drive are two that stand out and to your point FS- the number of punts/drive went up quite a bit as well.

They were just not the well- oiled machine of 2011 last year

Lots of changes at OL, 3 different lineups
Lots of injury at RB - 5 different guys
Lots on injury at WR- missing jennings, nelson
changes in coaches-

5/24/132:09 PM

banditMember

quote:
Originally posted by FreeSafety:
Last year was the first time I really took notice of games where they'd have back to back to back 3 and outs. Often in the second half of games. I think there was a game were 5 of the 7 second half possessions were 3 and out. Kills momentum and field position and defensive energy when they get no rest. I hope that is something they are really looking at.

very noticeable in the second half of the playoff game against the queens.

5/24/132:21 PM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

quote:
Originally posted by Boris:
My biggest concern with the offense? CENTER!

Van Roten has been discussed as far back as late Jan as an option other than EDS.

5/24/133:44 PM

Pack-ManMember

quote:
Originally posted by bandit:
quote:
Originally posted by FreeSafety:
Last year was the first time I really took notice of games where they'd have back to back to back 3 and outs. Often in the second half of games. I think there was a game were 5 of the 7 second half possessions were 3 and out. Kills momentum and field position and defensive energy when they get no rest. I hope that is something they are really looking at.

very noticeable in the second half of the playoff game against the queens.

That one was probably the worst example. It looked like they were going to absolutely destroy the Vikings in the first half (like 41-6 type of destruction), and then the pass heavy, token rushing threat offense fizzled out completely in the second half. I'm so sick of this team trying to play cold weather games with a dome team mentality. I really hope that McCarthy and Clements have found the answers in regard to the sacks, OL and rushing attack. This team doesn't necessarily need to score more points (although that would be nice) they just need to build an offense that will get at least 1-2 first downs more often than not when they get the ball. They were able to score plenty of points, but they came in a fast-strike, feast-or-famine type fashion all season long.

5/24/134:28 PM

Satori"...going where the climate suits my clothes"

quote:
Originally posted by Boris:
My biggest concern with the offense? CENTER!

Here's your guy, get him ready

Patrick Lewis

http://www.aggieathletics.com/...300&ATCLID=205236202

5/24/136:25 PM

TschmackMember

Defenses get paid to play against the Packers as well. If you don't have to honor the run game then you rush 3 or 4, drop everyone else into coverage, and get physical with our receivers.

Chicago used to be able to do that pretty well until their D got old and now it's SF that does it the best.

Get better pass protection and run the ball more effectively (especially in short yardage situations) and this offense can be unstoppable.

5/25/137:31 AM

lovepackMember

Shotgun. Four wide, with Cobb and Finley inside. Jones and Jordy wide. Lacy next to Rodgers.

What'ya gonna do defense?

5/25/139:14 AM

Pack-ManMember

They'll do exactly what Tschmack said, rush 3 or 4, then drop 7 or 8 into coverage. Of course while there are only about 3 or 4 teams in the league in a given season who are able to execute this game plan, the problem lies in the fact that at least one of these teams will always stand in between the Packers and a Super Bowl. For the 49ers, the Packers are a walk in the park. A team with a Air Coryell mentality has never won a title in the NFL, and one never will.

5/25/131:24 PM

lovepackMember

Well, rush 3 and Rodgers gives it to Lacy, he's off to the races like he was in the championship game. Put Franklin in that same situation too. After a few draws from the shotgun with those guys, I could see the deep safeties getting a little closer to the LOS.

5/25/131:27 PM

Shoeless JoeMember

quote:
A team with a Air Coryell mentality has never won a title in the NFL, and one never will.

*COUGH* Patriots *COUGH*

5/25/138:51 PM

Blair KielGOOD OL' FAKE BLAIR KIEL - My Hood? nice Henry. Fuck You!

quote:
Originally posted by lovepack:
Shotgun. Four wide, with Cobb and Finley inside. Jones and Jordy wide. Lacy next to Rodgers.

What'ya gonna do defense?

Wait for someone to pull a hammy.

5/25/138:54 PM

Satori"...going where the climate suits my clothes"

Here's another candidate for the center position in 2013

Greg Van Roten

From Packer Update

http://packerupdate.net/?p=24801

"What can we expect in 2013? Unless a center is drafted in the early rounds, veteran Evan Dietrich-Smith figures to enter camp as the starter. But that doesn’t mean Van Roten can’t steal the job away. He doesn’t have EDS’ experience, but he’s a much better athlete. And let’s be honest, playing center isn’t exactly rocket science – especially for a guy who’s probably bright enough to actually be a rocket scientist."

5/26/1311:01 AM

Pack-ManMember

quote:
Originally posted by Shoeless Joe:
quote:
A team with a Air Coryell mentality has never won a title in the NFL, and one never will.

*COUGH* Patriots *COUGH*

During none of their three titles did the Patriots fit the mold of "Air Coryell", not even remotely. In 2001, when Tom Brady was still branded a "game manager" by the "experts", they only had 9 more pass attempts than rush attempts; in 2003, they only scored 348 points (12th in the league) due to ranking 13th in the league in yards per pass attempt (meaning, they were using the short passing game to compensate for a weak group of RBs); and in 2004 they put up 2134 yards on the ground with 39 more rushes than passes. And all of those three teams ranked at least 6th in points allowed, the 2003 and 2004 teams ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively. All of those things bear absolutely no resemblance to Air Coryell teams. Air Coryell is, and always will be a loser in the games that count most in the NFL. The 1999 St. Louis Rams were able to use elements of it, but they had a great rushing attack and a good defense (people forget that they ranked 4th in points allowed that year since they were historically bad on defense in 2000).

The Packers currently are the team in the NFL that most resembles those Chargers teams of the late 70s and early 80s (but you can make a case for the Saints being that team), and they'll win just about as many playoff games in the future if that doesn't change. The drafting of Franklin and Lacy combined with the shakeup of the OL gives me a lot of hope that it will.

5/26/131:24 PM

Music CityMember

The real common denominator is the elite defensive rankings... it's a stupid cliche, but its the defense that will determine this team's fate...

5/27/139:30 AM

Grave DiggerMember

quote:
A team with a Air Coryell mentality has never won a title in the NFL, and one never will.

Actually Norv Turner is a big Air Coryell disciple and found success in Dallas in the early 90's, as did Mike Martz with The Greatest Show on Turf...Also Joe Gibbs and his 3 SBs would also disagree as he was Coryell's OC and helped him develop it. Any scheme will win a SB if you have the right personnel and any scheme will fail, even the great ones, if you don't. Minnesota proved you can't win ONLY on the running game and GB proved you can't win ONLY on the passing game. And those teams have arguably the best 2 players in the NFL. And San Fran proved that you can't win ONLY with defense, you have to have complete balance. Every area depends greatly on all the other areas. The passing game supports the running game and vice versa. The defense depends on the offense and vice versa and Special Teams can change the game for everyone. It's all about balance and I think McCarthy has finally figured that out because of the steps they're taking to improve the run game.

5/27/1310:32 AM

Pack-ManMember

Even though they preached vertical passing when they threw the ball, all of those championship teams had elite rushing attacks and great defenses, every single one (even the 1999 Rams). Air Coryell is a complacent mindset that infects certain teams with elite QBs, where even when they recognize that other areas of their team have become deficient and have a desire to fix them, they never actually commit to taking an honest look at themselves and changing their offense-first, spoil-the-QB-rotten-with-toys mentality. Because they're still able to win most of the time, they delude themselves with the idea that they'll always have just as good a chance to win it all as anyone with their elite QB and stable of WRs. Don Coryell's teams gradually decayed along this trajectory in the 80s. Even though he regularly stated an urge to fix it, he never really committed to change and the defenses actually just kept getting worse, and eventually he was fired when Fouts got old; Mike Martz's teams did the same thing after he took over from Vermiel and so did Norv Turner after Tomlinson left and the defenses started to get bad.

5/27/132:33 PM

Grave DiggerMember

Doesn't matter what components they had, those teams ran that system and won SBs with it. It's a system, like all systems, that relies on balance. It may be "pass to set up the run" but there's still a need for a running game. Once Coryell got a decent RB in Chuck Muncie, that team got more balance. The Air Coryell still has a running game component, it's not a June Jones offense as you seem to be implying. Joe Gibbs had the running game component and won 3 SBs with it. Like I said, if you have the right personnel any system can win a SB. It's the basis for the WCO really (Bill Walsh learned it from Sid Gillman just like Don Coryell), which is more what McCarthy runs. The difference between the Bill Walsh WCO and the AC is whether the short passing sets up the intermediate and deep passing or vice versa. McCarthy's offense relies on the short/underneath passing to set up the deep stuff, like a true Bill Walsh WCO. It all works, it's all won SBs, just have to get the right personnel and get some balance.

5/27/134:32 PM

Satori"...going where the climate suits my clothes"

http://www.nationalfootballpos...ic-number-is-50.html

interesting article at NFP, talking about a formula GM Mike Lombardi uses to analyze an offense

The combination of: ( completed passes + rushing attempts) has to be 50 or higher per game for an offense to be elite

6/18/131:05 PM

heywardKaty Perry is bouncy

You had me until Mike Lombardi...

6/18/131:17 PM

Music CityMember

It's funny... A year ago it was a "passing league" and they really didn't need to run the ball much. Just run it effectively to keep teams honest. A yet later, even after another epic passing season (and parade of sacks notwithstanding), the collective tune is being changed.

Now all of us discussing this means nothing really. The key is whether the guy with the sharpie in the back of his hat is actually going to follow through on this. During the Packers' SB run, an analyst pointed out that Rodgers was the most dangerous play-action passer in the game. I don't think that's changed. But what did change was the effectiveness of the play action based on the opponents belief that they were going to actually run the ball.

And regardless whether its a passing league or in truth an elite QB league (which I subscribe to as a subtle differnce), running the ball is an essential component of throwing the ball. Because ultimately, an offense's efficiency is the real metric- sustaining drives, 3rd downs, TOP, red zone proficiency... It's lazy to simply say its a passing league. You need an elite QB. You need an efficient offense that consistently performs and scores points. However you get there- run, pas, balance... Just be efficient. Bit when you factor in QB punishment, running the ball clearly has merits.

Hopefully this is what we see this coming season- and I for one would like to see the offense function when Rodgers is handing the ball off. That would make him all the more dangerous when he doesn't.

6/18/134:28 PM

Satori"...going where the climate suits my clothes"

From JSO

"For the second half of the regular season the Packers averaged 29.75 rushing attempts, 4.1 yards per carry and 122.6 yards per game - plenty good enough to supplement a passing attack the caliber of Green Bay’s."

Those numbers would put GB at:

Number 10 in rushing attempts (29.75) per game
Number 12 in rushing yards per game ( 122.6)
Number 18 in yards per carry (4.1)

And that was with a used car salesman, a recovering Green and a washed up Grant as the lead backs. They were also using an undrafted rookie at right tackle( Barclay), a 5th round pick at LT( Newhouse) and EDS learning the center position after Saturday went belly up

This year GB will roll out a 1st round LT ( Bulaga), no Jeff Saturday, a competition at RT, Lacy, Franklin, a fully recovered Green, and a used car salesman with the benefit of an offseason to learn the offense

Lots of improvement in the running game vs what they finished the season with in 2012 - and what they did in the 2nd half of the season didn't exactly suck

6/18/135:06 PM

H5Keyboard Warrior, troll hunter

Offense hasn't been the problem the last few seasons. The D stepped up in 2010 and they won it all. A top 10-15 (pts allowed is my gauge) showing from the D and look out.

6/18/135:27 PM

CoachAt the head of the table

quote:
Originally posted by Music City:
A yet later, even after another epic passing season (and parade of sacks notwithstanding), the collective tune is being changed.

It's not "notwithstanding", it's the primary difference between last year's offense and the 15-1 season.

Green Bay ran the ball (as Satori highlighted in his split) more effectively last year than the previous two, and yet points and wins were down.

MM abandons the run at times when IMO he shouldn't. He has done that from time to time from very beginning as HC. That's playcalling.

I welcome the talent infusion in the backfield, and if that helps MM to decide not to abandon the run then I think that's great. And if we're more efficient when we are running the ball, then that's great too.

I will note that it didn't take a 1st round pick to get either of the two new backs, and I will further note that one of the reasons that Lacy was even available as late as he was (and Franklin two rounds later) is because of over devaluation of the RB position in the NFL.

6/18/136:08 PM

CoachAt the head of the table

quote:
Originally posted by Hungry5:
Offense hasn't been the problem the last few seasons. The D stepped up in 2010 and they won it all. A top 10-15 (pts allowed is my gauge) showing from the D and look out.

Last year was a clear improvement over 2011 15-1 season, but clearly there's still room for further improvement.

The San Francisco game was an absolute debacle on the defensive side of the ball, and the special teams turnover killed whatever momentum we had.

6/18/136:11 PM

Music CityMember

quote:
Originally posted by Hungry5:
Offense hasn't been the problem the last few seasons.

Yes and no. The defense us been weak and it is where the biggest improvement needs to come from. But the offense was not stellar, and any time the offense struggled it exacerbated the defensive issues. The offense needs to learn how to put teams away, keep the D off the field. The team is at their best when the O is able to sustain time consuming drives. This is also something hat can improv to turn the tables on more opponents... Especially in the games in January.

6/18/1311:26 PM

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