How Wanny's offensive stradegy backfired

[VManis]

We all know that Wanny's overall stradegy was a stong defense coupled with a conservative, mistake free, offense. But the one problem that all of the QBs had that played in it (Feidler, Griese, Feeley etc..) was a propensity to throw Ints, particularly pick-6's. Now there are many reasons why these guys threw picks but did a mindset that they might not get another chance to move the ball also contribute to their willingness to take chances? Feely certainly thinks so:

Last year, you look at my play, and a lot of times I felt like I needed to make plays in order to get things going. A lot of times it hurt us and a lot of times it benefited us. Right now, I've gotten in the mode where I don't feel like I have to make every play to win the game.

Its kind of funny because that last line is exactly what Wanny preached but his conservative play calling made the QBs (at least Feeley) feel like they couldn't waste an oppurtunity.

 

[ErroneousFlint]

We all know that Wanny's overall stradegy was a stong defense coupled with a conservative, mistake free, offense. But the one problem that all of the QBs had that played in it (Feidler, Griese, Feeley etc..) was a propensity to throw Ints, particularly pick-6's. Now there are many reasons why these guys threw picks but did a mindset that they might not get another chance to move the ball also contribute to their willingness to take chances? Feely certainly thinks so:



Its kind of funny because that last line is exactly what Wanny preached but his conservative play calling made the QBs (at least Feeley) feel like they couldn't waste an oppurtunity.

i want to understand.

 

[dolfanmark]

There are other factors at work, too. Under Wannstedt, the offense did not have hot routes on blitzes. It was up to Seth McKinney to recognize the blitz, call out line adjustments, and everyone else ran the play called in the huddle. This sort of thing can lead to disaster if the play called was a downfield pass. The QB has to hang in longer, which means he's under more duress. This is actually one of the things that Feeley complained about last season that put him in the coach's doghouse. Feeley said that when faced with the blitz, he kept wanting to go to a hot reciver, but there weren't any. So, he'd force throws he wouldn't normally make.

Also, over the last 8-9 years, we haven't had much talent at receiver. We've had a lot of guys who can't seem to get separation from defenders (Thompson, McKnight, Ward, Shepherd, and Gadsden, etc). QBs still try to get the ball to these guys, but with no separation, these are dangerous throws.

Another factor is that we have not been a team that throws deep. And when we have thrown deep, the other team has not had to worry too much about completions. That means with the defense not stretched out, there are more defenders in less space, which means more INTs. That's part of this thing with Frerotte. It doesn't matter if he throws deep but can't complete any of them. You have to be effective throwing the ball deep in order to get the defense to adjust.

Also, our strategy against heavy blitzing teams has been to max protect, and only send a couple of guys out into patterns (this started in the JJ era). When you do that, teams can blitz you, and still give you double coverage, which leads to more INTs. Under Shula, he used to like to go with extra wideouts against the blitz. This would force the other team into more one on one matchups.

 

[Canadianfishfan]

i thought his strategy was run ricky till he takes so much abuse he decides he rather quit and smoke pot.... or he ends up crippled.

 

[MARINO1384]

The real reason it backfired:He tried to be a head coach

 

[ErroneousFlint]

The real reason it backfired:He tried to be a head coach

words of wisdom.

at least DW was smart enough in returning to school.

speaking of school, why aren't you there??? hmmm?

 

[CrunchTime]

Wannys formula might have worked a few decades ago but the game favors offense these days.Another flaw to his approach was that he could not eliminate errors or penalties and that is indicative of poor coaching as well as lack of talent.

 

[Jimmy James]

Pairing Norv Turner with Jay Fiedler and Dave Wannstedt was total disaster. There is a reason why the team was a playoff team under Chan with Lamar Smith toting the rock while they weren't with Norv and Ricky. Norv's offense is way too wide open for Dave's style, and Jay couldn't really implement the offense the way even a Gus Frerotte could have.

 

[@@@]

Wanny had an offensive strategy!!! :eek:

 

[finfan54]

Yes, unfortunately Wanny played WAD BALL!

 

[abNORMal]

Wanny had an offensive strategy!!! :eek:

Don't believe the hype,

 

[Berg]

It's hard to take anything you write seriously when you can't spell "strategy".

 

[OneHondo]

Dave Wannstedt and Norv Turner had a definite conflict of interest as Norv wanted to open up the offense and Wannstedt wanted to grind it out, get the lead and then play to protect the lead. Norv Turner has since said that Wannstedt often changed his plays from the sidelines.

 

[prolific]

We all know that Wanny's overall stradegy was a stong defense coupled with a conservative, mistake free, offense. But the one problem that all of the QBs had that played in it (Feidler, Griese, Feeley etc..) was a propensity to throw Ints, particularly pick-6's. Now there are many reasons why these guys threw picks but did a mindset that they might not get another chance to move the ball also contribute to their willingness to take chances? Feely certainly thinks so:



Its kind of funny because that last line is exactly what Wanny preached but his conservative play calling made the QBs (at least Feeley) feel like they couldn't waste an oppurtunity.

I hope this doesn't sound like I am making excuses for the Qb's last season (Jay and AJ) but that scheme was so vanilla and easy to read.....That I coulds literally sit at home and call the plays before they happened. I have heard others on this board say this also. defenses were so far ahead of us last season it was sad. We are so much more talented on Offense this year it's not even comparable. Hopefully it will show up on sunday's.

 

[LarryFinFan]

I said the same things about Wanny in his first year here with Chan Gailey. But that's water under the bridge...while I am a staunch AJ supporter (at least over Gus and Ears), I am certainly dissapointed that AJ hasn't "taken the bull by the horns" as I thought he would. I will never be a Guskateer. AJ has had 3 offensive coordinators in 3 years...it's tough, I'm sure for him to relearn things constantly. But at some point he has to prove his mettle and show that he is capable. I hope, for our teams' sake, it's soon...