Solving the problem

[shellgh0st]

We all know Gus is not a franchise QB. The complaining about his weaknesses is really pointless.

So, instead of talking about WHY Gus isn't playing well, lets discuss what he and the offense need to do in order to improve.

1) OL needs to stop with the false starts and holdings. This will improve our down and distance. This HAS to happen.

2) Linehan needs to stop thinking Gus is Dan Marino and chill out with all the passes. I know teams are stacking the LOS, however, I would rather pound the rock with a elite RB (we seem to have two of these) OR play action and throw a short pass, than all these long bombs we are doing. Linehan, improve your play calling!

3) Formations are killing us! Our run and pass formations are SO different. You can not only tell by down and distance whether we will run or pass, but our formations give it away too. Can we HIDE our intentions? You know, run when we have 3 WRs in the game? Play action when we have everything bunched up in a two WR set, on a known running down? MIX IT UP and HIDE your intentions!

4) Short and intermediate passes will help Gus. He is actually not that bad at these throws. We need a higher percentage of these passes to increase his confidence and lower our 3rd and long situations because our 'deep passes' on first and second down brought us zero yards.

Anyone want to add some POSITIVE thoughts to this list? Because Gus is NOT going to become Dan Marino anytime soon, so we need to accept it (linehan) and play to his strengths, protect him and avoid counting on him to 'win the game' for us. And then we can get back to winning games again.

 

[Smoke]

Anyone want to add some POSITIVE thoughts to this list? Because Gus is NOT going to become Dan Marino anytime soon, so we need to accept it (linehan) and play to his strengths, protect him and avoid counting on him to 'win the game' for us. And then we can get back to winning games again

That part about sums it up. There really are no positives to add, we just need to establish the run and stop relying on Frerotte so much. If he can aviod the turnovers then we will win games.

 

[SweepeR]

thats simple, evrythign we complain about, if he does the opposite then it'll improve. loll duh

 

[retired opfinistic]

We all know Gus is not a franchise QB. The complaining about his weaknesses is really pointless.

So, instead of talking about WHY Gus isn't playing well, lets discuss what he and the offense need to do in order to improve.

1) OL needs to stop with the false starts and holdings. This will improve our down and distance. This HAS to happen.

2) Linehan needs to stop thinking Gus is Dan Marino and chill out with all the passes. I know teams are stacking the LOS, however, I would rather pound the rock with a elite RB (we seem to have two of these) OR play action and throw a short pass, than all these long bombs we are doing. Linehan, improve your play calling!

3) Formations are killing us! Our run and pass formations are SO different. You can not only tell by down and distance whether we will run or pass, but our formations give it away too. Can we HIDE our intentions? You know, run when we have 3 WRs in the game? Play action when we have everything bunched up in a two WR set, on a known running down? MIX IT UP and HIDE your intentions!

4) Short and intermediate passes will help Gus. He is actually not that bad at these throws. We need a higher percentage of these passes to increase his confidence and lower our 3rd and long situations because our 'deep passes' on first and second down brought us zero yards.

Anyone want to add some POSITIVE thoughts to this list? Because Gus is NOT going to become Dan Marino anytime soon, so we need to accept it (linehan) and play to his strengths, protect him and avoid counting on him to 'win the game' for us. And then we can get back to winning games again.

Good post. Gus is not Dan, that's for sure. I agree with your above points. Putting Gus in 3rd and long all the time because of bonehead penalties just sets him up for failure.

 

[BennyVW]

I think we need to get back into the short passing game. That first drive we had during the jets game was awesome!!!

 

[Shouright]

#2 is the key. Get the ball in the hands of the best athletes on the team (Ronnie and Ricky) outside the 8 men in the box (screens) with blockers out in front. Patrick Pass of all people ran all over the field the other day on plays like that.

 

[Canadianfishfan]

I think we need to get back into the short passing game. That first drive we had during the jets game was awesome!!!

i would love to see more quick slants our quick curls to the middle of the field. We have to start using the middle more.

 

[Bellson]

our o-line needs to start blocking and stay focused so the penalties stop. And we def need to run more than 16 times a game. I like opening up our offense passing, but asking Gus to throw it 40 times a game is asking way too much of the guy.

 

[Dolphanaholic]

I think you are right on target good post