Pericles349 said:
I know it is still very early and all, but with the way our offense is shaping, what formation do you see the Dolphins using the most this season?
Personally I think it will be something that WON'T include both RB's but will instead use more the FB and RB. I'm leaning more towards an I-Formation where Ronnie or Ricky will be used as a decoy on a play-action.
It's not about the formation. It's about the personel grouping. The defense will try to match what our offense has placed on the field. The popularity in the use of the H back (often McMichaels roll) originates in an attempt to get coverage personel (corners) on the field to RUN THE BALL at the coverage personel.
When you see a single back set and an eventual run it was not an attempt to fool the defense by formation. It was an attempt to fool the defense with personel and POWER over them.
When you see a single back set and the game is dominated by the pass, it becomes obvious that the defense has chosen to defense the run via personel (linebacker).
There is no single player in the NFL that has illustrated this better than Rodney Harrison. While listed as a SS his coverage skills leave something to be desired. Jay Fiedler and Randy McMichael made a ***** out of him in 2004. Harrison plays the run as a linebacker and his coverage skills are better than the average linebacker. IMO, this WAS the key to New England's success. No team knew Harrison's role. There was no other player on that defense that attributed more to the success.
So what am I saying? As you watch the game count the eligible receivers from the either sideline. The majority of the game will be dictated by the following:
Find the third eligible receiver from the sideline (he is the same man counting from either sideline). The defender covering him should dictate whether we run or pass. If the defense has chosen to cover him with a linebacker we will pass. If the defense has chosen to cover him with a DB, we will run. If the OC isn't calling the game to those parameters the DC is defeating him.
Otherwise, the offense can choose to match up (DB's on Receivers) and attempt to defeat a team through TALENT.
Likewise, the offense can choose to match up (RB's on LB's) and attempt to defeat a team through TALENT.
Throw in a trick play or two and the above can describe just about every NFL game you will watch this year.
BTW: If the 3rd eligible receiver stays in for pass protection for the majority of the game, the offense has either met up with a superior D-line or your O-line simply sucks......... :tongue:
