JMarino
Starter
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 449
- Reaction score
- 0
http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsess...0d5d80b07f9d&template=with-video&confirm=true
1. The "Arkansas" package
There will be lots of names for what the Dolphins did to the Patriots when Ronnie Brown lined up as the shotgun QB, scoring four times on the ground and throwing a touchdown pass. I went to 16 NFL camps this summer and at least half of the clubs were working on some form of that package. Raiders rookie Darren McFadden ran it at Arkansas with Felix Jones in the backfield. Right after Brown ran for his third touchdown, I turned to former Houston GM Charlie Casserly and said the next time the Dolphins are in that formation he's going to throw a touchdown.
The first thing every defensive coordinator should do this morning is find out how many teams have running backs that were high school quarterbacks; they should watch them throw in pregame warmups. McFadden was a good high school QB and the Raiders' version of the Arkansas package will be as dangerous as the Dolphins' was Sunday. It was only a matter of time before this offensive scheme got popular in the NFL.
About five years ago, the concept of having a two-headed backfield started to become popular. Fading was the concept of a true bell-cow back and the idea of two backs splitting the touches became the way to go. As soon as teams had two good backs, the "Pony" backfield concept was developed, where both would be on the field at the same time and the fullback would be eliminated from the package. New Orleans had the Deuce McAllister/Reggie Bush package; Tampa Bay had its version of the "Pony" backfield, as did others. It was only a matter of time as teams tinkered with the "Pony" concept that it would lead to the "Arkansas" package.
Defenses do not get a key that the "Arkansas" stuff is happening because in the huddle, with a QB and two running backs, it is a "Pony" alert. The quarterback can't go in motion in the NFL, so when the huddle breaks the QB usually lines up as a wide receiver and the two backs configure a shotgun with an offset back. The Dolphins destroyed the Patriots defense with the package … but they were not alone in running it this week.
I watched Atlanta use it with Jerious Norwood in the gun. The Raiders have it. And it can't be long before we see a team like New Orleans line up Reggie Bush in the gun and Pierre Thomas as the offset, or Adrian Peterson taking the snap for Minnesota and riding Chester Taylor into the line. Keep in mind, even the slowest of quarterbacks, when lined up as wide receivers, have to be covered and will occupy a defensive back. The team that presents this package from the three wide receiver/two running back set will really spread the defense out and the inside keeper off the dive could be a big open-field play. Now, all the defensive coaches have to dedicate a lot of game prep time to the "Arkansas" package or they might look like the Patriots did against the Dolphins.
1. The "Arkansas" package
There will be lots of names for what the Dolphins did to the Patriots when Ronnie Brown lined up as the shotgun QB, scoring four times on the ground and throwing a touchdown pass. I went to 16 NFL camps this summer and at least half of the clubs were working on some form of that package. Raiders rookie Darren McFadden ran it at Arkansas with Felix Jones in the backfield. Right after Brown ran for his third touchdown, I turned to former Houston GM Charlie Casserly and said the next time the Dolphins are in that formation he's going to throw a touchdown.
The first thing every defensive coordinator should do this morning is find out how many teams have running backs that were high school quarterbacks; they should watch them throw in pregame warmups. McFadden was a good high school QB and the Raiders' version of the Arkansas package will be as dangerous as the Dolphins' was Sunday. It was only a matter of time before this offensive scheme got popular in the NFL.
About five years ago, the concept of having a two-headed backfield started to become popular. Fading was the concept of a true bell-cow back and the idea of two backs splitting the touches became the way to go. As soon as teams had two good backs, the "Pony" backfield concept was developed, where both would be on the field at the same time and the fullback would be eliminated from the package. New Orleans had the Deuce McAllister/Reggie Bush package; Tampa Bay had its version of the "Pony" backfield, as did others. It was only a matter of time as teams tinkered with the "Pony" concept that it would lead to the "Arkansas" package.
Defenses do not get a key that the "Arkansas" stuff is happening because in the huddle, with a QB and two running backs, it is a "Pony" alert. The quarterback can't go in motion in the NFL, so when the huddle breaks the QB usually lines up as a wide receiver and the two backs configure a shotgun with an offset back. The Dolphins destroyed the Patriots defense with the package … but they were not alone in running it this week.
I watched Atlanta use it with Jerious Norwood in the gun. The Raiders have it. And it can't be long before we see a team like New Orleans line up Reggie Bush in the gun and Pierre Thomas as the offset, or Adrian Peterson taking the snap for Minnesota and riding Chester Taylor into the line. Keep in mind, even the slowest of quarterbacks, when lined up as wide receivers, have to be covered and will occupy a defensive back. The team that presents this package from the three wide receiver/two running back set will really spread the defense out and the inside keeper off the dive could be a big open-field play. Now, all the defensive coaches have to dedicate a lot of game prep time to the "Arkansas" package or they might look like the Patriots did against the Dolphins.
