11-12-2019, 05:52 PM
I ripped the Coaching Staff last week for a baffling game plan and utter lack of in-game adjustments. Only doubled Chris Jones 15 times when he's the 2nd best DT in the League? Zone Coverage instead of man and failing to double team Kelce/Hill when every team that has beaten the Chiefs used that strategy? Only 7 blitzes against a journeyman backup QB? Inexcusable.
But that was a great job by the Coaches in Dallas. Smith was all over the place. Lots of A Gap looks. Some unique D-Line alignments I hadn't seen before. And Zimmer actually trusted his CBs to play Man Coverage.
Yes, it was risky. Yes, Hughes got picked on. Yes, most of the blitzes didn't get home. But he was taking chances instead of playing porous zone and only rushing four. Which would have allowed Elliott to get going and made them a nightmare to Defend.
And kudos to Stefanski as well. Loved that 2nd half adjustment that had the FB blocking on the edges instead of up the gut. And calling like 10 straight run plays takes guts and discipline. Most OCs wouldn't have been able to resist the temptation to go Play Action and try for a chunk play.
But the thing that stood out the most to me was the 2 minute drill to end the 1st Half. All Shotgun looks getting one 5 yard completion after another until the shot to Diggs. When was the last time we saw Minnesota run the hurry-up? Or go all Shotgun and spread teams out?
Every other Superbowl it seems like NE comes out and throws 50 passes to a RB for 5 yard gains in the middle of the field. And it works. Stefanski was using TEs and WRs instead but it worked. Dallas was playing off to prevent a deep pass before the half. So take what they're giving. Yes, that last throw instead of chucking into the endzone was a head scratcher. But damn it's nice to see Minnesota use the same hurry up that the other 31 teams use.
The real question for me is whether Zimmer & Stefanski will continue to come up with such effective gameplans going forward or will it be back to the vanilla bullshit that handed the Chiefs a victory. Aggressive Coaching can take this team all the way in a year with many good teams but no truly dominant ones. Aggressive Coaching.
And I actually think Hughes did all right in an absolute trial-by-fire. Hill contributed too. Some of those catches were straight up indefensible.
But that was a great job by the Coaches in Dallas. Smith was all over the place. Lots of A Gap looks. Some unique D-Line alignments I hadn't seen before. And Zimmer actually trusted his CBs to play Man Coverage.
Yes, it was risky. Yes, Hughes got picked on. Yes, most of the blitzes didn't get home. But he was taking chances instead of playing porous zone and only rushing four. Which would have allowed Elliott to get going and made them a nightmare to Defend.
And kudos to Stefanski as well. Loved that 2nd half adjustment that had the FB blocking on the edges instead of up the gut. And calling like 10 straight run plays takes guts and discipline. Most OCs wouldn't have been able to resist the temptation to go Play Action and try for a chunk play.
But the thing that stood out the most to me was the 2 minute drill to end the 1st Half. All Shotgun looks getting one 5 yard completion after another until the shot to Diggs. When was the last time we saw Minnesota run the hurry-up? Or go all Shotgun and spread teams out?
Every other Superbowl it seems like NE comes out and throws 50 passes to a RB for 5 yard gains in the middle of the field. And it works. Stefanski was using TEs and WRs instead but it worked. Dallas was playing off to prevent a deep pass before the half. So take what they're giving. Yes, that last throw instead of chucking into the endzone was a head scratcher. But damn it's nice to see Minnesota use the same hurry up that the other 31 teams use.
The real question for me is whether Zimmer & Stefanski will continue to come up with such effective gameplans going forward or will it be back to the vanilla bullshit that handed the Chiefs a victory. Aggressive Coaching can take this team all the way in a year with many good teams but no truly dominant ones. Aggressive Coaching.
And I actually think Hughes did all right in an absolute trial-by-fire. Hill contributed too. Some of those catches were straight up indefensible.
