One more CG Thread: Can someone explain to me why we couldn't beat Eagle Slants?

I think you make a decent point Jor.  But I think it is deeper than Zimmer and not all on his shoulders.  I think the team needs to learn as well. 

Saw a breakdown several years back about teams that make it to the superbowl.  Very few teams that didn't have a playoff win in the past year or 2 made it to the superbowl.  I can't remember it all exactly, but there was a set of tiers.  Teams that made the playoffs previously (last year or 2) had a chance at a deep playoff run.  Teams that had won a playoff game had a chance at making the superbowl. 

It isn't 100%, but it goes to the thought process that teams need to learn to win in the playoffs as you say.  I think he will come back a better coach, and if the team stays healthy, I think they can make a deep run again next year.

For me that applies to most sports in general. The entire organization progressively learns how to move deeper into the Playoffs and eventually winning it all.

Zimmer gets his fair share of criticism from me but I'm also quick to laud him for growing each off season. This one will likely be spent talking to mentors and colleagues about how not to blow a big lead in the Playoffs and how to anticipate tendency breakers from opponents (as well as developing some of his own). 

Hopefully he also pays more attention to how his lack of substituting DEs really hurt the pass rush late in the year.

@"greediron" said: I think you make a decent point Jor.  But I think it is deeper than Zimmer and not all on his shoulders.  I think the team needs to learn as well. 

Saw a breakdown several years back about teams that make it to the superbowl.  Very few teams that didn't have a playoff win in the past year or 2 made it to the superbowl.  I can't remember it all exactly, but there was a set of tiers.  Teams that made the playoffs previously (last year or 2) had a chance at a deep playoff run.  Teams that had won a playoff game had a chance at making the superbowl. 

It isn't 100%, but it goes to the thought process that teams need to learn to win in the playoffs as you say.  I think he will come back a better coach, and if the team stays healthy, I think they can make a deep run again next year.

@"Jor-El" said:

@"greediron" said: I think you make a decent point Jor.  But I think it is deeper than Zimmer and not all on his shoulders.  I think the team needs to learn as well. 

Saw a breakdown several years back about teams that make it to the superbowl.  Very few teams that didn't have a playoff win in the past year or 2 made it to the superbowl.  I can't remember it all exactly, but there was a set of tiers.  Teams that made the playoffs previously (last year or 2) had a chance at a deep playoff run.  Teams that had won a playoff game had a chance at making the superbowl. 

It isn't 100%, but it goes to the thought process that teams need to learn to win in the playoffs as you say.  I think he will come back a better coach, and if the team stays healthy, I think they can make a deep run again next year.

Interesting breakdown and not surprising. Zimmer, organization, players, whatever - we looked like we didn't know that the playoffs are a different animal. I am definitely not saying Zimmer should go. He is no more flawed than any other rookie head coach - but some people forget he is a rookie HC, probably because of his age. I do think he is open to improvement, not stubborn like some coaches, and will get better. I'm just impatient...

@"greediron" said:

@"Jor-El" said:

@"greediron" said: I think you make a decent point Jor.  But I think it is deeper than Zimmer and not all on his shoulders.  I think the team needs to learn as well. 

Saw a breakdown several years back about teams that make it to the superbowl.  Very few teams that didn't have a playoff win in the past year or 2 made it to the superbowl.  I can't remember it all exactly, but there was a set of tiers.  Teams that made the playoffs previously (last year or 2) had a chance at a deep playoff run.  Teams that had won a playoff game had a chance at making the superbowl. 

It isn't 100%, but it goes to the thought process that teams need to learn to win in the playoffs as you say.  I think he will come back a better coach, and if the team stays healthy, I think they can make a deep run again next year.

Interesting breakdown and not surprising. Zimmer, organization, players, whatever - we looked like we didn't know that the playoffs are a different animal. I am definitely not saying Zimmer should go. He is no more flawed than any other rookie head coach - but some people forget he is a rookie HC, probably because of his age. I do think he is open to improvement, not stubborn like some coaches, and will get better. I'm just impatient...

I think he knew, but maybe didn't know how to impress it upon the players.  But then again, the Miracle isn't something you can really prepare for.  One of the top moments ever in the playoffs.

I think BRob gets it as a player as he is the only one to have been there in 09.  Many of the other kids probably think this happens every other year.

But I also agree, Zimmer seems open to improvement and new ideas.  I like our current leadership.

I don't think it was the destined thinking, I think it was the energy and emotion and distraction.  How many interviews did Case and Diggs do that week?  How many nights did the stay up way too late talking to friends/relatives/media about it? 

The emotion of it had to be tiring.  So when the INT happened, did the fatigue fill the void left by that emotion?

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"savannahskol" said:

@"pumpf" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"pumpf" said: Since no one else mentioned it: the slants were the product of the Eagle's "RPO" (Run - Pass Option) plays, where the QB has the option of handing the ball to the RB or throwing it.  In essence, it is a play-action pass, designed to force the LB's to stay in the box and defend the run.  At that point, the slant becomes "wide open".  If we keep our LB's back in the passing lanes, then the QB hands off.  The way *I* would've defended it would've been to play man defense and line our CBs up on the inside of the WR's- in effect taking away the slant (but giving up any kind of "out" route).  

I have never understood giving inside leverage to a wide receiver... never.  I will always want my DBs to take away the inside first and then force the QB to beat them over the top where hopefully the S is able to assist.

That's exactly what I coach my DBs to do (unless it's a zone... which we didn't run much because I like to blitz too much). By the way, I am pretty sure that the coaching staff "assumed" that we could take away the deep passes by putting pressure on Foles.  It didn't happen.  Our DBs weren't used to covering guys that long- and often they "gave up" because they assumed the play HAD to be over by then.  And then the ball went sailing over their heads...

I thought you were an O-Line coach?  :)

The Rev can do it all.  He can have a crowd on their feet screaming on friday night,  and have them sitting quietly in prayer on Sunday.  That's only 2 days,  just imagine what he accomplishes with the other 5....