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NFL teams need to find their identity
The Advocate
Last season’s non-playoff NFL teams touted by many to struggle this season –
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or be total dogs – have shown more fight this season than perhaps any other time in recent memory. They all have one thing in common: They have a clearly defined identity; they know what they want to do offensively and defensively. Of course, there are also those teams – like the New York Giants or Indianapolis Colts – that are annual stalwarts with good records. Here are five teams that are having an identity crisis and what they can do to get to where they should be.
1. The Green Bay Packers. As a West Coast offensive team – one of a dying breed – they like to pass first to open up the run, but the lanes haven’t been there. Right now, they’re calling pass plays 66 percent of the time. Ryan Grant is averaging less than 17 carries per game. I’d like to see them run the ball a little more in the first half to set up play action, especially because they’ve allowed 20 sacks in four games. This would help the Packers defense in their transition to a 3-4 by keeping them off the field for less than half the game as well. Will it happen? Probably not. But QB Aaron Rodgers can’t throw very well when he’s on his back.
2. The San Diego Chargers: They appear to be having a hard time transitioning from a hard-nosed running team to a pass-first team, yet that’s what they need to be right now. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is cooked (hurt or not), and Darren Sproles is nothing more than an effective change-up back. They’re calling pass plays nearly 70 percent of the time, and it’s because they have no run support (2.7 yards per carry). As a team, opponents have 17 more first downs than they do, and are averaging 7.3 yards per throw against their shabby defense. While they have an explosive passing game, they would benefit from a more controlled spread offense, with more toss plays and screens to take advantage of Sproles’ speed, rather than inside runs. This will also help keep the defense off the field, which is in desperate need of a pass rush.
3. The Washington Redskins. Last season, the Redskins powered to a 6-2 record to start the year; they ran the ball with force, passed efficiently and the defense made clutch plays. Since then, they are 3-10. Of those wins, two came against winless squads. Ravaged with injuries, the offensive line must find a way to pull together. They can play a conservative, short-passing, run-first offense but only if their big-name defense can find a way to make plays. They’re allowing too many first downs on the ground (24) and via penalties (9). If they can force opponents to throw on third down, it would take advantage of megabucks defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth’s pass rushing ability and create more turnovers.
4. The Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens’ AFC championship run after last season was prompted mostly by three things: a stiff, playmaking defense, a pound-the-ball mentality and a quarterback that made just enough plays to move the ball in key situations. This season, the Ravens appear to be adopting a pass-first, ask-questions later mentality while playing little or no pass defense. In the first three games, QB Joe Flacco passed for six touchdowns and two interceptions; in the last two games, both losses, he’s passed for three touchdowns and three interceptions. Last week against Cincinnati, Willis McGahee, second in the AFC in rushing touchdowns, inexplicably had only one carry. Baltimore: You have two good running backs capable of creating a solid 35-rushes per game load, and still attempt plenty of passes. Get back to your roots!
5. The Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have the running backs and offensive line to become a power-rushing squad that plays strong defense and makes big plays off play-action. The biggest problem with Dallas is that they turn the ball over too much on offense, and don’t create enough turnovers on defense, putting even more pressure on their offense. They are first in the league in total offense, including third in rushing, but only 11th in scoring, meaning they need to start calling high-percentage plays in the red zone. They need to let QB Tony Romo be himself, and focus on stopping the run defensively (28 first downs allowed on the ground). Finding creative ways to rush the passer wouldn’t hurt, as their blitzes tend to be very basic and easy to pick up.
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