Playing Andy Reid:
“Are you listening Bob?”
by David Bell | December 8, 2018
I don’t know what questions are going through the collective minds of Andy Reid’s staff. He knows there are three very tough games coming up, the first of which is against the Baltimore Ravens. If I were he, knowing what I know and what has just happened internally with the loss of a high caliber player, the questions going on in my mind would begin with:
- Are we prepared to win this battle?
- Are the players up for the game? With this win, the team secures a playoff berth. That is important.
- Have we done all we can to prep the players on how to do their assigned tasks?
If I have done what I should do and my staff has fulfilled their requirements, and if I am Andy Reid, I need to reflect upon, briefly, getting my mind off the contest tomorrow. I am the one who has to look ahead, so I do this briefly now. I ask myself how do we move forward with two more tough contests followed by a match-up for the second game versus the Raiders. This reflection will ensure my checklist is set for how to proceed after the game and before Daylight Monday.
I would lay out the plan of action beginning right after the media blitz and team meeting in the locker room celebrating victory. Immediately, I am going to turn my attention to how to move on to get the Chargers under control. So if my view of Reid and Co. is correct, the staff will have secured One Arrowhead Way and gone to the meeting facility to begin work for the game against the LAC.
Having assured myself that my plan is in place, that my thoughts match the things on paper that I had set up for the post-game post-celebration time, I would rest easy, say my prayers and get a good night’s sleep to be ready for a tough day at the office. After all, the Ravens are not patsy’s. This Harbaugh is the better coach of the two brothers.
I must be rested and then focused as soon as I awake.
Upon waking, I then have much work to continue and this means I must consider again how I am going to use the ground game against one of the best defender groups on the field of any NFL team in the league. I will concern myself with figuring how to get the passing game moving the chains because I know Harbaugh and Co. will begin by trying to take away the over-the-top game.
My play calling must reflect that this is also without Sammy Watkins and I have a new player in Kelvin Benjamin to consider in how to get him on the field and in the mix. Oh, and since I won’t have Sammy, remember to ratchet up plays for Conley. The intermediate and short game is going to be open. I know that if they defend over the top, I am going to have intermediate and short passes that will have a high percentage of success. “MOVE THE CHAINS!”
I will have Hill go deep and then start him in the fake moves to the post and using his speed to take the ball crossing inside so his legs have a chance to break it open. I am going to open the ILB’s and get them backing up in coverage and here my roster has advantage, with Kelce and Conley crossing and outs as the defense is zone and layoffs – they also trail. Make sure and give Patrick that clue. Oh yes I, if I am Andy, will have to Prep “Patty” on how to use his legs and get those first downs and more. Anything to keep drives going I am telling him. Oh yes I, if I am Andy, will have to Prep “Patty” on how to use his legs and get those first downs and more. Anything to keep drives going I am telling him.
Then I am going to use every RB in the game in short and flats passes to get them moving in the flow of openings which is to our advantage – we don’t have to face the Ravens tough front. We can counter it and then counter off of that with the running game.
My approach determined, I use the morning to talk to coaches and players and then I am going to drive some things home to Bob Sutton… at least I would do this in a crucial game having just given up 400+ yards to a “rank and smelly” Gruden Crew.
Are you listening Bob?
‘Sheesh that was rank,’ I am thinking.
“Good heavens Bob,” I hear myself saying, “They scored 33 points on us and 400 yards plus Bob!”
“Bob,” I would say, “Today you have Eric Berry. We need to use all of him.”
“Bob, I want O’Daniel in the game especially on 2nd and 3rd down and I want him to dog the quarterback, this is Jackson now, and only his second start. He has trouble with accuracy because he is not disciplined in throwing the ball. He has that funny side-arm throw a lot when moving.”
“Plus, I want Ragland and Hitchens hitting the LoS. No waiting. Make the judgement and flow to the ball carrier.”
To myself, I am saying: “Lamar Jackson isn’t incapable but he has low line drive passes and our defensive linemen need to use their hands in the passing lane. Tip the ball. Get an INT. Lamar scats with his feet too quickly. Ford and Houston have to work to keep him contained.
Then I am saying to Bob, “Okay Bob, this is what we need to get across to every player on the field — get your hands up and in the passing lane.”
“Bob, over here now. Jackson is not accurate, he uses his feet too quickly and probably only gets through a couple looks in his sequence and then he is moving. He is a runner then Bob. He makes those funny looking sidearm passes and is often unbalanced… get the guys on top of that… especially DOD. Let’s not let him be effective with his feet. If he takes off, lay the wood to him.”
“If we can dog that down, their offense is cooked and we can worry on scoring points to win. No more Mr. Nice Guy Bob.”
“I want to hit Jackson every time we possibly can. Make him sore. I want Jones, Ford and Houston to keep him in the pocket but wanting to flee. He can’t pay attention to targets if he wants to run. I want Bailey working the outside of the pocket as well. Push him to making mistakes. 2.5 seconds and we are good. I want Allen to add one to his six sack total! , Bob, if we can do this, and contain him, then we contain their ground game at the same time? See what I mean Bob?”
I observe for myself that Flacco is probably a no go from the start so we are going to have the advantage here. Bob surely knows this right? I trust him right? Bob, I am thinking… Bob???
“Bob? Use 29-Strong Bob, to read things and make the stops. Let him guide the secondary… he will know it before Jackson does. All we need is to keep Jackson moving his feet pointlessly and we get a win right Bob?”
Then Address the Staff
Then to every one else on staff I am going to discuss consistency, Cohesive play and consistency. Would you guys please hammer home that we need to stop the silly and stupid penalties. Oh yeah. Penalties are going to be doled out in the aftermath. Fines will be given out if there is too much of this silly and stupid penalty stuff going on.
Tackling? Belt buckle down I would tell the defenders. I want solid hits and wrap ups not this namby-pamby baloney we have been doing.
Okay. Here we go!!!
“Bob? You with me on this? Lamar Jackson: I want hits, I want containment. I want him dogged when he moves. I want hurries and yeah, Sacks are nice. This is the way we stop their offense Bob. Got it?”
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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