Week Nine: Minnesota Vikings (3-4) @ Detroit Lions (5-2)

[Mr.TaterSalad]

1 hour ago, Jason_R said:

There is no rule that says you have to have a certain number of rushes or yards per carry before you use play action. This is a team identity question. This offense has no identity under Morton. 

No, there isn't a hard and fast rule. But if you can't run the ball, as they couldn't yesterday, it makes the play action far less effective because as we both know they won't have to key in on the run or stack the box as much.

[Jason_R]

51 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

No, there isn't a hard and fast rule. But if you can't run the ball, as they couldn't yesterday, it makes the play action far less effective because as we both know they won't have to key in on the run or stack the box as much.

To the extent you are saying your offense won’t be effective unless your offense is effective, I agree with you. 

The issue is that this offense is not effective, at least in part, because it has strayed from its identity as driven by play action. Yes, continuity in OL has been a major factor, but a lack of continuity is all the more reason to focus even more intensely on your core identity. 

It would be one thing if you abandon your core identity because your OC guru is implementing clever play designs that scheme people open. This is not happening. What seems to be happening is they are calling more screens trying to make the passing game lower risk for Goff, and trying to take advantage of Gibbs as a playmaker, but neglecting the downfield PA game that they got a lot of explosive plays from previously. They should have this part of the offense dialed in by now but they’ve been chasing shiny objects for the first two months and aren’t there. 

This guy captures my sentiments: “Get back to the play-action stuff that made Goff more effective than he’s ever been and everything else will follow.”

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-opinion/147445/detroit-lions-lost-without-offensive-line-identity