We have Matt Forte out there who has 7 Touchdowns and seems to have better success crossing the goal line then Fitzpatrick throwing the ball. We are dead last in the NFL in red zone efficiency, and we have literally thrown games away due to our ineptness in the red zone. I blame Chan Gailey here too and sure the execution falls on Fitzpatrick but as a coaching staff when you see that your QB is struggling to find the end zone you have to go with what works.
If the players don't execute consistently you really think you can fault the coaches for not trying something else?
Chan Gailey fell of the wagon and reverted back to a pass happy offense with a quarterback who's leading the NFL in interceptions as well as redzone interceptions. Both Chan Gailey and Ryan Fitzpatrick need to go...preferably back to Buffalo.
The lack of running on 3rd and short and in the red zone has been one of my biggest complaints about the offense for the entire year. There have been countless decisions to pass that I have openly questioned. Gailey is way, way, way, way, way too pass happy, especially considering who the quarterback is.
Because the only play in Gailey's playbook is run it straight up the middle and when we do we usually lose three yards..especially without mangold.
Forte isn't really a 'punch it through the middle' kind of guy you fancy on or around the goal line and we don't scheme to do anything but that when we get down there. Either stop doing that or at least give Powell the rock in those situations.
Perhaps one day we'll do a play action fake... Or maybe an old fashioned weak side pitch or sweep. Something that isn't telegraphed. Given Chan's penchant for easily telegraphed play formation, that's easier said than done as long as the Ancient Coordinator is in the booth.
It's an interesting thing ... We move the ball between the 20's better than most teams in the league. In fact, we're 8th in the entire league in RZ Attempts per game, which is actually better than last year when we were 12th. The difference is, last year we were #3 in the NFL in converting those attempts into TDs -- 66%. This year we are a dismal 31st -- 38.25%. It's the same on the other side of the ball. Teams are getting into our RZ about the same as last year ... Among the lowest in the league. But again ... 2015 - #1 in the NFL in preventing RZ TDs -- 35%. 2016 - a horrendous 60% We all bitch and moan about dozens of things, but successs or failure in the NFL seems to be ALL about what you do in the Red Zone. We haven't executed inside the 20's and it's been the difference between being 3-6 right now vs 6-3. So I'm thinking that we deserve to be where we are because we haven't played well enough when it counts. But honestly ... I'm also starting to wonder if a lot of this RZ stuff just doesn't come down to blind luck. That's kind of a depressing thought, so I hope not.
Forte asked after the game why when he avg 7.7 a carry he didn't get more carries, said I don't call the plays, I just execute them....class act covering up for 2 morons, Chan/TB
I get the feeling its Chan telling Bowles that Petty aint ready so he can keep his pal Fitz on the field.
Yeah, I can see that. Which makes it all the more infuriating to think back to when Bowles arrived he talked up how to be a Head Coach you had to be involved in both the offense and the defense, obviously knowing that Rex was killed for not having any involvement in the offense. And what does Bowles do? Hands the entire fucking thing to Gailey.
But then there have been games where his average has been down in the threes... and they've given him the ball 30 times. If they aren't going to run on third-and-one I would at least like them to have someone in the backfield to make the defense think a little.
Another play missing is the throw to Bilal Powell out of the backfield. Last year, they were getting huge chunks of yards from that play.
I don't think Chan is capable of such plays, they don't seem to be in his DNA. He's just not very creative, he designed a quick passing game run by a QB that isn't accurate on the easiest of throws and locks onto receivers 85% of the time.. it's an awful combination. Gailey runs the same shit plays at critical times and opposition knows it. If the right side of the OL sucks, why then does Gailey call passing plays to the right on critical down and distance when the OL can't block, Fitz can't throw accurately and when he does throw right it gets knocked down 50% of the time? On the odd occasion when they do run properly based on down and distance where do they run? Yep, to the right into the butts of the worst OL on the team. Instead of recognizing they can't run right and calling plays to the left Gailey can't comprehend so they just throw the ball. He's a moron.
"It's called '5 Wide' for a reason folks. How can I run the ball without any running backs on the field?"
