Right before the 3rd and 1 bomb to McCareins, I leaned over the my Wife and said, "This would be a totally fun 'Video Game' situation... This is a great time to do something really nuts... like bring in a few TEs, line up really tight as though youre going to punch out the 1 yard (as any sane person would do), and then lob a pass over everyone's head. It's fun as hell and always seems to have a good chance of success." Lo and behold. That's why I love this offense. It's fun, its unpredicatable, and theyre not afraid to call the silly 'Video Game' plays (as I like to call them) How the HELL did the ultra conservative Father Schott spawn this for a son? And as a side note... For everyone who gave them shit LAST week: This is EXACTLY the play that McCareins fell down on towards the end of the game against the 'Fins. I think it was ballsy to call it then, and you saw what the result SHOULD have been against the Lions. Anyone... Just wanted to share With Awe, Chris Rex
No he didn't, he said he made a comment saying it would be a crazy play.. but anyway, I am liking this offense too. We shift WR's, TE's and RB's around and always seem to have a few plays that trick opposing defenses.
It was clear the Lions were ready for the play because McCareins was double-covered the whole way down the field. However, Pennington made a perfect pass to beat the double-team. I imagine people would say that the pass was underthrown, but we have all seen that you can really ask McCareins to try and "make a play", rather for him to catch the pass you have to put in right in his basket with a freakin' bow around it. Thankfully, Chad did just that instead of trusting McCareins to extend his hands and hold onto the ball.
He probably got so fed up with his fathers conservativeness (is that a word?) over the years that he wants to be as aggressive as possible now. It's great so far.
It's good sometimes, but I found the offense OVER doing it with the third and 1-or-2 passing. It had been working, especially in the McCareins pass (maybe a bit of luck with that one) but 3rd and 1 from the Lions 40 or so, they needed to keep that on the ground, we were having pretty good success at punching it through with Barlow, as they were without Rogers. Instead the WR (I think Coles) was hit hard and dropped a short pass, leading to a punt.
brian "the brain" schotty isn't Schottheimer's son, he is spawn straight from Albert Einstein himself, hence his "theory of touchdownability" and the "screen pass spectra" theory. I can't wait until Schotty finishes his work on "quantum first downs" we will be unstoppable!!!
chad is a perfect QB for these type of situations, play action, long pass to mccareins, or if he saw something he didn't like, change the play and either sneak it or give to barlow. i like how the OC is giving chad the chance to call his own plays. i also like how they're finding ways to get brad smith touches, very creative, even in games they lost(indy) it was a fun game to watch as a fan. much better than the years of heimerdinger and hackett where the predictability was painful. don't need to see the 3rd and long draw anytime, unless it's just to kill time on the clock. hell 3rd and long draw play may work now because defenses are not looking for it.
i wouldnt go so far as to say that chad is the perfect qb but he is very good at the play action (not as good as peyton manning though)
i actually called a playaction bomb that very play....i love the call, and overall, schotty is looking like a great OC already, yes i said it, he looks like a great OC, hopefully he keeps up the awesome gameplanning and play calling....he really is squeezing out every last bit of talent we have on offense onto the field.....one of my concerns though, is not getting Brad Smith on the field more, he gets the ball almost every time he is in....i would like to see him get more plays as a qb, rb, and wr, even if he is not getting the ball as the rb or wr, he will be/is a good decoy
I was goin crazy after the play with excitment over how much of a change it has been since Hackett has left. I was in absolute shock that they would try the same exact play they tried last week when McCarreins busted his ass and embarassed himself. That never would have happened in the past, I love the creativity and ballsiness of this regime.
Not to take away from the play, but if you look at the replay it looked like Jmac would have dropped the pass if the defender didn't "nudge" it back into him. I was happy to see the 6 on the board nonetheless.
Have you watched him when he has been on the field this year? He acts like he doesn't care....which is not surprising given that he, allegedly didn't come into camp in football shape. I have no problem if he doesn't produce...maybe he just isn't good enough. However, when you are on the field and act like you couldn't-care-less that's another story.
Another thought on the play... Was it me, or did the ball travel almost 45-50 yards in the air? Not Marino, granted, but not bad for a QB who supposedly barely has enough strength to lift his cereal spoon to his mouth in the morning...
On the JMac TD...I stared straight at Barlow diving into the line, totally faked out...Then MM goes "look!" As I see the ball in the air, then JMac catches it for the TD... I was just looking to see if Barlow got the yard, hahah.
The most clever part of that play call was the use of McCareins. Had Coles, Cotchery or Smith been in the game, it would've signaled that something was up. Even though the DBs weren't fooled, the play call and Chad's fake helped slow down the pass rush.
