@BCG, I have a question for you . Looks like most of the offensive lines are decimated by injuries leave apart few like eagles and cowboys . Can the QB overcome it or is it more dependent on playcalling .
If there is no protection, then the only option is screen or handoffs which is what Patricia is doing . What more do you think Patricia can bring in.
Sorry haven't been here
Certain QB's can work with pressure. A lot of the time they themselves invite it for big plays (Wilson, Watson, Burrow, Allen) but Mac just doesn't have those unique traits to scramble, buy time and survive in short areas. Which is fine but it just emphasizes the need for a top tier OL. A guy like Josh that will hold his hand. And It looks like we definitely need to bring in a real WR1 or hope Thornton turns in to onte next year.
The big problem here is the inconsistencies of the line. The people harping on the play calling are ignoring the biggest piece of the puzzle on offense. Without a OL it doesn't matter if you have Brady and Josh back there. It's football 101. I could name 50 guys id rather have than Patricia but play calling is not the biggest problem in terms of why this offense isn't functional. Hes not the most creative but we've moved the ball fine when the line is competent. Red zone is another story. Him and Judge are definitely spread too thin and the offensive line is paying the price. And you can trace it back to weeks 3-5 when things started to go to ****. Injuries, Wynn's regression, Strange up and down play, Brown taken a small real step back. It's all there if you don't have bias.
We could definitely use more and be more consistent when using motion, shifts
and misdirection. If Marcus Jones is part of this offense going forward id like to see him in that role. Maybe use him or Thornton on some reverses off orbit. We've been using it (motion) to give some of our guys a free release but could use more of it overall, throughout the game. And again throw on some wrinkles.
The lack of targets and usage of Bourne is a crime. He's someone that can give us some easy yac. Has a chemistry with Mac and is a proven player.
How many trick plays have we used? Hes been around Josh long enough to have picked up on a few plays. Id like to see something off all those screens we run. Even a simple fleaflicker.
Keep up the RPO usage. It's about time. Keep it up and throw down field. Our line is sloppy, you have to be discipline to take shots down field off RPO but it's not a flag fest you'd think.
We have to make it a point to take a few deep shots. We've become conservative. Mac was a good deep passer in college and this offense desperately needs some explosive plays/yards. If Thornton is healthy he need to be running some sprints out there to help stretch the field.
There's a few other things but without a competent, functional OL it's hard to say what will work. Especially with the number of different combos we've been using. That's the point I've been trying to make. You could have Payton calling plays. It doesn't matter if your line sucks. Conversely you can win with simplicity IF your line is strong, versatile, mentally tough and plays together. I mean - Gibbs, Shanahan, McVay, McCarthy, Kubiak will all work off of about 7 different plays/concepts. Very few run concepts but when they have the right group that can execute it can be extremely tough to a
stop.
Again there's a 50 names I'd throw out there to replace Patricia but until we fix the OL this offense isn't going anywhere.