Lack of Play Action in the 2nd half - did anyone else notice?

[EnFoRcEr_uPu]

Normally I won't make a new thread for something like this, but I felt like it needed one this time.  Aside from very early on in the half, I don't recall a single play action pass being used in the entire 2nd half of the game.  I do recall a few screens to attempt to alleviate pressure, but with Morris finding holes, I just couldn't figure out why they weren't going to the PA game at all.

 

I'm wondering if anyone else noticed this and what the reason may have been.  I'm really hoping they simply just didn't call any, because it seemed to be an obvious call from my seat.

 

UPDATE:

 

I decided to go back and check the 2nd half passing plays.  After the first 2 drives of the second half, they did not run a single play-action for the remainder of the game.  I don't get it.  Much like the run, you can't just abandon something that is supposed to be a strength of your team.

[Warhead36]

They weren't biting. The Vikes pretty much conceded yards to Morris in order to get pressure on RG3. This was evident on play action dropbacks, bootlegs, read options, etc. in the 2nd half.

[Campbell's_da_man]

The problem is our defensive coordinator. He only knows how to stop Dallas.

It's time to say goodbye to Haslett and his suspect zone coverage scheme that even rookie QB's can pick apart.

[TheItalianStallion]

The problem is our defensive coordinator. He only knows how to stop Dallas.

It's time to say goodbye to Haslett and his suspect zone coverage scheme that even rookie QB's can pick apart.

 

Not in this thread.

[Voice_of_Reason]

Actually I thought we ran play action on just about every first down for a while in the second half looking for deep balls.

I could be wrong, but that was my impression.

[TradeTheBeal!]

There was some iffy play calling.  The naked pitch to Helu on 3rd and 1 at midfield late in the 1st half was just awful and drastically changed the momentum of the game.

[Riggo-toni]

There was some iffy play calling.  The naked pitch to Helu on 3rd and 1 at midfield late in the 1st half was just awful and drastically changed the momentum of the game.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Up until this game, I've been quite impressed with Gruden's play calling, but this game I kept wondering why there weren't rollouts or naked boots with the rush coming from straight up the middle.

[Dan T.]

There was some iffy play calling.  The naked pitch to Helu on 3rd and 1 at midfield late in the 1st half was just awful and drastically changed the momentum of the game.

But Helu messed up on that play. He clearly should have cut upfield in back of the block for the first down. Instead he tried to stretch it around the corner and got stuffed.

[SouthsideDC]

There was some iffy play calling.  The naked pitch to Helu on 3rd and 1 at midfield late in the 1st half was just awful and drastically changed the momentum of the game.

I think it was a good call but poor execution, they were run blitzing the A gap in anticipation of a dive or sneak. Helu has to realize the situation and just go up field instead of stretching it out allowing for a fast D to catch up.

[MartinC]

I actually thought we used play action quite a bit in the second half - but whenever we did RGIII could not find a look he liked down the field and either had to check it down or was getting quick pressure.

 

Be interesting to look at the all 22 when it comes out and see if he had places to go with the ball off those play action attempts.

But Helu messed up on that play. He clearly should have cut upfield in back of the block for the first down. Instead he tried to stretch it around the corner and got stuffed.

 

Thats was my take as well. I still did not like the call though - hand it off to Young on the dive, or better still use some play action with a Young in the flat and a TE running a deeper out to give RGIII and run/pass option with a high low read.

[EnFoRcEr_uPu]

http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/12809/redskins-need-to-pick-up-the-play-action

I wanted to add this to the thread because I was happy to see I wasn't the only one noticing the lack of PA in this offense.  After the incredible lack of it in the 2nd half of their last game, I was incredibly confused.

[DogofWar1]

While Play-action should be a staple of our offense, I will say it didn't seem to heavily impact our offense's marching.  We had 2 TDs in the 2nd half and a FG.

 

In fact, outside of the first drive of the 2nd half and the last 2 drives which were done with less than 3:30 left in the game, we had 3 straight scoring drives.

 

Perhaps the play-action would have further improved our offense, but we were chugging along on all cylinders for most of the half.  Actually, it's pretty impressive we did as well as we did without the PA pass.

[Burgold]

the other thing I noticed was that there were far fewer rollouts in the second half.  Mind you, the offense was being effective so I can't complain too much... but moving a pocket in the fourth seems like it might have helped.

[Darth Tater]

They weren't biting. The Vikes pretty much conceded yards to Morris in order to get pressure on RG3. This was evident on play action dropbacks, bootlegs, read options, etc. in the 2nd half.

That is the best way to defend against us.  If you have no other choice, give up the 4-5 yard plays because you don't want us scoring from a distance (even then, teams seem not to be able to stop us here).  Robert doesn't seem to have what it takes to make the big play with his legs (not what we really want anyway) and Alfred is not the guy who is a threat to house it from a distance..  We WILL screw up if you make us go 70-75 yards on a schedule drive.  We will throw interceptions, miss blocks or lanes on run plays or something that either ends up causing us to not score or leave 4 on the field.  Small data set but it looks like we may be getting past this problem some.

[Voice_of_Reason]

But Helu messed up on that play. He clearly should have cut upfield in back of the block for the first down. Instead he tried to stretch it around the corner and got stuffed.

This is true. But you shouldn't have to fake out a team in that situation. Like up in a heavy formation and get a yard straight ahead. Put DY in front of the RB and just get it.

I hated the call because it was too "cute".

[Darth Tater]

I think it was a good call but poor execution, they were run blitzing the A gap in anticipation of a dive or sneak. Helu has to realize the situation and just go up field instead of stretching it out allowing for a fast D to catch up.

I agree,  The naked pitch works almost every time if the defense is playing for a sneak or dive if there is good execution (the only time I've seen it fail off good execution is when the opposing defense actually screws up or gets lucky).  I've even seen long runs off the naked pitch when the defense is looking for dive action, the offense executes well and the defense executes its plan versus the dive well.

[Voice_of_Reason]

That is the best way to defend against us. If you have no other choice, give up the 4-5 yard plays because you don't want us scoring from a distance (even then, teams seem not to be able to stop us here). Robert doesn't seem to have what it takes to make the big play with his legs (not what we really want anyway) and Alfred is not the guy who is a threat to house it from a distance.. We WILL screw up if you make us go 70-75 yards on a schedule drive. We will throw interceptions, miss blocks or lanes on run plays or something that either ends up causing us to not score or leave 4 on the field. Small data set but it looks like we may be getting past this problem some.

Part of the solution to this is to throw more deep passes to DJax, and get the underneath game going where you flood the zone behind DJax.

Teams will concede the run, fine, but we've been hitting deep balls all year. Find out how to get more. Teams will have to stop blitzing. Or, make them pay when they do blitz.

I kindof have a problem with the offensive philosophy. We take what teams give is rather than trying to strike fear in defenses and force then to react. Not suggesting we should throw into coverage, but I think we have a conservative mindset on offense. And I'd like to see then just be aggressive and go for it.

I agree, The naked pitch works almost every time if the defense is playing for a sneak or dive if there is good execution (the only time I've seen it fail off good execution is when the opposing defense actually screws up or gets lucky). I've even seen long runs off the naked pitch when the defense is looking for dive action, the offense executes well and the defense executes its plan versus the dive well.

I've seen that play succeed and fail. If the outside guys just stay home, it's doomed. And with a good defense, there's no way to tell what they are going to do until you snap the ball.

the other thing I noticed was that there were far fewer rollouts in the second half. Mind you, the offense was being effective so I can't complain too much... but moving a pocket in the fourth seems like it might have helped.

For some reason, my perception is they don't move the pocket as well when Griffin is in pistol or shotgun.

I could be wrong about that. But I sort of remember that they're better rolling the pocket when he's under center.

[London Kev]

I notice that Griffin only threw to Reed once. Niles Paul, Helu and even Morris had more targets. Reed is a great underneath/seam guy, kinda strange we didn't use him more.

[PartyPosse]

I wonder how much of it had to do with Gruden's old colleague Zimmer on the other wide. Perhaps he wanted to switch it up to get away from what Zimmer knew about him.