We have heard a
lot about the new “Vertical passing game” that the Lions will run in 2006. As a
Lions fan anything that is not the west coast offense sounds good to me.
So lets take a
look at what this “Vertical passing game” will bring to the Lions and how the
personnel will fit.
The
quarterback, like in any NFL offense, is important. But unlike the west coast
offense of old the quarterback will have to be very tough taking many hard
shots, make more adjustments at the line (not audible), and make fast reads just
before throwing the ball.
One of the keys
to the new VPG (vertical passing game) is a quarterback that will let the play
develop, and give his receivers time to get down the field. This extra time
needed may only be a second and a half or less, but it often leads to a
quarterback taking huge hits just after releasing the ball. In the 5 years
Warner started for St. Louis he only had 2 healthy seasons, and his replacement
Bulger has yet to finish all 16 games in a season.
Another very
important part of the VPG is the quarterback’s ability to create confusion for
the opposing defense at the line of scrimmage, and that does not mean calling an
audible.
Martz is one
coach that does not believe his QB should be changing the plays. Instead he
teaches his QB to send receivers in motion and overload one side, or set the
running back, or tight end in motion to set up as a receiver. Motion with
running backs, tight ends and receivers and how to use it properly is a
complicated system, but works well to confuse the opposing team. That is Martz’s
specialty.
The use of
motion and the extra time to let the play develop is all about creating space.
Often times the space for receivers is not created until the last second before
the quarterback throws the ball. Quick decisions become more and more
important.
Unlike the west
coast offense in which the quarterback will throw to his primary receiver
80%
of the time
due to the design of the plays in that scheme, a quarterback in the VPG will be
throwing to his primary receiver much less. In the VPG reading the defense and
seeing the field as it develops and the checking down off receivers becomes
imperative for success.
The Lions may
be very fortunate having Kitna and McCown on the roster in the upcoming season.
Both have some familiarity with the system coming from teams that run versions
of the VPG. Both Kitna and McCown have shown toughness and some level of
durability. McCown can make time with his feet and can throw better than Kitna
on the run yet Kitna has more real NFL game experience. No matter who is
starter on day one the injury history of the VPG has shown there is a good
chance both these quarterbacks will get there chance to play in 2006.
Receivers in
this new offense will have the same duties as any in the NFL. They will need to
run clean routes and try to get open. No new news there. The one new thing they
will have to do is learn lots of new plays and the adjustments.
Motion in the
VPG is not just about changing sides of the field. It can be about changing the
receiver’s routes. Weather it is changing the tight end from going out for a
pass to blocking or switching the X receiver to streak pattern to stretch the
field all 5 eligible receivers including the running back will have lots to
learn.
Also this style
of offense mean having a 3 true receivers on the field the majority of the time
as opposed to the west coast offense which has two receivers, a tight end, a
fullback, and running back as the 5 eligible receivers.
The use of a
slot receiver will mean less use of a fullback.
Most passing
games in the NFL have one receiver play deep on almost every play to drag
defenders away from the line of scrimmage. But with the addition of a 3rd
true receiver on the field you will see more eligible receivers on each play
going deep, even if it is the tight end.
Dragging more
defenders down field will hopefully give the QB more time open underneath routes
and open up the running game.
The Lions
receivers will need to get used to running many long routes even if it is just
as a decoy to stretch the field. Speedy receivers stretching the field are
imperative, and the Lions seem to have that roll filled with Bradford, Roy
Williams, and Charles Rogers. A quality slot receiver that can hang onto the
ball in traffic will be a must, and Kevin Jones had better start practicing that
tough catch out of the backfield.
Whoever the
Lions line up as their receivers in the new offense they will have to perform
better than they have in the past.
The VPG is no
power running game as you can tell by its name. The run is set up off the deep
passing threat, backing defenders off the line of scrimmage. Unlike the power I
formation you see so often with the west coast offense, the single back set will
be the primary formation in the VPG. The lack of a full back on many running
plays will mean the need for effective delays, stretching the run to the
outside, and the utilization of the tight end to block.
Without
addressing the offensive line needs in the article (we all know it needs to be
revamped) the Lions main running back, Kevin Jones, has the speed and build to
excel in this offense if he can improve on his receiving skills, and remain
healthy. Until his receiving skill improve look for Bryson to be on the field
much of the game and share many carries.
In the end it is only a
guess how much of St. Louis’s game plan Martz will use with the Lions. He has
already stated he will tailor the Lions offense to the personnel. But if it is
anything like St. Louis it will be a huge change from the west coast offense
that we have seen fail in the past under the Mornhinweg, and Mariucci eras.
