Is Offense trying to become as deceptive/flexible as Defense?

[chrispy]

I didn't hear the interview, just read this synopsis:

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/brady-russell-biggest-surprise-seattle-seahawks-minicamp-brock-huard

Perhaps this is just a Brady Russell thing. However, the first thing I think of is how successful MMac has been with swiss-army type players on D. Can Fleury use his experience with Juszczyk and Kittle and McCaffrey and even Deebo Samuel, all players that do several things well, to re-create that flexibility and "mis-direction" on Offense?

To a large extent, I understand that's kind of the basis of certain aspects of both Shahanan and McVay Offenses. So...maybe I'm just calling out the obvious to many here...and (as normal) I'm just late to the party. To really see it in practice (while in practice) seems like a big step forward.

A fullback that can act as such or TE or H-back and still catch out of the backfield, lined up with combinations of Barner (block/catch), Arroyo(speed/flat) and a receiving-capable RB and JSN and Shaheed (sweep?) and Co on the outside... that's pretty difficult 1st and 2nd downs to defend...right? Am I wrong in seeing similarities to Spoon/Emmanwori/Bryant being unpredictable until after the snap?

I'm anxious to see how RB plays out and how the TEs look as off-season progresses. And Darnold will have to be able to master all the options on all the groupings. The playbook could be encyclopedic this season.

 

[GeekHawk]

Gawd, I hope so! On all counts.

 

[RolandDeschain]

It would be sick as hell if we could have a roughly matching level of misdirection and creativity on offense as we do on defense. I would LOVE to see it happen!

 

[sutz]

Sounds good to me! Historically, the Seahawks have under utilized the TE position and have often been of the "simple but effective" pphilosophy in their formations and playcalling. A little more gadgetry and misdirection feels like "moving into the 21st Century" vibes.

 

[RolandDeschain]

Sounds good to me! Historically, the Seahawks have under utilized the TE position and have often been of the "simple but effective" pphilosophy in their formations and playcalling. A little more gadgetry and misdirection feels like "moving into the 21st Century" vibes.

Obtaining Jimmy Graham is a great example of how we were poor at utilizing players' strengths, unfortunately.

 

[Bobblehead]

Obtaining Jimmy Graham is a great example of how we were poor at utilizing players' strengths, unfortunately.

DO you think JS actually talk to the OC concerning personal? OR is it just JS/PC thinking Graham would be great with the OC not having the faintest idea of how to use him?

 

[RolandDeschain]

DO you think JS actually talk to the OC concerning personal? OR is it just JS/PC thinking Graham would be great with the OC not having the faintest idea of how to use him?

It smells like Pete thinking he'd come here and just be great, IMO.

 

[sutz]

Or maybe JS has gotten smarter and better since the Jimmy Graham days...

 

[Hawkstud]

It's a given that Fleury and Macdonald will be interfacing on a continuous basis, depending on the opponents, Fleury will surely tap into the offensive plays and players that are harder to defend, and prepare those players to execute accordingly and of course Darnold will have an alternate play should the designed play look to be breaking down.
I have faith that with his background in helping other players maximize their play that Fleury will have some success in growing this offence to be something very special.

 

[Jac]

More on motion

 

[chrispy]

More on motion

So...

My (unqualified) impression is that an Offense uses a "shift" to help diagnose a Defense, and "motion" to confuse/misdirect the D. Correct?

I recall PManning using a shift and then stepping back up and calling an audible. I think that's not allowed unless everyone is "set". If a player is in motion at the snap, the QB doesn't have the option to stop the play. He could watch any adjustment on D and predict but can't audible.

I'd guess shifting (in some situations) puts much more responsibility on the QB. ...or maybe less in some too. If Darnold recognizes an adjustment to motion, he'll need to predict a different option/read during and directly after the snap-almost immediately. Alternatively, if the motion doesn't get the reaction on D they hope, he knows he can't audible... maybe he dumps it off or throws it away.... The use of motion and shifts, in general, also probably leads to more bone-headed pre-snap penalties

If the original article and the above video are showing what it seems (more complex, flexible, confusing, faster Offense) it means Darnold will have to play up to his new contract.... I'd guess the danger here is trying to do too much....

 

[CouchLogic]

I think they were working out this mentality last year, especially with the TEs. There was a ton of seeing what the defense would do with certain packages, dissecting it, then taking advantage of it.

I think injuries put a slight damper on it later in the season, but by then JSN and K9 were cookin', so they had to make adjustment (which in itself was awesome to see). If we can get the HBs at full strength, the Horton role at WR can be filled, and another TE can step up as a recieving threat, we'll see Seattle give every team problems again.

 

[Jac]

So...

My (unqualified) impression is that an Offense uses a "shift" to help diagnose a Defense, and "motion" to confuse/misdirect the D. Correct?

I recall PManning using a shift and then stepping back up and calling an audible. I think that's not allowed unless everyone is "set". If a player is in motion at the snap, the QB doesn't have the option to stop the play. He could watch any adjustment on D and predict but can't audible.

I'd guess shifting (in some situations) puts much more responsibility on the QB. ...or maybe less in some too. If Darnold recognizes an adjustment to motion, he'll need to predict a different option/read during and directly after the snap-almost immediately. Alternatively, if the motion doesn't get the reaction on D they hope, he knows he can't audible... maybe he dumps it off or throws it away.... The use of motion and shifts, in general, also probably leads to more bone-headed pre-snap penalties

If the original article and the above video are showing what it seems (more complex, flexible, confusing, faster Offense) it means Darnold will have to play up to his new contract.... I'd guess the danger here is trying to do too much....

This is an interesting video from last season from the offense Fleury was under. Price is designed for this.

 

[Jville]

This is an interesting video from last season from the offense Fleury was under. Price is designed for this.

Nice look ..................

I'm under the impression Robbie Ouzts and Braddy Russell were looked at during the recent mini camp.

Thanks for posting

 

[Jac]

Nice look ..................

I'm under the impression Robbie Ouzts and Braddy Russell were looked at during the recent mini camp.

Thanks for posting

I can't wait to see how this all unfolds. Fleury's getting the national media/NFC West rival skepticism treatment right now, but he's an interesting potential-upside hire.

“I know he crushed the whiteboard,” Huard said. “I can say that confidently. I know he crushed the whiteboard. I know in the interview process it was pretty overwhelming to everybody in the room that his years under Kyle, and his understanding of situational ball, and the level and the depth and the detail was pretty overwhelming, because there were strong in-house candidates, a number of them.


And Macdonald ever-the-details HC.

"Speaking to media after Tuesday’s first OTA practice, Macdonald explained how he’s working to prepare Fleury to be a first-time NFL play caller this fall. He also described the play-design and play-calling process as “a team effort” that includes a number of offensive assistants.

“It’s my responsibility to design periods and an offseason and a training camp where we can have those types of exposures, so we can get that experience and have those conversations – much like we did last year with Klint – so we can always put our best foot forward,” Macdonald said.

https://sports.mynorthwest.com/nfl/seattle-seahawks/huard-how-new-offensive-coordinator-brian-fleury-impressed-seattle-seahawks

 

[Jville]

OTAs and mini camps are really about evaluating both physical and mental conditioning and getting a read on the play book possibilities with this year's collection of talent. Coaches and support staff are now formulating a plan for this years preseason camp.

 

[Jac]

Here's more. Given that Fleury worked under Shanahan for years, I think it's all fairly predictive of where we may be headed (maybe even more so than the Klint Kubiak parallels, who only worked under Shanahan for one year in 2023).

 

[Sperrydogg]

DO you think JS actually talk to the OC concerning personal? OR is it just JS/PC thinking Graham would be great with the OC not having the faintest idea of how to use him?

I felt like back then when we got Jimmy graham we did not really know how to use a TE the way drew breeze did, I remember there was even a contract dispute with Jimmy about whether he should be paid like a tight end or wide receiver, then Jimmy came to Seattle and I think we tried to use him more like a te but still throw to him and this team was a run first team. Remember Jimmy and Bruce Irvin had to work out their differences cause Bruce called Jimmy soft..

 

[toffee]

How the league's DCs evaluate our offense:

The Seahawks have an OL that will dominate, the best WR in the league, one of the best QBs, and a bunch of RBs that lucked into running behind our OL. Our offense is unstoppable.

If that's not enough, our defense will keep the team in any game, still not enough? We are three deep in the QB position.