StoneCold":4txuzhi9 said:
Hawks have 3 problems, none of which are mentioned in the OP.
1. Teams have figured out Cover 3. Lots of teams run Cover 3 because the Hawks have had so much success with it. Teams now see it and scheme for it regularly. We are working on adjusting, but so far it has not clicked. Is that personnel or coaching?
2. We have a young and inexperienced Oline which may or may not be contributing to Lynch being off. He may just be getting old, but it's hard to tell from the last game when we start first and 20 to 25 in the first 4 drives. I was hoping to see improvements in the line, but we shot ourselves in the foot. If it isn't the line making him look a step off we may have 3 and 1/2 problems.
3. They have figured out the read option. Too many teams were busting people up with the RO and forced teams to account for it, and they've been very disciplined.
We have the talent, but do we have the will to make the adjustments and take our game to the next level? I think we do, but I don't know if we'll get it done this year. Might not get it working until next year.
That said, 11-5 is still alive.
The cover 3 has been around for a very, very, very long time. Teams aren't just 'figuring it out' all of the sudden. We may do a few things differently, like having a stand up pass rushers, and sending Chancellor down into the box, almost like a fourth linebacker -- however the core concepts are the same as they always have been. I think what we are lacking is a good second corner -- Williams has been lackluster, whenever teams need a big play it always seems like they look his direction. Before Maxwell, and Browner did a great job at manning that second corner slot, Williams is a clear step down from those two not only from a physicality standpoint, but also from a technique standpoint, especially when it comes to press coverage. Another thing I've been noticing is a lack of bump and run, our corners seem to be playing further off the LOS than I ever remember. I also feel as if Sherman has been taking far more risk than he normally does, almost as if he is pressing.
I think number three is more of a teams have figured out Wilson scenerio. Not only in the run game but also the pass games I feel as if teams are approaching him differently. They are doing a good job of keeping him locked down in the pocket. He hasn't had much of an oportunity for his famous scrambling drills this season. They are also catching onto the fact that he never was known for keeping the RO very often. Many of those shotgun runs were never designed to be RO plays in the first place. I think teams have caught on to this.
