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Punt Offense
By Mike | October 29, 2007
During the John Schoop era, and then again during Grossman’s QB reign I suggested that the Bears punt on first down. They either weren’t trying or weren’t competent on offense so why risk turning the ball over and giving your opponent good field position, or worse, points? At the time the defense and special teams were the only units scoring points so why not punt on first down and give them more opportunities?
Well, now that we no longer have to worry about Schoop or Grossman we should be fine right? Full steam ahead. Let’s score some points the old fashioned way! On offense. The problem is the offense is terrible. The O-line is old and slow, the QB is average at best, the back below average, and the receivers can’t get open. And when they do they can’t hold on to the ball.
So back to letting the Defense score again? Unfortunately we’ve come to find out that the defense isn’t very good either. To be honest they may not have been that great in years past either, but they had us fooled because they were good at getting turnovers. A turnover in the red zone does a nice job of hiding the fact that you just let the other team drive 85 yards on you with no problem. This year they haven’t been getting the turnovers and thus haven’t been looking nearly as good as in years past.
So what the Bears do?
Simple. Implement the punt offense.
Devin Hester is the one player on the team that we can honestly expect to get into the endzone with any regularity so they obviously need to get him the ball more often. They’ve tried as a wide receiver with limited success. He’s still only getting two or three touches a game.
Here’s what needs to happen. Start out in a standard I formation with one exception. Hester is the back, and he’s fifteen or twenty, maybe even twenty five yards behind the line of scrimmage. Immediately after receiving the snap, the QB turns and laterals to Hester. And that’s all there is to it. Now its like he’s returning a punt on every play. By backing up so much it staggers the defense a bit and gives him some room to work his magic. If teams won’t punt to him then make every play like a punt.
Sure he might lose some significant yardage on occasion, but he’ll also get into the endzone three or four times a game. Plus think of how worn out the defense will be chasing him around on every play.
Want to mix it up a bit? Teach Hester to throw. He doesn’t have to be great, but if he can reliably throw a ball 10-15 yards, if he gets into trouble maybe he can toss it to a tight end and let him run with it. It will force the D to keep a guy or two back.
Want to get really fancy? Forget the QB. Make Hester the QB and use the longsnapper as the center. Use the extra player as another blocker.
I’m telling you its the only way the Bears are going to have a chance of winning.
Topics: Football, Chicago Bears |
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