Jeff Fisher, being the seasoned vet he is, uses the pre-season with tried and tested formula's.
1) Play the starting OL, DL, as much as possible to get continuity, therefore giving him a marker to play the different formations.
2)Bring vet starters along slowly as the pre-season progresses.
3)Use each game for a different offense, running game, long pass game, short pass game, mixture of all. These are pre-determined by who they are playing, mainly to the oppositions strenght.
Unluckily for Jeff, the last 7 days has messed plans up bigtime. First, starting center Tom Ackermann is out with knee surgery after taking all the snaps in camp. The Titans expected to sign last years starter Gen DiNapoli
but The Cowboys got there first. This has left them starting Justin Hartwig, who is the back-up guard. The move leaves no back-up at the guard position with starter Benji Olson carrying a leg injury.
The situation at running back is no better. With rookie Chris Brown out and Robert Halcombe being unable to practice because of hamstring trouble, that only leaves George, Simon, essentially a receiving back and an undrafted rookie. WR Jake Schifino is out.
On defense, Jevon Kearse is still having problems with his foot, while Kevin Carter has had hamstring problems, if they play it will only be limited. With the limited pass rush, pressure will be put on last years weakness, the secondary. The problem is not the starting corners, but the nickle back. Various senario,s
are in the planning, including moving Tank williams into nickle. However, lack of depth and injury at safety makes this problematic.
At linebacker there will be lots of different personnel coming into the game, to try to sort out the MLB position, even moving OLB,s inside.
Other problems are that Ackermann is the long snapper and John Simon was going to do return duties, but Fisher may use someone else for the first game.
So, if Fisher game plans as usual, vet starters will not see much time in this first game. Although O,Donnell and Volek are more than competent, the problem is with the OL pass blocking. A running game also defeats the object, so a short pass game, trying out 2TE sets ( which they have talked about using more this year) and passes to running backs may be what Fisher thinks is the best way to learn in the circumstances, IMO.
Considering Clevelands game plan, I noted that Couch and Halcombe had 28 & 30 attempts between them in a couple of pre-season games last year, when Couch was the definite starter. Logic says they wont be in there to hand off.
At Cleveland +3 I think there might be a bet, but my ignorance of Cleveland in depth and pre-season play( ive never had a bet )in general, tempers my judgement. Also, because I only do spread bets, if I am wrong I pay bigtime.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated on my comments, also information concerning Cleveland,s outlook for this game. What is the norm for a pre-season game concerning the OL playing time.
1) Play the starting OL, DL, as much as possible to get continuity, therefore giving him a marker to play the different formations.
2)Bring vet starters along slowly as the pre-season progresses.
3)Use each game for a different offense, running game, long pass game, short pass game, mixture of all. These are pre-determined by who they are playing, mainly to the oppositions strenght.
Unluckily for Jeff, the last 7 days has messed plans up bigtime. First, starting center Tom Ackermann is out with knee surgery after taking all the snaps in camp. The Titans expected to sign last years starter Gen DiNapoli
but The Cowboys got there first. This has left them starting Justin Hartwig, who is the back-up guard. The move leaves no back-up at the guard position with starter Benji Olson carrying a leg injury.
The situation at running back is no better. With rookie Chris Brown out and Robert Halcombe being unable to practice because of hamstring trouble, that only leaves George, Simon, essentially a receiving back and an undrafted rookie. WR Jake Schifino is out.
On defense, Jevon Kearse is still having problems with his foot, while Kevin Carter has had hamstring problems, if they play it will only be limited. With the limited pass rush, pressure will be put on last years weakness, the secondary. The problem is not the starting corners, but the nickle back. Various senario,s
are in the planning, including moving Tank williams into nickle. However, lack of depth and injury at safety makes this problematic.
At linebacker there will be lots of different personnel coming into the game, to try to sort out the MLB position, even moving OLB,s inside.
Other problems are that Ackermann is the long snapper and John Simon was going to do return duties, but Fisher may use someone else for the first game.
So, if Fisher game plans as usual, vet starters will not see much time in this first game. Although O,Donnell and Volek are more than competent, the problem is with the OL pass blocking. A running game also defeats the object, so a short pass game, trying out 2TE sets ( which they have talked about using more this year) and passes to running backs may be what Fisher thinks is the best way to learn in the circumstances, IMO.
Considering Clevelands game plan, I noted that Couch and Halcombe had 28 & 30 attempts between them in a couple of pre-season games last year, when Couch was the definite starter. Logic says they wont be in there to hand off.
At Cleveland +3 I think there might be a bet, but my ignorance of Cleveland in depth and pre-season play( ive never had a bet )in general, tempers my judgement. Also, because I only do spread bets, if I am wrong I pay bigtime.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated on my comments, also information concerning Cleveland,s outlook for this game. What is the norm for a pre-season game concerning the OL playing time.
