[Merged] Dan Henning's playcalling

and away we go...

Well they got a REAL DC this year in Nolan, it looks like they need to get a REAL OC next year and we'll be set. But damn why does it always take a year for this FO to figure things out ? Meanwhile other teams pass us by in getting better. Its just so frustrating.

Ricky should spell Ronnie or play only if he is the hot hand.

Otherwise Ronnie should start. No more of his rotating series crapola.

The problem is that Henne is scared too ... The guy can't complete a third down ... :no:

marshall will get pissed soon. and rightfully so.

Is a slap still a slap if you were to use the sharp end of a machete?

Ill keep saying it.....ive been saying henning sucks for 3 seasons now.

Defense is playing to win, Offense is playing to lose...

"CadStump wrote:

The problem is that Henne is scared too ... The guy can't complete a third down ... :no:

The debate over whether it's Henning calling a crap game or if he's calling vanilla and conservative plays because Henne simply cannot make the proper reads and decisions under pressure is going to be a long standing debate this year I'm afraid.

It could be either one or .... god forbid.... both.

I saw a couple specific replays that really call Henne's ability to make time sensitive decisions during plays where he has a WR early.

Def won the game no doubt.

My only beef with Henning today was once we got the ball back after the Vikings score and HAD to get a first down, you knew exactly what was coming. Run for loss, short pass to the outside with the cornerback smothering followed by an incomplete short pass to go 3-and-out.

The only thing that surprised me (maybe not) was that he called the exact same run on first down that got stuffed for 3-yard loss that got stuffed the first play of the last drive.
Beyond that, I've got no issues. We were frequently backed up on our own goal line. In those situations, you have to be conservative. The running backs having fumbling issues didn't help.

But let's not forget what we were dealing with. We were facing one of the league's better defenses. In fact, THE best run defense in the NFL the past 5 years or so. In a notoriously difficult venue where the opponent hasn't lost in two years.

I know we want them to put the pedal down and attack. But uncommon situations dictated that we not press our luck. And in this venue, you had to be happy with the offense going on long drives, wearing on that defense and then pinning the opposing offense inside their five yard line.

In short, the gameplan worked on offense. Three drives inside your 2 yard line and two critical fumbles will mar it. But they did well. Smart offensive football might have been the difference between winning and losing today.

"Muck wrote:

My only beef with Henning today was once we got the ball back after the Vikings score and HAD to get a first down, you knew exactly what was coming. Run for loss, short pass to the outside with the cornerback smothering followed by an incomplete short pass to go 3-and-out.

The only thing that surprised me (maybe not) was that he called the exact same run on first down that got stuffed for 3-yard loss that got stuffed the first play of the last drive.

Beyond that, I've got no issues. We were frequently backed up on our own goal line. in those situations, you have to be conservative. The running backs had fumbling issues didn't help.

But let's not forget what we were dealing with. We were facing one of the league's better defenses. in fact, THE best run defense in the NFL the past 5 years or so. In a notoriously difficult venue where the opponent hasn't lost in two years.

I know we want them to put the pedal down and attack. But uncommon situations dictated that we not press our luck. And in this venue, you had to be happy with the offense going on long drives, wearing on that defense and then pinning the opposing offense inside their five yard line.

In short, the gameplan worked on offense. Three drives inside your 2 yard line and two critical fumbles will mar it. But they did well.

jeez a voice of reason. not sure how to respond

I don't know... Henne looked brilliant on that pass to BMarsh, and played a very good game.

I agree some calls by the OC were pretty ridiculous, but we had great field position through the entire first half, along with the TD strike.

I'd love to see the passing game get opened up more, but we won. The Offense got a C today (A B if Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams didn't fumble). I'm ok with a C grade offense when our defense is playing A+ lights out for now.

First and 20 and Henning calls a TE Screen?!! Even if Fasano catches it, WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WITH IT?!! That call blew my mind.

Here's the deal.....for two weeks in a row we haven't had to play agressively on offense because we've been ahead the entire game. I agree with you wholehartedly...we should have taken some shots down the field in the 3rd and early 4th quarters....but we didn't and it worked out.

Weeks 3 and 4 are against our true rivals, and I think we will see a much different offense. We made it to this point being completely conservative (OMG the D rocked today!!!), I don't think we will see that as much against the Jets and Pats.

As long as we keep winning, I won't get on Henning for calling a safe game.

Ronnie and Ricky; however, need to realize good RBs don't do that.

And where the hell was Bess??? Seriously!

"SICK wrote:

marshall will get pissed soon. and rightfully so.

Nah, he got paid. He'll be happy.

As far as the offense goes... I don't know wtf is wrong with it. We can't seem to pass to save our lives. I have no problem running the ball, but where is the passing game? Why can't we connect beyond 10 yards consistently? Beyond Marshall making monster plays, we have no passing game. Is that Henne? Henning? I don't know, but something needs to be fixed.

"Clark Kent wrote:

Nah, he got paid. He'll be happy.

As far as the offense goes... I don't know wtf is wrong with it. We can't seem to pass to save our lives. I have no problem running the ball, but where is the passing game? Why can't we connect beyond 10 yards consistently? Beyond Marshall making monster plays, we have no passing game. Is that Henne? Henning? I don't know, but something needs to be fixed.

maybe its because we're not playing a high school defense. these guys are a championship caliber defense. i didnt see new orleans lighting them up either

"Muck wrote:

But let's not forget what we were dealing with. We were facing one of the league's better defenses. in fact, THE best run defense in the NFL the past 5 years or so. In a notoriously difficult venue where the opponent hasn't lost in two years.
.

One of the Leagues better defenses against the run.

V.S. the pass they are lower half of the league.

You have to be able to work an opponents weakness.
If this team's culture is going to be to prepare the offensive unit to be prepared for conservative grind it out games only then we are going to have issues going forward. They are clearly not comfortable trying to open it up.

The question is that I'm asking is why?

Is it that they just don't trust Henne and the supporting WR crew or is it simply that Henning is just a conservative guy conceptually.

You mention that on the road against tough opponents you should be conservative but I completely disagree.

To beat top opponents on the road you have to take chances and play to win. Our D just played outstanding allowing us to win.

I think its a little of BOTH. (Henning and Henne)

We can only hope that if we get into a shoot-out we can turn it on like a light switch.

"Coral Reefer wrote:

One of the Leagues better defenses against the run.

V.S. the pass they are lower half of the league.

You have to be able to work an opponents weakness.
If this team's culture is going to be to prepare the offensive unit to be prepared for conservative grind it out games only then we are going to have issues going forward. They are clearly not comfortable trying to open it up.

The question is that I'm asking is why?

Is it that they just don't trust Henne and the supporting WR crew or is it simply that Henning is just a conservative guy conceptually.

You mention that on the road against tough opponents you should be conservative but I completely disagree.

To beat top opponents on the road you have to take chances and play to win. Our D just played outstanding allowing us to win.

We simply disagree. ;)

Backed up on our own end, I don't want us taking chances. Having a great defense makes it unnecessary and IMO unwise.

On the road playing with a lead, I don't think you take chances. You be assertive, yes. But you play the percentages and get the hell outta there with a win. Backed up on our own end, the percentages ain't great.

I think it's predominantly the philosophy of the men in charge that we play conservative on offense. It's a run-first, don't-make-mistakes mentality. I agree that you can't continually put it on the defense to not allow more than 10 points a game. But some games just dictate that you keep it closer to the vest offensively.

Three of our last four drives in the second half began inside the 2 yard line. That doesn't happen very often.

I know everyone is all "who cares, we won?" because it was a road win---2 in a row, actually. And God knows, I am happy as all hell that we started the season with 2 wins, let alone 2 road wins, after the last couple seasons of dropping a bunch of games to start the year. But the problem is real, and it won't go away just because we feel good about our defense. Henning is a bad offensive coordinator, period.
I don't blame Henne...it looks to me as if he can make all the throws and if he gets sacked a time or two that's better than throwing INTs. I blame Henning. A coach makes the most of what he has, and Henning is not doing that.

"Muck wrote:

My only beef with Henning today was once we got the ball back after the Vikings score and HAD to get a first down, you knew exactly what was coming. Run for loss, short pass to the outside with the cornerback smothering followed by an incomplete short pass to go 3-and-out.

The only thing that surprised me (maybe not) was that he called the exact same run on first down that got stuffed for 3-yard loss that got stuffed the first play of the last drive.
Beyond that, I've got no issues. We were frequently backed up on our own goal line. In those situations, you have to be conservative. The running backs having fumbling issues didn't help.

But let's not forget what we were dealing with. We were facing one of the league's better defenses. In fact, THE best run defense in the NFL the past 5 years or so. In a notoriously difficult venue where the opponent hasn't lost in two years.

I know we want them to put the pedal down and attack. But uncommon situations dictated that we not press our luck. And in this venue, you had to be happy with the offense going on long drives, wearing on that defense and then pinning the opposing offense inside their five yard line.

In short, the gameplan worked on offense. Three drives inside your 2 yard line and two critical fumbles will mar it. But they did well. Smart offensive football might have been the difference between winning and losing today.

these short sideline passes are making me pull my hair out. it really makes me wonder if its henne doing this. idk. we run far too many plays like this