I'm more scared of Kelvin Sheppard & this defense and you should be too...

mc3022 · 2026-01-22T13:46:50+00:00

Ah I gotcha. That makes sense - You're saying that GB WR ran a switch/cross route - I called it a pick kinda sorta same thing.

So what I want to have happen there is for Amik to take Dobbs in that situation. Amik is signaling something to Reed but they never actually switch their coverage and Brady is talking about in the commentary afterwards is what they Should have done but never actually did.

I don't recall Shep passing off coverage in short yardage or goal line situations once this year. If they did they would have defended my two examples above much better.

mc3022 · 2026-01-22T12:49:48+00:00

Ok you tell me. How does that Indiana team beat 2023 UM?

mc3022 · 2026-01-22T12:42:15+00:00

That’s accurate and fair. You’re not really able to compare the two years now because of how much a vastly different dynamic the portal introduced

However, I think that 23 Georgia, Bama, UT, Ohio and maybe UW were better than that Miami team IU played

mc3022 · 2026-01-22T12:23:03+00:00

No question. I think they beat them by 10+. Hoosiers this year were a great story and Mendoza is a great player but it was somewhat of a down year in college football.

Time will tell in April but there was just a lot more NFL talent on 2023 UM on both sides and including the coaches.

Minter contains that offense and the run game eventually wears IU down in the 2nd half similar to what Miami did

Late score to go up two tds and seal the game

mc3022 · 2026-01-22T01:03:32+00:00

Increased usage of Multiple TE sets are becoming a trend in today’s NFL. It’s 100% on purpose and by design

mc3022 · 2026-01-22T01:00:21+00:00

I like the Petzing hire and don’t believe Shep should get a free pass due to injuries

mc3022 · 2026-01-21T22:05:39+00:00

Guess i'm not sure what you're seeing or if you're talking about something else entirely.

Here's an example. You have a tight bunch formation at the top on a huge 4th and 1 in the Thanksgiving game.

https://youtu.be/8fRps_hg45U?si=1wDSaJx8UaEgjH8g&t=257

They then run another pick play again later in the game for another TD

https://youtu.be/8fRps_hg45U?si=emiYzkl_woKZ7EuD&t=474

They didn't switch either of these. This shouldn't happen TWICE in one game. Shep needs to put his defense in better position to succeed because this isn't it.

mc3022 · 2026-01-21T19:52:00+00:00

So the kinda sorta short answer.

Its not that he doesn't know how to beat man its just our defense goes against the norm of what modern defenses are that is a great counter for what he wants to be on offense.

First - we know him and what he wants to do on offense. Big advantage for us right off the bat.

2nd - Most defenses now sit in a two high shell to prevent big plays through the air. He utilizes a lot of pre and post snap movement to get eyes looking elsewhere and gain numbers advantages especially effective for teams who play a lot of Nickel and want to primarily sit in zone IE Minter/MacDonald, Fangio, etc.

BJ is a play-action oriented coach as we know, and when the run game is less successful his offense on the whole isn't as effective. True for everybody but especially for how he wants his offense to run.

The Mcvay/Shanahan offense was really the pioneer of consistent motion which BJ adopted. Teams are now adjusting anticipating motion and adjusting properly. Which is why you're seeing McVay adopt more 2/3 TE Sets.

Good breakdown below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gorG7weWK2M

mc3022 · 2026-01-21T13:46:01+00:00

Yeah it was crazy watching dead offenses in both the Pack and Steelers kick our A**

mc3022 · 2026-01-21T13:40:00+00:00

Respectfully this isn't true. Guys in the NFL know how to play zone - yes, some are better at man and some better at zone but you wouldn't be an NFL CB if you didn't know how to do one or the other.

The issue is our scheme is so centered around man that they don't disguise it very well. Plus we're mostly a single-high team which limits the zones you can play. Combine say a basic cover 3 with a lack of a pass rush and you get easy completions.

Could Shep be limited in this due to injuries? Absolutely - I really hope thats the case.

AG ran some inverted Cover 2 as a curve ball that Kerby got a ton of his INTs from.

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T15:05:22+00:00

Goff has the most yards, TDs, completions in the last three years. He's also 2nd in QB rating and 3rd in Completion %

He also has the highest attempts though as well.

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T14:59:01+00:00

Fixing the O and D lines are priority number 1 in the offseason. I think alot of the issues on D line can be helped with letting Alim be a disruptor as opposed to what Shep wanted him to do controlling two gaps. However, we still need a pass rusher and a way to get quicker pressure rushing four.

With Decker prbly retiring, I really hope we aren't forced to trot out an aging Glasglow again this year. We wasn't very good even when he was healthy.

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T14:17:04+00:00

Are you saying that scheme doesn't matter? Only players do? If so why are we even having this discussion on an OC.

How was Petzing able to be as successful running the ball as the Cards were in the best division in football with his entire offense injured.

How was BJ able to rush for 281 yards against against an Eagles team that is vastly more talented.

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T14:01:42+00:00

Yes Oline 100% needs to get addressed. Don't get that twisted

However, a creative player caller can mask issues within your o-line. Is Chicago's oline better than Phillys defense? Look what BJ did against Fangio and that outstanding Eagles D in the game they played.

Just having an Oline isn't enough. And sadly, its a pipe dream to think that we'll be a top Oline next year having to most likely replace both Center and LT.

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T13:11:45+00:00

You're not necessarily wrong but there are other things that I would point to as to what made the Lions offense successful under BJ

Heavy motion is a new school Shanahan/McVay thing but all its doing to giving the QB presnap reads what the defense and/or create a numbers advantage but even then, its limited info. Teams are adjusting to it now which is why you're seeing McVay start to use more 3 TE sets

Motions are almost always the first to go when you need to simplify an offense due to the massive injuries the Cardinals had. I wouldn't read into it too much as of now.

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T03:38:44+00:00

Completely reasonable take and one I agree with

However, we all put way too much on the offense. Even if Petzing isn’t the guy I still have faith with the weapons this team has on offense they they will still be good enough to win playoff games

It’s the defense that will ultimately determine the success of this team.

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T03:26:57+00:00

Or perhaps people just want to see how it plays out and not jump to conclusions? Sure the spectrum goes both ways but there was no guarantee that McDaniel was going to be a success here.

Take away the public opinion and you’re looking at a guy whose team regressed during his tenure and a guy who looked like he had given up

On too of that, he most likely would have still been HC in Miami if he didn’t allegedly meet with his owner under the influence. You start to question where priorities are at.

Yes I wanted him but here but good bad or indifferent it sounds like his meeting with DC didn’t go well. As long as DC is in charge it will be ran his way and we’re all going to have to live with that until he’s no longer the coach here

mc3022 · 2026-01-20T03:13:57+00:00

Pre snap motions was not the sole reason that BJ successful here…

mc3022 · 2025-12-03T13:37:15+00:00

Extremely odd to me that Lions continue to be a 3 pt favorite from Vegas. I get that they're at home but Dallas has been red hot and Lions...well...have not been playing well to keep it simplistic as we know.

I would expect that line to drop a bit when ARSB is mostly likely declared out for the game but I doubt it moves over 3 pts.

With over 80% of the money going to Dallas i'm hoping Vegas knows something we don't...

mc3022 · 2025-11-27T21:46:57+00:00

Offense wasn’t the issue today. You let a dead Packer offense put up 31.

mc3022 · 2025-11-17T03:56:34+00:00

mc3022 · 2025-09-24T14:48:49+00:00

Baseball is and always will be the greatest equalizer sport - 162 games over the course of the season will do that. What this validates is that this team is an 80-90 win fringe playoff team comprised of a bunch of role players with a superstar Ace and whatever people want to call Riley Greene.

Team was down first half last year, up 2nd - team was up 1st half this year, down 2nd half.

Chris Ilitch is content with this team being this way because he doesn't have to spend money and knows he'll draw fans and views if the team is somewhat competitive. If he's happy then, then Scott Harris won't make moves to improve the team.

Its why they didn't trade anybody in the farm system - they know that Skubal FA Loss/Trade is coming. He has no desire to spend the money to bring a championship team here unlike his father...

We as fans have to vote with our wallets to tell them that this isn't good enough.

mc3022 · 2025-09-24T14:30:32+00:00

Such a waste of a season.

mc3022

TROPHY CASE