Lombardi Called A Bad Game

[Guest]

We had a 14 point lead in the second half, and they began to run more, trying yo use up clock. If they had come out passing and had some 3 and outs or worse yet, a pick, the same guys that are so critical over the play calling would have said 'they should be running with this lead'.

It's not about the play calling as much as it is about execution. Several of you people will complain about something or other no matter how the game is going. Some people are only happy when they can criticize - it's their nature. Maybe we need a thread devoted to those who want to criticise.

Except for victory formation kneel down situations, I will never blame Lombardi for putting the game in the hands of the league's best player, Justin Herbert. I will blame him if he fails to do so.

Running the ball does not kill clock if the team does not make first downs by doing so. We are not a good running team. We are an elite passing team. We need to be passing to get first downs, which will serve the purpose of keeping the clock moving.

[Guest]

I'm trying to remember an OC that the fans liked. I can't, maybe someone else can?

Cam Cameron. He was the master of the cross up. It was hilarious that he called a much better game in Norv Turner's system than Norv Turner ever did.

The Whiz had his moments too.

I liked what Shane Steichen called in the passing game (some of the best vertical passing in the league in 2020). I hated that they did not call more of it while forcing a passing team to play Anthony Lynn ball all season long.

[wu-dai clan]

I'm trying to remember an OC that the fans liked. I can't, maybe someone else can?

Al Davis ?

[Guest]

Top, do you think that Herbert was not allowed to audible out of a play last season? So the play that was called is the play that is run, regardless of the defensive formation? I could see them not letting Herbert change the play at the line or at least limit his ability (same play but option to call it left or right) due to his youth and unfamililiarity with the offense. Lombardi did say Herbert was not so focused on the defense but rather his own offense. Might that explain it?

TG

I think the problem is that Lombardi's run/short pass only plays were so predictable that defenses repeatedly did this to us last year. As I have stated multiple times, our deep pass specialist, Guyton, did not have a deep pass reception until the 12th game of the season last year. Herbert has to be on any very short list for the best deep passer in the league. Even rookie play caller Steichen in a run heavy offense called enough deep passes to complete 4 45+ yard passes to both Johnson and Guyton in 2020 and there were a few to Williams as well.

Last year, the designed deep pass was almost completely eliminated from the playbook. Williams had two broken plays against CLE and a designed deep pass against PHI. Guyton had a deep pass against CIN and then again the following week on "the throw" against the Giants. But for most of the year, it was one short laser beam sideline pass after another, causing defenses to creep up and squat on us, exactly as I predicted would happen without the use of the deep game.

[Topcat]

I never have understood why people insist that later in the game with a lead, a team needs to run the ball to burn the clock. Clock is burned by keeping possession, which means getting first downs. So teams should do what they do best to get first downs. We are a passing team, so we need to be passing the ball to get first downs to keep the clock moving, not go three and out with run, run pass, and give the ball back to our opponent over and over and over again (see Lynn, Anthony).

^ This...the best defense is a good offense...we need to learn to finish, not turtle up...

[jubei]

The problem with the Raiders game, their game plan worked. We only scored that many points cuz we had those turnovers. And 24 ain’t gonna be enough against KC, even with turnovers. Expect to see our WRs doubled on the edge, and Herbie forced to throw into the middle again. Our run blocking better improve, we need it.

did we actually score off their TOs?

[chargeroo]

Except for victory formation kneel down situations, I will never blame Lombardi for putting the game in the hands of the league's best player, Justin Herbert. I will blame him if he fails to do so.

Running the ball does not kill clock if the team does not make first downs by doing so. We are not a good running team. We are an elite passing team. We need to be passing to get first downs, which will serve the purpose of keeping the clock moving.

When you throw the ball every play that is incomplete stops the clock. When you run it, the clock doesn't stop just because you didn't make any yards. Plain and simple - that's why teams tend to run more with a lead in the second half. Our mistake was not recognizing that they were capable of stopping our runs. We needed to go to the quick pass, five yards at a time game. But, if we had been able to run against them, that was the smart play.

[Boltjolt]

When you throw the ball every play that is incomplete stops the clock. When you run it, the clock doesn't stop just because you didn't make any yards. Plain and simple - that's why teams tend to run more with a lead in the second half. Our mistake was not recognizing that they were capable of stopping our runs. We needed to go to the quick pass, five yards at a time game. But, if we had been able to run against them, that was the smart play.

Very true but when you are having trouble running, it helps to do the short passing game to set up second and short , etc. As for CC, he wants to pass on every down.

[richpjr]

did we actually score off their TOs?

We scored one TD.

[Caslon]

If you’re going into conservative lead mode, you’d better get more than 2 yards on runs and 3rd down fails. Went and grabbed a soda in the fridge (1st and 10). Got back and the Chargers were punting.

[21&500]

If you’re going into conservative lead mode, you’d better get more than 2 yards on runs and 3rd down fails. Went and grabbed a soda in the fridge (1st and 10). Got back and the Chargers were punting.

Nothing worse than getting that feeling of excitement from a very winnable situation, going to back2back punts and feeling like you're giving the win away.
I'd rather feel hopeless all game long.

[Guest]

When you throw the ball every play that is incomplete stops the clock. When you run it, the clock doesn't stop just because you didn't make any yards. Plain and simple - that's why teams tend to run more with a lead in the second half. Our mistake was not recognizing that they were capable of stopping our runs. We needed to go to the quick pass, five yards at a time game. But, if we had been able to run against them, that was the smart play.

When a pass is completed in bounds, it is the same result in terms of the clock as a running play--the clock continues to run. Herbert completes about two out of three passes and probably even a higher percentage of shorter passes. What burns more time, 6 completed passes and three incomplete passes producing three first downs or three running plays and a punt? Which produces more favorable field position in the event of a punt?

What people that favor running the ball assume is that the team will get a first down by doing so. I submit that that assumption is unwarranted and foolish when it concerns our team. The best thing we can do in that situation is to line up like we are going to run and then play action pass out of that formation. We are a good passing team and opponents are forced to deal with the run in those situations. The table is set for us to pass the ball effectively.

When it comes to running the clock, the single most important thing that the team can do is not running the ball, it is getting first downs. Getting first downs while trying to run out the clock is like using the third of three wishes with the genie to wish for three more wishes. It perpetuates the ability to do as the team wishes--run out the clock. We are better at getting first downs by passing than we are at getting first downs by running. We are particularly bad at running the ball when the other team is expecting it.