Have We Solved The Red Zone Problem?

[Steve]

I would LOVE for Brown to be that productive. My concern is he's been here 2 years and even though he hasn't been able to play, why doesn't he know the routes? Allen knows them after one off season, where's Brown's head at?? Ability issues plus mental mistakes with only limited good-play time makes me worry, yep, about any position. Maybe he pulls a Matthews this year, but I haven't heard any coachspeak that indicates they feel he can ala last season MM talking up Matthews.

I think the job was his to lose last season, he lost it.

That is a bit of a stretch. Brown is in his 2nd offense. And while use a lot of things that are similar, that can actually make things harder to learn, since things are similar but not quite the same, it can be tough. Add in it that we now ask our WR to run pass routes using different techniques (speed cuts under Joiner, regular west coast cuts under the new staff), there are a lot of differences. Plus, I am pretty sure if you watch the Houston games last year, you can watch Brown hurt his ankle again. And since everyone else was getting hurt, I am pretty sure he had to play through it.

And it is a stretch that Allen knows the entire offense. Allen really struggled sitting down in the zones. You can see that happening in the late season and playoff games. All NFL teams do a lot of adjustments, and Allen still has something to learn. And since they both started out learning this offense this season, I don't think it is that different for Brown as it is for Allen. But both will continue to get better.

[Beerman]

My issue with Brown has always been that he just lacks the physical traits to succeed in this type of offense. He simply can't get open off the line. It could have been the ankle, but he's had more than enough time to rehab it. He took a whole year off. He's now gonna be two years removed from the injury, but he was never even fast to begin with. Unless he turns into a guy like Boldin who is just overly physical, I just don't see him as a starting caliber WR.

So to recap - can't get separation early, doesn't have deep speed, not tall/physical. So where the fuck does he fit? Front office seems to think he fits on the bench and I agree.

[Steve]

There are lots of WR who lack great physical traits and were very good. Steve Largent. Charlie Joiner. Chris Collingsworth. Not every WR has to have great physical skills.

What makes you think they want him on the bench? He played a lot, and even when he got "benched" late in the year, he and Royal really split time, neither one did so at the expense of the other.

[Beerman]

The fact that they were willing to bring in Steve Smith and Nicks to start.

[SDFan]

The fact that they were willing to bring in Steve Smith and Nicks to start.

like there wouldn't be any competition or rotation of roles. It's called hedging your bets and putting as much talent as you can out there at all times.

[SDFan]

I would LOVE for Brown to be that productive. My concern is he's been here 2 years and even though he hasn't been able to play, why doesn't he know the routes? Allen knows them after one off season, where's Brown's head at?? Ability issues plus mental mistakes with only limited good-play time makes me worry, yep, about any position. Maybe he pulls a Matthews this year, but I haven't heard any coachspeak that indicates they feel he can ala last season MM talking up Matthews.

I think the job was his to lose last season, he lost it.

I remember Allen running the wrong route on more than 1 occasion last year too. I'm looking for a big jump from VBrown this year, but he did quietly put up 41 recepts with 11.5 avg and a long of 51 last year too, so he wasn't dogshit out there.

Season Team Receiving Rushing Fumbles
G GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
16 12 41 472 11.5 51 1

[thelightningwill]

I would expand/spin on your last point and say new plays aren't neccesarily
needed. Its playcalling and execution that needs to improve. With additions to the roster, I would abandon the finesse approach in the red zone and on short yardage and lean more on a brute force approach. Only after we have established ourselves in the power running game can we afford to get 'a little cute' and try some trickery, just to break tendency.

I wish it wasn't all running up the middle or all pass plays. Mix it up and don't make things obvious by only passing in certain formations and.only running in others. Oh and hand it.off near the line, not six yards and three seconds behind it.

[thelightningwill]

There are lots of WR who lack great physical traits and were very good. Steve Largent.
Charlie Joiner. Chris Collingsworth. Not every WR has to have great physical skills.

What makes you think they want him on the bench? He played a lot, and even when he got "benched" late in the year, he and Royal really split time, neither one did so at the expense of the other.

What do you mean by great physical traits?

[Mister Hoarse]

What do you mean by great physical traits?

Like Larry English?

[Steve]

What do you mean by great physical traits?

None of them were fast, big, or exceptionally quick.

They were just smart players who knew how to run routes, get open and catch the ball.

[Beerman]

None of them were fast, big, or exceptionally quick.

They were just smart players who knew how to run routes, get open and catch the ball.

They are also Hall of Fame, All Pro players. They are the exception, not the rule. There are many, many more guys like Brown that wash out of the NFL, than make it. Yes, it can happen I suppose, the chances just seem very, very slim. I would love for him to improve to the point that he makes a difference, let's just say I'm not betting on it (and the front office doesn't seem to be either).

[oneinchpunch]

They were just smart players who knew how to run routes, get open and catch the ball.

So the opposite of Vincent Brown?