Mike Mularkey is just not getting it done.

[Geneaut]

Why not the new QB Coach?

He knows Matt's strengths and could design an effective game plan around his skills. This would probably lead to a West Coast kind of offense which can be explosive with the amount of talent we have here.

How does Bratkowski know Matt's strengths and weaknesses ( or anyone else's )... he's brand new to the team and has had an abbreviated off season ? If Musgrave was still here that might have been a very slight possibility, but he's gone.

[Banned]

So, are you sayting that you think during a lockout year, the wise thing to do would be to fire the coordinator who has ranked in the top 10 in scoring each year and in the top 5 the past year - given you a winning record each year and knows the system - and the players - who also know the system and the coordinators, bring in a new guy to change everything up and expect the players in a short offseason to grasp it and move forward to the next leverl?

I'm really curious. Do you guys really want to scrap all we've done and start over? Is that what you want? Is that what you've picked up from the 2 preseason games we've played?

I'm just trying to comprehend the thinking, that's all.

Woah Woah Woah! I never said anything about firing the man in this thread. All I did was take it upon myself to warn everyone of the woes to come.

[GritsPittz]

I have to say though, that rollout waggle play is driving me NUTS!

Commentator: "Smart throw-away by Ryan. There was nobody open."

What he missed was there is NEVER anybody open on that play.

One of these days it's going to work, and Sean Payton is going to say "ugh I can't believe we fell for the bootleg."

[Theyhateme : )]

One of these days it's going to work, and Sean Payton is going to say "ugh I can't believe we fell for the bootleg."

Honestly, when Ryan rolls out, he's looking to get rid of the ball because the protection has broken down, so he escapes out the pocket, throws it away and live for the next play. I don't expect a competion he has been flushed out to roll either left or right. He's smart for not forcing it.

[HerFavoriteColo(u)r.]

Yep. Stick to Madden.

Oh please. Now you're resorting to childish remarks?

Yep, that's a great idea. Let's start over.

Because, to do that - we have to change our OL. Our OL is built for Mularkey's offense to a tee.

That line can't pass protect, but they are amazing run blockers. Smaller than a normal line, more athletic, with a nasty attitude. They can pull and run down the field and finish with the rusher.

So, to develop the passing game, you have to work off play action and quick passes, utilizing extra tight ends and running backs to help with the protection. You lose some of the explosiveness unless you have receivers who are physical enough to become halfbacks after the catch, but you utilize that passing game mostly for conversion of 3rd downs, keeping the drive alive and capitalizing at the end.

It's not pretty and glamorous, but it's effective with the line we have.

In every effective WCO, the line is built more for the passing game, because you utilize the passing game to set up the run game, not the other way around. You need a bulkier, more physical group at the line to control the line and get push at the line, guys who are strong enough to hold the defenders off long enough for the half back or receiver to get in position for the screen before letting them loose in the backfield.

We would seriously need to start over, start rebuilding the line and forget about any post season dreams for a couple of years while we dismantle and rebuild the group to fit the new scheme and teach the players the new scheme.

I'm with ya, though, let's do it.

The West Coast offense thrives on the short passing game...which is what is also Matt's best suit. Additionally, as everyone here knows, because our offensive line is so poor at pass blocking, a short passing game is exactly what we need.

By your logic, this offense isn't built for Mularkey's at all. Because his so called "deep passing game" will require everything that you just mentioned with the extra tight ends and running backs in pass protection to compensate for the offensive linemen's lack of ability to protect Ryan.

"Smaller than a normal line, more athletic" is how you described this line. Isn't that a staple of a WCO's line?

For a deep passing game we'd need better offensive linemen to protect the ball, unless you plan on passing solely out of the play action.

Knowing Mularkey though, that's exactly the only time he would try.

[Tandy]

The West Coast offense thrives on the short passing game...which is what is also Matt's best suit. Additionally, as everyone here knows, because our offensive line is so poor at pass blocking, a short passing game is exactly what we need.

By your logic, this offense isn't built for Mularkey's at all. Because his so called "deep passing game" will require everything that you just mentioned with the extra tight ends and running backs in pass protection to compensate for the offensive linemen's lack of ability to protect Ryan.

"Smaller than a normal line, more athletic" is how you described this line. Isn't that a staple of a WCO's line?

For a deep passing game we'd need better offensive linemen to protect the ball, unless you plan on passing solely out of the play action.

Knowing Mularkey though, that's exactly the only time he would try.

Matt's best suit is perceived to be the short passing game because he has had precious little time to get the ball out. Between the breakdowns in protection and the WR inability to get open (Roddy and Gonzo bracketed a lot) and the rush, he has no choice but to dump it off many times.

Mularkey does not have a deep passing game. He never has really. That doesn't mean that they don't go deep occasionally, but his game plan has never revolved around it before. His game is about controlling the clock - moving methodically down the field and converting critical 3rd downs. It's about power running to set up the pass.

In the WCO, the premise is pass protection first, because you lead with the pass, which opens the run - just the opposite of what we do now. Our line is not very good at pass protection.

Yes, the Center should be smaller, the linemen should be athletic, but they also have to be very strong, and not get manhandled. Actually though, it's just height that they really don't need, especially since they go down the middle so often in a WCO.

They should have really wide bodies with enough bulk that they can't be moved by the defender. They should be strong enough to stand their ground or move the defense back and not get knocked or moved into the backfield.

The tackles however, they should be tall with long arms. They need a lot of girth to play in the WCO - and they should be the biggest guys on the line.

Our line is athletic enough, but there is not enough bulk. They get shoved around by defenders and moved into the pocket. They don't get push at the line.

That being said, all this talk is moot. We can't change our offense in the middle of preseason. That would be suicide for the season.

Bottom line - you can like him or not - you can demand all you want - but he is our OC going into the season. Unless our FO and HC deem that he is detrimental to a successful season or unforeseen events occur, he will be there at the end of the season just like he is in preseason.

So, you can demand and complain - it won't change anything. I will say this though and then call it quits on this futile conversation. Preseason is not a gauge of coordinators in any shape, form or fashion any more than it is a gauge of the first team - and if you use the preseason to determine the game plan of a coordinator - then you are working with a one letter instruction book.

[REV.2000]

IF YOU CAN'T STOP WHAT I'M DOING,

GUESS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP SEEING?