Notes from Pro Football Weekly: - Dallas Cowboys Forum

gosuns · 09-13-2005

Cowboys offensive players, namely QB Drew Bledsoe, like the play-calling tempo that Sean Payton -- who has taken over the offensive calls for Bill Parcells -- established in the preseason. Bledsoe said the calls routinely were made quickly, leaving as much as 20 seconds on the play clock and making presnap reads much easier.

Cowboys rookie OT Rob Petitti, a college left tackle who played that position early in training camp, told PFW he feels very comfortable as the team's starting right tackle and would like to stay there. "I'd love to spend my entire career [on the right side]. I feel like I can use my strong [right] arm to my advantage there," he said.

Chuck 54 · 09-13-2005

I'm all for that...it was recognized last year that BP got the plays in too slowly, sometimes causing us to take a Time Out at the line or even a penalty.

More importantly, you don't want your QB feeling rushed at the line to get the play off...it's like when you have to rush to the golf course..once you get in speed up mode, you tend to stay in it and never hit the ball very well...it's all about timing and tempo.

The QB needs that time to saunter up to the line at his own pace, read the defense, make calls, establish his idea of what he wants to do with the ball...feel comfortable in the play, not rushed.

I'm sure it helps the OL with their calls and recognition too.

Hostile · 09-13-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by gosuns

Cowboys offensive players, namely QB Drew Bledsoe, like the play-calling tempo that Sean Payton -- who has taken over the offensive calls for Bill Parcells -- established in the preseason. Bledsoe said the calls routinely were made quickly, leaving as much as 20 seconds on the play clock and making presnap reads much easier.

Cowboys rookie OT Rob Petitti, a college left tackle who played that position early in training camp, told PFW he feels very comfortable as the team's starting right tackle and would like to stay there. "I'd love to spend my entire career [on the right side]. I feel like I can use my strong [right] arm to my advantage there," he said.

Good call Rob. I'll say it again, just play nasty. Clean but nasty. Watch tape of Erik Williams pre car accident. You have some of the same tools. Use them.

Nors · 09-13-2005

Bledsoe's field generalship jells in a hurry

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Bledsoe's field generalship jells in a hurry

By MARK GAUGHAN
News Sports Reporter
12/30/2004

Click to view larger picture

James P. McCoy/Buffalo News
Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe says he has "so much more time at the line of scrimmage and can change the play three or four times."

Click to view larger picture

Mark Mulville/Buffalo News
Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe called Willis McGahee's number to score a touchdown on one of the no-huddle drives Sunday against San Francicso.

The Buffalo Bills came out in the no-huddle offense Sunday in San Francisco and held the ball on their first five drives for 12, nine, 10, nine and seven plays.
Five drives of seven or more plays, and they scored on four of them.

Only once in their first 14 games had they managed even three straight seven-play drives.

So as they enter their must-win regular-season finale against Pittsburgh on Sunday, it's no wonder the Bills are thinking the no-huddle is a good idea.

"I love it," quarterback Drew Bledsoe said. "It allows us to be right a lot more of the time by getting into a good play."

"I think the players like it, and I think they get energized a little bit by it," quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche said. "We've prepared each week for it and had it available. We just decided it was time to give it an early look and it was successful, so we stayed with it."

The Bills picked a perfect time to sharpen their attack. This week, they face the No. 1-ranked defense in the NFL. The Steelers are No. 1 against the run, No. 4 against the pass and in the top 10 in every other defensive category.

The Bills aren't saying they're ready to adopt the no-huddle permanently. It doesn't exactly fit the ball control-and-defense blueprint of coach Mike Mularkey. But it's clear the no-huddle is a tactic that can help the offense and give opponents something else to worry about.

"It's something I'm very comfortable with," Bledsoe said. "I really enjoy it. It's a weapon we can use going forward. I think you'll see more of it."

Bledsoe was brilliant running the attack Sunday. He looked sharp in brief no-huddle situations earlier this season. The Bills used it on three first-half drives in Seattle and marched 10, seven and 12 plays. They scored touchdowns on two of them.

"I don't think Drew's really gotten the credit he deserves for his play-calling in that offense," guard Ross Tucker said. "He does a great job."

"The no-huddle is really just a series of audibles," Wyche said. "You're trying to have a nice balance. I think he really did a nice job of mixing run and pass, deep and short, left and right, and throwing to different people. It's a feel. He has it."

Wyche knows the no-huddle as well as anyone because he revived it in Cincinnati in the 1980s. He says a veteran quarterback is essential to its success.

"I call it field generalship because it's about total poise at the line of scrimmage," Wyche said. "It's reading the coverage, knowing how much time is on the game clock, on the 40-second clock, making sure everybody is in the right position, looking them in the eye and making sure they heard you and they know what the play is. It happens pretty fast. You have to be on your toes."

Bledsoe has 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions during the team's six-game win streak.

Bledsoe likes the ability to get the Bills into the best possible play.

"I have so much more time at the line of scrimmage and can change the play three or four times," he said.

"It helps you to dictate to the defense," said receiver Lee Evans. "It helps you to keep them off-guard a little bit where they can't just sit on things. They kind of have to do things on the run. Hopefully, somebody makes a mistake and you can pop one."

The Bills think against some opponents it limits the blitz package they can send at the offense because they are forced to keep the same 11 players on the field. That might not be a huge benefit against Pittsburgh, which like Buffalo uses a wide variety of zone blitzes.

The risk of running the no-huddle, of course, is the offense leaves the field quickly if it doesn't get a first down. Against San Francisco, which has the 26th-rated offense, that wasn't necessarily a big worry.

Pittsburgh is the No. 2 rushing team in the league and is No. 1 in time of possession. If the Bills' offense hurries off the field Sunday, it might be awhile before it gets back on it.

Eddie · 09-13-2005

Hold it. Petittie feels comfortable playing RT after playing 4 years at LT?

What happened to all the excuses why converting from LT to RT was so difficult?

What happened to the excuses about comparing the LT-RT change over to a right handed QB throwing with his left hand???

How the fork did we land such a pathetic loser like Jacob Rogers in the 2nd round?

watertown · 09-13-2005

Hopefully they will stay in a good groove with Payton

Kangaroo · 09-13-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

Hold it. Petittie feels comfortable playing RT after playing 4 years at LT?

What happened to all the excuses why converting from LT to RT was so difficult?

What happened to the excuses about comparing the LT-RT change over to a right handed QB throwing with his left hand???

How the fork did we land such a pathetic loser like Jacob Rogers in the 2nd round?

Eddie some guys do struggle with it at 1st some people adapt fast not everyone is the same and some guys just get it when it comes to changes.

How was Woody able to go from LB college to SS/FS and some guys who have talent struggle with the change.

How come some QB's Like Randal El; Crayton; Battle can make strides at WR better than other guys with just as much speed and talent.

Some guys do it quickly some never make it some take some time; just like in real life

Qwickdraw · 09-13-2005

I thought sizewise and bodytype... Petitti was a better fit fot RT than LT anyway.

That's good if he's getting comfortable.

I think he has a better future in this league at his current position.

Nors · 09-13-2005

I like Petitti and was touting him last offseason when it was not cool. Bad Senior Bowl, Combine, weight.

We scored a player - he just needs to stop the mistakes and get 100% healthy. Starting is great news for us and an upgrade!

Hostile · 09-13-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddie

Hold it. Petittie feels comfortable playing RT after playing 4 years at LT?

What happened to all the excuses why converting from LT to RT was so difficult?

What happened to the excuses about comparing the LT-RT change over to a right handed QB throwing with his left hand???

How the fork did we land such a pathetic loser like Jacob Rogers in the 2nd round?

Think of it this way Eddie. Larry Allen has played 3 positions along the line at an All Pro level and on both sides of center.

Are there subtle differences? Sure there are but a lot of it is between the ears. By that I mean that guys who are smart or who are supremely confident can make these moves or transitions without much trouble. Guys who are intimidated for one reason or another will think too much and react too little and ultimately fail.

What I am basically saying is not everyone can do it. Flo did it. LA did it. It seems Pettiti beleives he can do it. What he is telling himself is that he is right handed, stronger there, and has a TE beside him at times. In his mind this is safer and once you are convinced of this in your mind over half the bettle is won.

I think he's going to be a very good OT for a long time.

Zman5 · 09-14-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by gosuns

Cowboys offensive players, namely QB Drew Bledsoe, like the play-calling tempo that Sean Payton -- who has taken over the offensive calls for Bill Parcells -- established in the preseason. Bledsoe said the calls routinely were made quickly, leaving as much as 20 seconds on the play clock and making presnap reads much easier.

Why then did you still get a delay of game penalty????