Yes, I do think you try to get your best players on the field and you also like to force mismatches whenever you can.
I think our best chance to force mismatches is by utilizing a 2-TE offense but the key to making it really run is having 2 TEs who both can block effectively and receive effectively.
If one of the TEs is mostly a blocker and not much of a receiver then it is like playing against a 6-man line and the defense will stay in their base to match up in the box.
If one of the TEs is mostly a receiver than the defense will treat like a 3-WR offense and will put in a nickel package to get an extra DB on the field. They know there isn't much threat from bringing the second TE in since he isn't much of a threat as a blocker.
But if both TEs can be effective receivers and blockers you can put both in-line, you can split one out in the slot, you can split both out in the slot, you can line them out wide, you can put one or both in the backfield as LBs, you can put them in motion...... Without changing personnel you can give a myriad of different balanced offensive looks that the defense must adjust to with their base defense. If they ever move out of the base you must run it at them aggressively and beat them from the size mismatch. So long as you can do this you can get tremendous mismatches in the passing game against the base defenses by getting one of your TEs in a mismatch in speed/quickness against a LB or in size against a Safety/CB.
Last year we couldn't do it because Phillips was both a marginal blocker and receiver and didn't represent enough of a threat. Now Hanna showed ability as a receiver but needed some work to learn the offense and to develop as a blocker. I hope a year under the watchful eye of Witten and Garrett and a year in the offseason weight training program will have him ready to pair with Witten in a bunch of different looks for the defense. I loved it last year when we got his 4.4 speed going up against the LB from Pittsburgh helplessly trailing him across the field.
I really hope we have struck gold in Hanna because I do feel Witten is not as effective down the seam now that he has lost a step. But Hanna could definitely create that vertical threat out of the TE spot for us. It is also a sad reality that Witten is ageing and his productivity is going to start dropping very soon. I think he turns 31 this year and has already played 10 years in the league which is an awful lot of abuse.
