Tavon

Let me just say that I don’t care for what we are doing with Tavon.

Schotty is committing a great deal to getting value from Tavon. He is committing a remarkably high number of snaps per game to plays custom designed for Tavon. And a high level of creativity. Not only elaborate specific plays, but elaborate combinations, all designed to spring him.

Now, all that would be OK if it worked. And it does … but on a marginal scale. We invest a great deal to gain–usually–about 5 yards. Yeah, Tavon broke one for 20 and a TD Sunday, but that’s rare. Most of his plays, passes and runs, go for about 5 yards.

And that’s a pretty minimal ROI. There are a lot of other ways to gain 5 yards. And here’s what’s most important. Other approaches stress defenses much more effectively.

The trouble with striving to get 5 yards for Tavon is that it doesn’t change the overall equation. Deploy your front 7 to stop Tre Mason. Then face a jet counter by Tavon. The same basic defensive set will stop both. We can see that in the fact that, when Schotty combines reverses, double reverses, and fake reverses in paired patterns, they never seem to result in a fooled defense. The message to the defense is simple: deploy along the LOS and have everyone stay at home. Contain and smother. It works with minimal stress.

Now consider other ways of getting 5 yards. Suppose we commit to power rushes up the heart of the defense. Tre and especially Zack can do that. Do it consistently enough and A) the TBs get the feel and timing for beating the defense and B) the DC starts to cheat safeties up, creating seams and gaps to exploit by our WRs.

Speaking of WRs, suppose we ran quick slants to Britt and Stedman for 5-7 yards as often as we run Tavon on reverse packages. Hit 3-4 slants per game and you change the defensive equation. You gain the same yardage, but the chance of breaking longer plays is greater and you distort the secondary as it attempts to deal with stresses on the periphery.

Now imagine that we devoted the number of plays we give to reverse packages to actual WR routes that stress the periphery. As I’ve said 100 times, they don’t have to be “deep” passes. They can be in the 8-15 yard range. Crossing routes. Sideline patterns. Combination patterns. These are not particularly difficult plays to run. Most teams execute them better than we do. In fact, we rarely run them! We keep attacking the LOS with complex rush and pass combinations. But, see, I figure Britt and Stedman CAN RUN intermediate patterns and catch 5-6 balls a game. I don’t see why not. Even OAK was hitting those balls a decent percentage of the time.

And the minute we do that, we create serious problems for the opposing DC. We distort the LB and secondary schemes and open gaps for the running game. And hell, Tavon can be a part of this. Go twins left, TE right and put Tavon in motion right. Let him flash upfield and run turns in and out. He can get open 10 yards upfield. Use it. Hit him upfield far enough to change the equation.

Aw, hell, what do I know?

I just know that what we invest in Tavon gains us a very minimal return. I think HE is capable and I know the O as a whole is.

zn wrote:

If he breaks one or two, fine.

But he doesn’t have to, as long as the defense is just worried about it.

They stop him because they focus on doing it. That gives the Rams offense all sorts of subtle advantages whenever they line him up.

But see this is what I don’t believe. I see no evidence that defenses are making adjustments to stop Tavon that lead to other opportunities. I just don’t think that’s happening.

He seems to me to be pretty easy to stop.

zn wrote:

My view is that until Tavon becomes a good route-runner, there’s only so much you can do with him.

I have always wondered why the Rams could not, or would not, use Tavon in a similar fashion that the Patriots used to use Welker on those quick slants. I don’t know how many 3rd downs I watched over the years that were a result of Brady to Welker on a short 5 yard burst, and then a cut over the middle.

Maybe I’m oversimplifying it, but those routes never looked too complex to me.

zn wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>rfl wrote:</div>

zn wrote:
If he breaks one or two, fine.

But he doesn’t have to, as long as the defense is just worried about it.

They stop him because they focus on doing it. That gives the Rams offense all sorts of subtle advantages whenever they line him up.

But see this is what I don’t believe. I see no evidence that defenses are making adjustments to stop Tavon that lead to other opportunities. I just don’t think that’s happening.

He seems to me to be pretty easy to stop.

I forget which games? But in 2 recent games the analysts showed how a TD was set up by the defense paying attention to Tavon and therefore being susceptible to something else. So that’s twice now in the 2nd half of the season where the tv announcers have made a point of that, with replays and talk and Madden-markers drawing lines on the picture to show how it happened etc.

Someone else might even remember the games and the plays.

The Britt TD vs Denver is one of them I believe.

well, I am not convinced. I doubt any DC spends much time scheming to defend a hybrid back/receiver who rarely gains more than 5 yards on any play.

Well we just disagree. I mean, from what I saw, it was there. It set up at least 2 scores. Sooner or later I will even remember the plays–both broadcasts made a big deal of it each time. And to me, what I am seeing is that Tavon gets 5 yards a play a lot of the time at least in part BECAUSE defenses are conscious of him.

He has value. Not No. 8 overall value, but he has value as a speed threat. In time, I believe he will get better. Will he ever justify the move up to get him at No. 8? Right now, I’d guess that, no, he won’t.

wv wrote:

Dak wrote:
He has value. Not No. 8 overall value, but he has value as a speed threat. In time, I believe he will get better. Will he ever justify the move up to get him at No. 8? Right now, I’d guess that, no, he won’t.

Yeah, i dunno what to think of Tavon as a player
right now,
or the issue of “was he the right pick?” question.

I dunno.

I can certainly see how he’d be an electric player
on the GSOT, but what can he be on this ram team?
A major disappointment who drops passes and muffs kicks?
An explosive dynamic playmaker and difference maker on a good team?

I dunno.

…it would be nice if the refs didnt call back
his best plays

w
v

Man, ain’t that the truth. If Austin has a big play, the first thing you do is look for the yellow flag.