Oh come now….We all know that 93% of the time on 2nd and long it’s a run call. And the WR screen, can we just stop with that. Probably works 5% of the time.As a widely known Day supporter around these parts of the interwebs, I do agree he has been too stubborn on the offensive side on certain things for far too long. I am surprised a remote didn't go through my TV after the millionth time we ran a jet screen/sweep/run to the short side on a 3rd/4th and 1 yard to gain. My frustration is that we have demonstrable data showing the QB push works almost all the time there and we just don't do it.
However, we started to do it last game along with short-burst runs to the line, so I think we started to actually come around last week. Better late than never? Just need to keep doing it and never call a jet sweep/screen/toss to the short side of the field ever again when we need short yardage. Those plays can work, just not in that situation...I can give you verbatim what the staff would say on the logic of it ("well you see, you keep the ball in a limited space so there is less room for error" argument). But the more availing argument is that the less room that a defender has to cover in a short amount of time, the more likely it is to tackle the ball carrier in the backfield. Especially when there is no element of surprise since we do it all the time and defenses know it it is coming.
I do think that we are turning a corner here and Day is being more malleable with short yardage calls though. If he can get past that, I don't think we will have a valid gripe left in terms of play calling.
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