While I can dig this as an NFL philosophy (one shot to the end zone every three downs is reasonable) I'm not such a big fan of it as a CFL philosophy. For starters, it forces you to throw twice, and if you come up short on both attempts not only are you not eating a lot of time off the clock, but you're asking a bit more of your kicker than you might like.
Am I out to lunch on this? Is this a product of the offense, or a product of Jarious' decision making?
For sure, it's a minor quibble. But I think it's a trend, and I'm curious if anyone else noticed it and/or had thoughts on it?
It's not an easy question with any clear cut answers cromartie. However, there are some factors to consider. When you get into the green zone and even more in the red zone defenses start to tighten up. However, it's a deep end zone in the CFL with lots of room to work with. So, sometimes it's a good strategy to go over the top with the football!
So. let's say Jarious takes a shot at the end zone on first down and it's unsuccessful. So, it's second and ten.
A second option is to run the football on first down. Last night we averaged less than 2 1/2 yards a carry for Joe Smith and we also took a couple of losses on those runs..rare for us but in this game we did. So now you could have second and eight or even second and ten, as above, or even second and longer.
The third option is to throw two intermediate passes. You try to throw for 10-12 yards on first down. Better chance of success than throwing in the end zone (maybe) but if teams are now tightening up and crowding the intermediate passes it still goes incomplete. Now you have second and ten again.
It's also why a running game is so important, especially if it's successful. If you gain 5 1/2 yards on first down on the run, you can run again, you can pass with more options because you can throw quite short to get the first down...so you look deeper for someone open on the first read and then come back shorter to try to pick up the first down. Or you can fake the run with play action, boot the quarterback and have a run/pass option. The running game going well makes all the difference.
However, it's not a bad strategy to take a shot into the end zone or at least a deep throw on that first down. The defense will be inclined to be looking for the run a little more, the defense is crowding the receivers more, and you have a quarterback that can throw the deep ball.
If it doesn't work you have a second chance to make the first down and you've also given the defense a message that you're not going to try to nickel and dime it in the red zone. Next time they'll give you more room and that will open up the underneath game the next time.
Of course, everything depends on how the defense is playing you! However, there is no question that today's CFL defenses, designed to stop the spread offence, are focused more on the pass and their major focus is stopping that intermediate pass. They zone with linebackers jumping in front of the crossing routes and the defensive back right behind, squeezing the space in the route. You have defensive backs like Phillips who jump the intermediate routes, forcing the purrfect pass over the top, with the safety looking to step in front of it.
Sometimes that deep ball can change a lot of things. It's why Jarious was so successful in overtime in Calgary and why he was able to complete the third down pass and come from behind winning touchdown to Geroy against the Riders. The safety was playing up, looking to close down the vertical seam. Hebert got burned by Jackson last night playing that way. The problem with the spread offence is that it's too much of a medium range passing offence and defenses know that and are designed to stop it.
Winnipeg was mostly successful last night going deeper on us because our defense attempts to do the same thing. Sometimes you have to scare the &@^# of a defense deep. Hit the pass and you have a touchdown and a big play that is demoralizing. Miss it and you've still accomplished something that you can take advantage of. Offences that don't threaten or can't complete the deep ball successfully run into problems eventually in their passing attack against smart defenses!!
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
I'm no psychic, but I have the sneaky suspicion that these posts "pro Jiminez" are from his family members. How big of a standout can you be if you have to start hitting up fans to vote. Nonetheless peddling t-shirts. Just seems a little shady to me. I think players actions on the field should speak loud enough. As good as he may be , he is nowhere near being offensive lineman of the year.
Is Shultz rooming with Tillman these days or something??