What is the biggest difference between when we were 6-2 and now?

[30gut]

Originally Posted by dmvskinzfan08

What changed? I think alot of it had to do with an array of things..

Great question, great thread. I've been watching the games and at times re-watching them. (Direct TV short-cuts)

1. Zorn didn't make adjustments to his offensive scheme and teams caught up with his philosophies.

Agree somewhat. Zorn didn't seem to make in game adjustments and made the wrong game plan choices. The things he did early in the season that were successful he got away from. I think teams caught up to the short passing game but only because he stopped spreading the field and stopped throwing deep.

2. We stopped running Portis.

Disagree.

I think a few times we got away from the run a little early. But, on the whole i think we ran the ball about the same. The difference is that in the losses we were trailing in the second half of the losses during the 6-2 run Portis got the bulk of his yards when we were leading in the 3rd & 4th qtrs and running the ball to close the games out.

Although one could argue that we should have started running the ball more when the skid began.

3. We faced top ranked defensive teams

Somewhat agree. Pitts, Giants and Ravens are the elite.
But, the Eagles, Cowboys and to a lesser extent the Cards were good defenses.

4. Playcalling was horrible as well as time management.

Somewhat agree.

The playcalling declined. Zorn got away from the shotgun and the spread 4/5 wide formations. I think this is a big part of the offenses decline. JC seems to see the field better and completed more intermediate passes with ease from those formations. But Zorn used the shotgun and 4/5 wide sets less and less and as those formations decreased so did the intermediate passing and thus the offense.

5. JC play dropped off..But how much of this had to do with the O-line, Offensive play calling, A coach preparing his team, WRs not getting open or Jason taking a step back.. I think its a little bit off all of this

Agree. I think the offensive line had a huge domino effect.

1) Pass-pro declines
1) JC gets hit alot
1) Zorn losses confidence in the offensive line gets away from 4/5 wide sets
2) The playcalling shifts almost entirely to a 3 step drop short passing game
2) The pressure gets in JC head effecting his accuracy-'phantom pressure'
3) Jason gets used to getting the ball out quick on 3 step drops
4) Teams notice this away and sit on the short routes
5) Receivers aren't open JC holds ball offense stalls....sack

6. Our lines (D-Line and O-line) were playing horrible. D-Line not getting any sacks.

Blache is a good coach but isn't very creative. A great DC finds away to get effective pressure.

The offensive line struggles really threw Zorn for a loop and he never found the right answer. I think the 3 step drop passing was the right idea, but teams began sitting on the 3-step drop passing game. And Zorn hasn't adjusted, never went back to spreading teams out/ using the shotgun. Zorn doesn't trust the pass-pro to give enough the time to throw deep, which would stop defenses from sitting on the slants and hitches. But he doesn't spread the field to make its easier to see the blitz and to read the coverage.
He doesn't move the pocket enough either.



I think JZ showed during the 6-2 start that he has the chops.
I think he needs more help. Zorn wore too many hats this season and i think this affected Zorn's ability to make the right adjustments. He needs more WCO knowledgeable staff members. Maybe a WR coach?/ Offensive line Coach? But certainly a WCO assistant/QB/.

thoughts?