i was very pleased to see this report regarding what our OC and Receivers coach are installing.
Synching up the feet paying off
This offseason offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett along with receivers coach Rob Moore committed to a step count based route tree for their receivers. The idea behind it was to put the route running paces of the receivers in lock step with the drop steps of the quarterback to create a more consistent efficiency to the passing game.
“We give them guidelines,” said Hackett. “We want to give them foundation of something they can believe in - understanding the depth you have to get to, how many steps it will take to get there and so forth. But at the same time everything has to adjust.”
So far the receivers like it believing more precise execution in the passing game will lead to more opportunities to gain yards after the catch.
“I think it’s working out,” said
Robert Woods
. “We’re seeing the change from last year. When we’re breaking out of our routes and the ball is already in the air there’s less time waiting on the ball and it gives us more time to make the defender miss.”
I think it explains a few things we saw Sunday.
1. the number of snaps taken from under center
2. the 'locking in' to a particular route
3. the consequences of the OL's poor techniques
Manuel's being coached up to release the ball as soon as he sets his plant foot. So, depending on his dropback, he was attempting to hit the related route.
It's why his mechanics seemed fine, but his instincts.. well, looked lousy. there was nothing instinctive about where he was going with the ball, and until he gets more experience in going through each set of progressions his dropbacks are timed too, he'll look like a blind robot at times.
There's a lot of work to do.. to get to the point where he and his receivers make the same reads on which corresponding patterns to run, and where Manuel's comfortable delivering the ball to the end of that route - without hesitation - but it's good to see there's a plan in place.. and that what i thought might be EJ having too much on his plate, was just he and the offence working the plan.