Warren, Taylor and Defense

[Oldcolt]

In my mind the biggest addition to this offense hasn't been DJ, it has been Warren. Take away his play and I think we are close to a .500 team. Not only his receiving (guy has incredible hands, power and a sense of where to be) but his blocking have been instrumental. If Minshaw had him and this JT he would have looked every bit as good as DJ.

We will go as far as Taylor can take us. It worries me because in this NFL nobody has done this (won with a running game) in decades. Not sure it can be done but with the correct defense maybe. And I think we just might have the defense when we get Ward back. Can't remember a defense with two shut down corners (maybe the 49ers with Lott/Wright) but we have them. This defense could be special and carry us especially if we get healthy

[Pez]

Great post, I was formulating something similar. A great defense and a solid run game is how we beat teams like the Chefs, Seahawks, and Jags.

Similar to the 4th down thread... this team doesn't need Steichen to prove that he is bringing anything novel to the NFL coaching profession, he needs to execute with the pieces he has.

Everything should flow through the run game. Anyone who says different is itching for a fight.

[Dam8610]

It's not just the running game, this offense is so effective because it is so multifaceted and defenses have too much to account for. You want to load the box to stop the run? Pierce can take the top off your defense. You want to press the receivers and play them physically? Pittman and Warren are great at beating press. You want to sit back in zone and force Jones to make the right read? Josh Downs is a fantastic zone beater. You want to sit back in 2 high looks all game and try to take away the pass entirely? Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson thank you for the free yardage. That's the problem, there’s not really a way to shut this offense down. Honestly, the best strategy I could see an opponent taking is the old keepaway strategy they used to do with Manning. The most effective way to stop this offense is to hold the ball for as long as you can to give them as little opportunity as you can.

[Kray007]

Great post, I was formulating something similar. A great defense and a solid run game is how we beat teams like the Chefs, Seahawks, and Jags.

Similar to the 4th down thread... this team doesn't need Steichen to prove that he is bringing anything novel to the NFL coaching profession, he needs to execute with the pieces he has.

Everything should flow through the run game. Anyone who says different is itching for a fight.

The problem with a just run the ball mentality is that we saw the results with Carson Wentz under Center. You look great until defenses start loading up the box.

Yesterday, Taylor looked great, gaining 250 plus yards. But, he needed 31 carries to do it, and that is, frankly, unsustainable.

[apballin]

The problem with a just run the ball mentality is that we saw the results with Carson Wentz under Center. You look great until defenses start loading up the box.

Yesterday, Taylor looked great, gaining 250 plus yards. But, he needed 31 carries to do it, and that is, frankly, unsustainable.

They’re not requiring him to do that every game. He’s had atleast 2 games I can think of he barely played in the 4th quarter.

Teams just are not built to stop the run anymore that’s why a good oline and Jonathan Taylor go a long way in today’s NFL.

[omahacolt]

In my mind the biggest addition to this offense hasn't been DJ, it has been Warren. Take away his play and I think we are close to a .500 team. Not only his receiving (guy has incredible hands, power and a sense of where to be) but his blocking have been instrumental. If Minshaw had him and this JT he would have looked every bit as good as DJ.

We will go as far as Taylor can take us. It worries me because in this NFL nobody has done this (won with a running game) in decades. Not sure it can be done but with the correct defense maybe. And I think we just might have the defense when we get Ward back. Can't remember a defense with two shut down corners (maybe the 49ers with Lott/Wright) but we have them. This defense could be special and carry us especially if we get healthy

this defense is still trash.

no pass rush and run d is very bad without buck. this defense isn't taking us anywhere this year.


now I do think they will be better once ward gets back but at best it will be middle of the pack. won't be great.

if this team goes anywhere in the playoffs, it will because of the offense

[omahacolt]

It's not just the running game, this offense is so effective because it is so multifaceted and defenses have too much to account for. You want to load the box to stop the run? Pierce can take the top off your defense. You want to press the receivers and play them physically? Pittman and Warren are great at beating press. You want to sit back in zone and force Jones to make the right read? Josh Downs is a fantastic zone beater. You want to sit back in 2 high looks all game and try to take away the pass entirely? Jonathan Taylor and Quenton Nelson thank you for the free yardage. That's the problem, there’s not really a way to shut this offense down. Honestly, the best strategy I could see an opponent taking is the old keepaway strategy they used to do with Manning. The most effective way to stop this offense is to hold the ball for as long as you can to give them as little opportunity as you can.

our oline can be beat. see the steelers game. colts have to get answers for this. while I don't disagree with your take per se, there are teams that match up well to stop this offense.

[YDFL Commish]

this defense is still trash.

no pass rush and run d is very bad without buck. this defense isn't taking us anywhere this year.


now I do think they will be better once ward gets back but at best it will be middle of the pack. won't be great.

if this team goes anywhere in the playoffs, it will because of the offense

Down 3 D-linemen and Ward and giving 225 and 290 yds in the last 2 games is not trash.

Do we have to get a better pass rush from our D-Line? Yep.

Was Latu invisible yesterday? Yep

Are our LB's terrible in coverage? Yep

I've got a feeling that when we get at least Ward and Buckner back Anarumo will be playing with house money.

Sauce's best attribute is press coverage, and he wasn't used that way yesterday. Once we start playing press coverage with Ward and Sauce a lot will change.

[apballin]

Down 3 D-linemen and Ward and giving 225 and 290 yds in the last 2 games is not trash.

Do we have to get a better pass rush from our D-Line? Yep.

Was Latu invisible yesterday? Yep

Are our LB's terrible in coverage? Yep

I've got a feeling that when we get at least Ward and Buckner back Anarumo will be playing with house money.

Sauce's best attribute is press coverage, and he wasn't used that way yesterday. Once we start playing press coverage with Ward and Sauce a lot will change.

I disagree on Latu he was disruptive early he’s just gotta learn to sustain that energy seems to have a problem burning out early

[ChoppedWood]

In my mind the biggest addition to this offense hasn't been DJ, it has been Warren. Take away his play and I think we are close to a .500 team. Not only his receiving (guy has incredible hands, power and a sense of where to be) but his blocking have been instrumental. If Minshaw had him and this JT he would have looked every bit as good as DJ.

We will go as far as Taylor can take us. It worries me because in this NFL nobody has done this (won with a running game) in decades. Not sure it can be done but with the correct defense maybe. And I think we just might have the defense when we get Ward back. Can't remember a defense with two shut down corners (maybe the 49ers with Lott/Wright) but we have them. This defense could be special and carry us especially if we get healthy

Warren is about as complete a TE as you will ever find, and he is 10 games into his damn career!

Yes, his blocking, is fucking ludicrous. There was a seal block yesterday for JT, it looked like those two had been working with each other for 10 years and JT knew exactly how to read his seal- just incredible.

Dan Patrick was raving about how he KNEW TW was going to be a phenom at this level and even he is surprised by just how great he has already become.

[YDFL Commish]

I disagree on Latu he was disruptive early he’s just gotta learn to sustain that energy seems to have a problem burning out early

Not having any depth behind him may have factored into that.

[omahacolt]

Warren is about as complete a TE as you will ever find, and he is 10 games into his damn career!

Yes, his blocking, is fucking ludicrous. There was a seal block yesterday for JT, it looked like those two had been working with each other for 10 years and JT knew exactly how to read his seal- just incredible.

Dan Patrick was raving about how he KNEW TW was going to be a phenom at this level and even he is surprised by just how great he has already become.

Warren is an ok blocker but plenty of room to improve there

[Oldcolt]

Athletic on Warren:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef0IEnK-ALE