From a different post (by me):
Okay I think it's somewhat instructive to look at the 2008 Atlanta offense. Boudreau was there then and a Rams coach now.
I ain't acting like Boudreau is the coordinator. I just think that In terms of philosophical approach, there is a more or less rough compatibility among Fisher, BrianS, and Boudreau. If they were three rings they would overlap a lot.
If true then looking at Atlanta 2008 tells you a lot. Or tells you something.
Atlanta 2008 had a commitment to the run, a rookie qb, and a completely re-made OL. In fact, Boudreau took a rookie, 3 young guys (including 2 UDFAs), and a veteran center and made a good line out of them.
But that line was good in part because it fit a particular offensive philosophy. There was a synergy between the OL play and overall offensive approach. Of course. There always is. Except when there isn't and then you have disaster instead.
So what is the analogy between 2008 Atlanta and 2012 St. Louis? Well Ryan was actually further along as a rookie than Bradford cause he didn't come from a spread offense. He had less learning on the job to do. So I figure there's a kind of very general similarity between a third year Bradford after a bad year and a 1st year Ryan. I don't mean in terms of their physical make-up or the way they throw or play or any of that. I just mean in terms of their relative development curve in relation to the pro game.
Looking at Ryan's relevant numbers:
Falcons were 2nd in rushing attempts and 2nd in yards. It was one of those great running games that determines everything. Ryan had it easy, comparatively.
Falcons were 29th in passing attempts...but 14th in yards. They were 3rd in yards per attempt.
A factor in the yards per attempt--they had 2 veteran WRs: Roddy White (4th year) and Jenkins (5th year). White had already had a break-out year in 2007 (83 for 1200 something).
Ryan tended to throw when it was necessary and so they lined up for it. That means that 69.5% of his attempts included 0 to 1 TEs. 60.8% of his attempts were out of 3 and 4 WR sets. Yet 3-4 WR sets only account for on average 16 attempts per game. That's 25.4% of their plays.
In contrast, if you combine Turner's and Norwood's numbers, 50.1% of their rushing attempts were out of 2-3 TE sets.
Just looking at those last 2 numbers, that means they tended to line up to run, most of the time you knew it from the formation; when they lined up to pass, most of the time you knew it from the formation.
Jets were the same in 09 and 2010, btw.
63.5% of Turner's runs were on first down. He averaged 4.5 yards a carry on 1st down.
26.2% of Ryan's throws were on first down.
How do Ryan's passes break down according to range? --->
Short. 10 Yards & below: 64.4% of total attempts, with 66.3% completions
Medium. 11-20 yards: 23% of total attempts, with 59% completions
Deep medium. 21-30 yards: 7.3% of total attempts, with 40.6% completions
Long. 31+ yards: 5.3% of total attempts, with 34% completions ...which btw is not a bad completion rate on long attempts.
One big difference between what Atlanta WAS and what the 2012 Rams COULD BE. The Falcons were 24th in total defense in 2008.
A healthy Rams defense with an active Fred Robbins in 2010 was 19th in total defense. Now they have a more experienced JL, 2 talented ends, an upgrade at DT over the diminished Robbins of 2011, and a healthy secondary. So I think they can actually be as good as or better than 2010. That means they keep the scoring down and that means the offense does not play from behind. Another advantage.
Okay I think it's somewhat instructive to look at the 2008 Atlanta offense. Boudreau was there then and a Rams coach now.
I ain't acting like Boudreau is the coordinator. I just think that In terms of philosophical approach, there is a more or less rough compatibility among Fisher, BrianS, and Boudreau. If they were three rings they would overlap a lot.
If true then looking at Atlanta 2008 tells you a lot. Or tells you something.
Atlanta 2008 had a commitment to the run, a rookie qb, and a completely re-made OL. In fact, Boudreau took a rookie, 3 young guys (including 2 UDFAs), and a veteran center and made a good line out of them.
But that line was good in part because it fit a particular offensive philosophy. There was a synergy between the OL play and overall offensive approach. Of course. There always is. Except when there isn't and then you have disaster instead.
So what is the analogy between 2008 Atlanta and 2012 St. Louis? Well Ryan was actually further along as a rookie than Bradford cause he didn't come from a spread offense. He had less learning on the job to do. So I figure there's a kind of very general similarity between a third year Bradford after a bad year and a 1st year Ryan. I don't mean in terms of their physical make-up or the way they throw or play or any of that. I just mean in terms of their relative development curve in relation to the pro game.
Looking at Ryan's relevant numbers:
Falcons were 2nd in rushing attempts and 2nd in yards. It was one of those great running games that determines everything. Ryan had it easy, comparatively.
Falcons were 29th in passing attempts...but 14th in yards. They were 3rd in yards per attempt.
A factor in the yards per attempt--they had 2 veteran WRs: Roddy White (4th year) and Jenkins (5th year). White had already had a break-out year in 2007 (83 for 1200 something).
Ryan tended to throw when it was necessary and so they lined up for it. That means that 69.5% of his attempts included 0 to 1 TEs. 60.8% of his attempts were out of 3 and 4 WR sets. Yet 3-4 WR sets only account for on average 16 attempts per game. That's 25.4% of their plays.
In contrast, if you combine Turner's and Norwood's numbers, 50.1% of their rushing attempts were out of 2-3 TE sets.
Just looking at those last 2 numbers, that means they tended to line up to run, most of the time you knew it from the formation; when they lined up to pass, most of the time you knew it from the formation.
Jets were the same in 09 and 2010, btw.
63.5% of Turner's runs were on first down. He averaged 4.5 yards a carry on 1st down.
26.2% of Ryan's throws were on first down.
How do Ryan's passes break down according to range? --->
Short. 10 Yards & below: 64.4% of total attempts, with 66.3% completions
Medium. 11-20 yards: 23% of total attempts, with 59% completions
Deep medium. 21-30 yards: 7.3% of total attempts, with 40.6% completions
Long. 31+ yards: 5.3% of total attempts, with 34% completions ...which btw is not a bad completion rate on long attempts.
One big difference between what Atlanta WAS and what the 2012 Rams COULD BE. The Falcons were 24th in total defense in 2008.
A healthy Rams defense with an active Fred Robbins in 2010 was 19th in total defense. Now they have a more experienced JL, 2 talented ends, an upgrade at DT over the diminished Robbins of 2011, and a healthy secondary. So I think they can actually be as good as or better than 2010. That means they keep the scoring down and that means the offense does not play from behind. Another advantage.
