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How Fitz is winning games for the Texans

Discussion in 'Houston Texans' started by Sydeffect, Sep 18, 2014.

  1. Sydeffect

    Sydeffect Member

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    NOTE: READ THE ARTICLE TO SEE HOW THE OFFENSE IS DESIGNED, not necessarily what Fitz is doing.

    Texans have played relatively weak opponents so I don't like the whole how Fitz is winning narrative.

    But seeing how the offensive is designed under BoB and how different it was from Fitz's last offensive scheme with the Titans was really interesting.

    https://medium.com/the-cauldron/how-exactly-is-ryan-fitzpatrick-winning-games-for-the-texans-44df35f11b99

    As the offensive mastermind behind the devastating New England Patriots of 2008–’11 — an era spanning from Randy Moss to Rob Gronkowski — O’Brien has designed some of the most dynamic offenses of the modern era. And though Fitzpatrick is only averaging a miniscule 172.5 passing yards per game, the elements of O’Brien’s new offensive system will make life a lot easier for the QB, especially when compared with his struggle-filled 2013 campaign in Tennessee with the Titans.

    Here are the three ways Houston is setting Fitzpatrick up to succeed:

    1. The Five-Man Pocket

    Thus far in 2014, the Texans have been running a lot of their passing plays with five route-runners. No matter the formation, some combination of Houston’s running backs, fullbacks, and tight ends are running routes after the snap. Often times, O’Brien has not hesitated to go four or five-wide — which may seem like a bizarre call when he’s relying on unknown commodities like Damaris Johnson and Ryan Griffin — but in Fitzpatrick’s case, the sets are music to his helmet-clad ears.

    In contrast, the 2013 Titans’ offensive line was a strength — and they bolstered that line with lots of blocking tight ends. The Football Outsiders Almanac shows that last year’s Titans ran 35 percent of their plays with two tight ends and/or six offensive linemen. That’s a huge number. The San Diego Chargers, for example, who deployed two excellent tight ends in Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green, ran 38 percent of their plays in this formation, but the Philadelphia Eagles, rostering both Brent Celek and Zach Ertz, ran just 23 percent of their snaps from such a formation.

    [​IMG]

    The result was, seven of the Titans’ eleven men were dedicated to setting the pocket for Fitzpatrick. To their credit, that pocket was very clean, indeed.

    Meanwhile, though, with just two or three (mediocre) route-runners to keep tabs on, it was very easy for defenses to double-team (read: erase) Fitzpatrick’s receiving options:

    [​IMG]

    Heck, opposing secondaries could often be found just standing around, their teammates already covering all possible Tennessee threats:

    [​IMG]

    In Houston, O’Brien has been trusting his five-man O-line to keep the pocket clear. Everybody else is running routes, which has given Fitzpatrick the luxury of choosing which open receiver to target:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Check the rest out on the guy's website. Interesting stuff
     
  2. rockbox

    rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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    That is the thing that hard to see on TV because they focus so much on the line of scrimmage. You never get to see the routes other than on replay.
     
  3. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    Yeah the all 22 is really important to get a full idea of what is going on. It's really awesome that they made a lot of that available to normal fans.
     
  4. ipaman

    ipaman Contributing Member

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    that's the main reason mcnair's own suite is at the end zone. he wanted the all 22 view himself.
     
  5. benchmoochie

    benchmoochie Contributing Member

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    two words. no turnovers.
     
  6. Phillyrocket

    Phillyrocket Member

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    Seconded if the Texans can continue this turnover margin then lookout league!
     
  7. ipaman

    ipaman Contributing Member

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    but you have to ask, why fitz has no turnovers? espeically considering he's been a turnover machine in his career. a little luck sure but alot of it is his freedom to change plays based on reads. with that freedom he's knows where he's going with the ball and through 2 games he's making great reads and decisions.
     
  8. platypus

    platypus Member

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    Apparently buffalo fans refer to fitzy as the Amish Cannon. That is all
     
  9. Nimo

    Nimo Member

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    The Texans haven't asked him to do much. They've been behind for a total of one drive. He has thrown 41 passes for less than 350 games. I actually think he is doing what he's been told and not doing too much more.
     
  10. thejav

    thejav Member

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    fixed
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. platypus

    platypus Member

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    Thanks! I like the sound of Amish Cannon more!
     
  12. rezdawg

    rezdawg Contributing Member

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    Everyone says this without understanding "why".

    He's never had a solid unit of offensive players around him...he's never had solid coaching around him...and in Buffalo (and the AFC east), he had to spend the majority of his games playing in sub par weather (snow, cold, wind, etc...).

    Previously with the Bills and Titans, he was forced into the role of having to make plays all on his own. Only a handful NFL QBs can pull that off. Ive said it before, but you dont fluke your way to 24+ TDs in 3 straight years.

    The guy has always been a decent QB...and it's easy to look at numbers and ignore the reality surrounding those numbers.

    Of course, he's not going to continue his no turnover pace, but all in all, he will play his role nicely in the Texans offense.
     
  13. josephnicks

    josephnicks Member

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    saw this earlier. that first picture of the titan/broncos game is just ridiculous.. how did the t*** expect any qb to succeed by having 8 guys committed to pass protection and only having 2 options down field.. 8 guys blocking 4..
     
  14. RoxBeliever

    RoxBeliever Member

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    When the formula is run, run, run, Fitz can trust Foster and the O-line blockers to keep eating up those yards.

    Bill O'Brien has created/is creating a disciplined team both on offense and defense. So far, so good. We'll see how we do against the next tier of teams.
     
  15. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    Start the backup
     
  16. Wattafan

    Wattafan Member

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    Add three more:- "Third down conversions".
     
  17. Wattafan

    Wattafan Member

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    It's a solid, basic formula, but our RB is an older model - will it still be good to go when the hard miles need to be negotiated later in the season?
    Texans seriously need to ease up on Foster and share the load or Foster may be too beat up to be effective in the post season.
     
  18. smr6

    smr6 Member

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    It helps when we aren't throwing TD's to the other team.
     
  19. conquistador#11

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    man, some of you are not being the best fans you can be, man.
    stuff like he's not asked to do much is basically a back handed compliment.

    What fritz has done and can easily continue to do is quite impressive. It's not easy to be efficient on low attempts. Not much is being asked from him? he completes the throws to keep the chains moving, which has always been a recipe for success. Not even the elite qbs should be throwing over 32 attempts.
    When it's all said and done, I think fritz will average around 27 pass atts per game, which was the norm prior to this madden era when teams also had a running game.

    Analysts and fantasy leaguers, don't hate us for having a running game and a o-line!

    Can anyone remember when we had manning in the fetal position? it was 2010, home opener and Mario williams played one of his best games as a Texan. We blew them out and barely had a 100 yards in the passing department. Granted, the defense after that game disappeared but just using that game to prove that sabotaging opposing offensive lines can put all these K-gun wannabees in the fetal position. And when Clowney returns, this defense will demoralize opposing O-lines.


    Props to the O line for stepping it up from last season.
     
  20. basketballholic

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    If I were a betting man I'd be willing to bet that Fitz's average time of release from center snap is the lowest in the NFL. When you are running plays and releasing the throw so quickly...hard for defense to really get any heat on you.
     

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