a Ginn-Friendly Offense
What? Design an offense around a gutless pass-dropper?
I'm designing an offense and a formation around a speedy player who may have suspect hands and suspect route running abilities. "Good luck with that" you say?
There are four players on the roster who are absolute dynamite in the open field IF they have the ball in their hands:
Ricky Williams, Ted Ginn, Pat White, and Kory Sheets.
The problem is obviously getting the ball into their hands (without dropping it) and finding a way to get them into space.
Facts to consider:
- Some NFL teams put their best receiver in the tailback position in the backfield and have them run their route from there. Sometimes it allows them to get a favorable matchup on a LB.
- Ricky, Teddy, Pat, and Kory would all be great on kickoff returns if the risk of injury /muffing the kick were not so great.
- If teams continue to stack the box against the Fins to stop their rushing attack and a speedy guy were to break through the line somehow (managing to hold onto the football), it would be an automatic TD (how's that for chunk yardage) and to counter the threat, the defense would be forced to back off the line.
Here's the formation:
Put Ted Ginn (or Ricky or White or Sheets) as KR/WR deep in the backfield...like 20 yards deep. Hopefully Henne won't be joining him on a 15 yard sack :)
BH _ _ _ _ _ _ _ LT LG C RG RT _ _ _ _ _ _ _GC
_ _ _ _RW _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _RB
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _CH
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _WR/KR
You can have the KR/WR start in a three-point stance or sprinter's stance and start running at the snap of the ball toward the line of scrimmage at full speed zig-zagging in misdirection as needed to position himself for an open "return lane". Note that the "kick returner" DOES NOT HAVE THE BALL at this time.
The QB (Henne or Thigpen) is in a shallow shotgun or pistol formation.
Option 1 occurs as the "kick returner" comes within 5 yards of QB depth. A decision has to be made whether to flip/pitch/pass the ball to the up and coming KR/WR. The reason this must happen at this moment is that the transfer will be considered a backward lateral. For someone like Pat White, but also for Ginn and Williams, it would allow him the option to throw a forward pass. I have no information on how well Sheets can throw the ball. Catching this "pass/lob" would be similar to fielding a soft-tossed punt/kickoff.
Option 2 occurs after the KR/WR passes the QB depth position and before the KR/WR arrives at the LOS. Now the transfer is considered a forward pass. This is now basically a Bubble Screen, but the KR/WR is in full stride and running primarily north/south. To catch this pass will require more skill, but it is still a rather easy and somewhat short throw. A pump fake toward the KR/WR would be a good strategy here to try to get the defender to bite or at least freeze the run defense.
Option 3 occurs as the KR/WR passes the LOS. This is basically a slow developing slant play. The advantage is that instead of the WR/KR beginning to speed up and catch and run on a slant, the WR/KR is now at full speed hopefully catching the ball in stride. A pump fake would also be advantageous here.
Option 4 occurs as the KR/WR attempts to finish the "go" part of the "slant and go" hoping to run by a defender trying to stop the bubble screen slant or at least stretch the defense deep and leave the underneath routes open.
Clearly with all the running, you will need multiple WR/KRs and I feel that Ginn, Williams, Sheets, and White would be a deep enough rotation that you wouldn't wear them all out.
Bottom Line: you have a dynamic runner in space catching an easy throw behind the LOS at top speed with defenders scrambling laterally to "tackle a kick returner" as a distraction/side show to your normal spread offense play calls. Precision route running and great hands not a requirement here. Just really fast legs. You utilize Ginn's talents and make use of Pat White's skills as well as Sheets and Ricky.
We don't have a go-to receiver to make the defense back off. Could we use this gimmick to do the same thing with the players we already have (and some wish we didn't). Your thoughts?
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Just a quick question.....
I have never seen Kory Sheets play and i know that he was just a practice squad guy before coming to Miami…
So why all the love to Sheets?? Do you really think that he is one of the four most explosive players on our offense?
by scbrandon on Nov 10, 2009 1:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Note
Kory Sheets was PS in SF cause he was sitting behind Gore and Coffee, but SF still wanted him. Kory Sheets is inactive in Miami cause he’s sitting behind Brown and Williams.
Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.
Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.
by Farorefox on Nov 10, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Check out the youtube videos of his skills
He rushed for over 1,000 yards at Purdue and has great hands with 4.38 speed.
I would say he COULD be one of the four most explosive players on our offense provided he didn’t have to BLOCK the blitz or even learn to find the holes in the O-line running plays. Toss the ball to him while he is running at full speed, if he can make a man miss, he is GONE. Even if he is tripped up at the LOS, if he goes airborne, he’s good for 3-4 yards due to sheer speed.
It is not like you have to learn how to fake somebody out.
Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.
by DolphDallas on Nov 10, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The only "Ginn friendly offense" is
Special Teams.
And thats with a PERIOD .
"Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak." Thomas Carlyle
Sparano yelled to the next receiver, imploring him to, "go get the (expletive) football."
by Neo on Nov 10, 2009 1:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
as opposed to an asterisk
question mark or exclamation point.
by Ex Sniper on Nov 10, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Right!
"Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak." Thomas Carlyle
Sparano yelled to the next receiver, imploring him to, "go get the (expletive) football."
by Neo on Nov 10, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not a Ginn fan...
but shouldn’t we at least try to find a place where he can be used?
He did have that amazing end-around against the Raiders last year.
Wouldn’t you like to see some of that Meadowlands Magic spitting out chunk yardage in our regular offense? I would.
Imagine Henne about to be sacked yet again for another 20 yard loss, but instead, Henne zips the ball to Teddy Ginn in space behind the line of scrimmage and he winds his way to a big gain instead…
Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.
by DolphDallas on Nov 10, 2009 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but he has to be able to CATCH
Special teams and nothing else.
Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.
Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.
by Farorefox on Nov 10, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But suppose he drops it...
as long as he doesn’t bobble the ball into the air for an interception…INCOMPLETION means NO LOSS OF 20 YARDS.
Worst case, throw it at Ginn’s feet, INCOMPLETE, and go back to 3rd and 10 instead of 3rd and 30.
Who knows, he catches and runs, converts the 3rd down with a relatively safe pass…or SCORES!
Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.
by DolphDallas on Nov 10, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If he could be use in the offense
with as many trick plays and formations we do/use don’t you think our offensive coaching staff would have tried it by now? Instead they are reducing his snaps. In a offense that gets as creative as ours that should tell you something.
"Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak." Thomas Carlyle
Sparano yelled to the next receiver, imploring him to, "go get the (expletive) football."
by Neo on Nov 10, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I see your point, but I've been disappointed with the creativity of this coaching staff...
Yes, they came out with the Wildcat and that was extremely outside the box, BUT in the biggest game of our lives against the Patriots last week we just saw measly few WildPat modifications. I mean COME ON people!
Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.
by DolphDallas on Nov 10, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The QB coach is the one who came up with the WC
He also knew how to use Pennington and Henne effectively. Unofrtunately, he doesn’t run the line or the recievers
Head Weatherman/ Injury Specialist of the Phinsider.
Bender: Who wants dolphin? Leela: Dolphin? But dolphins are intelligent. Bender: Not this one. He blew all his money on instant lottery tickets.
by Farorefox on Nov 10, 2009 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I have been saying that for sometime
As someone who believes that a coaches best option is to find a scheme or a package that utilizes his players talents to the best ability, I agree with finding something for Teddy. He has talent, we have seen him in the open field on returns so there is no doubt abou that. The OC needs to find a way to get Ginn the ball without making him go UP while crossing over the middle. I haven’t gone back to look at all of Ginns drops but I seem to remember a majority of them coming deep middle and being high. So if we know that, stop having him run those routes. I have seen a lot of his success working the mid to deep outs because the DB has to respect his speed to go deep. Utilize him more on that type of match up. You can’t tell me there aren’t at least 5-10 plays a game that gives Ginn a good chance of making a big play.
by Vanman_FishFan13 on Nov 10, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is really not that exotic...
QB receives a shotgun snap looks down field for a quick pass, play action handoff to a big burly back, then looks to throw again. Play action freezes the LBs and Safeties.
If you want to use a NON-big-burly-back like Sheets/Ginn/White, get the player in space running to the edge with a 10 yard running start and get results like Brian Westbrook or Darren Sproles.
Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.
by DolphDallas on Nov 10, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sorry but my very first thought upon reading 'Ginn friendly offense'
was one where the rules are changed to allow poor Ted Ginn a mulligan for every dropped pass. You can be sure that with the ‘do over’, he’d make some more catches….
by Natalya on Nov 10, 2009 6:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hey now there's an idea...use Ginn et al. as a hook-and-ladder trailer receiving a backwards lateral
from this formation…
Since whenever he touches the ball it is from a backward lateral, he can still pick it up and RUN.
He could practically dribble it down the field if he had to.
Abandoned the Draft Sean Smith at #25 Bandwagon to Join the Draft Sean Smith at #61 Bandwagon and get Vontae Davis and Chris Clemons. Trio > me.
by DolphDallas on Nov 10, 2009 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This was the very first time Ginn was told he was going to become a wr someday and have to catch balls

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by Foy on Nov 10, 2009 10:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Thats Ted Ginn NOW when he sees a pass coming his way
"Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak." Thomas Carlyle
Sparano yelled to the next receiver, imploring him to, "go get the (expletive) football."
by Neo on Nov 10, 2009 11:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Or a defender...
where’s the rubber duckie!
by Natalya on Nov 12, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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