How Should White Be Used?

We have a tough road ahead to win the AFC East and get into the playoffs.

The way to go may be to stick with a conventional, low-risk, no-trickeration offense and just pound the rock with Ricky and trusting Henne and the receivers (catch the ball!) to keep the defense from crowding the line of scrimmage. I would definitely try this route first, but what if our pass-blocking-challenged line is overwhelmed by 9 in the box and our average receiving corps is jammed at the line and locked down? Our defense is improving, but we are better off maintaining time-of-possession and limiting the exposure of our defense to big plays.

We spent a 2nd round pick on Pat White. Was it a mistake?

Could White be used differently? Should he be used differently?

With Tyler Thigpen being a decent backup with experience, there is no longer a tragedy if Pat White were to get injured (no snaps in the Carolina game). I would not advocate having him substitute for Chad Henne due to rhythm and continuity issues. So how could he be used together with Henne to add an important misdirection/run-pass option to our base offense?

My whole philosophy here is to use Pat White as a distraction to the defense so that there would be running room for Ricky from the Tailback position. Basically, he would be used like the Patriots use Julian Edelman, who I believe is an inferior athlete to Pat White. Throw short passes to him near the line of scrimmage and let him use his legs to make plays.

Imagine Pat White as a halfback in the following Modified Pistol formation:

WR _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _LT LG C RG RT _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _WR

_ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _FB

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ QB

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ HB

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ TB

Note that Ricky plays TB and is relieved by Lex Hilliard. Pat White is relieved by Kory Sheets (can he throw the ball?).

Kory Sperry or Joey Haynos relieves Polite as the FB in the formation, motioning to the hole or into the slot.

Pat White as HB gets the ball on pitches or shovel passes backwards before or after the play action handoffs to the Tailback (Ricky) in order to maintain pass-run option.

As the play develops, Pat White could still get the ball as a normal flair pass in the flat or by running a shallow crossing route over the middle on a dump off. Easy throws, easy catches, and if White can make a man miss, being a surprisingly tough runner for 6-0 190, he could convert some third downs.

It would take a change in offensive philosophy to begin treating Pat White like the rookie QB that he is.

First put the gloves back on because he is going to be catching he ball as well as throwing it (and the weather is getting colder).

Second, at the beginning of the game, give Pat White a few high percentage easy roll-out throws off of pitches or reverses to get hm his first completion and establish him as a legitimate passing threat.

Lastly, use him as a decoy on reverses and fake pitches to open up running room for Pounding the Rock with Ricky. On the occasional reverse or misdirection pitch to the backside, he would be a threat for chunk yardage running or throwing.

My hope is that his presence in the backfield would slow down the pass rush and spread out the defense to the edges to open up running room for Ricky inside even if White doesn't actually touch the ball. Since it is unreasonable to expect him to be in on every play, I would relieve him with Kory Sheets who I think would add some speed and shiftiness on misdirection pitches outside to open up the inside running game with Williams/HIlliard.

Anyway, what's your opinion of White?