Great article. I think Flacco could be the one protecting MM to a point with the reluctance to go through another OC change, this time in season again. There doesn’t have to be some big change really, they just have to do what they’ve done before and been successful doing. Run the ball and play action pass. I think even MM could call more of those plays.
Thank you Sean. I also think that its just a timing issue with the plays.
Cam was wildly inconsistent in some ways to MM, like how they would go up tempo at times and keep defenses guessing. It works, then you never see it again. Same way with the 6 man O-line here. Saw it a lot in I believe the Miami game. Haven't seen it since.
Also you had Cam start doing things like flinging it deep on 3rd and 2. Which once in while is ok if it's there. But every time, instead of trusting a Pro Bowl RB in Rice, or a higher % pass for a couple yards there to sure handed Pitta. MM does the opposite in you need 8 yards and he throws it 2. Some of that is Flacco as well. Some of that is the personnel package on those plays though which is coaching.
When Cam was let go and Caldwell took over, it wasn't an overhaul of the offense. Caldwell never called before. He just took Cam's book and made the calls as he saw fit, and it was genius. The following season not so much. But the timing of the plays was so much better. I think if Roman became the interim OC tomorrow, you would see no Perriman, Collins getting 25 touches a game, and maybe just someone who learned from what MM was doing wrong, and slight changes in game can make the offense a much better unit.
It doesn't need to be an overhaul on offense. Just someone who isn't a complete moron needs to be on the headset with the playbook. Small changes can make a world of difference.