Cam Cameron Trims Playbook

[lgcs27288]

I for one think this is absurd. It's not like we had that many different plays to begin with and now he is trimming it down even more. I have a feeling our offense is going to be reminiscent of 2010's offense, unfortunately.

[Gtown Purple]

Hopefully some of those reverses are the first thing to go.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

He did it so that the rookies wouldn't find it too difficult to learn as they don't have as much time as usual, (hopefully) so that they could contribute sooner. I think it's a good idea personally.

[GoRavensNTerps]

[quote name='Gtown Purple' timestamp='1312908936' post='742351']
Hopefully some of those reverses are the first thing to go.
[/quote]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[flynismo]

Yeah, not just for all the new faces sake, but 'trimming the playbook' may mean he's removing 20 plays and replacing them with 10 new ones.

[PuRock]

I think you are reading too much into it.

Every team starts training camp with a huge playbook that they've developed in the offseason (coaches offseason). They 'trim' the playbook down over time based on what pieces they have and what they see in Camp. Eventually they'll get down to a base playbook. From there, plays are selected based on the gameplan they want to employ for each game.

Trimming the playbook is all part of the process.

What Cam really needs to work on this offseason is disguising his play calling better and being more unpredictable in the calls. It's not so much the plays.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1312910397' post='742384']
Yeah, not just for all the new faces sake, but 'trimming the playbook' may mean he's removing 20 plays and replacing them with 10 new ones.
[/quote]

He had 20 plays?

So let me just get this straight, simple play calling Cam is going even simpler? This can't be good.

[The Raven]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1312910573' post='742391']
I think you are reading too much into it.

Every team starts training camp with a huge playbook that they've developed in the offseason (coaches offseason). They 'trim' the playbook down over time based on what pieces they have and what they see in Camp. Eventually they'll get down to a base playbook. From there, plays are selected based on the gameplan they want to employ for each game.

Trimming the playbook is all part of the process.
[/quote]

Exactly.

You have to figure out what plays work for the team and which ones don't work, etc. In addition, as the season goes on, more plays are added, changed, or removed. Also, it's been reported that coaches around the league are trimming playbooks, even Belichick. It's nothing to be concerned about.

[PuRock]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1312910876' post='742396']
Exactly.

You have to figure out what plays work for the team and which ones don't work, etc. In addition, as the season goes on, more plays are added, changed, or removed. Also, it's been reported that coaches around the league are trimming playbooks, even Belichick. It's nothing to be concerned about.
[/quote]

Pat Kirwan explains the process really good in his book "Take your eye off the ball". Really a fascinating read.

There are only so many plays that can be practiced in training camp to allow them to be effective. So you have to trim the fat. Its more a matter of disguising them.

[The Raven]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1312910573' post='742391']
What Cam really needs to work on this offseason is disguising his play calling better and being more unpredictable in the calls. It's not so much the plays. Though Reverses need to go.
[/quote]

I think predictability is an overrated aspect of playcalling. Execution is what it comes down to. If you look back, Vince Lombardi was a very conservative, simple coach, but his players executed. Execution>Predictability

[PuRock]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1312911058' post='742403']
I think predictability is an overrated aspect of playcalling. Execution is what it comes down to. If you look back, Vince Lombardi was a very conservative, simple coach, but his players executed. Execution>Predictability
[/quote]

I would agree. You still need to execute. But if the other team can determine what plays you will most likely run in a base package with a certain personnel, it can curb the plays effectiveness.

Like when the other team saw Donte Stallworth enter the field. 95% of the time, we call an end around. Teams would ease up on the over the top coverage and focus more into the backfield. Making execution that much harder.

[The Raven]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1312911342' post='742411']
I would agree. You still need to execute. But if the other team can determine what plays you will most likely run in a base package with a certain personnel, it can curb the plays effectiveness.

Like when the other team saw Donte Stallworth enter the field. 95% of the time, we call a reverse. Teams would ease up on the over the top coverage and focus more into the backfield. Making execution that much harder.
[/quote]

I can agree with that. It's not all execution, but when it came to Stallworth, it was rediculously predictable.

[True]

[img]http://i54.tinypic.com/fum0xk.jpg[/img]

[RayToShinningRay]

We went out and got the players that warrant trimming the playbook. We got a powerful RB, a top-tier FB, no deep threat wideout yet. Trimming the playbook is the only logical thing with our offensive makeup.

[WinnipegRaven]

With the team re-dedicating itself to the run, a trimming down of the playbook was in order.

[757RavensFan]

If you think about it, the rookies should know the playbook inside and out by now. They should have rcv'd it the day when the lock-out was lifted for about 2 days and studying ever since. It's not like they were practicing as a team from April-July!

[mhead66]

It's better to run a reduced number of plays well, than to have 500 plays that aren't well executed.

First, I think the inexperience of the OLine and the receivers (WR + TE) will entice Cam to emphasize the run more... obviously, the addition of Leach indicates this.

It's all a matter of effectiveness. Can the Offense score?

The Ravens ran the ball 48.3% of the time last year, passed it 51.7%.
We were 20th in passing, 14th in rushing.
We were 16th in scoring, averaging 22 pts/game.

With all the turnover on personnel on the Offense, is 16th in points, 20th in passing a realistic goal? Is it achievable, with so much youth catching the ball?

Sure it's achievable, but is it likely?

It all depends on how 3-4 players develop... We shall see.

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='757RavensFan' timestamp='1312916105' post='742500']
If you think about it, the rookies should know the playbook inside and out by now. They should have rcv'd it the day when the lock-out was lifted for about 2 days and studying ever since. It's not like they were practicing as a team from April-July!
[/quote]

If I remember correctly only Jimmy Smith would have received a playbook that day because the others hadn't even been drafted yet. By the time the 2nd round of the draft came around the lockout was back in place.

"Knowing" the playbook isn't the same as actually learning the playbook under the instruction of the coaches. There are intricacies and nuances that aren't evident by simply looking at the plays (yes, even in Cam's playbook it's not that simple).

Not to mention that no amount of study can replace actually executing and perfecting the plays with the team. Even simple plays are difficult to execute without developing timing and chemistry with the rest of the players.

I think all teams will be "trimming" their playbooks to simplify and streamline the offense. Especially in the first few weeks.

A simple play, well executed, will produce better results than a clever play with poor execution every time. It's as simple as that.

Hopefully, this doesn't mean we're going to be simplistic and predictable. Harbs and Cam MUST have a concise playbook, but a quality playbook. Don't waste time on pointless reverses and delays, teach only the best of the crop and save the tricks for next year.

[CNC]

Wow now we only are going to have 3 plays. I wonder what he trimmed, the out route to mason, the dump off to rice, the screen to housh, the Boldin 9 route, the reverse, the end around or the flacco running for his life.... I think we are only gonna have the Boldin Fly, the rice dump off and the end around with Torrey Smith

[baItimoreravens]

The fact most of you are referring to Stallworths' end-arounds from last year as "reverses" tells me all I need to know about your opinion. If you don't know the difference, why should I think you know anything about Cam's play calling abilities? or how big our playbook really is? Not trying to be mean, but that is just one of my biggest pet peeves.

[hawkprey]

Something tells me the comeback route to Mason is still in there...

[gabefergy]

[quote name='baItimoreravens' timestamp='1312918661' post='742553']
The fact most of you are referring to Stallworths' end-arounds from last year as "reverses" tells me all I need to know about your opinion. If you don't know the difference, why should I think you know anything about Cam's play calling abilities? or how big our playbook really is? Not trying to be mean, but that is just one of my biggest pet peeves.
[/quote]
NFL playbooks are far more complex than most fans appreciate. I mean just play some Madden and you get a glimpse of what you have to know as a player.

[wayne]

[quote name='RayToShinningRay' timestamp='1312915281' post='742483']
We went out and got the players that warrant trimming the playbook. We got a powerful RB, a top-tier FB, no deep threat wideout yet. Trimming the playbook is the only logical thing with our offensive makeup.
[/quote]
Exactly, bringing back a more smashmouth approach with so many young guys / rookies, it makes perfect sense to trim the PB.

[flynismo]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1312919468' post='742566']<br />NFL playbooks are far more complex than most fans appreciate. I mean just play some Madden and you get a glimpse of what you have to know as a player.<br />[/quote]


you aint kidding....my son just got his playbook (6th grade football team) and even that has gotten bigger since when I was in school. And I'm only 34, so it's not like that was all that long ago

[mhead66]

[quote name='baItimoreravens' timestamp='1312918661' post='742553']
[b]The fact most of you are referring to Stallworths' end-arounds from last year as "reverses" tells me all I need to know about your opinion.[/b] If you don't know the difference, why should I think you know anything about Cam's play calling abilities? or how big our playbook really is? Not trying to be mean, but that is just one of my biggest pet peeves.
[/quote]
I don't think the terminology of the play is relevant.

I think what's relevant is that Cam didn't use the fastest WR on the team last year on fly patterns, to loosen up opposing defenses, often enough to suit most fans.

Stallworth ran the ball 5 times, and had only 2 receptions; of course, one of the two passes was for 67 yards.

That's one of the fan base's pet peeves with Cam and his playbook; at least it was last year.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

It does make sense given all the young players we have. Just hope he calls the right play from time to time.

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1312911342' post='742411']
I would agree. You still need to execute. But if the other team can determine what plays you will most likely run in a base package with a certain personnel, it can curb the plays effectiveness.

Like when the other team saw Donte Stallworth enter the field. 95% of the time, we call an end around. Teams would ease up on the over the top coverage and focus more into the backfield. Making execution that much harder.
[/quote]

He was trying to set up play action since we couldn't run the ball. We have to run the ball for this team to win.

[CorvusCorax]

More than likely the playbook will be expanded as the season progresses.

[scrock]

[quote name='lgcs27288' timestamp='1312908430' post='742344']
I for one think this is absurd. It's not like we had that many different plays to begin with and now he is trimming it down even more. I have a feeling our offense is going to be reminiscent of 2010's offense, unfortunately.
[/quote]

I think its a great idea, KISS - keep it simple stupid

Its for the benefit of the young guys, let them completely learn a smaller portion and then add to it as time goes along.

Sounds smart to me, and with Joe Flacco having more input this may be something he wanted. Why have 500 plays that these guys may not be able to recognize and execute, instead have 150 plays that they all know 100% and will be able to pull them off flawlessly

[K-Dog]

Better to be great at a few things than good at a lot.