Originally posted by thl408:
Originally posted by Giedi:
Originally posted by thl408:
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There are pros and cons to the fullback versus second TE grouping. I don't see how using a second TE helps Purdy any more than a FB - Reddick beat a TE on that play. On the play he got injured, there were two TEs in the game. I bet Juice in the backfield would have done a better job of blocking Reddick on that play than a TE. Juice in the backfield cut blocking Reddick may have done better than asking a TE to act like an offensive tackle.
Well that's where the three TE concept comes from. What if you had *another* Kittle 2.0 (who is bigger than Juszczyk) been in the backfield? Keep in mind, I don't think they can retain Juan Jennings even with an expanded cap. They still have to sign Bosa. Latu may be a 3rd down receiver a la Jennings if/when Jennings leaves for his 2nd contract. I think they will retain Deebo and possibly squeeze Aiyuk in, but Jennings - capwise - is going to be difficult. I think a two tight end set presents run fit problems to a defense, specially in first down base offense with all the motions Kyle employs and Latu being bigger and stronger (hopefully) than Juszczyk. Secondly, I think it allows Kyle to get to that magical 50/50 run pass split with a credible second TE as both a blocker and a receiver.
Here's Kyle talking a bit about his run game philosophy during last years playoffs...
I realize you guys had great success on the ground in 2019 and so you didn't throw the ball much at all, but in these two games, is this kind of more your style or more what you want that offense to be? A 50-50 split or a very close split between running and pass?Here's the play against Dallas where Juszczyk was on the LOS acting like a TE and Kittle caught a pass when he was not even supposed to be a receiver.
"Yeah, we always try to do that just because we don't like anyone to tee off in any direction. I wouldn't say it's necessarily the style of game that I want. It's that we feel we have to adapt to the style that we think you need to play to win whatever that given game is or that given moment that week and the better defensive lines you go against, the better defenses you go against, that style usually leads to slowing guys down and not allowing other teams to play at what they want to do and it also gives you a much higher percentage of winning the turnover battle too. I think you need to be able to win games that way in the playoffs a lot. Not always do you have to. We saw it a different way in our first week versus Seattle and we'll work all week to see how we see it this week too."
Note: I'm thinking of the one back, Two Tight End set as a *base* offense for first and ten, and not really employed for 2nd or 3rd downs.
For 3TE sets, that'd just be a package you might see sprinkled in a couple times a game if there's a mismatch to exploit.
I don't equate bigger to being better when it comes to run blocking. Juice's mobility is his greatest asset as a run blocker. I think a player like Juice is much more valuable than a second TE of equal talent, within SF's offense. And while he wouldn't be as good in the passing game as a second TE, having Deebo/Aiyuk/Kittle/CMC helps greatly to offset any shortcomings of having a fullback on the field (in the passing game).
But Kyle opting to spend draft capital on finding a dynamic second TE could be a hint as to where he wants to take his base offense. Perhaps Latu is just as mobile as Juice in the run game and can be a 'pretend fullback' on some downs in a similar manner to how Juice will play like a second TE on some downs.
Kidding, but seriously - in the two tight end set, I think Kittle will be a Touchdown Machine. He had 7 touchdowns with Purdy in the last 5 regular season games.The Two TE set could also be related to the 2021 cut blocking rules changes. Because the backside of zone blocking is usually cut blocks, and if those rules limit cut blocks, the pursuing backside end can screw up the play and not allow the RB a cutback lane at the point of decision. So now you have to man the backside of the zone run with (possibiy) a TE at the LOS to give the RB possible back side cuts, if you can't cut block anymore. (or if cut blocking is very difficult with the new rules)
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the league has given the thumbs up on a proposal first brought by the competition committee that expands prohibition against blocking below the waist. The approved proposal illegalizes blocking below the waist by offensive and defensive players on scrimmage downs when contact occurs beyond five yards on either side of the line of scrimmage and more than two https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-approve-expanded-rule-on-low-blocks-90-man-rosters-to-start-training-yards outside of either offensive tackle.as for Juszczyk, again, I think Purdy's passing talent can use a TE more than a Fullback because he's so accurate. A fullback generally is focused more on the run blocking, and so when I see Juszczyk - I see a blocker not a receiver (yes, I know he is a very good receiver). It's more in the contested high catches that I'm focused on - in the settings like the short yardage or endzone plays. That TE height advantage over the defender and Purdy's accuracy can give the offense the edge in the passing game vs Purdy having to pass to Juszczyk who is shorter and has a lesser catch radius. At the same time, the TE is a bigger body to be able to put in to block for first down run fits. With everybody going big nickel and 4-2-5 defenses, I think a bigger TE vs a Fullback has the advantage on base downs in general. Add in a 3rd TE on first downs, and you can see the dilemma a defense has in dealing with Kyle's zone runs and his counters to it. Remember, Kyle's entire offense revolves around a good run game. I think Baltimore and SF were the top two run teams in the league last year and the year before.
