Usually BF is a place for quick reactions and thoughts but wanted to do a longer version as I get more frustrated with this side. Today's focus is the forward line and why it is causing so many issues.
To help identify some of the issues, I am going to use some NFL examples. The key point I want to make is how the current structure and personnel is creating issues for the entire ground.
In the NFL, having top wide receivers that can positively take advantage of the deep ball has a greater influence on the total offence than just the odd touchdown run. By having dangerous WR the opposition must look at having their safety deeper to help protect the corner back if the WR manages to get the jump on them. Having the safety deeper means that the intermediate area of the field is less congested and the quarterback can then have more options for passing routes, and also running routes.
While the space can give more options, it has another benefit. It reduces the difficulty percentage as less congestion means throws can be less precise. The opposite is true though. Having no deep threat means that the opposition can congest the short to intermediate area making any throw more difficult and prone to greater error or turnovers.
Switching to the Roos, we have a similar problem. As we have no real deep threats, in this case the ability to take contested marks, teams can setup knowing that we are unlikely to be effective in the air and thus can be more aggressive in setting up for the counter attack. This is also helped by two other areas. As we are ineffective in the air, we have to turn to the ground to make it work. We don’t have any good small forwards and we don’t have an effective ground game inside 50. This again means that you can be more aggressive with your matchups and positioning.
So what now? Well, we get back to the QB with the accurate arm. I don’t have to tell anyone here the problem with trusting our team to thread the needle. We have the 4th quarter of the Dees game to show the effect when it does happen. We have the other 15 quarters to show what happens when it doesn’t.
Can we get a better ground game? The answer is we should get better but we don’t have A or B grade small forwards so any improvement will be minor. For this, Curtis is more a hybrid medium forward.
So that leaves the air. Larkey and Darling require some luck to win battles in the air so how do we improve? The answer is another forward who has influence in the air. Teakle did it last year, Charlie can do it as can Maley. This is the key move if we want to influence opposition sides being less aggressive and more conservative, like we are. This is a very short and simple overview but it highlights how simple positional decisions affect more than just the area they inhabit.
To help identify some of the issues, I am going to use some NFL examples. The key point I want to make is how the current structure and personnel is creating issues for the entire ground.
In the NFL, having top wide receivers that can positively take advantage of the deep ball has a greater influence on the total offence than just the odd touchdown run. By having dangerous WR the opposition must look at having their safety deeper to help protect the corner back if the WR manages to get the jump on them. Having the safety deeper means that the intermediate area of the field is less congested and the quarterback can then have more options for passing routes, and also running routes.
While the space can give more options, it has another benefit. It reduces the difficulty percentage as less congestion means throws can be less precise. The opposite is true though. Having no deep threat means that the opposition can congest the short to intermediate area making any throw more difficult and prone to greater error or turnovers.
Switching to the Roos, we have a similar problem. As we have no real deep threats, in this case the ability to take contested marks, teams can setup knowing that we are unlikely to be effective in the air and thus can be more aggressive in setting up for the counter attack. This is also helped by two other areas. As we are ineffective in the air, we have to turn to the ground to make it work. We don’t have any good small forwards and we don’t have an effective ground game inside 50. This again means that you can be more aggressive with your matchups and positioning.
So what now? Well, we get back to the QB with the accurate arm. I don’t have to tell anyone here the problem with trusting our team to thread the needle. We have the 4th quarter of the Dees game to show the effect when it does happen. We have the other 15 quarters to show what happens when it doesn’t.
Can we get a better ground game? The answer is we should get better but we don’t have A or B grade small forwards so any improvement will be minor. For this, Curtis is more a hybrid medium forward.
So that leaves the air. Larkey and Darling require some luck to win battles in the air so how do we improve? The answer is another forward who has influence in the air. Teakle did it last year, Charlie can do it as can Maley. This is the key move if we want to influence opposition sides being less aggressive and more conservative, like we are. This is a very short and simple overview but it highlights how simple positional decisions affect more than just the area they inhabit.
