Marty Mornhinweg explains Eagles' run/pass ratio
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Marty Mornhinweg explains Eagles' run/pass ratio
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles' offensive playcalling has come under scrutiny this week after there were only four called rushing plays in the first half of the Eagles' 27-6 loss to Arizona. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg defended the play calling on Thursday, noting that the Eagles only had nine first-quarter plays, which limited the sample size. Then, in the second quarter, the Eagles called 11 passing plays in the two-minute offense, which is typical.
In the second half, when the Eagles ran the ball more, they were playing catch-up and could not dedicate themselves to the run.
"On paper, it looks really odd," Mornhinweg said. "But if you go through the situational part of it, it balances out a little bit.”
Mornhinweg said he's reviewed the play-calling several times and took responsibility for the offense's inability to score points. He also said he would call the game differently if they could play it again.
"In hindsight, I would have done it a little differently," Mornhinweg said. "I certainly thought going in we had a heck of a game plan.”
Still, don't expect many widespread changes. Mornhinweg emphasized the offense's philosophy to be aggressive. He said the way the Eagles called the game against Arizona was "not unusual for us," and that there were, in fact, opportunities down field. Those opportunities were hindered by communication and blocking issues.
The run/pass questions were present in past weeks, too. Mornhinweg defends it each week, and he said the Eagles are following their season script so far.
“We’re right to where I want to be overall; we’re 62 percent overall,” Mornhinweg said. “We’re somewhere around 50/50 on first down, run and pass.”
The statistics may be skewed each week, and the Eagles will run more if they're holding a lead and pass more when they're coming from behind. Plus, the game plans change depending on the defense. That's why Mornhinweg said he judges the season stats more than the game-by-game stats.
"Philosophically, I don’t care as much about balance in any particular game,” Mornhinweg said. “If we have to run the ball 50 times to win the game, that’s what we’ll do. If we have to pass the ball 50 times, that’s what we’ll do. Now, if you take the whole season, you’d rather somewhere around 60/40 – you’re usually going to be a little higher, 60 to 65 percent passing.”
Comments (56)
This is why Mornhinweg needs to go. He doesn't get that you set up the pass by keeping defenses honest with the run.— cous76- Center starting his first EVER NFL game, check.
Demoted Left Tackle forced to start, check.
Starting receiver out, check.
Aggressive pass rush, that just beat Brady, check.
Above-Average cover corners, check.
Began season with too many turnovers, check.
What's the plan, Marty? "Philosophically, I don’t care about balance in any particular game.”
"We're going to throw until Vick either can't pick himself off the turf or he breaks the turnover record."
Check-Mate!
Good-Bye, Andy! - Outstanding post Lonewolf11!!! Just beautiful and couldn't have put it any better! — BMan
- Don't let the fact that this isn't the 1990s and the entire league is pass-first keep your from your pontification.
- I did not see the game. How many of the 9 in the 1st qtr were passes ??— CDR Little
- Marty, do you think Whisenhunt may have had some concern about the Eagles' pass-rush which helped to determine his play-calling?
Marty, you do understand that you have the mind of a daffodil, right? - CDR - You can download the game at the following link, but you must first download "bittorent." Just Google it.
http://thepiratebay.se/torrent/7668368/NFL.2012.RS.Week03.(23_sep).PHI.Eagles.v.ARI.Cardinals.720p - It is not about ratios. You dont have to use the run to set up the pass it is about the formations that are called and the play calling in those respective formations. The Eagles on sunday lacked the ability to block the cardinals Defensive line to allow Vick to tak 5-7 step drops. Therefore they played significantly out of the shotgun and that is where the eagles need to run more draws and screen passes because that will begin to prevent other teams from putting all out blitz's and causing vick to question his decision making.— templefan617
- I don't understand how he can acknowledge we have serious blocking and communication issues hindering the passing game, yet still call such a pass-heavy gameplan! Doesn't logic dictate that you adjust your gameplan based on the strengths/weaknesses of your team!?
What an utterly mind-numbing article.— evolutionary - Adjusting game plans? The guy went 5-27 as a head coach. I'm not sure he knows what a game plan is. — The Pink Floyd
- Logic! Logic? We don't need no stinking Logic!!!— Wilco
- This is why the EAGLES will not win with Marty and Andy running this offense. No excuses...— UGHROLF
I'm really sick of Reid, Morninhweg, Vick, Castillo et al. "taking responsibility" for the team's shoddy performance. What exactly do they mean by "responsibility"? If my company fails because of my lousy performance, "taking responsibility" means "cleaning out my desk".— 1980- I'm sorry tired of hearing and seeing the same thing over and over.— Phila26
- @evolutionary. Seriously, Are you really trying to make logic a part of the Eagles game plan. What is wrong with you. I agree with @Wilco We don't need no stinking logic!— CAPhilsfan
- Blah, blah, blah!
GOOD GRIEF!— BEMiller - does anyone know buddy ryans phone number? Maybe losing Kelce and Peters was bigger than you can imagine. Still doesn't explain the ridiculous play calling.— 46 and 2
- Eagles fans RELAX!! Good grief, we are only THREE games into the season and you're already pushing a the panic button. The team will be fine.......They will win their 10 games and make the playoffs. I know some of you don't want to hear this, but Mike Vick will be playing solid football and things will be fine.— idolovegolf
- It's not the panic button. It's taking a realistic look at the team and seeing - as basically everyone else around the league sees - that despite a lot of talent, the Eagles have glaring weaknesses (esp. QB and OL) which cast a lot of doubt on the team's chances of winning enough games to get into the playbook. If you want to throw a party for everybody who thinks those 2 wins are signs of a 10-win team, feel free; you can probably throw it in a phone booth. Vick has had 3 really bad games in a row now; so, to you, that's evidence that he's about to start playing well? Your reasoning is a mystery to me. — 1980
- You said 3 games? Really, 3 games? It's been 14 years! where the hell have you been. I think 100+ games is plenty to push a panic button if people so choose. It be one thing if these problems were knew, but they happen several times every year where these coaches leave you feeling dumbfounded, and then have the balls to act like they're smarter than everybody who's criticizing them. BTW, Mike Vick hasn't played solid football since peewee, when he was better than everybody else and didn't have to know anything other than run really fast or throw it really far. Funny thing happens when you play with people who are really really good, you have to work really really hard just to keep up. He can thank god all he wants for his natural abilities, but at this level, just your natural abilities isn't even close to being good enough. I wish they would send him and his natural abilities to cleveland, and take Andy n Marty with him. — The Pink Floyd
- everybody in this organization takes blame, but nothing gets done what a bunch of clowns,,,,,,,,,,,,,— tjwin23
- I love it when people say "I was wrong," then spend the next hour telling you how, actually, they were right, and everything they tried was good, it just didn't work. Marty needs to go, now.— Joeknows
- I for one am sooooooo TIRED of andy and marty taking the blame in loses. Going into the season unprepared and costing us games. I have ZERO faith in the fact that IF we did ever get to another Super Bowl...these two clowns would no way we could pull off the win. NOT A CHANCE. Please make the change Jeff...you gave Reid enough time to try to get us there. Time to move on.— RealizticFan
- Also, Andy's and Marty's approach shortened McNabb's effective career by allowing him to reap too much punishment, and the same can be said for what's currently happening to Mike Vick. If Brady or Manning had been the recipients of this kind of punishment, on a continuous basis, they would be out of the league by now. Granted, these two guys know when and how to get rid of the ball, but, also, their coaches knew/know how to truly help them succeed, and stay upright.— Joeknows
- These clowns say they all take responsibility for failing...yet they all keep their jobs....where is that sissy owner Lurie, he should fire this whole bunch of losers.— phil500
- Enough of this BS from the coaching staff: "I take full responsibility, I need to do a better job of getting the players in position, I need to improve there" has worn through. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Your responsibility is to win games not make excuses. Watch the films, develop a plan and ensure that it is executed, practice the plan. For God's sake stop the ridiculous apologies.— billtfla
- “If we have to run the ball 50 times to win the game, that’s what we’ll do."
That's patently false. There have been many times that running the ball would have won the game, but they NEVER do. Sometimes, you need to go into the game expecting to win a low scoring game with running and defense, and you let your opponent make the mistakes. But they can't coach that type of game. All they know is how to jump out to a 10 or 14 point lead and manage that type of game. And when that plan fails and they get behind, they try even harder to hit the lottery with big pass plays.— guyblur 
Great! Now we have two people accepting blame... but yet both are still employed. Everything's okay as long as someone says it was my fault ;-) What is it now? 13 years?- Zach,
The fault lies with (choose one:
A. Andy
B. Morning Wig
C. Vick
D. Mayor Nutter
E. Barack Obama— prudential2 - that game was so bad i was looking for a paper bag for my head— pr0f3ss0r
- OK, I'm now officially dumber for reading that. Brad Childress, wherever you are, you see what we're dealing with. Come back!— DJacobs55
- Marty is using the Andy excuse "I have to do a better job of that".— mwright252
- I am oppressed!!!— warreninrochester
- Marty will have next year to watch Skylar play at U of F. Bank on it. Marty must have had a terrible time with puzzles as a kid...."Mom it won't fit"..."Keep on trying honey. If at first you don't succeed try and try again even if it's the wrong piece dear."— glove69
- All I can say is wow! If I am the owner- I make a move NOW!— SportsmanshipMatters
- Everyone is down on Juan Castillo but at least he has an excuse---he had no business being a defensive coordinator and had never done it before. Marty has done this for years and learned NOTHING. Does he have any idea how it is to pass block for 50 or 60 plays or how easy he makes it for the defense to come after the QB when they know he will be holding the ball for up to 7 or 8 seconds on most plays?????— xatsmann
- " Marty Morhninweg says he was responsible for the offense's inability to score Sunday"
LOL. Man, Andy has him so scared that he's taking the blame for Vick and Reid all at once.
That's funny.— fmMD - This guy is a bigger dope than Fat Andy
— pflynn20 - Eagles are 65-11 under Reid when they run the ball 30 or more times...
— pflynn20 - It is not necessary to go past page one of the comments....they are real and they are spectacular and Marty and his buddy AR are completely over-matched and too stubborn to change......Hopefully Jeffery is finally watching and getting fed up with the AR MM JC circus.......— nuggett
- Just run the damn ball. Jesus! Worst play-call ever!— hallux
- All you crybabies. Morningwheg's analysis of the run/pass distribution is spot-on. The pass premium is between 60-65%. What we should be asking instead is whether he plans to remedy both Vick and McCoy struggles with the secondary blitz. And given the line's struggles why not try running a little more in the red zone. It seems we struggle to take advantage of our offense's quickness.— HeelYes
- LoneWolf, you've got it right! Don't let the Andy Apologists grind you down!
- Marty needs a blind fold and cigarette. He's been putting forth a horrible game plan.— Dexter
- After reading the lame excuse Marty gave for not calling a balanced offensive game, I am not picking the Eagles in anymore games this season. I dont trust the play calling.— Realtor in Orlando
- “If we have to run the ball 50 times to win the game, that’s what we’ll do". This guy should do Standup! That's a riot!
— cooperhawk - Eagles pass so much that they're predictable.....some teams remain in cover-2 or nickel defense.....very little thought required for opposing defenses when we pass every down.— Big Jeff
- The saying "the chain is only as strong as its weakest link " comes to mind.....— Mike Boryla
- Marty has a picture of Kotite on his ceiling. He needs to replace it with a portrait of Lonewolf.— NewMick314
- If you cannot look at the stats and see that passing exclusively is not a winning strategy, then let's whimsically play football...perhaps street ball is what Marty wants to play. I cansee that ratios need to move somewhat, but not when the other team KNOWS exactly what you are doing. I thought making good play decisions are based on sound thinking, accurate facts, and reality. MM....it appears that none of those three factors go into our game plan....and evolving game plan.— 5thstrretpast
- Don't they script the first 15 plays? 11 pass plays(includes Vick running for his life) and 4 runs. How's that for balance? Marty said they only had 9 first quarter plays(actually 11). Do you think they didn't have more plays because they opposition knew what they were going to do?— Sheriff Bart
- It's also about running the ball to give your O line a break from pass blocking and to let them punish the d-line. Running wears the D-line down.— mknphotos
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Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Jeff McLane
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Zach Berman
Inquirer Staff Writer
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