I dont see how Philbin would work at all. ML will be installing his new and innovative offense, but channel it through an old OC not familiar with it? That's like putting a new big turbo engine in an old model T. There is only so much speed the model T can handle.
I did like the tape review idea. I was surprised that the league got and kept those.
Thought it was interesting there was a selection committee comprised of quite a few people including the lady in charge of human resources.
I believe the "new and innovative" is exagerated. What in the panoply of NFL play calls did McCarthy not have in his playbook and utilize at least occasionally? The only one I can think of is read option (hand off or QB keeper) and I can't see that happening with Rodgers. I think I even detected an RPO (hand off or pass decision post snap) or two this season, though certainly not on the Jones safety as one radio guy claimed. Other than certain kinds of gadget plays, like the "Philly special" or a wildcat with the QB split wide as I saw NO run, and the read option, we've seen it all. Spread concepts, power concepts, it was all in there.
On thing I see some pundits highlighting is LaFleur favoring 3-wide bunch sets. McCarthy ran a fair amount of those, from deep routes to goal line short shots to pick plays. Another LeFleur note is his favoring deep/under combinations. Everybody does that including McCarthy. I mean, how often do we hear bellyaching about Rodgers passing up the open under route even if they pick the wrong play to highlight it.
We've got another guy on this board saying LaFleur favors one-look timing routes. Well, how many times have we seen Rodgers throw those quick short money slants to Adams or make the quick sideline lob against single coverage? Often enough to know they existed. And does anybody think Rodgers is going to be operating in an offense with no progression routes like some rookie who never stood behind center and knows nothing but spread option? That's a little ludicrous.
So what should be the expected difference be, if there really isn't much new under the sun: Improved insight, adaptabillity and flexibility, we hope, which will manifest themselves in different emphases, better execution and better decision making, the pieces being:
1) Accurate talent assessment--what each player can and can't do which probably extends to who stays and who goes to one degree or another
2) Emphasis in play design and play calling to maximize talents and minimize deficiencies
3) Game planning, which includes adjustments based on player unavailabilty and exploiting matchups against opponents' injury replacements
4) A quick mind that cam make adjustments and counter-adjustments on the fly mid-game, whether that is ditching stuff that isn't working to adjusting to the defense doing unexpected things
5) And then moment of truth when all of the above flow down to the spout of the funnel in the moment: The play call that optimizes the chance of success in that situation.
Murphy specifically highlighted LaFleur's successful adaptability. He was doing one thing with a pass orientation to start in Tennesse, morphing to a power run game with Henry/Gabbert as Mariota's elbow issue became intollerable. So, what is the "LaFleur offense"? Quick throw/deep throw or power run? What I would hope and expect is nothing that fits neatly into some prior model. I expect it to be whatever LaFluer thinks will work with the Packer personnel, not some template from the past. The idea that LaFluer is going to tell Rodgers to color within some tighly drawn lines is ludicrous. It better be a partnership or this thing is going to flounder.
Now, being a self-proclaimed detailed-oriented guy, which we have no reason doubt, LaFleur may, for example, have a different idea than McCarthy about how a particular route combination should be run, where he might coach to different cues from the defensive positioning. That goes to insight. It will probably be transparent unless one takes a deep dive into tape comparisons. It will be judged by vague impressions but mostly by the results. And if that's a 3 wide bunch and it works, then it will be run more often.
As for the more "boring" consideration of the run blocking scheme, Tennessee ran primarily zone blocking with some gap blocking, so there's not likely to be much change. Again, important specific details in execution that will be hard to detect may be implemented, and the degree may depend on whether Campen is retained. In any case, except for the occasional muddle or blown block, there's not much to complain about in the run blocking or the Jones/Williams combo's execution. Again, outsiders identification of change will be vauge with results being the measuring stick.
