Gut, this not a call out of any kind but could you go into some detail about Arthur and the big mistakes. Just interested to read about what you saw.
Run game...
So I'd say there were several different things. First, on one of the first 2 plays of the game we try to run Henry over RT but Jones, who got help at the beginning of the play from Douglas, gets shoved 3 yards back and into henry's path. Clearly, Jones can't handle that defender one v one. The outside TE also gets pushed back which trapped Henry. No cutback, Jones is getting driven into where Henry is trying to go and the outside contain defender has pushed the TE back too. Single back, heavy run formation.
Later we come back with a lead blocker and pitch the ball to Henry and he starts wracking up the yards. We ran this play a few times out of base and 11 personnel very well. Even better out of 11 personnel since fewer defenders to block. So we mix in some playaction...but all is good.
Later in the 2nd quarter, we take out Henry for Lewis who is quicker but doesn't break too many arm tackles and our run game stalls again. Stick with what is working until they adjust and take it away...and then you hit them with what they are giving up to stop that play. instead, Smith took it away but changing what was working and taking Henry off the field. Lewis needs to be a change of pace back...not a 50/50 carries rb.
In fairness, we did switch to the zone read and that worked as well and led to henry's TD. that was well done.
Fast forward to quarter 3 and we are back to running Henry well...and then get out of what was working. Tried the same run play that Jones got lit up on in q1 and guess what...Jones got lit up again! Then Lewis comes back and our run game stalls.
4th quarter is where the pain happens. Im not even sure Henry had a carry in the quarter...but they faked it to him a couple of times. This is where you need to win the game. You saved Henry up for the 4th quarter...now we needed to use him. We didn't. At about the 8min mark, we go into throw only mode. Mariota isn't looking sharp and the Colts are getting a good pass rush on us and covering well for the most part. We punt. Then we get the ball back...a few more passes with about 4mins left. plenty of time to pound the rock with henry on running plays they never stopped. No, throw some new pass plays with Mariota not looking his best...and then a bomb downfield into double coverage? Smith needed to call better plays and make sure Mariota knows when it's 3rd and 5...get the first any way possible. Not riding Henry in the 4th is inexcusable...especially given how Mariota and the receivers were playing.
2min drill. Terrible play calls and no plan. The general rule of thumb when you're in 2min with no timeouts is the clocks stops on out of bounds plays and incompletions. You only want to throw the ball in the field of play (when you can't get out of bounds) when you pick up 10-20 yards since most D's play the sidelines, you get into fg range and have enough time, or have enough time and downs to clock it. The Titans first play was to run the receivers on the inside and DW to leak out late. Mariota hits him for a 4 yard gain and we lose 17+ seconds. Terrible! We ran a flood zone play earlier in the game they should have run with the RB flaring out to the sideline, a crosser at about 10 yards running to the sideline and a wr on a GO drawing the S deep. Whichever guy is open gets you yards and a stoppage of the clock. Nope. Every play was to the inside and for short gains. Mariota at least ran for like 15 yards up the middle and then we spike it. Then we run another inside crossing play with no hope of getting out of bounds...this is the 2nd and 10 play. From snap to spike (on 3rd and 2) took 17 seconds. Now there is only 16 seconds left. The only real chance to win is to throw a sideline out or go or deep comeback that takes 8-12 seconds but the wr can step right out of bounds to put us into a makeable FG with time on a stopped clock. With the slants? Even if Brown catches that ball...most likely we don't get the spike off and never get a chance at like a 57yd kick.
Additionally, when we were in 11 personnel and ran the read option. marcus actually kept it once on a bad read. On the other side of the field, the cb 'covering' Humphries was 10 yards off him and dropping back. When you see things like that, you come back to them to take advantage. We had another pass play on a post to humph in which he would have been open except Sharpe ran the wrong route and ran towards where Humph was going. On the same play, Davis was backside and had one on one on an inside pivot route. Why not come back to that play after running Henry a few times and call Davis' number? Davis was also open on another play when we went trips right and he was the inside slot. he got matched up with a LB. They blitzed a CB who Lewis tried to pickup...forced him to step up...right into another defender who beat Saffold - again! Another .25 seconds and Mariota finds him or DW dragging under neath for a TD or a nice gain and we are in scoring position. We didn't come back to that play either.
One of the things Smith will learn is that our division opponents know us really well so you have to get them in a chess game. Several times we had 6 blockers and Henry vs a 6 man front...but we didn't always run the ball. Are you kidding? That should be just about automatic. When we have as many blockers as they have defenders...Henry will run wild. Feed him! But when they drop a guy in the box to get an extra defender, he needs an answer for that...a few actually!
We also didn't really go back to the zone read which got CD his biggest catch of the day. We have to pound people with a lead back (since our interior OL is shaky) and zone read with 3 wr's. make nickel defenses tackle Henry. And when they change personnel or bring an extra player down, RPO them to death!!!
I was impressed with our 2nd half adjustments last week. While he made some good adjustments this week, he made some bad ones as well and took arguably our best offensive player off the field too much.
Sorry if this is long!
Henry needs 25+ touches in this game. We gave that game to the Colts and can't take any chances Thursday!