Now that The Johnsons (Duke and Malcolm) are finally available, Flip should run some of the plays that have been kept in the closet.
Up til now, the offense has been limited, not only by the need to hide stuff from real-game opponents, but from the personnel.
As Mike Pettine said, certain plays are designed to make best use of the skill-sets of individual players. Crowell, West and company are good backs, but nothing like Duke as a receiver or outside runner.
The apparently unmentionable Malcolm Johnson is a much bigger factor here than most think.
As good as EJ Bibbs has been, fullback isn't his best spot, and he's been used mostly as an H-back. Malcomb has actually played fullback, and is a little faster.
Expect to see Flip run more two-back sets here--especially the "Johnson-and-Johnson set" YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST dammit...
Anyway, the big Johnson (you heard that here first but don't tell anybody) will lead-block, pass-protect, and run out for passes.
Malcolm is being highly underrated. He won't make a lot of flash plays, but he'll amount to critical insurance, as he'll either pick up a dastardly blitzer or bail out his quarterback as a receiver.
Unlike a lot of fullbacks, Johnson has some real speed, and can actually do something with a dumpoff pass, and he has excellent hands.
This type of player never gets much respect because they don't score from 70 yards out, but this guy will be very important to this offense. He can turn a desperation dumpoff he catches near a sideline and behind the line of scrimmage into five or ten yards as effectively as any running back.
I'm certain that if Terrelle Pryor plays, he will be targeted at least two or three times.
One thing the coaches do need to see is him catching slants and crosses and getting hit. Me too. He got hit a lot as a quarterback, though, so I don't think it will matter.
Go Johnsons!
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