There’s been some individual threads about some player usage in our offense, mainly Monty, Jamo, and TeSlaa, so I thought I’d take a look at some of the first 7 game 2024 stats versus the first 7 game 2025 stats.
Most it just confirms what we’re all seeing and already talking about.
Clearly Gibbs is getting more looks than Monty compared to the first 7 games from last season. I’m personally fine with this as long as Gibbs health is being taken into account and as long as it doesn’t effect Monty’s motivation. I don’t think either are an issue so far, but it’s a long season and we need to make sure Monty knows he’s still a key cog to our offense and we definitely need to keep Gibby healthy.
As far as the passing game goes there is a slight uptick to Amon-Ra’s usage and a slight down tick to Jamo’s usage. We’ve all seen that. But more generally speaking it doesn’t seem like we’re getting much out of either our Z or X WR positions in the pass catching game. I’d really like to see an improvement on that. They also seem to be targeting LaPorta a bit more frequently this season than last season.
Overall, I think we all know it comes down to our offensive line. Goff is probably feeling more pressured in the pocket and he doesn’t feel comfortable yet letting the deeper Z and X routes develop. But we could be incorporating some slants and crossers to get those spots more engaged. And clearly Monty is being hampered a bit by poor run blocking between the tackles
Anyway, here are the comparisons in totals and percentages comparing the first 7 games from last season to the first 7 games for this season.
We’re running fewer offensive plays per game than last year and we really need to get better on 3rd down. A few more conversions and longer drives and maybe we can get some guys a few more touches. We really could use a healthy Decker.
In his film review of Jamo for Week 7, Justin Rogers points out 3 (3!) plays designed for Jamo never got off the ground because of whiffed blocks by Monty, Gibbs, and Tater.
This is a cool chart. Hard to conclude much though, +/- one target/game is mostly noise. Could easily flip in a single week. The only thing that seems clear is that 3rd/4th receivers are being targeted less and those targets are going to Laporta. Probably a good thing.
not arguing TC, but the kid needs more reps and targets, St Brown isn’t hurting for reps, let IT take a couple of his, then go back to St Brown. you can’t drown Tesla and then expect him to prove himself.
Ultimately I would like to see more production out of our Z and X receiver. If that means less targets for Ra, Gibbs, and SLP then so be it.
The team is winning so it’s hard to be too critical and it’s an easy argument to say….hey we’re winning, so stop complaining.
But I do worry about a few things……….
Keeping all our guys engaged. Letting them know we see them as more than just blockers for the other guys.
Making sure that we don’t become too predictable to the opposing defenses
Long term health and the wear and tear due to over usage.
So while we’re not too far off of last seasons distribution, if the trend continues then the percentage gaps will increase. I’d rather the usage trends lean back to what it was last season.
To include the usage between Gibbs and Monty in the running game.
Yeah I’m not really concerned about Reynolds or Vaki getting touches, but I don’t see what’s so out of hand about wanting Jamo and TeSlaa more involved in our passing game, and wanting to see a balanced workload between Monty and Gibbs in the running game. But to each their own I guess.
If I thought it was a waste then I wouldn’t have suggested it, just like it isn’t a waste to throw passes to Brock Wright or Isaac TeSlaa when you could be throwing them to St Brown or Williams.
RB have a finite number of hits they can absorb. I’d rather occasionally accept a reduced expectation in lower leverage spots while prolonging the effective seasons/careers of Gibbs and Montgomery
Passes to receivers are different, there are multiple options on the same play, you throw to the open guy… You’re suggesting to deliberately give touches to only one player, a lesser player, with no other option on the play. Hard pass for me
