[DJ's left nut]

I heard an idea somewhere that I thought was interesting.

Just about everyone scripts their first 15 right? Hell, I'd say they all do. So that's pretty much the 'punch 'em in the mouth' set of plays designed to set a tone. Well the idea I heard was just to play a bombshell for those first 15 to try to get them burned off.

It's weird, but there's some logic to it. A lot of coaches aren't as good at adjusting on the fly and you know the players won't be as sharp executing plays outside of those scripted plays. So if you can get them to use 10 of those on the first drive and 5 on the second - well you're through the hard part, no? Now they're going off script and you're in more of a chess match scenario.

So if you're playing a team with superior firepower on offense (or at least more talent than you have on defense) - are you well served STARTING in something of a prevent? Make them burn through those scripted plays and then try to lock it down when they're working off-script and with plays the personnel has presumably practiced less?

I'm not sure I'm totally sold on it, but it's not the worst idea I've ever heard. Certainly runs in opposition to my "**** it, stop 'em or let 'em score in 2 minutes" approach, but there may be some merit to it.