Linebacking corps, offensive philosophy and more offseason topics

Bob L. from California asks:

“Which 12-personnel alignment do you believe will give opposing defenses the most challenges: Tight, Spread, or Bunch?”

Great question Bob, and there’s actually more than one answer.

From what we’ve seen of Luke Getsy’s scheme in Chicago, speed and agility are a priority. The faster his players can get off the line the scrimmage, the better. With the addition of Brock Bowers, more 12-personnel packages could be introduced within the offense to capitalize on the talents of Bowers and Michael Mayer.

In running situations, it would be wise to run bunch formation, especially with the flexibility of Thayer Munford Jr. at jumbo tight end. However, in my personal opinion, the Raiders could thrive within a spread offense. Mayer and Bowers were dominant pass catchers in college and could make life difficult for opposing linebackers in coverage. Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah both thrive as pass catchers out the backfield as well, a threat that helps fuel that offensive scheme.

And the icing on the cake – Davante Adams became a household name with the Green Bay Packers in a spread offense, spending seven seasons with Getsy in that particular scheme.

“Ninety percent of these calls are coming through and I know what to do right away without even getting in my book for real,” Adams said during minicamp. “It’s a learning process for everybody getting comfortable with it. It was the same thing that happened with the last offense when were here, trying to just figure out how things change on motions, getting lined up, it’s different formations. … When I’m watching tape now, we’ll watch the practice when we get back in there and I’m looking at it and I’m not just looking at myself watching my route, I’m more looking at everybody else to figure out a way to help them get better and help their process a little bit more.”