A Sea Of Red

This is the second team that exposed our offensive predicability. Pretty simple corral MB make him throw to beat you and double Chris Summers on third down. Unless our O line can create some lanes to run we will continue to be anemic in the running game. I can't really evaluate the RB's because they have not seen a hole all season. If teams don't respect your running game its hard to pass. We also need someone other than Chris to step up in the passing game. No one else has shown himself able to consistently get open or catch the ball to give Mike other options during key points in the contest. Until we can rectify these issues we will continue to rely on Mike's arm and our D to win. You can't expect the D to play lights out week in and week out.

The offense does have its issues, but this still is the first year Mike has been given the keys to the Mercedes and so we are gonna have some games where the offense is like traveling down the back stretch at the Nordschleife WOT and some days where its like being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on Wards Rd. We have shown the ability to drop 50 the last couple years and I fully expect that Coach Streeter is going to do some work this week to hopefully open things up

BJWilliams wrote:I FULLY EXPECT that Coach Streeter is going to do some work this week to HOPEFULLY open things up

This is a contradiction. And if I was looking to Beej to inspire confidence, I'd be disappointed right now.

Every issue in the offense right now is on the line. Running lanes and pass protection - it all starts with the line, and they just aren't performing. While the skill positions collectively are as good or better than any other year in the Rocco era, this O-line may be the worst he's had, and that unit is holding the rest of the offense - and the whole team, for that matter - back.

Accodring to alot of people on here yesterday Streeter WAS opening up the playbook alot. It netted us 3 points...I hope we have a bigger playbook. But I'm still convinced it's players not plays that make the difference and several players aren't getting it done right now.

I think JK (and a few others) hit on a major point as to why we arent scoring as much...the hogmollies up front. we were winning the battle in the trenches most games last year (and the scoreboard showed it). If we can get that figured out we could be hanging half a hundred regularly like we did last year

WinterIsComing wrote:Accodring to alot of people on here yesterday Streeter WAS opening up the playbook alot. It netted us 3 points...I hope we have a bigger playbook. But I'm still convinced it's players not plays that make the difference and several players aren't getting it done right now.

I think he did open the playbook up a little. I liked the fact that we got more plays in for the TE last night. I think the problem is also WHEN the plays are called. For example, that call for a QB keeper on 4th down. If we're going to go for it on 4th down, we gotta continue to do what works. We had some success on the short passing plays last night and getting the ball to Shaver in the middle. Having Shaver in there reminded me of that WM game back in 2007 in Williamsburg and how WM's TE picked us apart all night. That's what we could have done to JMU last night.

Something that has bothered me and is not really a problem specific in this offense at all, but I hate hate hate 3rd or 4th and inches and you put your QB 3 yards further away from the first down marker, in the shotgun. It makes a QB sneak exactly like any other running play. The only reason the sneak works when a defense is expecting it is because you only need to make it a couple of inches. Don't handicap him by putting him further away. If your line doesn't get the push (which ours wasn't) then he's screwed. It's a product of the spread offense in college football, so everybody does it but I just think it's counter productive. Put him under center. You still have the option of not keeping it.

LUconn wrote:Something that has bothered me and is not really a problem specific in this offense at all, but I hate hate hate 3rd or 4th and inches and you put your QB 3 yards further away from the first down marker, in the shotgun. It makes a QB sneak exactly like any other running play. The only reason the sneak works when a defense is expecting it is because you only need to make it a couple of inches. Don't handicap him by putting him further away. If your line doesn't get the push (which ours wasn't) then he's screwed. It's a product of the spread offense in college football, so everybody does it but I just think it's counter productive. Put him under center. You still have the option of not keeping it.

I agree.

On plays like I that, with a guy like Mike, I would run a sprint out kind of play if you want to stay in the shotgun and use Mike's athleticism. Give him a TE and a back and a WR to throw to, everyone else blocks like he's running to the wide side of the field, and let Mike decide between throw or run.

ToTheLeft wrote:I agree.

On plays like I that, with a guy like Mike, I would run a sprint out kind of play if you want to stay in the shotgun and use Mike's athleticism. Give him a TE and a back and a WR to throw to, everyone else blocks like he's running to the wide side of the field, and let Mike decide between throw or run.

Bingo. LU doesn't have a Jarrett Brown-type (remember him at WVU last year? Powerful!). So sprint him out & let him choose. Mike on the perimeter, throwing or running, has been deadly all year.

You suggesting running a "speed option" kind of play TTL?

BJWilliams wrote:You suggesting running a "speed option" kind of play TTL?

Nah just a sprint out with a run/throw option for Mike. Basically where he is able to move the pocket outside and have a few targets to throw to, or have a blocker or three to run behind if the opportunity presents itself.

How about this. Mike Brown at wideout with Chris Summers on the other side and Tyler Brennan at QB. Brown is a great receiver and that would keep teams from doubling Summers and may open up the running game if there are two receivers to concentrate on. Mike can run on reverse/HB option/run when lined up in backfield and Shotgun as Wildcat, endless possibilities. Not that I would actually do that but the possibility is there as opposed to 1 play per game where this is actually the case. The pass first vs. run first mentality. Maybe this is just "Fantasy Football".

Try Brennan at QB then alternate back and forth...Mike Brown is a tremendous athlete and All american (WR) last year...Our offense is easily read by the teams we play

I don't ever see the logic in not trying to pound it up the gut in a 3rd and inches or 4th and inches situation but maybe that's my football philosophy. But when I saw MB take the snap and try to sneak it in I already knew we had stopped ya'll.

I'm not a coach like the rest of you. I'll leave coaching to the coaches.

Rooster Cogburn wrote:I'm not a coach like the rest of you. I'll leave coaching to the coaches.

Always someone who takes message boards too seriously. If the coaches are browsing FlameFans for solutions to our offense, we're in deep trouble. Thankfully, this is the place for us armchair quarterbacks to banter about what we would do if we were running the offense.

I can banter all day, and I'm cool with yours. However I have no real clue how to fix the issues with this young offense . There are 100 tweeks we can suggest, but I can't predict what the OC and HC will change if anything.
The reality is that we have a first year starter at QB, 3 fairly young and small rbs, and some changes (new folks) in the Oline. This is a very young talented Offensive football team that simply needs time to gel and improve. I don't think huge changes are needed. I do like the small tweeks that are already happening (like more TE throws).

Rooster Cogburn wrote:I'm not a coach like the rest of you. I'll leave coaching to the coaches.

Yes, let's not doubt Saint Rocco in his infinite wisdom.

Not taking the bait,

Rooster Cogburn wrote:This is a very young talented Offensive football team that simply needs time to gel and improve.

"Those who are willing to wait until midseason for their team to gel together are settling for mediocrity for half of a season, and they're lazy." -Bob Knight

Let's hope that this weekend the offense has a chance to have a little fun and build some confidence.

Wildcat where you run or pass.


Gold Jerry! GOLD!

I think we should WIN

triple stamped it, no erasies, touch blue make it true