[SuperJon]

I'm interested in what it is, because I don't recognize it.

[BJWilliams]

I dont either. I think we could run an offense similar to Oregon, though. We showed when we go uptempo good things can happen. We have a guy in Masha who I think is fully capable of running a more fast paced offense with much more misdirection in the backfield, and when defenses come up to stop the run, make the throws that can stretch the field (as long as the receivers catch them of course)

[Purple Haize]

I dont either. I think we could run an offense similar to Oregon, though. We showed when we go uptempo good things can happen. We have a guy in Masha who I think is fully capable of running a more fast paced offense with much more misdirection in the backfield, and when defenses come up to stop the run, make the throws that can stretch the field (as long as the receivers catch them of course)

Put the crack pipe down and slowly back away......

[jbock13]

Run a screen, chuck the pigskin.

[bluejacket]

I would say the best description in general is a multiple offense with spread offense tendencies and occasional pistol formations. We also like to use 23 personnel when we obviously want to run the ball.

In short, we do a ton of different things like crap and never get good at any of them.

[GillsHill2013]

Are we spread or are we a power team? Quarterback going to run or be pro style. Misdirection or downhill. In some ways we try to do all these. We need to decide what we are, recruit for that type of offense, and begin to develop playersto fit a scheme. I think liberty would do well with a read option scheme.

[BJWilliams]

Im saying go for an uptempo faster paced offense. To be able to do that though, you need an athletic quarterback who can put the ball in the hands of the playmakers in space, but can pull the ball down and run off the zone read, which is the foundational play in a lot of those Oregon style offenses. you need a running back who can get the tough yards, but is capable of busting off a big run when he gets the ball off that initial read. you need receivers who, when the QB gets you the ball in space, SECURE the ball, with your hands (as obvious as that sounds, we have guys who STILL seem to struggle with that basic concept) and and then can make defenders miss and get big chunks of yards, and athletic linemen who can handle getting up and down the field and won't need oxygen tanks after a couple drives

[bluejacket]

Are we spread or are we a power team? Quarterback going to run or be pro style. Misdirection or downhill. In some ways we try to do all these. We need to decide what we are, recruit for that type of offense, and begin to develop playersto fit a scheme. I think liberty would do well with a read option scheme.

We have no identity on offensive philosophy and that is entirely on the coaches, beginning at the top.

[Chippy]

We need to run the ISU offense

[bluejacket]

Im saying go for an uptempo faster paced offense. To be able to do that though, you need an athletic quarterback who can put the ball in the hands of the playmakers in space, but can pull the ball down and run off the zone read, which is the foundational play in a lot of those Oregon style offenses. you need a running back who can get the tough yards, but is capable of busting off a big run when he gets the ball off that initial read. you need receivers who, when the QB gets you the ball in space, SECURE the ball, with your hands (as obvious as that sounds, we have guys who STILL seem to struggle with that basic concept) and and then can make defenders miss and get big chunks of yards, and athletic linemen who can handle getting up and down the field and won't need oxygen tanks after a couple drives

Are you serious?

[SuperJon]

BJ - this isn't about your Coaching Football 101 ideas of what we should do. This is a legit question of what we run.

[BJWilliams]

Bluejacket-yes...im serious
Jon- I know...and frankly bluejacket is right...we have no identity. I doubt anybody here could really describe what we run because its a mishmash of a few offenses that really don't work well together

[Purple Haize]

Im saying go for an uptempo faster paced offense. To be able to do that though, you need an athletic quarterback who can put the ball in the hands of the playmakers in space, but can pull the ball down and run off the zone read, which is the foundational play in a lot of those Oregon style offenses. you need a running back who can get the tough yards, but is capable of busting off a big run when he gets the ball off that initial read. you need receivers who, when the QB gets you the ball in space, SECURE the ball, with your hands (as obvious as that sounds, we have guys who STILL seem to struggle with that basic concept) and and then can make defenders miss and get big chunks of yards, and athletic linemen who can handle getting up and down the field and won't need oxygen tanks after a couple drives

Are you serious?

As I said...

I dont either. I think we could run an offense similar to Oregon, though. We showed when we go uptempo good things can happen. We have a guy in Masha who I think is fully capable of running a more fast paced offense with much more misdirection in the backfield, and when defenses come up to stop the run, make the throws that can stretch the field (as long as the receivers catch them of course)

Put the crack pipe down and slowly back away......

[TDDance234]

I think we want to be a spread offense- we just don't have the horses to run it effectively. I think we've probably put more on Josh Woodrum than we ever meant to do and it's starting to show through. He's never going to be the type of guy that puts the team on his back but with some talent around him, he's going to be just good enough to keep us in contention. His constant overthrows have been a concern.

[GillsHill2013]

Our offense is reminiscent of jeff Mullens offense at wvu. Before he came, west Virginias offense was a a zone read spread offense. He came in pat whites final year added tons of offenses. Instead of doing 1 thing great, they did many things okay to bad. We do many things not so great. Totlly on the coaches. Also many of these offense have different blocking schemes.

[bluejacket]

I think that you are spot on. Woodrum has been underwhelming this season. But how much can you blame him and the other players when we run this crap on offense and defense? The players are responsible for their actions on the field. Ultimately, it is the coaches are the ones who need to be held responsible for this horrifying offense, lackluster defense, and deteriorating football program. Its season three; get it together right now.

[jimflamesfan]

We run a terrible, predictable offense with too many formations and we knew we were thin at rb when the year started...yet we continue to try to pound it.

With our personnel, we need to use the pass to set up the run. We should pass it 75 percent of the time.

I don't blame Woodrum as much as I blame the system...those screen passes have never worked...our short passes don't give our WRs any momentum...

You know what play made me the most upset? When the game was tied at 3 & LU was about at the 40 of the Sycamores...we had been running the ball and being really conservative until this point...so I thought to myself...well...at least if we're conservative and run it three times we'll be able to kick a long FG. At that point...we tried the WR sreen...to make it even better we threw it backwards so it' was a lateral...that way when the receiver droped it we lost 10 yards, and were out of fg range (besides almost giving the other team the ball.)

[bluejacket]

You know what play made me the most upset? When the game was tied at 3 & LU was about at the 40 of the Sycamores...we had been running the ball and being really conservative until this point...so I thought to myself...well...at least if we're conservative and run it three times we'll be able to kick a long FG. At that point...we tried the WR sreen...to make it even better we threw it backwards so it' was a lateral...that way when the receiver droped it we lost 10 yards, and were out of fg range (besides almost giving the other team the ball.)

That sequence epitomized the offense today. An awful play call, poor throw from Woodrum, and a drop by Henderson all in rapid succession. 1st and five and we run a lateral screen.

[Dr. Sheh]

Is there any way Masha gets a look in a few packages? It seems he really has talent from the few snaps he's had so far. I feel like Gill sticking w/ Woodrum is like Muschamp sticking w/ Jeff Driskel.

#FreeStephonMasha

[SuperJon]

If Masha didn't get time yesterday, he's not going to.

[Purple Haize]

I don't know offensive schemes in football but I do know it isn't the Wishbone and certainly not what Oregon runs. What I do know is that it is currently not that important. Yes, it would be great to have an offensive or defensive 'Identity' but how many teams really do?
What is more important is our players executing things they should. Specifically, catching the football. Play 'What If.....' On some of those drops and the times in the game they occured. The cumulative effect was to change the game plan on the fly, which leads to hesitation on the QB which leads to stagnate offense.
I do think we are very stale offensively, but it's hard to be creative when your players can't catch a pass.

[SuperJon]

We changed the game plan? I thought we continued to force the run and throw horrible screens.

[forbidden]

Well how did that work for the kids. I would think we are too smart to be doing the dumb things we do.

[bluejacket]

We changed the game plan? I thought we continued to force the run and throw horrible screens.

We didn't change the game plan at all. We played poorly and ran into a team with a pulse....

[bluejacket]

I don't know offensive schemes in football but I do know it isn't the Wishbone and certainly not what Oregon runs. What I do know is that it is currently not that important. Yes, it would be great to have an offensive or defensive 'Identity' but how many teams really do?

We have an identity on defense (its a lot more than simply repeating "bend don't break" throughout every TV and radio broadcast) and our conservative 4-3 defense got exposed. Spread us out, pass short, and you will kill our defense in the red zone. The linebackers can't cover in space, most of the secondary can't tackle, and the defensive line play is erratic. A lot of defensive coaches made comparisons between Mike Perish and Taylor Heinicke. That game completely exposed the weaknesses of that identity and was the key to yesterday's game. So why didn't we learn and make the necessary corrections? If ODU doesn't repeatedly turn the ball over in the red zone, the score is the same as it was yesterday.

Don't even get started on offense. It is a complete disaster.

What is more important is our players executing things they should. Specifically, catching the football. Play 'What If.....' On some of those drops and the times in the game they occured. The cumulative effect was to change the game plan on the fly, which leads to hesitation on the QB which leads to stagnate offense.
I do think we are very stale offensively, but it's hard to be creative when your players can't catch a pass.

This goes back to the player/coach responsibility debate. They both are to blame. Ultimately I blame the coaches more since it is their responsibility to teach the players to become football players by constantly improving the fundamentals (tackling, catching, passing, etc.), formulate and execute gameplans that win games, and put the team in the best position to succeed based on the team's individual and collective talent.