Inside the play-calling

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:04 pm

*Warning: for hard-core fans only*

In regards to the offensive play calling, three trends from last year seem to have reappeared and continue to bog down the offense. If these two negative trends can be addressed, the offense can be consistently producitve and more explosive than it already is.

The first trend are the minimal gains being made when runs up the middle are called in 1st and 10 situations. There have been 26 first down runs called and half (13) have resulted in less than 3 yards. This puts the offense in far too many second and long situations and lets the defense align themselves to expect a pass. Luckily, in the Ball State game this improved a bit with 1st down runs of 20 (Bobby Thomas), 11, 11 and 9, but you still had plently of minimal to no yardage plays. If runs are going to be continued to be called as frequently as they do on first down, they have to result in more production lest the passing game suffer playing against a defense that knows what's coming.

The second trend is overdoing the run calls to the point where they become unproductive. When a runs nets positive yardage, the opposing defense can be all but assured another run is coming, and more runs after that as well. Again, this causes obvious predictability and wasted downs. Against Winconsin, three straight runs were called that resulted in the following yardage, respectively: 11, 4, 1. Another series: 5, 1. Consecutive runs against Ball State: 11, 8, 1. Another series: 5, 6, 2. Another series: 8, 0. Again, the run is used until it putters out, and the final try is always an unproducitve down where the defense knowns what's coming.

The final trend is in regards to the drives being absolute feast or famine. In two games, only one drive has not been either a touchdown, a 3 and out or a turnover! Essentially, when the offense begins a drive, it's either all or nothing. Thankfully, it's been "all" enough to keep the offense extremely productive and scoring at a 40 point per game clip, which is not anything to take lightly. However, I would argue that if the 1st and 10 situation and the running play-calling in general are addressed, this offense could get even better. And that's scary.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:33 pm

I wholeheartedly agree Joe. I understand the idea of establishing the running game, but the predictability of our running game has begun to cause us problems. I would LOVE to see a whole bunch of first down play action against Boise. I would also love to see more Option plays as opposed to the straight QB reads we're all used to.

If we came out and didn't run the ball once in the first quarter against Boise, I'd be very happy and I think we would score every time. Remember, Boise's strength is Run D. I remember a couple years back in the NFL. The Steelers and Raiders were on Monday night on opening night and the Raiders came out and threw the ball I think 80-90 percent of the game and crushed the Steelers. Even though they kept passing, the Steelers still thought the run was coming. New England did the same thing to the Steelers later that season. They had a fantastic Run D and a leaky secondary -- just like Boise. Our strength is obviously the passing game, especially if the Popemobile is less than 100%. If we passed to set up the run I think we could be much more effective as on offense.

As great as the offense is, Omar can only continue completing 60% of 3rd and longs for so long.

JoeFalcon · Post by **JoeFalcon** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:38 pm

Great points. You've got to run what's effective, and the running game stagnation is the result of all too predictable play calling. Every defense we play knows they'll get a breather of a few up-the-middle-for-nothing runs to "set up" the pass. Ideally, the runs (and different types of runs-options, ect.) should be mixed in to keep the defense off balance, not as token plays that continually put the offense behind the 8 ball.

orangeandbrown · Post by **orangeandbrown** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:10 pm

I was wondering abou those "option" plays. Seems like Omar never actually keeps it, which might make it less effective.

factman · Post by **factman** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 7:38 pm

Coach Brandon addressed those exact points on his radio show tonight. He said we were trying to run sometimes in situations where the defense had eight in the box, and that we needed to use our short passing game in those situations, and also use our QB running package more when they were dropping 8 and 9 men off in coverage. I think they are all over your valid points!!
He also mentioned that Fry is now in competition with Timchenco for the kicking duties, and that Anthony Turner will be the rholder if he kicks.

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:13 pm

orangeandbrown wrote:I was wondering abou those "option" plays. Seems like Omar never actually keeps it, which might make it less effective.

I'm wondering if we don't run the option much for 2 reasons: 1. avoid injury to Omar and 2. Omar might not be that comfortable running it. He made an awful "pitch" the other night. Luckily, it was going forward and ruled an incompletion.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 10:57 pm

Count me in as agreeing with Joe Falcon. I like mixing the run with the pass, but it seems to me that we do one or the other. IF we run good on a play, we will run the ball two or more times again. Same with passing. If we are moving the ball passing we ignore the run and just keep chucking it. We need to run when they are expesting pass and pass when they expect us to run. It seems pretty easy to read our tendencies.

Rollo83 · Post by **Rollo83** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:26 pm

I don't think we need to start tinkering with the offensive game plan or play calling. We go into a Big Ten stadium and hang nearly half a hundred on them, and you want to question the play calling? Yeah right...and Marilyn Monroe couldn't cook either!

We open the Wisconsin game running the ball because they were expecting the pass. We run out of formations that are passing oriented...shotgun and four wide receiver sets. You have to take your shots on the ground to keep the linebackers honest and stop the linemen from laying their ears back and rdoing a strait rush for the quarterback.

No offense is perfect and you are going to have some three and outs. The trouble with us is that our offense has to be near perfect to keep scoring to keep us in games. Thats a lot of pressure on an offense. Just imagine if we had just a smidgen of defense? Forty points would win almost every game we play.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:49 am

I think Joe raises some valid points...and so does Rollo83.

The absence of PJ Pope is a big blow. I like Lane and Thomas did well but PJ is the man. Give em a healthy does of PJ...then throw him out on the wing to catch passes....give the D another round of headaches.

Did Coach Brandon say anything about his progress? Will he play in Boise?

04forheisman · Post by **04forheisman** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:55 am

Falconfreak90 wrote:I think Joe raises some valid points...and so does Rollo83.

The absence of PJ Pope is a big blow. I like Lane and Thomas did well but PJ is the man. Give em a healthy does of PJ...then throw him out on the wing to catch passes....give the D another round of headaches.

Did Coach Brandon say anything about his progress? Will he play in Boise?

When PJ is back and healthy, the running game will be just fine. Let's hope this injury doesn't hurt his senior season like Cole's did last year.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:28 am

About the only thing I'd really complain about our offense is that I'd like to see some play action sprinkled in. It could be a good addition to take some shots deep when we're running well.

Still it's real hard to put any fault at an offense putting up 40 points a game.

Defense & STs are going to be our downfall if we don't make it this year.

BelieveNBG · Post by **BelieveNBG** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:42 am

I don't think we need to start tinkering with the offensive game plan or play calling. We go into a Big Ten stadium and hang nearly half a hundred on them, and you want to question the play calling? Yeah right...and Marilyn Monroe couldn't cook either!

I have to disagree here. The offense is very very good, but can be better. The 3rd quarter of each game has been pretty poor from an offensive standpoint. Omar has been stuck in a quite a few bad situations and this has led to 2 interceptions already, when he only had four in all of last year. I do think that PJ returning will help, but when he is not here, the run plays need to be adjusted to the strengths of the RBs that are playing and if that is not running up the middle, a different play is needed. It was pretty predictable that a run up the middle was coming on first downs. Also, offenses sometimes need to adjust to the defense you are playing. We need to attack whatever their weaknesses are.

The difference between being a great team and being a good team is that a great team will continue to try to improve on all aspects of the game. If not, others will catch on and the weaknesses will be exploited. If we leave things all the same, by years end we will be predictable and in trouble.

Falcon30 · Post by **Falcon30** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:13 pm

I agree completely about the run play calling. Our running game would be more effecive if it was mixed up a bit with the passing game. Imagine what would have happened if We could have kept the ball in the 3rd quarter more against Toledo and Wisconsin.