Malik can read the DE and know when to pull it or hand it off. Golson never had a good feel for it and at times in the LSU game Malik would guess. It appears Sanford has instilled better fundamentals in this aspect of the game. Can you imagine big chunks of yards on read option and then boom over the top 6 to one of our talented wide receivers.
The running game will be successful if...
- Thread starter Quest4Twelve
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Blocking -- IF OL is legit we don't even need the read option -- frankly I'm not a huge fan of it -- cost us the NW game inside the five yd line on an exchange between Golson and Folston - way too much shit can go wrong on the read option way too much and it can expose your QB to major hits - major .
If anything is done right its effective however - long downfield passes and read option can be th emost difficult to execute .
I'm a huge fan of smash mouth - jet sweeps - bubble screens - QB draws - out and dig routes - screen passes and underneath stuff where basically its a forward hand off - you can get big chunks and is low risk . If I were a coach I would you use over the top stuff just to keep safeties honest or use it as a dagger if your up 14+
See Fuller TD vs LSU - Bubble screen
Procise TD vs LSU - Jet sweep
Zaire TD - QB draw
Continually, you're kind of describing the West Coast offense, especially as run by Young when he was QB and Craig was the main RB for the 49ers. AN offensive line that can consistently knock the defense back a few yards is a thing of beauty, and we clearly have the receivers to make huge gains after the catch, etc... I expect to see a lot of what you describe, with several timely bombs to Fuller to keep the defense honest. There will be some read option run for sure, and I hope they incorporate the short slant pass off this as well, but suspect this will be used sparingly until we run up against a very good defense, like Clemson. Damn, the Texas game can't get here soon enough.
Tex-
One of the reasons I love the short stuff is it gets the ball into speedsters hands in space and is low risk . With Hunter Fuller St Brown and Sanders we have four guys that can really do damage after the catch . I hope we see large doses of that this yr . A couple other advantages to this is they are easy passes for Zaire and assures no turnovers. Lastly I hear some chirp about run , run , run the ball . I'm not buying creating an imbalance offensively for a couple huge reasons . Mixing it up promotes indecision on defenses and by spreading the ball around it makes our offense attractive to skill guys from a recruiting standpoint . Smash mouth when needed for sure but spread it around and make it really hard on opposing defenses .
I was shocked whenever Holts was able to get a high level TE because he rarely used them in passing situations - frankly I was not a fan of Holtz' offense
One of the reasons I love the short stuff is it gets the ball into speedsters hands in space and is low risk . With Hunter Fuller St Brown and Sanders we have four guys that can really do damage after the catch . I hope we see large doses of that this yr . A couple other advantages to this is they are easy passes for Zaire and assures no turnovers. Lastly I hear some chirp about run , run , run the ball . I'm not buying creating an imbalance offensively for a couple huge reasons . Mixing it up promotes indecision on defenses and by spreading the ball around it makes our offense attractive to skill guys from a recruiting standpoint . Smash mouth when needed for sure but spread it around and make it really hard on opposing defenses .
I was shocked whenever Holts was able to get a high level TE because he rarely used them in passing situations - frankly I was not a fan of Holtz' offense
Bodizephax
I've posted how many times?
Will it work? Yes providing two things happen. One is the coaches. When they call and how. It takes a feel for the game and sometimes Kelly's decision is square peg round hole.
Second thing will be running game by accident. Meaning I hope Malik at times just improvises enough and gets huge gains on broken plays and such. This by default makes the D be honest and at times will spy Malik.
That opens things up all by itself.
Golson was not a dangerous runner. Malik is a powerful runner and a legit threat with his legs. That alone will help both the running and passing game.
Second thing will be running game by accident. Meaning I hope Malik at times just improvises enough and gets huge gains on broken plays and such. This by default makes the D be honest and at times will spy Malik.
That opens things up all by itself.
Golson was not a dangerous runner. Malik is a powerful runner and a legit threat with his legs. That alone will help both the running and passing game.
Good post. In the Jets Colts Super Bowl early in the game the Jets sent a clear message. Namath uncorked his powerful arm on a deep shot to Maynard. It didn't connect, but forced the Colts to back off. It is not a percentage play...
We have tons of weapons and I hope kelly doesn't feel compelled to use them all. We need our starters to get into and stay in rhythm. If he does what you are describing or a variation of it we will be emptying the bench early and often....
Exactly. Kelly has no feel for the game as a play caller. He does not commit to a game plan. That is why he does not script plays. When something does not go according to plan, he panics and starts tossing the ball all over the field.
With MZ, he can't afford to do this. If Kelly commits to what he did in the LSU game, this can be a great season. If he reverts back to his bad decision making he will lose 1-2 games on hos own.
Even though the option offense is risky...it's proven to be successful over the years for teams that have the athletes to run it. This ND team I feel is pretty well suited for it. Zaire is a threat and Folston should shine this year. With those two in the backfield along with Prosise at times....it could get interesting. The depth at WR is pretty legit as well and makes this offense even more dangerous. With all this being said, as I agree very much so that the option is nerve racking and constantly keeps me on my toes and I cover my face during half the hand offs, I think it's a good change up for Kelly and the ND offense. Maybe broaden the horizons for Kelly a bit. Slightly leaning more towards a smash mouth approach with still some spread tricks. It's Donnie....and its Marie!! His game plan the past few years hasn't been the greatest... especially when teams come out and stifle the offense early. He freaks out and starts gun slinging the ball without a pro style gunslinger....which as we have seen doesn't bode well. The talent is there this year to have a great season....won't say they will go undefeated but they do have a shot at it if the cards are played right from a coaching standpoint and they stay healthy. It will take 14 days for the next 7 days to pass. It can't get here fast enough. GO IRISH...from your biggest southwestern Virginia fan!!!!
