breaking down the 1st half playcalling tells me all I need to know

[Coach34]

1st possession- we come out all cute throwing it and while I do like the quick screens, I do agree with JCDawgman that we need to consider scrapping the 5 wides. We just arent dangerous enough out of it because of our lack of a quality passing attack. ****, Ralph's 1st carry was 13 yards on the triple out of the gun. We get it to their 40 and then boom, we go stupid:

1st and 10 on Auburn's 40- Elliot 2 yard run
2nd and 8- Ralph bobbles high snap on a pass play, defense is all over him once he gets control. Even if we dont bobble- it's a sack
3rd and 13- deep pass to Berry- good throw but Berry stumbles vs press causing him to be just a foot short of getting hands on ball

wasted opportunity

2nd possession-

1st down- 5 wide- QB sack
2nd down- QB draw stuffed
3rd down- QB sack

3rd possession- (after turnover on punt)

1st down- shuffle pass off speed option (basically a run play)
1st down- Ballard run to 3 yd line
2nd down- Ralph power off tackle- guard recovers fumble for TD

Why not make these playcalls more?????

4th possession-

1st down- Elliot run
2nd down- Veer out of gun- +6
3rd down- Elliot run +8

end of quarter- we bring Russell in....what the 17'ing 17???? Drive killer Russell throws pick

5th possession-

Ralph +11 on triple option
Hanrahan +7 on triple option
Hanrahan +13 on triple option
Ralph fumbles snap

I hate we fumbled, but damn- why abandon this??? Also, we don't have to run the triple every play- mix in the 17'ing read option why dont ya?

6th possession-

Ralph +9 run
Perkins+10 run
Perkins +1 run
2nd and 9- pass incomplete
3rd and 9- pass incomplete

How bout running the triple on 2nd and 9 and making it a manageable 3rd and 5 or so???



In short, our playcalling was ****. Our use of the QB's was ****. As someone that was an OC for 9 of my 13 years, I understand how tough it can be. But come on guys- quit being so cute and lets get back to running the football. Azzuri- I don't miss Dixon <span style="text-decoration:underline">yet</span>, I miss last years playcalling. Hopefully it will get better next week.

 

[Coach34]

1st possession- we come out all cute throwing it and while I do like the quick screens, I do agree with JCDawgman that we need to consider scrapping the 5 wides. We just arent dangerous enough out of it because of our lack of a quality passing attack. ****, Ralph's 1st carry was 13 yards on the triple out of the gun. We get it to their 40 and then boom, we go stupid:

1st and 10 on Auburn's 40- Elliot 2 yard run
2nd and 8- Ralph bobbles high snap on a pass play, defense is all over him once he gets control. Even if we dont bobble- it's a sack
3rd and 13- deep pass to Berry- good throw but Berry stumbles vs press causing him to be just a foot short of getting hands on ball

wasted opportunity

2nd possession-

1st down- 5 wide- QB sack
2nd down- QB draw stuffed
3rd down- QB sack

3rd possession- (after turnover on punt)

1st down- shuffle pass off speed option (basically a run play)
1st down- Ballard run to 3 yd line
2nd down- Ralph power off tackle- guard recovers fumble for TD

Why not make these playcalls more?????

4th possession-

1st down- Elliot run
2nd down- Veer out of gun- +6
3rd down- Elliot run +8

end of quarter- we bring Russell in....what the 17'ing 17???? Drive killer Russell throws pick

5th possession-

Ralph +11 on triple option
Hanrahan +7 on triple option
Hanrahan +13 on triple option
Ralph fumbles snap

I hate we fumbled, but damn- why abandon this??? Also, we don't have to run the triple every play- mix in the 17'ing read option why dont ya?

6th possession-

Ralph +9 run
Perkins+10 run
Perkins +1 run
2nd and 9- pass incomplete
3rd and 9- pass incomplete

How bout running the triple on 2nd and 9 and making it a manageable 3rd and 5 or so???



In short, our playcalling was ****. Our use of the QB's was ****. As someone that was an OC for 9 of my 13 years, I understand how tough it can be. But come on guys- quit being so cute and lets get back to running the football. Azzuri- I don't miss Dixon <span style="text-decoration:underline">yet</span>, I miss last years playcalling. Hopefully it will get better next week.

 

[Sutterkane]

I think we should give it to Relf. At this point, Coach needs all the help he can get in this wager.

 

[mcfly.sixpack]

but I agree with you, I was saying it in the stands last night and I've been saying it all morning, why in the hell we got away from the read option is beyond me. They couldn't stop it and when they did get us in a third down situation it was at least manageable. You have to play in front of the sticks and when we dropped back to pass last night we were making it harder on ourselves to maintain drives.

 

[hatfieldms]

....

 

[tenureplan]

We only ran the read twice last night, both times unsuccessfully.

We got away from the triple option after center/qb exchange issues and it being stopped a few times

When the qb has an up the middle option such as the fullback and still has a pitch man if he chooses not to give it to the up the middle option, that is considered a triple option because the ball could go to 3 different people.

The speed option is generally ran out of the gun and is ran towards the pitch man's (back or slot usually) side of the field. The qb can pitch quickly because the pitch man is already lateral with him.

The read option is also known as the zone read and is not recognizable as an option play by the casual observer because it can look like a straight handoff. depending on whether the end stays home in containment or colapses on the back, the qb will either keep or give. This is the play that Tyson fumbled 10 times on last year.

As an aside, coach, if there is more to Relf's hand than Mullen is letting on, it may be why we aren't seeing much read...

 

[Waterdawg]

Let's see more of it.

However, I don't think Ralph can carry the ball 15-20 times a game with the way he runs. Dude won't last long...

 

[Coach34]

1. you beat to explaining the differences- good job

2. I refuse to believe the hand excuse because you have to ride the FB in the triple just like you ride the back with the zone-read....I think it's simply a case of us wanting to throw the ball more because we suddenly think we have all these great WR's....get back to what we do best- we have 8 days- we won't beat LSU throwing it more than 25 times

 

[Temple of the Dawg]

However, I don't think Ralph can carry the ball 15-20 times a game with the way he runs. Dude won't last long...

Not questioning you per se, but just curious on the thought process here. Dude is 6'4" and 240 (assuming he hasn't eaten anything that day). Once he gets past the DL, he isn't going to be hit by anyone bigger than him. I know he runs fairly upright, but the dude is thick & solid. Most of the times he takes off running, even the LBs aren't getting direct shots on him. I'm not saying I agree or disagree here, just wondering why this thought process seems to be so prevalent.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

The exchange took a fraction of a second longer than it should have and it looked like the center was holding it a bit too long.

 

[Coach34]

Cam is what- 1 inch taller and 10 pounds heavier? Cam had 17-18 carries

Ralph is physical and tough to bring down...he was getting hit harder taking sacks than he was running it.

Let Ralph run free I say

 

[Waterdawg]

and was slow to get up and extremely out of breath.

He got hammered on a couple of pitches.

He got hammered when going back to pass.

He got hammered alot.

 

[tenureplan]

It shouldn't even be called the triple option when Relf runs it because he is going to keep it. He pitched once in the Memphis game (and still got lit up) that was the first time I have ever seen him pitch. The pitch man might as well abandon pitch responsibility and get out in front as a lead blocker.

 

[Sutterkane]

However, we will always have the athletes in state to be AT WORST a mediocre running team who is able to get it done enough to open for a FEW pass plays. This throwing the ball around like we're the Indy Colts is way out of character and not to our players' strengths.

 

[tenureplan]

In at most 2 years, when Russell is a JR, we will be a pass first spread team. I think we will be successful with it as well.

I'm not saying we will look like Houston, but the run will definately be set up from slinging it around.

 

[bulldognation]

Where did that come from? I guarantee ifRelf were to try something like that the ball would have been on the ground every single time.</p>

 

[Waterdawg]

I believe it was the Kentucky game.

Edit: I misread...thought you were talking about the wrap around draw.

 

[Waterdawg]

nv

 

[Coach34]

with all the WR's we have that are Sophs and Freshmens

 

[Todd4State]

unfortunately, we do not have the personnel to do that- or should I say a QB that can throw worth a darn.

I hope after last night Dan realizes that we are what we are and goes to more option. If he does, I think we have an excellent chance of beating LSU. I do think that we can be balanced in the near future, but it's just not right now.

Normally, if I had my drouthers, I would like to see MSU with a balanced offense, but I like winning better than a certiain style. So, for the present, we need to run more option out of the gun, flexbone, wishbone, etc. and then use Russell for only a series or two a game during the SEC season, or in a situation where we need to throw the ball. We can use Russell more in our non-conference game against UAB and Alcorn.

I actually like the flexbone with the personnel that we have. We see how hard it is to stop at Georgia Tech. We also know that we have a QB that can't hit the broad side of a barn. We can put Hanrahan at FB, and then Bumphis, Heavens, Arceto, and whoever else as the wingbacks.

 

[Stormrider81]

What makes one a really good coach is not creativity. What makes a great coach is knowing when to take chances, when to be creative and wacky, and when to just grind it out and win. The Vandy game wasn't pretty last year, but we did what we had to do. At the end of the year, nobody cared what the score was.

Mullen looks like he wants to be balanced, be ahead of the D by putting in the other QB, wants to throw at odd times when the runis working, etc. The truth is, the win that got State fans really excited last year came because of going with the hot hand at QB, going with what was working, and riding that thing in all the way. It wasn't extremely creative, but it worked. Fans wouldn't have cared if we ran the ball most of the time last night and won. </p>

 

[LR1400]

We can do the Georgia Tech thing and win ball games with our current roster. Our defense is better than GT's as well. We don't have to run straight flexbone like they do (if I remember correctly) we can use multiple sets but similar philosophy then let Ralph pass when needed and when it is open and given to us. That sounds more Rich Rod WVU style which we COULD do very successfully.

We are all saying this basically. I know Mullen sees it as well. Bet he we do this quickly.

 

[Columbus Dawg]

After you make a big play such as recovering an onside kick, an aggressive play-caller goes for the jugular. We had Bumphis open down the field, but protection broke down and Relf threw it high. Now you are looking at 2nd and 10 so there's no need to second guess back to back passes in that spot.

The only complaints I have with Mullen are the rotation of QB's and the confusion on the last play. Mullen was not prepared for the 4th down play call. Too much confusion.We would have been better off taking the 5 yard delay of game penalty and getting everyone on the same page. That play had no chance of success.

As for the rotation of QB's, it needs to stop. Possessions are just too valuable in the SEC. The QB position is unlike any other position on the field. The players need to have 1 leader in the huddle and you need that continuity. Russell comes in and runs 2 series and it amounts to 45 minutes of real time that Relf is sitting on the bench. It's like starting over again when he comes back in. Bottom line, 2 QB systems don't work unless it's a wildcat/specialty situation. Relf was in there on the last series of the game so he is obviously the guy right now. We need to go with him until Russell can catch him in practice.

 

[Coach34]

is how we are running the offense. I agree we dont need to be rotating QB's, but we also don't need to be throwing it this much.

Here's one thing I do know:

You can't be an option team <span style="text-decoration:underline">AND</span> throw the ball 35 times. It has to be one or the other. If we want to throw it 35 times a game, then we need to scrap the option and structure 75% of our offensive reps in practice to throwing the football. We need to spend alot more time on pass block rather than run-blocking.
What we are trying to do on offense isnt a 50/50 deal. It takes a helluva lot of reps for WR's and QB's to develop timing for a team that throws it around alot. There are so many sight adjustments that both groups have to make.

The triple option is the same way. It has to be repped over and over for timing, correct QB reads, and developing pitch relationship between back and QB...there is no way we have enough practice time to do both.

Our offensive staff needs to make a choice. And until they commit one way or the other- we will be average or below at both, instead of good at one

 

[Columbus Dawg]

it's definitelytough to run the option, throw it 35 times, AND rotate QB's. I don't think Mullen would want us labeled as an option team though.

I think if we stopped rotating QB's and just went with Relf the whole way our passing attempts would go down. Russell threw 9 passes in only 3 series and of course we had to throw the ball 7 or 8 times on the last drive. So that skewed our stats.

I also think if you scouted AU, you would point to their secondary as a weakness and we tried to exploit that. Bottom line, one play here or one play there and no one is complaining.

</p>

 

[Dollabillz]

Have you seen Tyler Russell? Bumphis/Heavens/Smith????? They are going to win big for us over the next 3 years. Bank it. Over the long haul, you are right. But you'd be better suited to say so when we don't have a top-notch thrower on our team right now. That Mullen doesn't know how to run an offense for (or at least that's what the yahoos on here have told me again and again and again).