Does it make sense for Lebby / Shapen to reign in the deep throws a bit

[Perd Hapley]

And instead utilize a few more intermediate throws of like 20-25 yards to hit Thompson / Evans / Mosley more in-stride on a rope? Thinking specifically about the end of the Arizona State game, for instance.

Only posing the question because those guys are so fast, and typically don’t need to get 30-40 yards down the field to get behind their man. Thompson specifically often has 2 steps on the defender within 20 yards on those deep post and stutter and go patterns. Just seem like its often going to be the same result (TD) when executed correctly, but also is a quicker and easier throw. I think SEC teams are going to shell / Cover-2 us to death, and we’re going to need to do some things a little bit differently as we hit the meat of the schedule. The ball is definitely going to need to come out faster than it does on a lot of those deep balls.

 

[Muttley]

If we don't learn to block the delayed blitz it won't matter.

 

[PrimeDog]

We have really hit on 6 bombs. Traore week 1, the Thompson over the shoulder catch, Mosley and Thompson against Corn and Mosley and Evans yesterday.

Thompson’s game winner against ASU and Evans TD to start the game were the exact same play and and about 20 yard throws. So we are doing both. But if Shapen is on and is hitting them, why stop doing it?

It was a little discouraging that the pass game bogged down yesterday. I want to see Matt’s breakdown because Shapen just wasn’t willing to let some passes go yesterday. It is a bummer that we can’t get Ayden or Traore involved on a week to week basis.

 

[ETK99]

And instead utilize a few more intermediate throws of like 20-25 yards to hit Thompson / Evans / Mosley more in-stride on a rope? Thinking specifically about the end of the Arizona State game, for instance.

Only posing the question because those guys are so fast, and typically don’t need to get 30-40 yards down the field to get behind their man. Thompson specifically often has 2 steps on the defender within 20 yards on those deep post and stutter and go patterns. Just seem like its often going to be the same result (TD) when executed correctly, but also is a quicker and easier throw. I think SEC teams are going to shell / Cover-2 us to death, and we’re going to need to do some things a little bit differently as we hit the meat of the schedule. The ball is definitely going to need to come out faster than it does on a lot of those deep balls.

Why? Shapen missed two or three wide open guys deep and a couple short yesterday. How about Shapen handle the reads better and throw it better? Against ASU we had several drops on short throws but only missed one deep ball. Play calling isn't the problem minus a half against USM.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

IMO, he is sending a signal,.... We have speed, and we can stretch the field.

 

[boatsandhoes]

you have to get the safeties out to have success running it. To do that, you have to stretch them out by making them help a corner deep, completing it helps. If they’re not worried about a deep ball they will be in the box in a second on top of the run.

same reason we can never beat LSU/Bama/Georgia their safeties have never feared our deep ball.

 

[CaptainFalcon]

This offense is establish the run and burn secondaries with big plays, while running tempo. I think this is pretty much who Lebby is as a play caller.

 

[Perd Hapley]

Why? Shapen missed two or three wide open guys deep and a couple short yesterday. How about Shapen handle the reads better and throw it better? Against ASU we had several drops on short throws but only missed one deep ball. Play calling isn't the problem minus a half against USM.

I’m not saying abandon the deep ball. Still take it when its there. I’m saying use the middle of the field more if our WR’s are fast enough to beat man coverage in that area. It doesn’t matter how fast they are though on a deep ball with 2 high safeties, which is what we’re about to see a lot.

 

[bsquared24]

The pace of how often we use it is about right, Lebby really likes to run and once the safeties suck up and its 1 on 1 then throw the bomb. It helps keep the safties back. However, if we can't block long enough for it to get downfield against SEC talent it will look bad...

 

[sparks35]

Lebby likes to throw the deep bombs because we have guys that are faster than your guys and they’re usually open on those throws. They were open all day yesterday too, Shapen just had a bad day. And they’ll be open quite a bit in SEC play too. If they’re not, it’s because the secondary will be playing so far back. And then you’ll have some intermediate stuff open up.

Between us and Tennessee on Saturday we might see like 5 or 6 huge touchdown catches.

 

[Tall Dawg]

No way should we abandon the deep balls. We missed on 2 yesterday that would’ve been TDs.

 

[CaptainFalcon]

Will be an interesting contrast on Saturday because we run basically the same offense as Tennessee. It’s a closer comparison that OM is.

Lebby was Heupel’s QB coach and OC at UCF 2018-2019.

 

[M_over_S]

Why? Shapen missed two or three wide open guys deep and a couple short yesterday. How about Shapen handle the reads better and throw it better? Against ASU we had several drops on short throws but only missed one deep ball. Play calling isn't the problem minus a half against USM.

He probably overthrew 5 deep ball touchdowns, and didn’t notice another 4-5 wide open guys deep.

Shapen did not have a good game.

you reign in the deep ball when it stops getting wide azz open

 

[22yardpunt]

And instead utilize a few more intermediate throws of like 20-25 yards to hit Thompson / Evans / Mosley more in-stride on a rope? Thinking specifically about the end of the Arizona State game, for instance.

Only posing the question because those guys are so fast, and typically don’t need to get 30-40 yards down the field to get behind their man. Thompson specifically often has 2 steps on the defender within 20 yards on those deep post and stutter and go patterns. Just seem like its often going to be the same result (TD) when executed correctly, but also is a quicker and easier throw. I think SEC teams are going to shell / Cover-2 us to death, and we’re going to need to do some things a little bit differently as we hit the meat of the schedule. The ball is definitely going to need to come out faster than it does on a lot of those deep balls.

While Cover 2 may “keep a lid” on the long bombs it will/should make the running game easier. In the Mullen era teams knew we couldn’t go deep so they just packed the box - check mate. A balanced offense wherein we can play nasty up the middle but also stretch the field is tough night for opposing coordinators.

 

[JackShephard]

While Cover 2 may “keep a lid” on the long bombs it will/should make the running game easier. In the Mullen era teams knew we couldn’t go deep so they just packed the box - check mate. A balanced offense wherein we can play nasty up the middle but also stretch the field is tough night for opposing coordinators.

Cover 2 isn't a magic formula to stop deep passes either. Our route trees force those 2 safeties to make choices very quickly. Shapen's job is to see which choices they make, process it immediately, and then complete the ball to whoever their choice leaves open. If it's one of the HR routes thatgets left open, then Shapen's job is to punish them for their bad decision.

 

[The Cooterpoot]

Yeah, no! You bomb their asses to death if they aren't covering it. Shapen has to get his **** straight. His reads on the RPO have been crap and he's not seeing the field worth a crap! He's a one read guy is the biggest problem and holds the ball. He might get killed this week if he holds it like he has in games this year.

 

[57stratdawg]

I feel like Shapen takes some deep shots early in drives that can leave us with a 3 and out.

I feel like we have a lot of drives that go 3 yard run on 1st down, missed deep shot to Mosley on second - and now it’s 3rd and 7.

 

[Drebin]

And instead utilize a few more intermediate throws of like 20-25 yards to hit Thompson / Evans / Mosley more in-stride on a rope? Thinking specifically about the end of the Arizona State game, for instance.

Only posing the question because those guys are so fast, and typically don’t need to get 30-40 yards down the field to get behind their man. Thompson specifically often has 2 steps on the defender within 20 yards on those deep post and stutter and go patterns. Just seem like its often going to be the same result (TD) when executed correctly, but also is a quicker and easier throw. I think SEC teams are going to shell / Cover-2 us to death, and we’re going to need to do some things a little bit differently as we hit the meat of the schedule. The ball is definitely going to need to come out faster than it does on a lot of those deep balls.

He's putting it on tape.

His offense will always take shots, especially when they've got momentum going, but it won't be like this in conference play. Those shots won't be there as much.

 

[Perd Hapley]

While Cover 2 may “keep a lid” on the long bombs it will/should make the running game easier. In the Mullen era teams knew we couldn’t go deep so they just packed the box - check mate. A balanced offense wherein we can play nasty up the middle but also stretch the field is tough night for opposing coordinators.

Of course it makes run game easier, but if we get run funneled between the 20’s and then there’s no field to work with to capitalize in drives, we’ll be in a similar spot that we often found ourselves in the Air Raid, with a ton of FG’s instead of TD’s. SEC teams are going want us to run, so they can use superior athletes to just make the plays in front of them.

We’ll still get yards on the ground because we’ll have a numbers advantage more often than not if they are guarding against the deep ball, but I doubt we’ll bust many long ones. I see that as a trade-off most SEC DC’s will be willing to make, because WR is the one area where we do have true upper tier SEC athletes. The RB’s are also decent and Gayten could be a star in time, but I don’t know that the OL is going to allow us to take advantage of that against most teams on our remaining schedule.

 

[QuadrupleOption]

I'm fine with taking shots, especially with as many as we manage to hit. It's a low-percentage play but the payoff is huge. I don't want to see it every drive but knowing that we'll throw it deep (and hit pretty often) will open up the defense for other things.

I'd much rather get rid of the slow-developing wide screen passes that fool no one. I swear I can brew a pot of coffee and answer my work email before the ball gets where it needs to go on those.

 

[Jacknut]

Yep, we're 4-0 and it's time to start questioning Lebby's game plan.

 

[anon1768925248]

He probably overthrew 5 deep ball touchdowns, and didn’t notice another 4-5 wide open guys deep.

Shapen did not have a good game.

you reign in the deep ball when it stops getting wide azz open

This was one of if not the worst games I’ve seen Shapen play here. Hard to believe we scored 38 points against anyone with as bad as he was.