Kinda long.
Let me preface this by saying I am no expert when it comes to formations and play calling.
With the problems of protecting the QB and Johnson's trouble holding onto the ball, we need to run nothing but short to medium distance throws. Unless we actually are able to give him some protection. During practice, tell Johnson to count to 3 and either throw it or run out of the pocket. Have someone blow a whistle to remind him to throw or run. He has to get that internal clock running right and realize he isn't playing behind a great line and he will get pressured.
Move Snell up to number 1 on the depth chart. Have him punish the other team early and then hit them with our smaller quicker backs (Boom and Kemp) as the defense gets tired. There is no reason to barely play Snell when he is probably our most effective back for running up the middle. Maybe put in Snell and Boom together a lot and either pitch it to Boom or hand it off to Snell.
The defense is getting killed against the run. Put 7 or 8 defenders in the box and force them to beat us with the pass. I'd rather give up a long pass on occasion over getting the crap beat out of us with the run. There aren't that many elite quarterbacks we will go up against (although we make them look like it at times), but there seems to be a ton of good backs.
Also stop playing off the receivers like 10 yards. There is almost always someone wide open on 3rd and long. Stay in man to man and don't zone very often. We always seem to have someone get lost on who they are supposed to guard and it results in a big play.
We need to blitz, blitz, and do even more blitzing. We have to get pressure on their quarterback. With 7 or 8 in the box, there's no reason we shouldn't get some pressure on them. It is ridiculous when they have like 5 or more seconds in the pocket to look for an open receiver. You can only guard a wide receiver for so long before someone gets open.
Substitute as much as we can. We have to keep our players as fresh as possible. I know Coach Stoops hates it, but I think we need to run uptempo and try and wear the other team down. Don't give them time to adjust or substitute. Uptempo offenses always seem to give defenses trouble and score more points. We won't win very often trying to play ball control.
Like I said, I'm no expert but I think these things could be beneficial to improving the team.
Let me preface this by saying I am no expert when it comes to formations and play calling.
With the problems of protecting the QB and Johnson's trouble holding onto the ball, we need to run nothing but short to medium distance throws. Unless we actually are able to give him some protection. During practice, tell Johnson to count to 3 and either throw it or run out of the pocket. Have someone blow a whistle to remind him to throw or run. He has to get that internal clock running right and realize he isn't playing behind a great line and he will get pressured.
Move Snell up to number 1 on the depth chart. Have him punish the other team early and then hit them with our smaller quicker backs (Boom and Kemp) as the defense gets tired. There is no reason to barely play Snell when he is probably our most effective back for running up the middle. Maybe put in Snell and Boom together a lot and either pitch it to Boom or hand it off to Snell.
The defense is getting killed against the run. Put 7 or 8 defenders in the box and force them to beat us with the pass. I'd rather give up a long pass on occasion over getting the crap beat out of us with the run. There aren't that many elite quarterbacks we will go up against (although we make them look like it at times), but there seems to be a ton of good backs.
Also stop playing off the receivers like 10 yards. There is almost always someone wide open on 3rd and long. Stay in man to man and don't zone very often. We always seem to have someone get lost on who they are supposed to guard and it results in a big play.
We need to blitz, blitz, and do even more blitzing. We have to get pressure on their quarterback. With 7 or 8 in the box, there's no reason we shouldn't get some pressure on them. It is ridiculous when they have like 5 or more seconds in the pocket to look for an open receiver. You can only guard a wide receiver for so long before someone gets open.
Substitute as much as we can. We have to keep our players as fresh as possible. I know Coach Stoops hates it, but I think we need to run uptempo and try and wear the other team down. Don't give them time to adjust or substitute. Uptempo offenses always seem to give defenses trouble and score more points. We won't win very often trying to play ball control.
Like I said, I'm no expert but I think these things could be beneficial to improving the team.
