Two differences this year, and one about the same

[Yaller Jacket]

1) With our offense, success early paves the way for success late. When we have some 15 play drives in the first 2/3 of the game, it both tires the defense physically and demoralizes them mentally. Late in the game we are playing a tired defense which has lost its confidence. This year, that ain't happening much. So late in the game we are playing a fresh defense which has gained confidence.

2) At times last year we when the run game sputtered, we could pass protect well enough to give Justin enough time to find Smelter. This year when we are in a third and long, we are hopeless. When the defense knows a pass is coming, they are on Justin immediately.

PJ says we have to stop the run better, and I won't argue with that. But it is equally frustrating that when we do get a team in third and long and everyone in the house knows a pass is coming, we still can't get a hurried throw.

 

[B Lifsey]

But it is equally frustrating that when we do get a team in third and long and everyone in the house knows a pass is coming, we still can't get a hurried throw.

Or, the QB scrambles for the first and often more...

 

[jayparr]

Or, the QB scrambles for the first and often more...

no room for the qb to ramble!

 

[cmathis]

no room for the qb to ramble!

Well he doesn't talk too much, so that's not really a problem.

( sorry)

 

[B Lifsey]

no room for the qb to ramble!

I was meaning for the other team's QB to scramble when we get them in a 3rd and long...in reference to @Yaller Jacket last sentence.

 

[iceeater1969]

1) With our offense, success early paves the way for success late. When we have some 15 play drives in the first 2/3 of the game, it both tires the defense physically and demoralizes them mentally. Late in the game we are playing a tired defense which has lost its confidence. This year, that ain't happening much. So late in the game we are playing a fresh defense which has gained confidence.

2) At times last year we when the run game sputtered, we could pass protect well enough to give Justin enough time to find Smelter. This year when we are in a third and long, we are hopeless. When the defense knows a pass is coming, they are on Justin immediately.

PJ says we have to stop the run better, and I won't argue with that. But it is equally frustrating that when we do get a team in third and long and everyone in the house knows a pass is coming, we still can't get a hurried throw.

For 1. So the defenses figured that we would wear them out if they played safe so they played agressive defense. For 2 While they were tight to line they ALWAYS were tight to justin = if he tries to pass lb ( 250#) rush against bb or ab (215# or 190#) - a mere speed bump. They are on justin all the time --- no long runs period.


Everyone saw the film of Uga , FSU, msu and it was obvious that read react was a recipe for slow defeat which is not acceptable if you are paid $1,000,000 per year to be defensive coordinator at top School and have athletes that can run.

Now I worry that they ratchet up the pressure even more. Next will see a blitz every time behind the pulling ab to chase down the qb before he can pitch or roll out. Msu started doing this but the safety, db read and then fired. Now they just rotate over which leaves the counter open. When it rains it pours.

 

[4shotB]

Now I worry that they ratchet up the pressure even more. Next will see a blitz every time behind the pulling ab to chase down the qb before he can pitch or roll out. Msu started doing this but the safety, db read and then fired. Now they just rotate over which leaves the counter open. When it rains it pours.

I have wondered about this. I honestly don't know why teams don't blitz 7-9 every play against us. I don't think we have a strategy to counter that.

 

[iceeater1969]

I have wondered about this. I honestly don't know why teams don't blitz 7-9 every play against us. I don't think we have a strategy to counter that.

I said that last winter _ unless we have Megatron or a tall qb that is very good passer, send 6-8 very often to get turnovers and tackles for loss to put us behind schedule.
If we get going on offense, I wonder if the dc will back off the standard front which they run aggressively. Or wil they step it up to heavy and frequent blitz ?

Damn I hope we do some innovative stuff for vt!!!

 

[alagold]

I have wondered about this. I honestly don't know why teams don't blitz 7-9 every play against us. I don't think we have a strategy to counter that.

the only real hope is 2 BIG talented WRs who have 1 on 1 and can beat the CBs for big plays. That and practice a LOT more on pass blocking which obviously they do not do enough
it will be interesting to see if PJ evolves to defeat the new strategy--if not we are dead meat

 

[4NatlChmps]

I said that last winter _ unless we have Megatron or a tall qb that is very good passer, send 6-8 very often to get turnovers and tackles for loss to put us behind schedule.
If we get going on offense, I wonder if the dc will back off the standard front which they run aggressively. Or wil they step it up to heavy and frequent blitz ?

Damn I hope we do some innovative stuff for vt!!!

Agree completely here. It's been 4 games in a row of all out blitz in every passing situation (bringing 6 every time) - to which we roll out right for a throw away. We need a way to nullify that once or twice for a gash so they stop - when it's an obvious passing situation

 

[Captain killem]

Slants and crosses which we don't or rarely run.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

What did we do last year when teams did what they do now?

 

[4shotB]

What did we do last year when teams did what they do now?

I have 2 theories. Either we blocked (that is the 1st theory) or else they didn't do what they do now then (2nd one). that's it, i have fired all my bullets in this debate. I have nothing left. BTW, I attribute my abilities in analytical thinking to Ma Tech.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

I have 2 theories. Either we blocked (that is the 1st theory) or else they didn't do what they do now then (2nd one). that's it, i have fired all my bullets in this debate. I have nothing left. BTW, I attribute my abilities in analytical thinking to Ma Tech.

I guess what I'm really asking is what is CPJ's instinctive reply to defenses coming with pressure time and time again.

 

[iceeater1969]

Memory
Last year we got frequent big gains iin all our games - which I think made dc play read react assignment ball to a fault. Vt was aggressive but Clemson did what we are seeing now (our offense moved the ball but only got 10 ). Then we got it rolling despite losing snoddy and smelter. I was at fsu and msu and they were not real agressive ( their dc had very little dc experience) and when we showed different alignments they were lost.

Everyone tries to be CLEMSON and we have had no answers so far.

We could be effective when we are back from our drive thru "anither wheel fell off land "! Just have nothing new go wrong and coach will turn this around. Hell have a couple things get fixed or someone really step up and the sun could shine again.

 

[Boomergump]

Bottom line, we are not very fast at WR and AB and teams do not fear getting hit with the big play consistently enough to warrant backing off. We are not stretching the field and beating one on one coverage is not a given. If we were ringing up points over the top, you wouldn't see some of these tactics. They watch film. They see who we have going out on routes. They know who they have in coverage and what they are capable of when defending alone. We are hitting some plays for run outs (3 Saturday) but not enough to win games.

 

[alagold]

Bottom line, we are not very fast at WR and AB and teams do not fear getting hit with the big play consistently enough to warrant backing off. We are not stretching the field and beating one on one coverage is not a given. If we were ringing up points over the top, you wouldn't see some of these tactics. They watch film. They see who we have going out on routes. They know who they have in coverage and what they are capable of when defending alone. We are hitting some plays for run outs (3 Saturday) but not enough to win games.

as I said big fast WRs like last yr are the answer (it also helps to have FIVE SR backs to pick up pass blocking correctly not to mention an ALL-AM OG that we can get 5 yds anytime behind to keep safeties and MLB back.)

 

[Ibeeballin]

I'm not the smartest man in world but to throw a slant with defenses that tight AND defenders in the alley may not be a good idea

 

[Techster]

Slants and crosses which we don't or rarely run.

I have not really been paying attention to our route combos, but I do know CPJ likes to run the Mesh concept with our ABs...especially in the red zone.

As for Slants...the defense seems to be stacking themselves along the lines, taking away passing lanes. When your QB is 5'11 (ahem...wink wink), slants are not the best idea.

I actually would like to see Four Verticals concept that Mike Leach made so famous since a lot of teams play their safeties shallow with maybe 1 safety deep, and sometimes no safety at all against us. Would like to see how they react to 2 ABs running down the seams with pretty much no safety help.

 

[Boomergump]

I'm not the smartest man in world but to throw a slant with defenses that tight AND defenders in the alley may not be a good idea

I have been wanting to say this for a while now 'ballin but I held off. You give me the confidence. Think about it this way: the entire offensive scheme we run forces DCs to pull the defense forward in order to negate the man (or two man) advantge the option creates. A short passing game, on the surface, forces balls into the teeth of the defense. In general, you want to design throws to go where there is the most green grass available within your QBs effective range. I have heard people question how good JT is at throwing over the middle. Well, the only room over the middle exists over the safeties heads. Slants you say? Well, look at just how often DCs line up a defender in our pitch lanes whether or not we have somebody there.

With that said, at times, there is a lot of grass available just beyond the blitzing defenders. I do think a better system of dump offs to safety valves, drag routes, and screens could be in order, given the numbers teams are sending. We can get better at that and we need to. Lynch caught the first delayed drag route I have seen (or remember) this year. It went to the house. Skov had a couple of BB routes break free as well. I like keeping skill guys home for pass pro, but we should have them release after chipping. After all, chipping is about all we are getting from them anyway, in terms of blocking effectiveness.