3 requests for the new OC:
1) Assuming RL is still the QB, please do not run the read draw unless RL has the ability to actually read the play and run the ball if that's the right play. I am assuming it was a mix of not wanting RL to get hurt and him not being a good runner that resulted in 99% of the time a read draw was called RL handed off the ball.
2) Either teach the boys to run a screen pass (or bubble screen)correctly or don't run screen passes. I'm guessing 80% of all screen pass plays resulted in an incompletion or less than 3 yards (many times a net loss).
3) Please...do not run the same running play every game to start the game and start the second half. Please!
Go Hoosiers!
1. Not going to happen. Frey coaches zone blocking schemes well, so zone options reads are going to stay. The issue is, that RL isn't much of a runner, so most defenses stay home and overload and key on the backs. Zone options reads in a spread can still work with a non-running threat QB, but the deception has to be better executed and you have to have strong blocking in the middle of the OL. That was a big issue last season with Rogers. He just wasn't that good at run blocking and when Feeney wasn't there or was moved to RT, his weaknesses really showed up more, especially against better competition. This certainly would work better if we had a true running QB threat.
2. I love screen passes, but you have OL sell the play better. With Lagow throwing more like a 6' QB than a 6'6" guy (his arm angle drops really low), the screen wasn't very effective because he threw it right into the charging DL. Screen passes are some of the hardest passes to throw because you have to throw it with finesse. You could easily tell that Lagow was never taught how to throw them that way. But you still have to run them to keep a defense honest. Even if plays don't work, you still have to do them. That's what a lot of people don't understand. Not every play is going to work, but you can set up a D anyway.
3. Most teams start a game with a run up the middle. It sets a real tone for everyone. It gives the OL the chance to establish the line of scrimmage by smashing into those D linemen letting them know they intend to pound them all game long. It's also an easy play and lets everyone kind of get their blood going a little bit, gain a few yards and be ready to go. Sure, it's predicable, but the chances of you hitting a long pass down the field on the first play are very slim, so most coaches start out easy and simple to get everyone into a flow. They expect it to be 2nd a 8 or 7 on the next play and have usually already scripted the next play as well in their minds. I know Wilson did this a lot. He knew that first run up the middle was just an ice breaker, so they talked in the lockerroom what play 2 would be as well.
Those that bash play calling usually don't have any concept as to why coaches call games the way they do. They see Redding run for 2 yards and automatically think it was a horrible play call, or they see an incomplete pass on a screen and think the same thing. The issue is, you aren't privileged to the game plan so you have no idea what they are trying to do to set the D up. And when your OL is hurt, especially your best OL guy, your best WR is out, most of your back up RBs are down, and your QB is green and raw and still swimming mentally, there's not a whole lot you can run or you will be confused and lost and broken.
Sure it's a great thing the D was where it was last year. But I thought the offensive staff did a pretty fair job to get 6 wins despite what they had to work with. It will be interesting to see what DeBord and Watson can do with Lagow and what we can do running the ball with our scatbacks more. Redding was solid workhorse back, but he wasn't going to fit into the new system where speed and elusive outrank power and drive. Still think we will go as far as our QB, whomever it is, takes us.
