Cincinnati: What Did We Learn?

Danny Bateman said:
I’m pretty sure it was the goal line series where Pritchett false started and shot us in the foot, but I remember them running two consecutive off tackle power runs from the I formation right after it gashed them for the first time at one point.

I actually thought the play calling was quite good. A lot of the running game being stuck in neutral was the OL not *quite* being quick enough to their spot to nail their blocks or EJ making a bad cut, but the scheme was good and the big play opportunities are there. DB thought so during the game as well.

That said they were uber conservative and the final drive playcalling was atrocious. Bad clock management to boot trying to play not to lose at the end, too.

Overall feel good about the offense and scheme but that endgame stuff needs tightened up ASAP.
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Yeah I think you’re right about what drive it was. As others have pointed out if we had a more productive second string back things would have looked different, can only get so much out of one back on consecutive runs.
 
Purists may not like it, but some of those traditional running plays have turned into 4 yard completions on quick, safe outs to RBs and receivers, with a slightly better chance of breaking a play than sending the RB into the line. The complaints against Holgorsen are the same complaints leveled against every OC since Barney Cotton, but honestly the vast majority of college and pro coaches operate a similar playcalling philosophy. Not one of them relies on just ramming the ball down an opponents throat, as fun as that might sound.

That being said, I hate it when it's 3rd and 12 and Raiola hits the wide open guy five yards downfield. He's wide open because the defense is giving him the five yards, not the 12 the team needs. And it didn't even look like a checkdown. Love the completion % but might want to see a little more risk and reward.
 
Defense is going to have some issues but they forced 2 turnovers at key moments and that's something we've wanted them to be able to do for years. The team has two get right games in a row before conference play starts and I am still cautiously optimistic about the season.

Also how the hell does Barthell still have a job? Going into year 3 he still hasn't recruited and developed anyone.
 
The offense was decently efficient from a not-many-negative-plays standpoint but pretty pedestrian overall
We won the time of possession every quarter, which is nice
10/18 on third down is pretty solid
Holding them to 2/10 on third down is pretty solid (even if their offense was generally uninspired)

Hartzog was beaten badly and was only saved from giving up a TD by a badly underthrown (or late) ball. Then their last drive was mostly running the "throw it to whoever Hartzog is covering". Credit him for making the game-sealing play but it is unbelievable that we've seen the same story over and over again and keep rolling him out there.

We were EXTREMELY fortunate that a team that threw for 20 yards in the first half and 33 yards in the first 57 minutes thought they were somehow going to pass the ball down the field starting at their own 9 yard line with under two minutes to play in the first half and ended up gifting us a TD right before intermission. That turned out to be HUGE.
 
Mavric said:
The offense was decently efficient from a not-many-negative-plays standpoint but pretty pedestrian overall
We won the time of possession every quarter, which is nice
10/18 on third down is pretty solid
Holding them to 2/10 on third down is pretty solid (even if their offense was generally uninspired)

Hartzog was beaten badly and was only saved from giving up a TD by a badly underthrown (or late) ball. Then their last drive was mostly running the "throw it to whoever Hartzog is covering". Credit him for making the game-sealing play but it is unbelievable that we've seen the same story over and over again and keep rolling him out there.

We were EXTREMELY fortunate that a team that threw for 20 yards in the first half and 33 yards in the first 57 minutes thought they were somehow going to pass the ball down the field starting at their own 9 yard line with under two minutes to play in the first half and ended up gifting us a TD right before intermission. That turned out to be HUGE.
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Their QB should have had 30 carries last night. And I mean 30 designed run plays.
 
Per On3, Dane Key caught all six of his targets, gaining four first downs and a TD.

Season 9 Premiere GIF by Curb Your Enthusiasm
 
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