Offense to be "Wide receiver friendly"?

[bulletbait]

I was reading a recruiting article about WR Kenny Lawler and it was noted by his father that they have been told by the coaches that the new offense will be "wide receiver friendly." I must be behind on my offensive rumor mill updates, because I'd been under the assumption that we would still be a fairly run heavy offense. That said, we do have a disciple of Air Kansas running our offense, so I could see us running a system closer to that as well. Doubly so with recent comments that the offense is similar to Martinez's high school offense, in which he threw far more often than running.

 

Anyone have any new insights into what we might see on the field this fall?

[da skers]

Yes. We're still going to be 50/50 on run to pass (or as each team allows us) but the routes are much simpler and allow the receivers to play to their technique they think works best. So if a guy uses his hands well to get open he'll do that. If a guy is a changing direction on a dime that will be his deal. If a guy can high jump 32 feet that will be his deal to get open. The offense doesn't force a receiver and say only "this technique" can be used to get open on this play on this route. They're going actually read defenses and adjust accordingly instead of run to "x" place on the field even if the defense prohibits that. A receiver may have 2 options to take on any give route depending on what he sees the defense doing. Its exactly what our DB's do to read offense to determine their coverage. Overall a less gifted receiver will have a better chance to get on the field if he knows how to use his strengths to get open.

 

 

For the record . . air Kansas was actually pretty balance. . . but I guess when you get guys to make 10-15 yard a play when a pass is completed it can seem like you're pass happy. I call it pass effective.

[VA Husker Fan]

Yes. We're still going to be 50/50 on run to pass (or as each team allows us) but the routes are much simpler and allow the receivers to play to their technique they think works best. So if a guy uses his hands well to get open he'll do that. If a guy is a changing direction on a dime that will be his deal. If a guy can high jump 32 feet that will be his deal to get open. The offense doesn't force a receiver and say only "this technique" can be used to get open on this play on this route. They're going actually read defenses and adjust accordingly instead of run to "x" place on the field even if the defense prohibits that. A receiver may have 2 options to take on any give route depending on what he sees the defense doing. Its exactly what our DB's do to read offense to determine their coverage. Overall a less gifted receiver will have a better chance to get on the field if he knows how to use his strengths to get open.

That all sounds good except isn't this really more complex rather than simply running a designated route? It also means that both the QB and WR have to read the same way, or you are going to have some times when the ball is thrown to no one, because the receiver cut differently than the QB expected due to a different read. I don't really know, but I suspect we may have done this with Ganz in the past, but not Taylor last year since he was pretty inexperienced reading defenses.

 

I also don't think the previous offense forced every receiver to do the same thing as you are saying. I can remember end zone plays set up for Purify to outjump DBs, for example. That was under Watson/Gilmore, wasn't it? These guys weren't good coaches, but they weren't total morons either.

[husker B-rent]

Yes. We're still going to be 50/50 on run to pass (or as each team allows us) but the routes are much simpler and allow the receivers to play to their technique they think works best. So if a guy uses his hands well to get open he'll do that. If a guy is a changing direction on a dime that will be his deal. If a guy can high jump 32 feet that will be his deal to get open. The offense doesn't force a receiver and say only "this technique" can be used to get open on this play on this route. They're going actually read defenses and adjust accordingly instead of run to "x" place on the field even if the defense prohibits that. A receiver may have 2 options to take on any give route depending on what he sees the defense doing. Its exactly what our DB's do to read offense to determine their coverage. Overall a less gifted receiver will have a better chance to get on the field if he knows how to use his strengths to get open.

That all sounds good except isn't this really more complex rather than simply running a designated route? It also means that both the QB and WR have to read the same way, or you are going to have some times when the ball is thrown to no one, because the receiver cut differently than the QB expected due to a different read. I don't really know, but I suspect we may have done this with Ganz in the past, but not Taylor last year since he was pretty inexperienced reading defenses.

 

I also don't think the previous offense forced every receiver to do the same thing as you are saying. I can remember end zone plays set up for Purify to outjump DBs, for example. That was under Watson/Gilmore, wasn't it? These guys weren't good coaches, but they weren't total morons either.

players were coached to run a perfect route and only one route. other intangibles did not matter (ie. speed, jumping, etc.) and if you couldnt run it perfect then you didnt play. remember we have a player on an NFL squad that never started for us because he didnt run perfect routes.

 

the new offense essentially gets the best receivers on the field no matter how well they have mastered route running and imo this is a good thing.

[knapplc]

players were coached to run a perfect route and only one route. other intangibles did not matter (ie. speed, jumping, etc.) and if you couldnt run it perfect then you didnt play. remember we have a player on an NFL squad that never started for us because he didnt run perfect routes.

 

the new offense essentially gets the best receivers on the field no matter how well they have mastered route running and imo this is a good thing.

 

 

This is all true, and I hope it results in more production for us. However, and I hate to be a Debbie Downer here, there are two other components to the passing game that we need to have work as well: Pass Blocking and Passing. One's on the O Line, one's on the QB. Here's hoping we can get all that shored up, because at times last year we were porous as a sieve on the Line, and at times (caveat = injuries) our QB couldn't hit the broadside of a barn.

 

IF we can get more solid O Line play and IF our QB can pass better than the latter half of last year, we should have a solid enough run game to make our passing game effective once again.

[VA Husker Fan]

 

players were coached to run a perfect route and only one route. other intangibles did not matter (ie. speed, jumping, etc.) and if you couldnt run it perfect then you didnt play. remember we have a player on an NFL squad that never started for us because he didnt run perfect routes.

OK, Brooks is a good example, I'll buy that. I wonder if we'll see more of guys like Gillylen too, an athletic guy who dropped rather than rose on the depth chart, though you still have to catch the damned ball.

[da skers]

Yes. We're still going to be 50/50 on run to pass (or as each team allows us) but the routes are much simpler and allow the receivers to play to their technique they think works best. So if a guy uses his hands well to get open he'll do that. If a guy is a changing direction on a dime that will be his deal. If a guy can high jump 32 feet that will be his deal to get open. The offense doesn't force a receiver and say only "this technique" can be used to get open on this play on this route. They're going actually read defenses and adjust accordingly instead of run to "x" place on the field even if the defense prohibits that. A receiver may have 2 options to take on any give route depending on what he sees the defense doing. Its exactly what our DB's do to read offense to determine their coverage. Overall a less gifted receiver will have a better chance to get on the field if he knows how to use his strengths to get open.

That all sounds good except isn't this really more complex rather than simply running a designated route? It also means that both the QB and WR have to read the same way, or you are going to have some times when the ball is thrown to no one, because the receiver cut differently than the QB expected due to a different read. I don't really know, but I suspect we may have done this with Ganz in the past, but not Taylor last year since he was pretty inexperienced reading defenses.

 

I also don't think the previous offense forced every receiver to do the same thing as you are saying. I can remember end zone plays set up for Purify to outjump DBs, for example. That was under Watson/Gilmore, wasn't it? These guys weren't good coaches, but they weren't total morons either.

It actually dumbs things down for the qb since he doesn't throw to an exact spot if the receiver is there or not or guess what the defense is going to do for the coverage. Its more like playing back yard ball with your buddies. Guys will be in an area of the field. Its not like he's supposed to be sprinting down the right side toward the end zone and a guy is there so he runs across the middle to the left has. Instead he sees the CB is playing to the outside he takes his route in or vice versa. It makes it so the QB puts the ball where the defender isn't and lets the receiver make the play. Its not anything we've run here before and the concepts are very simple. The rule #1 is get open. #2 is do what ever it takes to get open. #3 is if you're open you'll get the ball more often than not.

[Saunders]

Yes. We're still going to be 50/50 on run to pass (or as each team allows us) but the routes are much simpler and allow the receivers to play to their technique they think works best. So if a guy uses his hands well to get open he'll do that. If a guy is a changing direction on a dime that will be his deal. If a guy can high jump 32 feet that will be his deal to get open. The offense doesn't force a receiver and say only "this technique" can be used to get open on this play on this route. They're going actually read defenses and adjust accordingly instead of run to "x" place on the field even if the defense prohibits that. A receiver may have 2 options to take on any give route depending on what he sees the defense doing. Its exactly what our DB's do to read offense to determine their coverage. Overall a less gifted receiver will have a better chance to get on the field if he knows how to use his strengths to get open.

That all sounds good except isn't this really more complex rather than simply running a designated route? It also means that both the QB and WR have to read the same way, or you are going to have some times when the ball is thrown to no one, because the receiver cut differently than the QB expected due to a different read. I don't really know, but I suspect we may have done this with Ganz in the past, but not Taylor last year since he was pretty inexperienced reading defenses.

 

I also don't think the previous offense forced every receiver to do the same thing as you are saying. I can remember end zone plays set up for Purify to outjump DBs, for example. That was under Watson/Gilmore, wasn't it? These guys weren't good coaches, but they weren't total morons either.

It actually dumbs things down for the qb since he doesn't throw to an exact spot if the receiver is there or not or guess what the defense is going to do for the coverage. Its more like playing back yard ball with your buddies. Guys will be in an area of the field. Its not like he's supposed to be sprinting down the right side toward the end zone and a guy is there so he runs across the middle to the left has. Instead he sees the CB is playing to the outside he takes his route in or vice versa. It makes it so the QB puts the ball where the defender isn't and lets the receiver make the play. Its not anything we've run here before and the concepts are very simple. The rule #1 is get open. #2 is do what ever it takes to get open. #3 is if you're open you'll get the ball more often than not.

So, hopefully we'll see more open guys (something we've struggled with) and our QB's won't have to thread the needle.

[zoogs]

other intangibles did not matter (ie. speed, jumping, etc.

 

These are not intangibles, these are physical attributes. Route running is a skill that was, and still is, important. If the new system is supposed to negate the importance of route running, I'm a bit dubious.

 

the new offense essentially gets the best receivers on the field no matter how well they have mastered route running and imo this is a good thing.

 

The new offense gets the players on the field that best understand how to beat defenders, not the ones with the most physical tools.

 

I don't see how that is a whole lot different than RR. It gets the guys with the best skills on the field. Besides, I thought the knock on Gilmore was always his insistence on run blocking.

 

da skers, is this the kind of offense that was run at Kansas?

[da skers]

other intangibles did not matter (ie. speed, jumping, etc.

 

These are not intangibles, these are physical attributes. Route running is a skill that was, and still is, important. If the new system is supposed to negate the importance of route running, I'm a bit dubious.

 

the new offense essentially gets the best receivers on the field no matter how well they have mastered route running and imo this is a good thing.

 

The new offense gets the players on the field that best understand how to beat defenders, not the ones with the most physical tools.

 

I don't see how that is a whole lot different than RR. It gets the guys with the best skills on the field. Besides, I thought the knock on Gilmore was always his insistence on run blocking.

 

da skers, is this the kind of offense that was run at Kansas?

As far as what the WR do its pretty similar. Those became pretty heavy with beck's concepts. The run game should be a different style than what you saw there. Blocking concepts should be similar as well and you'll see more pulling and forward contact meeting the defender at both the line and second levels. There will be less sit back and wait to see who comes at me that I'm going to block. (at least eventually)

[papersun87]

Instead of having our offense be "receiver-friendly," can we have receivers that are "offense-friendly"?

[bshirt]

other intangibles did not matter (ie. speed, jumping, etc.

 

These are not intangibles, these are physical attributes. Route running is a skill that was, and still is, important. If the new system is supposed to negate the importance of route running, I'm a bit dubious.

 

the new offense essentially gets the best receivers on the field no matter how well they have mastered route running and imo this is a good thing.

 

The new offense gets the players on the field that best understand how to beat defenders, not the ones with the most physical tools.

 

I don't see how that is a whole lot different than RR. It gets the guys with the best skills on the field. Besides, I thought the knock on Gilmore was always his insistence on run blocking.

 

da skers, is this the kind of offense that was run at Kansas?

As far as what the WR do its pretty similar. Those became pretty heavy with beck's concepts. The run game should be a different style than what you saw there. Blocking concepts should be similar as well and you'll see more pulling and forward contact meeting the defender at both the line and second levels. There will be less sit back and wait to see who comes at me that I'm going to block. (at least eventually)

 

The very finest music to my ears.

[Saunders]

Instead of having our offense be "receiver-friendly," can we have receivers that are "offense-friendly"?

Hopefully our guys will learn to catch and get reps at it, instead of having Gilmore mimic Barney Cotton.

[zoogs]

Blocking concepts should be similar as well and you'll see more pulling and forward contact meeting the defender at both the line and second levels. There will be less sit back and wait to see who comes at me that I'm going to block. (at least eventually)

 

That's interesting, because when Barney arrived, his rhetoric was to play with passion and aggression. Whatever became of that? A going-out-and-hitting-guys-hard instead of worrying and overthinking technique, how does that end up at read and react?

 

While this new rhetoric (forward contact) sounds very nice for the OL, I wonder if you see it as something flat-out better in approach on every level, or maybe just better suited for the scheme we are going to be running. Bo's defense that we all love, for example, is widely referred to as read-and-react, which sounds pansyish except it shuts opponents down.

[walksalone]

for it to be WR friendly, ya gotta get em the ball first