Our offense

chuckd

Five-Star Recruit
From that game (and others) I hope most people realize that this offense CAN work. I remember after last year and after the first few games, that some thought that the offense was either too complicated or just couldn't work in college football. If you don't like the offense, that is surely your opinion and have the right to it, but to say this offense CAN'T work is rediculous.

Now, as for it working consistantly, that is another thing. It is my opinion that coaches can only do some much. This is not to say they aren't important, or can't make mistakes, but I can't remember one instance of a coach either turning a ball over or scoring a touchdown. I think once the play is called it is up to the players to execute. From what I can tell, on the vast majority of the plays that if executed properly, they will result in yardage. Coaches can certainly call bad plays and I am in no way trying to absolve them from resposibility, but ulitimately, it is up to the players to execute.

Now, a few things things that I believe have hurt our offense the most this year

O-line: It is pretty obvious this is the weakest link on the entire team. Missed blocking assignments and penalties are touch for any offense to overcome. I'm not saying that an improved o-line would make us national title contenders, but it would definitely help our consistency. This has really been evident in our running game and as any high school coach will tell you "It all starts up front"

Lack of rhythm: After the OU game it is very apparent to me that Zac Taylor (like most qb's i suppose) are much MUCH better when he gets in a groove. When he gets time to throw he is very accurate and the offense runs smoothly.

Lack of a big play threat: This team doesn't have a Frazier or a Crouch or a Rogers that can make a big play. Cory Ross is probably the closest we have and while he is certainly a fun guy to watch, he still lacks that ability to make a huge play (again lack of oline consistency definitely attributes to this) Hopefully Lucky, or Glenn, or Beck, or someone will be able to provide this for us in the future.

Well thats enough for now, basically what I am saying is there is no reason to give us on this team. The offense can work, it has been shown that it can. Consistency is the key and hopefully though practice and recruiting we can improve on this aspect.

 
I think they need to diversify the play calling. I have been saying it for a few weeks now. They ran that damn middle screen to ross again and he got creamed by dvorchek(sp?). I think that is the 3rd or 4th game in a row they ran it and were unsuccessful. They only run a few running plays. When Glenn is in it is a hand off to him. I want to see a play action pass on 3rd and to when glenn is in. They run a toss to the outside with the trips bunch next to the line, they did throw the hb pass off of that today though. That is the kind of play calling I would like to see. Change it up. On 3rd and short when they pass the they either throw a slant, short in, or short out. OU had 9 guys up on the line of scrimmage on 3rd and short. Run a slant and go, an out and up, a 12 yard in over the middle. The offense is becoming too predictable just like Solich's offense was. It is time to open that 8 pound playbook up.

 
I agree it would be nice to be able to do those things you mentioned (im sure the coaches would love to) but when you are getting 3 seconds to throw and when the run blocking, is well, not good your options kind of are reduced. When the blocking is this bad, the screen is usually a good call (and has been fairly effective) dvoachek is a good player and made a good play. I did notice once when cody glenn got in that they tried to pass, I can't remember exactly how the play turned out, but I remember the guy behind me saying thats the first time he's seen glenn be in and not get the ball. I agree diversity would help this offense a whole lot, but with the way the o line is playing and the amount of dropped balls, thats easier said then done.

 
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I agree it would be nice to be able to do those things you mentioned (im sure the coaches would love to) but when you are getting 3 seconds to throw and when the run blocking, is well, not good your options kind of are reduced. When the blocking is this bad, the screen is usually a good call (and has been fairly effective) dvoachek is a good player and made a good play. I did notice once when cody glenn got in that they tried to pass, I can't remember exactly how the play turned out, but I remember the guy behind me saying thats the first time he's seen glenn be in and not get the ball. I agree diversity would help this offense a whole lot, but with the way the o line is playing and the amount of dropped balls, thats easier said then done.
I agree its tough with the line, but at least give it a shot. I don't agree that the middle screen has been effective recently. It worked against Pitt and ISU. TT, Baylor, MU, and OU all have stopped it. I think we ran it 3 times against TT and it didn't work. They did run a right screen this game with success, but the middle screen needs to be put in the closet until the CU or possible bowl game.

 
I hope we keep getting Swift touches. He seems to be a good receiver that could be great before it is all said and done. We also need one of the other receivers to step up.

As far as Lucky goes receiving wise. We ran a couple plays today for him once Taylor got rushed out of the pocket and it was to late to get Lucky the ball down the sideline. The other time around the goaline we had a false start when Lucky was going to the corner.

 
I think we all give ZT way too much credit. Yeah the offensive line is by far the worst in the country, including 1-AA, and high school for that matter, but Taylor makes some absolutely horrible decisions. Who taught this guy that taking a 5 yard loss is better than throwing the ball away? I think our offensive system is great and will work once we actually get some good athletes at wide reciever. Mulkey, Swift, Leflore... these guys just can't get it done. Think how much better we'd be if Swift was our # 3 reciever.

 
I don't think anyone believes that Taylor is an extraordinary quarterback, but imho he has done a pretty good job all things considered. As you said the oline is bad and I don't think that can be discounted, Zac is getting hit on probably 80% of the passing plays. Yes, he does make some bad decisions and isn't going to win the heisman anytime soon, but considering what he has around him (no offense to anyone) I think he has done pretty well. If nothing else, I think everyone can agree he's a touch kid.

 
Mulkey, Swift, Leflore... these guys just can't get it done. Think how much better we'd be if Swift was our # 3 reciever.
I'll give you Mulkey and LeFlore but come on Swift is good. Back to back games with 9 catches for 100+ yards. He seems to be the only one that can get open on his own. He got deep a couple tiems and Taylor didn't/couldn't get him the ball. I'll take him on my team anytime. If he would be our #3 guy then the other two(who ever they are) will be awesome.

 
I don't think anyone believes that Taylor is an extraordinary quarterback, but imho he has done a pretty good job all things considered. As you said the oline is bad and I don't think that can be discounted, Zac is getting hit on probably 80% of the passing plays. Yes, he does make some bad decisions and isn't going to win the heisman anytime soon, but considering what he has around him (no offense to anyone) I think he has done pretty well. If nothing else, I think everyone can agree he's a touch kid.
Tough? sure i'll give you that. But you have to admit he makes some decisions that are Joe Dailey like. Such as throwing to the opposite team when it's completely unnecessary, taking sacks that are unnecessary, and missing wide open recievers.

 
I don't think there is any doubt that ZT is an improvement over JD, not all Joe's fault, but definitely an improvement. All quarterbacks make mistakes, the ones that don't are truely exceptional, I never said Taylor was one of these, but I challenge you to show me a quarterback (in his first year in a system no less) with an oline like ours that has played better than Taylor. When he has time he is very good imo, unfortuantely he is not an exceptional enough athlete to make up for the lack of protection and drops. I will agree that he is no star, but I believe he deserves a little credit.

 
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Mulkey, Swift, Leflore... these guys just can't get it done.  Think how much better we'd be if Swift was our # 3 reciever.
I'll give you Mulkey and LeFlore but come on Swift is good. Back to back games with 9 catches for 100+ yards. He seems to be the only one that can get open on his own. He got deep a couple tiems and Taylor didn't/couldn't get him the ball. I'll take him on my team anytime. If he would be our #3 guy then the other two(who ever they are) will be awesome.
Swift is good but he's not the game changer that this offense desperately needs. He's not going to make a huge play to get our team back in the game. He runs the routes across the middle great. I just think we need faster, more athletic recievers until we can be successful.

 
What sickens me is how long it takes our offense to get going. In each game the first dozen or 15 plays are supposedly scipted. In game after game, our first few possessions are 3 downs and punt. By the time adjustments are made and the passing offense comes to life we are down by 3 touchdowns. There is no rushing offense - we are strictly a one-dimensional attack. The initial scripted plays never seem to work!

 
Mulkey, Swift, Leflore... these guys just can't get it done.  Think how much better we'd be if Swift was our # 3 reciever.
I'll give you Mulkey and LeFlore but come on Swift is good. Back to back games with 9 catches for 100+ yards. He seems to be the only one that can get open on his own. He got deep a couple tiems and Taylor didn't/couldn't get him the ball. I'll take him on my team anytime. If he would be our #3 guy then the other two(who ever they are) will be awesome.
No just seems to be the only WR who can catch the damn ball consistently. Great effort and game Nate.

 
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