USC: What Did We Learn

[Husker_In_WI]

Putting together some things from Holgorsen's presser with the replay. Made an interesting point that a lot of Barney's early production came on pass plays with progressions, and those just aren't working now. I think they've been cut back dramatically to make the OL's life easier, but Dylan also just doesn't trust it and is rushing things. Gave one example here, fake screen to Hunter. Holgorsen said this probably should have gone to Lindemeyer as drawn up (that DB is flat footed and Luke is running by him, but it is a CB on a TE so he's going to catch up). Second read is Barney coming across, and that looked to be coming open too. But Corocoran and Spindler are both getting beat, so he just flips it out to Hunter for no gain.


Later on the same drive, looks like Shallow cross and it's a pretty easy read to get this to Barney - a DB does trail him relatively close, but he stays open enough. But Corcoran is beat clean and both Guards lose so there's nowhere to step up. So Raiola saw Key one on one at the bottom of the screen and made a reasonable decision to throw it to him, but he was not expecting the ball. Not sure if Raiola expected an out route, tried throw it back shoulder, or if the DE got enough of his arm to affect the throw.


The improved sack numbers are more a function of limiting the dropback passing game and Raiola getting it out quicker than they are a function of improved pass blocking. Which, in fairness to the line, is kind of expected when you've lost so many Tackles to injury.

 

[Mavric]

Putting together some things from Holgorsen's presser with the replay. Made an interesting point that a lot of Barney's early production came on pass plays with progressions, and those just aren't working now. I think they've been cut back dramatically to make the OL's life easier, but Dylan also just doesn't trust it and is rushing things. Gave one example here, fake screen to Hunter. Holgorsen said this probably should have gone to Lindemeyer as drawn up (that DB is flat footed and Luke is running by him, but it is a CB on a TE so he's going to catch up). Second read is Barney coming across, and that looked to be coming open too. But Corocoran and Spindler are both getting beat, so he just flips it out to Hunter for no gain.
View attachment 22869

Later on the same drive, looks like Shallow cross and it's a pretty easy read to get this to Barney - a DB does trail him relatively close, but he stays open enough. But Corcoran is beat clean and both Guards lose so there's nowhere to step up. So Raiola saw Key one on one at the bottom of the screen and made a reasonable decision to throw it to him, but he was not expecting the ball. Not sure if Raiola expected an out route, tried throw it back shoulder, or if the DE got enough of his arm to affect the throw.
View attachment 22870

The improved sack numbers are more a function of limiting the dropback passing game and Raiola getting it out quicker than they are a function of improved pass blocking. Which, in fairness to the line, is kind of expected when you've lost so many Tackles to injury.

I haven't been able to go back and watch enough to know for sure. But it seems like there is a significant number of times that the pressure is coming around the outside of the tackles. However, there is a decent pocket to step up into but Dylan often doesn't do that. It's almost like he's getting too deep on his drops and dropping out of the pocket.

 

[BigRedBuster]

Putting together some things from Holgorsen's presser with the replay. Made an interesting point that a lot of Barney's early production came on pass plays with progressions, and those just aren't working now. I think they've been cut back dramatically to make the OL's life easier, but Dylan also just doesn't trust it and is rushing things. Gave one example here, fake screen to Hunter. Holgorsen said this probably should have gone to Lindemeyer as drawn up (that DB is flat footed and Luke is running by him, but it is a CB on a TE so he's going to catch up). Second read is Barney coming across, and that looked to be coming open too. But Corocoran and Spindler are both getting beat, so he just flips it out to Hunter for no gain.
View attachment 22869

Later on the same drive, looks like Shallow cross and it's a pretty easy read to get this to Barney - a DB does trail him relatively close, but he stays open enough. But Corcoran is beat clean and both Guards lose so there's nowhere to step up. So Raiola saw Key one on one at the bottom of the screen and made a reasonable decision to throw it to him, but he was not expecting the ball. Not sure if Raiola expected an out route, tried throw it back shoulder, or if the DE got enough of his arm to affect the throw.
View attachment 22870

The improved sack numbers are more a function of limiting the dropback passing game and Raiola getting it out quicker than they are a function of improved pass blocking. Which, in fairness to the line, is kind of expected when you've lost so many Tackles to injury.

So, play calling is helping the O line. I like that. Before, defenders were pinning their ears back and drilling him constantly. Now, he's getting the ball out faster AND.....the increased success EJ is having, should slow down the pass rush. It's not like we have totally abandoned the long ball. I remember at least a couple in the last game. And, the QBs seem to have more time when we try it. If defenses continue to send a bunch of defenders after TJ, the short passes is where they need to live.

 

[Red Five]

Run a bubble screen once or twice, then bam hit Barney on this for a TD. You’re welcome Dana.

 

[Husker_In_WI]

Run a bubble screen once or twice, then bam hit Barney on this for a TD. You’re welcome Dana.

I mean that's pretty much what the first play I posted was. Not a bubble because we haven't run many of those (for which I am thankful), but it's the same TE/WR action that we've run on Hunter's big plays so you know USC is prepared for it. They just didn't bite that hard, and Raiola didn't pull the trigger to Lindenmeyer.

We also run this a lot, and I think the out and up to Barney is the only option we haven't thrown:

 

[Husker_In_WI]

I haven't been able to go back and watch enough to know for sure. But it seems like there is a significant number of times that the pressure is coming around the outside of the tackles. However, there is a decent pocket to step up into but Dylan often doesn't do that. It's almost like he's getting too deep on his drops and dropping out of the pocket.

The middle of the pocket is worse than those screenshots make it look on those particular plays, but there are definitely times he just stays deep and the edge guys run right into him. And frankly he's been hit enough that I can't blame him too much for being scared to step up - but movement in the pocket could definitely help the OL out.