Short Term i.e., Rest Of Season:
(1) 90% Shotgun Formation- we have been using more shotgun formation, and that number has to be 90% i.e., the vast majority of what we run. Our offense needs to look like 2004/2005 under Brock Berlin, where (for slightly different reasons) we were much more effective using shotgun. Brad is going to get seriously hurt running a pro-style offense out of an I-Formation based offense. Shotgun, let Brad see more of the field, spread out defenses, put Njoku in the slot and let him work the middle of the field with his size, and run quick hitting routes. This has to be our identity for the next five games.
(2) Deception- we can't Alabama-style beat teams straight up in the trenches, so we are going to need a little smoke and mirrors tactics to throw off defensive pressure. This comes in the form of Running Back Screens, some RPO plays (which we have already seen), and reverses. I DON'T want to be a "gimmicky" offense, but I have no doubt that we have to implement some bona fide deception into this offense right now to throw off defensive players who are absolutely teeing off on our offensive linemen.
(3) Vertical Fades- ONE step Go/Fade Routes. If Kaaya has 1.5 second to throw, then one step and throw it 20-30 yards on a go/fade route to a wide receiver he sees PRE-SNAP one-on-one. This will help keep the defense VERTICALLY STRETCHED and force safeties and corners to play a little more off the line/box. We have to keep the defense honest throwing deep, even if Kaaya has practically no time to drop 5-7 steps and go through deep progressions down the field.
Long Term i.e., Year 2 And Year 3:
(1) High School Recruiting- Obviously; goes without saying. Specifically, I say we need:
2017 Class, 3-5 4/5 star offensive linemen for impact and 1-3 3 star offensive linemen as backup
2018 Class, 3-5 4/5 star offensive linemen for impact and 1 star offensive linemen as backup
2019 Class, 1-3 4/5 star offensive linemen for impact and 1 star offensive linemen as backup
(2) JUCO/Transfer Recruiting- I think honeyiv and some others hit the nail on the head about getting one or even two JUCO transfers who can start RIGHT AWAY and have an upgraded impact on the offensive line. This will be critical in the off-season. We need help bad and now on the offensive line. Help can't wait. High school recruiting will eventually translate into long term depth and impact, but we need some real JUCOs coming in ASAP.
(3) Special Off-Season Program- I know we have off-season training and all this stuff, but we need some sort of SPECIAL Off-Season Program SPECIFICALLY for the Offensive Line. Whether it is a temporary additional offensive line assistant coach for development in the off-season, or a field trip somewhere where offensive linemen are given the best possible pointers, or whatever, we need a special, tailor made program in the off-season which will help expedite the process of developing offensive linemen.
Isidora was a MAJOR disappointment at Guard last night... He was beaten time and time and time again... No idea what was going on there. Trevor Darling- he isn't a Tackle. The footwork isn't there for him, and it clearly comes across as a situation where Darling has been asked to slide outside where he is totally vulnerable and subject to being exposed one-on-one on the outside. Playing Guard versus playing Tackle really is a whole different position in so many respects, and I think this season has evidenced that as much as anything I have seen the last decade... Richt's playcalling is still a work in progress, and I DO BELIEVE he can get the offense turned around, but we are in some serious SHIT right now with BASIC RUN BLOCKING and PASS PROTECTION... How the hell can Brad get into a rhythm when there is no running game to soften the defense and consistently gets 1.5 or less seconds to throw.
The next five games are going to be painful. There's no way to spin this man. We are going to have to ride this out and hope some players can continue to develop getting reps. But forget about the Coastal, forget about a sexy bowl game. We need reps, reps, reps for these young players, and the coaches need to do some player evaluation like we haven't seen in a long time.
(1) 90% Shotgun Formation- we have been using more shotgun formation, and that number has to be 90% i.e., the vast majority of what we run. Our offense needs to look like 2004/2005 under Brock Berlin, where (for slightly different reasons) we were much more effective using shotgun. Brad is going to get seriously hurt running a pro-style offense out of an I-Formation based offense. Shotgun, let Brad see more of the field, spread out defenses, put Njoku in the slot and let him work the middle of the field with his size, and run quick hitting routes. This has to be our identity for the next five games.
(2) Deception- we can't Alabama-style beat teams straight up in the trenches, so we are going to need a little smoke and mirrors tactics to throw off defensive pressure. This comes in the form of Running Back Screens, some RPO plays (which we have already seen), and reverses. I DON'T want to be a "gimmicky" offense, but I have no doubt that we have to implement some bona fide deception into this offense right now to throw off defensive players who are absolutely teeing off on our offensive linemen.
(3) Vertical Fades- ONE step Go/Fade Routes. If Kaaya has 1.5 second to throw, then one step and throw it 20-30 yards on a go/fade route to a wide receiver he sees PRE-SNAP one-on-one. This will help keep the defense VERTICALLY STRETCHED and force safeties and corners to play a little more off the line/box. We have to keep the defense honest throwing deep, even if Kaaya has practically no time to drop 5-7 steps and go through deep progressions down the field.
Long Term i.e., Year 2 And Year 3:
(1) High School Recruiting- Obviously; goes without saying. Specifically, I say we need:
2017 Class, 3-5 4/5 star offensive linemen for impact and 1-3 3 star offensive linemen as backup
2018 Class, 3-5 4/5 star offensive linemen for impact and 1 star offensive linemen as backup
2019 Class, 1-3 4/5 star offensive linemen for impact and 1 star offensive linemen as backup
(2) JUCO/Transfer Recruiting- I think honeyiv and some others hit the nail on the head about getting one or even two JUCO transfers who can start RIGHT AWAY and have an upgraded impact on the offensive line. This will be critical in the off-season. We need help bad and now on the offensive line. Help can't wait. High school recruiting will eventually translate into long term depth and impact, but we need some real JUCOs coming in ASAP.
(3) Special Off-Season Program- I know we have off-season training and all this stuff, but we need some sort of SPECIAL Off-Season Program SPECIFICALLY for the Offensive Line. Whether it is a temporary additional offensive line assistant coach for development in the off-season, or a field trip somewhere where offensive linemen are given the best possible pointers, or whatever, we need a special, tailor made program in the off-season which will help expedite the process of developing offensive linemen.
Isidora was a MAJOR disappointment at Guard last night... He was beaten time and time and time again... No idea what was going on there. Trevor Darling- he isn't a Tackle. The footwork isn't there for him, and it clearly comes across as a situation where Darling has been asked to slide outside where he is totally vulnerable and subject to being exposed one-on-one on the outside. Playing Guard versus playing Tackle really is a whole different position in so many respects, and I think this season has evidenced that as much as anything I have seen the last decade... Richt's playcalling is still a work in progress, and I DO BELIEVE he can get the offense turned around, but we are in some serious SHIT right now with BASIC RUN BLOCKING and PASS PROTECTION... How the hell can Brad get into a rhythm when there is no running game to soften the defense and consistently gets 1.5 or less seconds to throw.
The next five games are going to be painful. There's no way to spin this man. We are going to have to ride this out and hope some players can continue to develop getting reps. But forget about the Coastal, forget about a sexy bowl game. We need reps, reps, reps for these young players, and the coaches need to do some player evaluation like we haven't seen in a long time.
