Spotlight on Shifts and Motions

[StatTiger 3,188]

The recent hiring of Al Borges as an offensive analyst was a great move on Gus Malzahn's part. The wealth of experience Borges possesses at the collegiate level can only help Chip Lindsey evolve as a coordinator. Borges should be an immediate help in breaking down opposing defenses to game plan for. His ability and experience in scripting plays could be extremely vital in Auburn's offensive game plans this upcoming season. Under Borges, the Auburn offense was at it's best during his scripted plays. With his experience in the West Coach offense, Borges could add some new wrinkles to the passing game in 2017. Finally, I see Borges helping the development of the Auburn quarterbacks, especially in the mental phase of the game. One of the aspects of his offense during 2004 and 2005 was the use of motion and shifts. We have seen very little shifts and motion the past two seasons, another reason why the offense became too predictable. Shifting often helps on creating mismatches and motion by the receivers often exposes the opposing coverage. By exposing the coverage, the quarterback has a better working knowledge of the opposing defense, which aids in determining where to throw the football.

The Play...



On this play the Auburn offense comes out in a tight formation on first down. This is normally a strong indicator of a pending run play. Before the snap, Kam Martin shifts from a slot position to the backfield. At the snap, Jarrett Stidham will fake the "speed sweep" with Ryan Davis, who sweeps to the boundary side. Auburn's Mike Horton (RG) pulls to his left, which is normally an indicator of a run play. The defense is forced to play the run option first as Kam Martin runs a wheel route out of the backfield.

Nate Craig-Myers runs a slant route, which is geared towards being a "rub" route to shield off the LB attempting to cover Martin coming out of the backfield. With Martin's speed, Nate Craig-Myers needs only to slow down the LB for a split-second to create separation for Kam Martin. Stidham initially looks off his primary target (Martin) and makes the deep pass down the sideline to Martin. The pass is executed well but Martin is unable to make the reception. The play would have resulted in at least 33-yards.

During the first half of the A-Day Game, 53.8% of the snaps taken by Jarrett Stidham involved a shift or motion. Auburn shifted or motioned on only 20.8% of the snaps taken by Willis and Barrett at quarterback. If Auburn motions or shifts close to 50% of the time this upcoming season, it will make for a more explosive offense. Hopefully Al Borges will help in making this happen in 2017.

[jAUSon 2,836]

agree.

[Timeslider 6 269]

Good stuff, i have been wondering why the departure from the shifts and motions over the past couple of years? This does seem to aide the QB in the options it gives him, meaning this can really help Stidham with his experience in reading defenses.

[kd4au 1,145]

Been wondering the same thing,when Gus got here in 09 there was a lot of motion and shifting but not as much in the last few years.Was it because of Rhett?

[G8orH8or 61]

Thanks Stat! Always good analysis 

[StatTiger 3,188]

57 minutes ago, kd4au said:

Been wondering the same thing,when Gus got here in 09 there was a lot of motion and shifting but not as much in the last few years.Was it because of Rhett?

I think 2010, 2013 and 2014, it became more about tempo and the combination of a QB who could run and pass. The emphasis on offense became a power running game, combined with tempo. It was no longer about creating space and mismatches on the field by formation, shifts and motions. Though it worked, it made Gus get away from what was successful before with a more pocket oriented passer.

[AUBwins 10,064]

1 hour ago, StatTiger said:

I think 2010, 2013 and 2014, it became more about tempo and the combination of a QB who could run and pass. The emphasis on offense became a power running game, combined with tempo. It was no longer about creating space and mismatches on the field by formation, shifts and motions. Though it worked, it made Gus get away from what was successful before with a more pocket oriented passer.

Agree completely

[ToomersStreet 795]

4 hours ago, StatTiger said:

I think 2010, 2013 and 2014, it became more about tempo and the combination of a QB who could run and pass. The emphasis on offense became a power running game, combined with tempo. It was no longer about creating space and mismatches on the field by formation, shifts and motions. Though it worked, it made Gus get away from what was successful before with a more pocket oriented passer.

I know the Sunday after the Jacksonville State game in the film room is when Gus and Rhett realized just how much trouble they were in with their current QB's.  Gus runs a very vanilla passing game and an FCS school easily figured out the scheme locked down  the receivers and dared Jeremy to run it knowing that he couldn't.  Gus made some sort of comment in the film room about how He/the team needed a dual threat guy to keep the defense guessing pass or run and they couldn't do that with the QB's he had recruited.  

[ToomersStreet 795]

At this point I think Gus should hire @StatTiger as an analyst.

[imaolgatiger 523]

Good stuff, Stat! I don't see how anyone can think that the Borges hire isn't a homerun. Al was able to use all of our weapons in 2004 and 2005. This should be a fun offense to watch.

[Gowebb11 9,309]

CCL's innovation, coupled with the wisdom and experience of Borges should create a very formidable offense. And we have the talent at all positions to exploit the whole playbook. Coach Steele's defense should be rock solid again and we have the best kicker in college football. Can't wait for kickoff! WDE

[AUld fAUx@ 2,584]

1 hour ago, ToomersStreet said:

At this point I think Gus should hire @StatTiger as an analyst.

as if AU could afford such a rock star, when they can get him here for free?

[alexava 6,973]

4 hours ago, ToomersStreet said:

I know the Sunday after the Jacksonville State game in the film room is when Gus and Rhett realized just how much trouble they were in with their current QB's.  Gus runs a very vanilla passing game and an FCS school easily figured out the scheme locked down  the receivers and dared Jeremy to run it knowing that he couldn't.  Gus made some sort of comment in the film room about how He/the team needed a dual threat guy to keep the defense guessing pass or run and they couldn't do that with the QB's he had recruited.  

Link?

[bigbird 60,368]

[corchjay 5,311]

I think the lack of motion and shifts last year had to do with youth at the skill positions.  WR and RB.  

[ToomersStreet 795]

13 hours ago, alexava said:

Link?

No link. I was told that by somebody that was in the film room that day.

[au_bsci_04 407]

At that time, I don't disagree. Now seemingly, with the hire of CCL, we are less vanilla with the passing schemes and therefore able to utilize a pocket passer in combination with power run and shifts/motions. 

Edited April 25, 2017 by au_bsci_04

[McLoofus 35,182]

2 hours ago, ToomersStreet said:

No link. I was told that by somebody that was in the film room that day.

If you look at how things played out the last 2 seasons, it makes sense. It would explain John Franklin. It would explain that crap against Clemson last year. It explains a lot. The way Gus Malzahn refused to gameplan around Sean White is one of the worst and most gutless coaching strategies I've ever witnessed. No, I'm not going to let it go just yet. Yes, he's done a lot of things very well and I've given him credit where due. 

[meh130 1,043]

What I like about this play is it puts three receivers to one side of the field (the boundary), after initially showing a 2 WR look which shifted to a 1 WR look. That is the shift which will expose the defensive coverage.

The play action is designed to pull boundary side coverage up towards the line of scrimmage. The slant route is designed to pull boundary side coverage towards the field side. The result is there are no defenders covering the flat. I am not sure how much of a real option the slant is. Ryan Davis on the fake sweep becomes the outlet receiver, and is not covered at all.

A possible variation of this play would be for the WR to run a go route to try to pull the CB deep. That would expose the wheel route to the LB, but the wheel route would open up the third receiver.

[ToomersStreet 795]

1 hour ago, McLoofus said:

If you look at how things played out the last 2 seasons, it makes sense. It would explain John Franklin. It would explain that crap against Clemson last year. It explains a lot. The way Gus Malzahn refused to gameplan around Sean White is one of the worst and most gutless coaching strategies I've ever witnessed. No, I'm not going to let it go just yet. Yes, he's done a lot of things very well and I've given him credit where due. 

I was excited about the Gus hire.  Not my number one choice but I did give him all the credit for 2010.  I figured if he could win a NC as just a coordinator what can he accomplish as a HC?  My biggest problem is he has gotten away from the play calling that got him the Auburn OC job and the Auburn HC job.  Everyone has a different reason as to why he has quit running tempo but Gus never actually gave a reason why, he has just stated the need to get back to running tempo.  Then is told to turn the offense over to Rhett and we are magically running tempo again.  Then there is the whole debate that Malzahns offense works best with a dual threat QB.  Now as I posted above, Gus supposedly came to that realization on his own after the JSU game.  However, that asks the question, before 2015 Gus didn't know he needed a DT QB?  The first three high school QB's he recruited as Auburn HC were all pro style guys.  So apparently he didn't know his own system?  Yes he has corrected this with the last two recruiting classes, and yes has done a good job.  I just don't know.  I was 110% behind Gus until 2015.  Gus looked confused, JF3 was a desperation recruit, a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.  Gus responded with the Clemson offense....... and a reasonable explanation has still never been provided by our coach behind that offense.  I have said it before ill say it again, I think Gus bit off more than he can chew.  He probably would have had these same growing pains if he had stayed at Arky St. but that is why Sun Belt programs exist, to go and learn to coach before going to the top programs.  Everyone on this board agrees that Gus is a HC in training.  Question is do you approach this as a glass half empty or a glass half full.  I am sorry, but I haven't enjoyed the last 2 1/2 years of football, I am half empty.  Maybe Gus's growing pains are over.  He and Rhett were FINALLY forced apart.  Gorgeous Borges is back with the team.  The D is respectable and the private QB coaching ban has been lifted (although I suspect influential boosters had more to do with that than CL).  2017 Sink or Swim.  But after Stat Tigers analysis here, I am more optimistic for the season.  I will open a can of worms with this, Stidham, like Cam, Marshal, Todd, and other Gus QB's that have been successful, were not recruited and developed by Gus  out of high school but is a transfer who was coached by someone else at some point at the college level.  In a year or two when Stidham departs, I will be very curious to see how Barrett, Malik, next high school QB develop.  

Edited April 25, 2017 by ToomersStreet

[oracle79 3,569]

6 minutes ago, ToomersStreet said:

In a year or two when Stidham departs, I will be very curious to see how Barrett, Malik, nest high school QB develop.

Yep.  And that will truly tell the tale of GM's tenure or lack thereof at Auburn.

[McLoofus 35,182]

Responding to @ToomersStreet's post, that really is my question: does Gus genuinely get behind these philosophical changes and- if they work, which of course is the actual first question- embrace them going forward? In the event that another OC comes in and successfully implements some of his own ideas, can Gus really be comfortable with that? Can he be the proverbial CEO? 

I don't think his growing pains are over, not by a long shot. And that I'm genuinely okay with. I'm okay with a coach making an in-game mistake when presented with a unique situation, as long as he learns from it. You're right, we knew that when we hired him. I bet nick saban learned a little bit about long distance field goal attempts in November 2013. There's only one way to get experience. What I can't stomach are personality traits that run counter to success. Those aren't often fixed in a grown person. And what I'm waiting to see is where Gus's shortcomings as Auburn's head coach fall on that spectrum. I think he's done everything right- whether of his own volition or not- this offseason. I just hope he's bought in, he sees the plan clearly and he's got the sack to see it through. 

[ToomersStreet 795]

13 minutes ago, McLoofus said:

 that really is my question: does Gus genuinely get behind these philosophical changes and- if they work, which of course is the actual first question- embrace them going forward?

 What I can't stomach are personality traits that run counter to success. Those aren't often fixed in a grown person

That is the million dollar question isn't it?  Let's be honest, Rhett didn't leave on his own.  UCONN is a big step down.  Just like Roof didn't voluntarily leave for Central Florida.  I don't approve of the meddling.  If Gus fails, let him fail his way.  Don't force him to make staff changes he doesn't want. Was the QB Guru ban really lifted by CL?  Is Jay Jacobs now barking orders at Gus to save both their jobs?  Are these drastic changes coming about because Gus knows he needs to try something different or are they being forced on him?  If parting ways with Rhett turns out to be a big positive will Gus actually see it that way or will he remain resentful for being forced to get rid of his protégé? 

Magic eight ball answer is............... Ask again later! 

Edited April 25, 2017 by ToomersStreet

[doc4aday 1,887]

On ‎4‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 5:11 PM, imaolgatiger said:

Good stuff, Stat! I don't see how anyone can think that the Borges hire isn't a homerun. Al was able to use all of our weapons in 2004 and 2005. This should be a fun offense to watch.

 

[doc4aday 1,887]

Hiring Coach Al Borges was one of the best moves Gus has made and it will show huge dividends next season. I think our QBs will blossom under CAB & CCL of which opposing defensive coordinators fits.