turning offense around

[abw0004 10,791]

Another former Auburn player with his opinion:

 

 

[Linayus 676]

Probably the only thing I've liked this year about our offense is the production we've gotten from our WR group. Stidham has been less than stellar, our o-line has been pedestrian at its best, and our RBs haven't done much on their own to really give anyone confidence in our rushing attack. And that's ignoring our questionable playcalling. lol

But the main focus should 100% be on the offensive line. You get them playing 25% better than they are now and you'll see our entire offense improve by 50%. Stidham can stay in the pocket a little longer. RBs could find lanes to run through. We can stop playing in that horrible 3rd and long offense we've been stuck in.

[tigeraddikt 1,924]

2 minutes ago, Linayus said:

Probably the only thing I've liked this year about our offense is the production we've gotten from our WR group. Stidham has been less than stellar, our o-line has been pedestrian at its best, and our RBs haven't done much on their own to really give anyone confidence in our rushing attack. And that's ignoring our questionable playcalling. lol

But the main focus should 100% be on the offensive line. You get them playing 25% better than they are now and you'll see our entire offense improve by 50%. Stidham can stay in the pocket a little longer. RBs could find lanes to run through. We can stop playing in that horrible 3rd and long offense we've been stuck in.

Good post.

[AuburnEagle79 2,300]

Improve the line. It works 60% of the time, every time. 

 

[Linayus 676]

3 minutes ago, tigeraddikt said:

Good post.

Fairly obvious post too. lol Until we figure something out, defenses we face will rush 5-6 guys and blow up every play we call. 

[Zeek 17,013]

12 minutes ago, Linayus said:

Probably the only thing I've liked this year about our offense is the production we've gotten from our WR group. Stidham has been less than stellar, our o-line has been pedestrian at its best, and our RBs haven't done much on their own to really give anyone confidence in our rushing attack. And that's ignoring our questionable playcalling. lol

But the main focus should 100% be on the offensive line. You get them playing 25% better than they are now and you'll see our entire offense improve by 50%. Stidham can stay in the pocket a little longer. RBs could find lanes to run through. We can stop playing in that horrible 3rd and long offense we've been stuck in.

I don't have much to add to this at all. Really I'd just like to affirm that the RBs we have could really show out if they had more help at the LOS; all of them are shifty enough in that second level to make something happen and most of them aren't sideways runners.

[Linayus 676]

7 minutes ago, Zeek said:

I don't have much to add to this at all. Really I'd just like to affirm that the RBs we have could really show out if they had more help at the LOS; all of them are shifty enough in that second level to make something happen and most of them aren't sideways runners.

I really think they can. If you can open a hole for Kam or Worm, those guys are into the second level in a hurry! Make the LB miss (more for Worm than Kam) and you could see some 20+ yard plays consistently. Whitlow might just run over a LB but even that style can get us 5-10 yards pretty regularly.

[Zeek 17,013]

7 minutes ago, Linayus said:

I really think they can. If you can open a hole for Kam or Worm, those guys are into the second level in a hurry! Make the LB miss (more for Worm than Kam) and you could see some 20+ yard plays consistently. Whitlow might just run over a LB but even that style can get us 5-10 yards pretty regularly.

Boobee's got a little wiggle to him at times! He's probably a more downhill guy because he's so focused on being North and South (which was apparently his biggest area in need of improvement going into Spring). Honestly, I like all of our guys including Asa, Malik, KMart, Boobee, Worm, Joiner, and even Cox as a receiver out of the backfield can all make great plays.

[jared52 4,358]

50 minutes ago, Linayus said:

Probably the only thing I've liked this year about our offense is the production we've gotten from our WR group. Stidham has been less than stellar, our o-line has been pedestrian at its best, and our RBs haven't done much on their own to really give anyone confidence in our rushing attack. And that's ignoring our questionable playcalling. lol

But the main focus should 100% be on the offensive line. You get them playing 25% better than they are now and you'll see our entire offense improve by 50%. Stidham can stay in the pocket a little longer. RBs could find lanes to run through. We can stop playing in that horrible 3rd and long offense we've been stuck in. 

I disagree on the play calling. I think they have mostly been doing what they can with the performance of the OL in games.

[chimes 442]

1 hour ago, Linayus said:

Probably the only thing I've liked this year about our offense is the production we've gotten from our WR group. Stidham has been less than stellar, our o-line has been pedestrian at its best, and our RBs haven't done much on their own to really give anyone confidence in our rushing attack. And that's ignoring our questionable playcalling. lol

But the main focus should 100% be on the offensive line. You get them playing 25% better than they are now and you'll see our entire offense improve by 50%. Stidham can stay in the pocket a little longer. RBs could find lanes to run through. We can stop playing in that horrible 3rd and long offense we've been stuck in.

Great post

[Linayus 676]

11 minutes ago, jared52 said:

I disagree on the play calling. I think they have mostly been doing what they can with the performance of the OL in games.

Still fairly predictable - especially in our HUNH.

[gr82be 15,265]

32 minutes ago, Linayus said:

Still fairly predictable - especially in our HUNH.

You mean our HUH(?) offense? At least that's what I think after some of the plays. 

[keesler 6,039]

43 minutes ago, jared52 said:

I disagree on the play calling. I think they have mostly been doing what they can with the performance of the OL in games.

I agree somewhat - they play calling is limited.  But they can still not tip their hand with the personnel groupings.  Everyone and their Aunt Sally can see what the offense is going to run based on who's on the field. 

Chip will have to shake things up a bit vs MSU, the cowbells are going to be rough - the communication from sideline to field will be more difficult than anything Stid has seen out of the comforts of home at JHS.

[Zeek 17,013]

3 minutes ago, keesler said:

I agree somewhat - they play calling is limited.  But they can still not tip their hand with the personnel groupings.  Everyone and their Aunt Sally can see what the offense is going to run based on who's on the field. 

Chip will have to shake things up a bit vs MSU, the cowbells are going to be rough - the communication from sideline to field will be more difficult than anything Stid has seen out of the comforts of home at JHS.

Agreed with this. We can't keep pigeonholing players it makes it all too predictable. Have to throw intermediate routes. I think against Washington is when we were running slants, crossing routes, and an actual route tree. Not sure where all of that went.

[gr82be 15,265]

The O line at some point has to just say among themselves they've had enough of getting beat. Grimes can't have forgotten how to coach. At what point do these guys look at the guy across from them and make up their mind that I'm going to beat you. Not every time but for goodness sake at least more often than not. Do they just not have a mean streak in them? We've had meaner QBs. I want to change the recruiting ranking for linemen from stars to scars. The more scars the more I want them (not counting knee surgeries). 

[jared52 4,358]

Just now, Linayus said:

Still fairly predictable - especially in our HUNH.

They don't do HUNH because defenses have adjusted to it. It's dead in the water, which is a big problem for Gus because he isn't wearing down defenses and padding stats at the end of the game. He's also not running enough plays to build up what was a staple of his offense, misdirection, which also isn't working because defenses are faster (and his tells are too telling).

Basically, his offense hasn't evolved with the rest of the nation.

[keesler 6,039]

22 minutes ago, jared52 said:

They don't do HUNH because defenses have adjusted to it. It's dead in the water, which is a big problem for Gus because he isn't wearing down defenses and padding stats at the end of the game. He's also not running enough plays to build up what was a staple of his offense, misdirection, which also isn't working because defenses are faster (and his tells are too telling).

Basically, his offense hasn't evolved with the rest of the nation.

  Love this post!

Gus' bread 'n butter was HUNH/Fast Tempo/misdirection/motion/hide the ball, etc. because he could do that with less talented players and wear down a defense.  He now has talented players, he recruited them, but defenses have adjusted, evolved, more importantly they've recruited to stop all that "smoke 'n mirrors" and now Gus can't for the life of him step outside his own skin and admit his system just won't work.  To survive you have to evolve, adjust, move forward, adapt and continue to learn.

[Auctoritas 2,988]

2 hours ago, Linayus said:

Probably the only thing I've liked this year about our offense is the production we've gotten from our WR group. Stidham has been less than stellar, our o-line has been pedestrian at its best, and our RBs haven't done much on their own to really give anyone confidence in our rushing attack. And that's ignoring our questionable playcalling. lol

But the main focus should 100% be on the offensive line. You get them playing 25% better than they are now and you'll see our entire offense improve by 50%. Stidham can stay in the pocket a little longer. RBs could find lanes to run through. We can stop playing in that horrible 3rd and long offense we've been stuck in.

I like how you said "pedestrian" rather than "getting walked all over." Nice touch.

[wcware 1,365]

I really think we need to just play field position and try to control the clock as much as we can. I hated saying that. Maybe our defense can keep us around until the end and have a shot at it. 3 and outs will get us beat fast tomorrow.

[AUsince72 11,084]

3 hours ago, Linayus said:

Fairly obvious post too. lol Until we figure something out, defenses we face will rush 5-6 guys and blow up every play we call. 

Right now, they only have to rush 3-4 and they're blowing up plays....

[AUsince72 11,084]

2 hours ago, jared52 said:

I disagree on the play calling. I think they have mostly been doing what they can with the performance of the OL in games.

Except for adding quick routes (8-10 yd slants as opposed to behind the LOS screens)....and try pitches and running outside tackle instead of always into the LOS...  That is where some play calling might help.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

I agree with Cole with almost everything but this. He said he feels like we can still run on Miss. State. Heck, we couldn't run on Southern Miss and they can't stop anybody.

[Deemer 47 74]

5 hours ago, Linayus said:

Still fairly predictable - especially in our HUNH.

Agreed. OL will not improve enough this season to help. They were set back from prior coach that dummy hired. HC is the biggest issue w this team. It has been and will continue to be for the next few years. Not sure coaches really respect Malzahn. His supposed genius certainly doesn't scare other coaches. Hope I'm wrong. 

[tigerbrotha12 2,362]

13 hours ago, Linayus said:

Fairly obvious post too. lol Until we figure something out, defenses we face will rush 5-6 guys and blow up every play we call. 

Slant

[wildlife alumni 317]

As long as they can not run the ball or connect on short passes the defense is going to pin their ears back and put an priority on rushing the QB. They cannot even keep the defense honest at the moment. They can bring extra rushers and play personnel that can get to the QB with out much fear of getting beat by the run or quick passing game. Good day to be a D coordinator. Devote to a quick passing game like these 5 wide schools or run the ball. Either way, they have to set up something.