Heard OC TF last night

[BamaFanOnBeach 4]

I was at the L'arche football preview last night with Tony Franklin, first time I have gotten to hear him speak. He was a very likable guy, joking around a lot as he spoke. I think with his personality he will be a very good recruiter. He also talked about the "spread" offense and that he wasn't really sure what a "spread" offense was! He talked about how Texas Tech spread offense threw the ball 90% of the time, but West Virginia's spread offense ran the ball most of the time. He said his game plan (run vs pass) will change week to week depending on the opponent and his own player status/capability. He said he was committed to doing whatever it took to find a way (make a gameplan) that would win that week. He sounded like he respected CAB and that he had left a well coached offensive team for him to take over. He said he doesn't believe in excuses. He also talked about the QB situation a little, saying that he had 2 very good QB's and he planned on using them both. He said he felt like he could win a championship with either one. He said he doesn't know why people don't think you can use two QB's, when most teams use multiple running backs and wide recievers. He said if he had 3 equally talented QB's he'd use all three. All in all, I think the Auburn offense is in pretty good hands.

Nick Saban was also there and he said something I really liked: That Auburn didn't have to be bad for Bama to be good. He said he wanted Auburn to be a good team, that he wanted the Iron Bowl to once again be the biggest rivalry game in the nation - that he didn't like the Iron Bowl being second to any other rivalry. I agree 100%.

All in all it was an enjoyable evening.

[Defense(clap clap) 4]

That's good to hear from Saban. I've always secretly wanted bama to be good just so when we win, we can brag that much more.

Anyway, as for Franklin talking about the spread, everything I read he says the spread is just "spreading" the ball to lots of different guys, not necessarily spreading the offense from sideline to sideline. That's part of it, but he talks more in terms of getting the ball to lots of players.

Here's some good quotes from an email I got yesterday about one of his speaking engagements a couple days ago:

One other thing he mentioned during this segment I was not aware of but am sure the spread coaches on this board who have taken his "classes" are aware of ... and that's his use of the "no call" or "no play" call several times during a game. He was explaining to a questioner about how he signals in plays and why his OL keeps looking over to the sidelines. He explained the approach and the use of multiple players or personnel on the sideline signaling in plays and formations but only one of them being "hot" or the real play caller. But, he said, sometimes we signal in what we call a "no play" and you'll notice that the OL will line up and, although you may not hear it or recognize it from the stands, the QB will bark out the signals but the ball will not be snapped. This is not meant to draw the opponent off sides -- but after barking 3-4 signals or "hut huts", everybody will stand up and look at the sideline again for the "real" play call...after he has observed how the defense is lined up when they "thought" a play was about to be run. They then signal a play quickly against that defensive formation. The DC now has two choices -- (1) stay in the formation he has already given up, or, (2) change it in about 2 seconds (without substitution) by getting in his signals as quickly as possible.

Franklin indicated that that might work or it might not (defensively) but the advantage is clearly his. If just "one player on defense" doesn't get the signal or understand it or adjust correctly in about one second, the play CAN go for HUGE yardage or even a TD. He said it doesn't always work but when it does (the "no call" or "no play") the DC will NEVER make another split second adjustment during the game. He said in his experience, once burned, the DC has never changed his defense after the "no play" call any any time during the game. Never.

He concluded that explanation by saying that if we run 80-85 plays a game, he will call the "no play" about 20 times. All it has to do is work once...and he has won a battle against the DC he needs to win...and, Hell, it might even result in a TD. If it works more than once, get out your slide rules because the yardage and the points will need to be added up quickly.

- He cautioned the audience (and our fan base) not to expect this much ballyhooed offense to win every battle, score every series, or to score a record number of points. It just doesn't work that way. There will be times, he said, especially early in games where we struggle and a lot of plays just don't work. That's why we have defense and a kicking game. But don't be surprised to see some of the same stuff that might not work early work extremely well in the 2nd half, and, sometimes, explode on our opponent as the game wears on. He repeated the much used phrase of "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." and how much the no huddle, fast play calling and execution, and making the defense, especially the BIG lineman, run from sideline to sideline impacts a defense during a game. He noted that, looking out at the audience, that he saw many men with crooked or broken noses, indicating to him that several obviously knew what it meant to get into a fight. He reminded those of us that have how quickly you get fatigued in an all out physical battle combined with emotion and adrenalin pumping -- most grown men expend all their energy in a full out battle in 90 seconds or less. He also asserted that once you had expended all your energy with maybe 7-8 full round house, knock out punches, if your opponent was still standing, he was gonna' whip your ass! It takes longer than 90 seconds in a football game but if Auburn is still standing in the 2nd half and our opponent has thrown their best punches for 90 - 120 minutes, we're gonna' whip their ass.

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I asked him a question from the floor before he concluded. I referenced his "Fatigue makes cowards of us all" mantra and the 80-90 plays a game thing and asked, "But, coach, does that also mean we'll have to play more offensive linemen since they'll have to play more plays as well?" He replied, "I haven't had to do it yet...at UK or Troy. There are probably a couple of reasons for that. Number 1, even though they'll play more plays they won't have to run or expend as much energy as the defensive linemen or any of the defensive players, for that matter. We know where the play is going and the defense doesn't; they'll have to chase the QB first, then the RB or the WR until the play is over. Secondly, OL line coaches are a strange breed -- sort of like DCs -- they are just not comfortable with mixing and matching or interchanging OL. You ever tried changing your golf grip? Not very comfortable is it? A starting OL sort of has a feel or a fit among themselves -- they play as a unit. Most OL coaches see that and have a "feel" for it, too, and changing OL in and out is sort of like changing a golf grip for them -- they just don't like it. With that being said, I'm sure we'll have to look at it and Hugh will make that call but the answer really is, I just have never had to do that because of fatigue in the OL due to the number of plays we've run."

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Someone asked him about his perception/evaluation of his incoming WR class; he named them all and said they each brought something different to the table (size, speed,etc.) and indicated some would have to play -- referenced the fact that in this offense, with the number of plays that he would run per game, he'd need 3 deep at each WR position and the 3rd WR would play 15-20 snaps a game, the first two WRs would likely get 30-35 snaps a game.

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1. I asked him what he found most exciting about the team after watching and coaching them for the bowl game and thru Spring Practice and he instantly said, The offensive line. I've never been around an OL this good and I can't wait to watch it with this system. That excites me."

2. I asked him if we would, indeed, sign two (2) QBs this year (2009 class) and he surprised me a little bit by saying, "Not necessarily. We're going to wait until July and get through the camps. If a GREAT ONE wants to sign with us, we'll take him; otherwise, I'm good with what we have."

I asked, "You're good with what we have and with what's coming?????" He said, "Yep."

I asked about Todd's shoulder again (he referenced it briefly during his talk and I thought I might be able to get more detail off line but I didn't) -- he replied, "I just don't know and won't know until I see him under fire this Fall. I will tell you when his shoulder is good, he's damn good. When it's not good, neither is he."

[lca408 380]

Exciting Stuff for sure! That really puts me in a good mood for the rest of the day.

I really like what he said about the OL. I knew we had a good one, I'm not sure its the best we've had since Tuberville has been here, but its going to be much better than the last two we've had in 06 and 07. Funny thing is, with a returning OL and all of our returning RBs, Al Borges might have had a much better setup for this year. He might have been more successful with the components for a pro style O.

But, I'm very happy to have Coach Franklin on board. I hope we can lean on our OL and running game in the first few games until the passing game warms up, and then unleash the beast on Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and Bammer.

Here's to a hopefully exciting and fun 2008!

WDE!

Ryan

[AUHonors 0]

I was hoping Franklin would find a way to use our suddenly very deep receiving corps to it's potential. I found myself at our spring scrimmages wondering how all these talented receivers would get a chance to play. If our third string guys are out there for 20-25 snaps a game, my questions appear answered! That is very impressive.

I will be at every single one of our football games this fall and I will be watching very closely to see how Franklin exploits specific weaknesses in the defense. It should be very entertaining!

[BamaFanOnBeach 4]

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that CTF said he would run a no huddle offense. He said he hasn't had a huddle in 6 years and that if CTT wanted to huddle before a play he would have to call it .... and coach it! He said his offense was going to be very quick between plays, faster than anything AU has ever done between plays. It will very interesting to see how successful this can be in the SEC....

[TigerOne 1,222]

but what will the bammer excuses be then? He knows Auburn will be good. He also knows that in order for the rivalry to be good in his mind, means winning, which if he doesn't, he will be at Penn St. sooner than later.

Genius!

[lca408 380]

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that CTF said he would run a no huddle offense. He said he hasn't had a huddle in 6 years and that if CTT wanted to huddle before a play he would have to call it .... and coach it! He said his offense was going to be very quick between plays, faster than anything AU has ever done between plays. It will very interesting to see how successful this can be in the SEC....

I think that's probably the best thing about this offense: the lack of delay in between plays. Its better than just running a no huddle. When you can be back up to the line of scrimmage ready to run a play in about 20 seconds or less, eventually the defense will get flustered, no matter how good it is. I don't care if we still run 70% of the time, upping the tempo will be a great advantage on offense - IF our guys can perfect it.

Ryan

[Hoopie 6]

I would rather CTF not explain stuff like the "no play" call. Make the opposing DC's figger it out on their own. The opposing DC can have his defense preset to shift if we have a "no call" play occur. Of course after we see the Defense automatically shift during a no call, then on the next play, we could signal a play in to run against the original defense.....it never ends!

[Hoopie 6]

Oh.... and forgot to mention.. I missed CTF when he spoke at the NW GA. AU club. I appreciate the detailed reports regarding his talks

[Defense(clap clap) 4]

I would rather CTF not explain stuff like the "no play" call. Make the opposing DC's figger it out on their own. The opposing DC can have his defense preset to shift if we have a "no call" play occur. Of course after we see the Defense automatically shift during a no call, then on the next play, we could signal a play in to run against the original defense.....it never ends!

Over 400 high schools use this offense, so I would assume the "no play" call isn't a secret.

[sogaaufan 27]

I would rather CTF not explain stuff like the "no play" call. Make the opposing DC's figger it out on their own. The opposing DC can have his defense preset to shift if we have a "no call" play occur. Of course after we see the Defense automatically shift during a no call, then on the next play, we could signal a play in to run against the original defense.....it never ends!

Over 400 high schools use this offense, so I would assume the "no play" call isn't a secret.

The way the "no play" has been explained to me, is that they will sometimes just runup to the line, get set, and run a play (without having a play called). The purpose isn't necessarily to gain any yards, but to make the defense have to get set immediately after the previous play is over. The defense never knows when the ball is likely to be snapped so they have to remain in their stance sometimes for 25 full seconds waiting on the ball to be snapped. This is apparently murder on defensive linemen who play in a three point stance. This helps with CTF's strategy of gassing the defense so they are sucking wind in the second half. It also severely limits the amount of substitution the defense can do because they have no idea when the snap will occur. Its pretty brilliant if you think about it. The offense doesn't have to sit there locked up because they pretty well know when the ball will be snapped, but the defense has no idea if the snap will come after one second or twenty-five seconds. I would imagine the opposition will have to run a lot more base coverage than they would like against this offense.

[The Prowler 1]

Oh HELL YEAH!!!!! Coach Franklinstein....I freakin' LOVE IT. By the way, if the DL are in their stances for more than 20 FULL seconds they won't be able to Fire off the ball as hard towards the 2nd half. It will be Murder on their legs and arms while the Lactic Acid builds up....especially the DTs.

[IslandTiger 0]

Oh HELL YEAH!!!!! Coach Franklinstein....I freakin' LOVE IT. By the way, if the DL are in their stances for more than 20 FULL seconds they won't be able to Fire off the ball as hard towards the 2nd half. It will be Murder on their legs and arms while the Lactic Acid builds up....especially the DTs.

Please keep in mind that it was Lactic Acid build up, aka "Lactic Acidosis" that killed Pvt. Santiago...and that his death while tragic, probably saved lives. With that being said it should be understood that the existence of Lactic Acid while grotesque and incomprehensible to you will win games(Primarily through cramping and not death mind you...)

Here's to a healthy build up of Lactic Acid and any W's earned on its behalf...

[Hoopie 6]

Oh HELL YEAH!!!!! Coach Franklinstein....I freakin' LOVE IT. By the way, if the DL are in their stances for more than 20 FULL seconds they won't be able to Fire off the ball as hard towards the 2nd half. It will be Murder on their legs and arms while the Lactic Acid builds up....especially the DTs.

Please keep in mind that it was Lactic Acid build up, aka "Lactic Acidosis" that killed Pvt. Santiago...and that his death while tragic, probably saved lives. With that being said it should be understood that the existence of Lactic Acid while grotesque and incomprehensible to you will win games(Primarily through cramping and not death mind you...)

Here's to a healthy build up of Lactic Acid and any W's earned on its behalf...

I WANT THE TRUTH!!! ....WHY?....BECAUSE BAMMERS CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH