Resident dumba$$ high school football coach checking in, here in the Open Forum, with a few thoughts on AU football.
Positives:
-The QB receiver dynamic is improving greatly, playcalling helps that, in game experience helps that, confidence (from winning) helps that. Stidham looks a lot more like the QB everyone expected him to be over the last few weeks. (partly bc Mizzou and MSU have Big12 like secondaries
-The big play element of the offense makes this team dynamic, BECAUSE the defense is playing so well. Even if you can't drive the ball for consistent periods of time, giving a high caliber defense a cushion and a point spread to protect makes you a dangerous team.
-The defense is clicking on all three levels. The defensive line is playing as well as anyone in the country. Anchored by man-beasts Narlob and DB 5, but the emergence of JH4 as a legit speed rusher and Coe as an all round functional hard ass has made this group special. Druss eats blockers like Gregg Smiff ate Sodexho chicken sammiches and lets the LBs run free
-The Lb's are sideline to sideline, make great reads, and don't miss tackles frequently. There is also solid depth with little drop off throughout the corps.
-The safeties are effective in both the run and the pass game. Trigga hasn't been out of position for any play of consequence thus far, that was a problem last season. SRob is holding the seam like a champ vs inside receivers and running the ally on outside runs as well as it can be done. Dinson and J Davis have both been solid at the nickel, not conceding anything to flexed tight ends nor quick slot receivers. They are attacking the screen game well in conjunction with the corners.
-The Corners have only really been tested one time (Clemson) but have played sound physical football all season, and when they do allow space they close it and separate the receiver from the ball in hurry. Dean looks almost too big to be out there at corner, he looks like a damned LB, but he runs and turns his hips like a legit player. Carlton Davis has added muscle this season and it shows, last season he was oft in position to make a play and fell victim to physical receiver play getting pushed away, hipped out, or out jumped.
-Motions and formations are becoming more creative and will create some blocking angles, misdirections, and obtuse route combinations that will put defenses in bad situations as the plays off of these motions evolve over the course of the season.
Concerns:
-While the big play aspect of the passing game has grown and improved, and the screen game has been efficient, the mid range passing game is still non existent. The 7-12 yard range which is vital to RPO concepts, as well as exploiting space between safeties and LBs will have to develop for this offense to continue to grow and not be stifled by better defenses.
-TE position, Canella nor Harris have provided dick thus far, and the ole "extra lineman" personnel is being employed. I hate it because while adding another blocker and expanding the gap total on the LOS it takes another eligible receiver out of the play and limits what the defense has to account for.
-The run game lacks any consistency. It relies on chunk yardage created when defenses are out of position or LBs over pursue the inside zone. The OL is getting little to no movement at the point of attack, and only BSmith (albeit with less frequency than last year) is getting to the second level with any frequency. The power and counter schemes seemed to have all but disappeared, and the application of personnel is confusing to say the least.
-Carlson-don't know why; be it mechanical, psychological, or anatomical, his phenomenal consistency that has carried him through his career is suddenly lacking.
-3rd downs, AU has been around 40%, primarily because they aren't converting the 3&3-4 range downs that CGM offenses of the past did with better efficiency in the run game. They have fared better on the 3&5+s, seemingly.
-QB in the pocket. Stid has done a much better job since Clemson, but he still gets happy feet and vacates the pocket while locking in on the nearest receiver. It cost AU a score this past weekend, and will continue to as the competition improves.
Speculating:
This incarnation of AU has an elite defense to lean on and improving offensive consistency. The line play is worrisome and could lead to a let down in a dog fight with a team that AU should otherwise handle (LSU, Arky, OM) the mid range passing game will need to improve to have a shot at Amen Corner. Logic leads me to believe the this team finishes 9-3 or 10-2; unanswered questions in regards to the OL and run game, make me wary of a let down or two and a very bitter unsatisfying 8-4 or 7-5 campaign.
Momentum is everything in football, though, and right now AU has a little. If it continues to build over the next few weeks, this squad could blow the up their perceived ceiling.
Positives:
-The QB receiver dynamic is improving greatly, playcalling helps that, in game experience helps that, confidence (from winning) helps that. Stidham looks a lot more like the QB everyone expected him to be over the last few weeks. (partly bc Mizzou and MSU have Big12 like secondaries
-The big play element of the offense makes this team dynamic, BECAUSE the defense is playing so well. Even if you can't drive the ball for consistent periods of time, giving a high caliber defense a cushion and a point spread to protect makes you a dangerous team.
-The defense is clicking on all three levels. The defensive line is playing as well as anyone in the country. Anchored by man-beasts Narlob and DB 5, but the emergence of JH4 as a legit speed rusher and Coe as an all round functional hard ass has made this group special. Druss eats blockers like Gregg Smiff ate Sodexho chicken sammiches and lets the LBs run free
-The Lb's are sideline to sideline, make great reads, and don't miss tackles frequently. There is also solid depth with little drop off throughout the corps.
-The safeties are effective in both the run and the pass game. Trigga hasn't been out of position for any play of consequence thus far, that was a problem last season. SRob is holding the seam like a champ vs inside receivers and running the ally on outside runs as well as it can be done. Dinson and J Davis have both been solid at the nickel, not conceding anything to flexed tight ends nor quick slot receivers. They are attacking the screen game well in conjunction with the corners.
-The Corners have only really been tested one time (Clemson) but have played sound physical football all season, and when they do allow space they close it and separate the receiver from the ball in hurry. Dean looks almost too big to be out there at corner, he looks like a damned LB, but he runs and turns his hips like a legit player. Carlton Davis has added muscle this season and it shows, last season he was oft in position to make a play and fell victim to physical receiver play getting pushed away, hipped out, or out jumped.
-Motions and formations are becoming more creative and will create some blocking angles, misdirections, and obtuse route combinations that will put defenses in bad situations as the plays off of these motions evolve over the course of the season.
Concerns:
-While the big play aspect of the passing game has grown and improved, and the screen game has been efficient, the mid range passing game is still non existent. The 7-12 yard range which is vital to RPO concepts, as well as exploiting space between safeties and LBs will have to develop for this offense to continue to grow and not be stifled by better defenses.
-TE position, Canella nor Harris have provided dick thus far, and the ole "extra lineman" personnel is being employed. I hate it because while adding another blocker and expanding the gap total on the LOS it takes another eligible receiver out of the play and limits what the defense has to account for.
-The run game lacks any consistency. It relies on chunk yardage created when defenses are out of position or LBs over pursue the inside zone. The OL is getting little to no movement at the point of attack, and only BSmith (albeit with less frequency than last year) is getting to the second level with any frequency. The power and counter schemes seemed to have all but disappeared, and the application of personnel is confusing to say the least.
-Carlson-don't know why; be it mechanical, psychological, or anatomical, his phenomenal consistency that has carried him through his career is suddenly lacking.
-3rd downs, AU has been around 40%, primarily because they aren't converting the 3&3-4 range downs that CGM offenses of the past did with better efficiency in the run game. They have fared better on the 3&5+s, seemingly.
-QB in the pocket. Stid has done a much better job since Clemson, but he still gets happy feet and vacates the pocket while locking in on the nearest receiver. It cost AU a score this past weekend, and will continue to as the competition improves.
Speculating:
This incarnation of AU has an elite defense to lean on and improving offensive consistency. The line play is worrisome and could lead to a let down in a dog fight with a team that AU should otherwise handle (LSU, Arky, OM) the mid range passing game will need to improve to have a shot at Amen Corner. Logic leads me to believe the this team finishes 9-3 or 10-2; unanswered questions in regards to the OL and run game, make me wary of a let down or two and a very bitter unsatisfying 8-4 or 7-5 campaign.
Momentum is everything in football, though, and right now AU has a little. If it continues to build over the next few weeks, this squad could blow the up their perceived ceiling.
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