It's pretty simple, considering many (not poor decision making by our QB) of our problems are based on a change of scheme by Malzahn which baffles me. The one word that has changed...
..... TEMPO...
Heres why we aren't moving the ball....
The hurry up offense isn't deadly because of its speed as much as what it does to the way the defense can make calls and substitutions.
When an offense is snapping the ball every 10 seconds, the defense cannot adjust. Plain and simple.
Since they cannot substitute or really change the scheme they came onto the field with, they have to use a base package built to try and stop "any" play...and when you're trying to stop both the run or the pass every time, you rarely stop either.
They can't sub in their heavies to stop the run or extra db's for the pass coverage. They may shift linebackers or safeties, but in reality we are playing against their most basic defensive scheme, and there is nothing they can do about it. And those shifts, only create further mismatches with our offense that can quickly be exploited with a hand-signal from the sideline.
Couple that with the fact that they are getting more tired with each play, you are at a TOTAL advantage over the defense. The speed kills in multiple ways and gives the offense the opportunity to play against the same basic defense over and over.
Gus had not done this a single time until the final 2 drives of the game today, when we needed points. If he wants to take pressure off JJ, he needs to put his foot on the gas and not take it off for the rest of the season. When a defense is on their heels, the game slows down for a QB. As soon as the defense tries to shift more guys to stop the run, he's got mismatches outside for easy throws.
This is what our offensive success was built on, not the fact that Nick Marshall could run. Yeah, it added another element for that defense to worry about, but a properly run option-read will get a QB, even with JJ's legs, at least 5 yards. But even that isn't necessary, because keeping the ball can be a throw for JJ, and against a basic defensive package it will probably be single coverage and easier reads for him.
We can still throw the ball some, But we don't have to do it until the defense tells us we have to do it. That means they're committing so many men to the run game that the level of passing sophistication doesn't have to be the same as Alabama's, LSU's or Georgia's. We can make simple throws against base coverage. When you are going fast, the defense ends up calling the play for you by how they try to adjust.
Do you remember running Mason every play down the field against Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Florida State in 2013? It helped having Marshall as a threat, but it was the speed of the snaps killing the defense. Marshall didn't even have to run. By the 6th play at that speed the defense was gassed and trying to remember their assignments. And most wont shift to stop the run because they knew that's when they'd get beat in the air.
If we can have JJ throw the ball every once in awhile and play as quick as what Malzahn is known for, we can still run thru anybody. The substitution rule is our best friend, but for some reason Gus is ignoring it right now. Maybe to help Muschamp's defense, but it has to change today.
Why do you think Saban wanted this changed so badly? It is the greatest weapon in our arsenal.
Bring back the tempo, and I promise you we will bring back the points. And probably the QB that we saw in JJ the last two years.
..... TEMPO...
Heres why we aren't moving the ball....
The hurry up offense isn't deadly because of its speed as much as what it does to the way the defense can make calls and substitutions.
When an offense is snapping the ball every 10 seconds, the defense cannot adjust. Plain and simple.
Since they cannot substitute or really change the scheme they came onto the field with, they have to use a base package built to try and stop "any" play...and when you're trying to stop both the run or the pass every time, you rarely stop either.
They can't sub in their heavies to stop the run or extra db's for the pass coverage. They may shift linebackers or safeties, but in reality we are playing against their most basic defensive scheme, and there is nothing they can do about it. And those shifts, only create further mismatches with our offense that can quickly be exploited with a hand-signal from the sideline.
Couple that with the fact that they are getting more tired with each play, you are at a TOTAL advantage over the defense. The speed kills in multiple ways and gives the offense the opportunity to play against the same basic defense over and over.
Gus had not done this a single time until the final 2 drives of the game today, when we needed points. If he wants to take pressure off JJ, he needs to put his foot on the gas and not take it off for the rest of the season. When a defense is on their heels, the game slows down for a QB. As soon as the defense tries to shift more guys to stop the run, he's got mismatches outside for easy throws.
This is what our offensive success was built on, not the fact that Nick Marshall could run. Yeah, it added another element for that defense to worry about, but a properly run option-read will get a QB, even with JJ's legs, at least 5 yards. But even that isn't necessary, because keeping the ball can be a throw for JJ, and against a basic defensive package it will probably be single coverage and easier reads for him.
We can still throw the ball some, But we don't have to do it until the defense tells us we have to do it. That means they're committing so many men to the run game that the level of passing sophistication doesn't have to be the same as Alabama's, LSU's or Georgia's. We can make simple throws against base coverage. When you are going fast, the defense ends up calling the play for you by how they try to adjust.
Do you remember running Mason every play down the field against Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Florida State in 2013? It helped having Marshall as a threat, but it was the speed of the snaps killing the defense. Marshall didn't even have to run. By the 6th play at that speed the defense was gassed and trying to remember their assignments. And most wont shift to stop the run because they knew that's when they'd get beat in the air.
If we can have JJ throw the ball every once in awhile and play as quick as what Malzahn is known for, we can still run thru anybody. The substitution rule is our best friend, but for some reason Gus is ignoring it right now. Maybe to help Muschamp's defense, but it has to change today.
Why do you think Saban wanted this changed so badly? It is the greatest weapon in our arsenal.
Bring back the tempo, and I promise you we will bring back the points. And probably the QB that we saw in JJ the last two years.
