Depth Chart of PJ's offense.

[BarrelORum]

We are basically going to be running the above offense which is also called the flexbone formation of the triple option. The triple option can be run out of the I formation, the wishbone/ the veer, the flexbone, etc. Triple option is the general term for all of these various formations. The base flexbone formation with two slotbacks (SB), two wide receivers (WR), a quarterback (QB), a fullback (FB), and five down linemen (OL).

There are two versions of the flexbone, the above formation and the stacked or unbalanced flexbone formation:



Don't be fooled by the TE. This is more of an H-back. A role that a big FB type player would be positioned.

Under these scenario's, here is my guess as to our depth chart.

QB: 1.) Josh Nesbitt, 2.) Booker, 3.) Jaybo Shaw possibility of Dominque Reese switching positions.
FB/RB: 1.) Dwyer 2.) Quincy Kelly, 3.) Trevor Bray
SB left: 1.) Jamaal Evans 2.) Dwyer 3.) Peeples
SB right: 1.) Roddy Jones 2.) Dwyer
WR: 1.) Demarious Thomas, 2.) Greg Smith
WR: 1.) Corey Earls, 2.) J. Johnson
Left Tackle: 1.) Gardner 2.) Claytor
Left Guard: 1.) Lonowski 2.) Brown
Center: 1.) Dunman 2.) McRae
Right Guard: 1.) Voss 2.) Howard
Right Tackle: 1.) Yandell 1a) Howard 2.) AJ Smith

In the unbalanced formation, I would see Earls being the Wingback (WB), Dwyer at the FB, with Kelly as the TE/HB.

Discuss....

 

[GT_LUVER]

Is he going to run anything out of the shotgun? I would like to see some plays run out of the shotgun to spread the defense out a little bit.

 

[clapper]

I appreciate the visual aids, but they are making it hard for me to picture the offense with everything all scrunched together. Do you have any that show the true splits? Doesn't this offense use a wide split along the O-line, not the bunched version the picture appears to show? And you mentioned that the TE was really more like an H-Back, but I've always seen an H-Back lined up more like the SB's are in the top picture, but with a wider split off the tackle.

 

[beej67]

Fwiw, I read/heard/etc that Johnson doesn't use the unbalanced version with the TE at all.

 

[GTROY]

I think I missed something. Although there's a good chance we'll run this traditional or pseudo-traditional TO, I haven't seen anyone confirm that this is what we're running for sure.

I may have missed a quote or something over the holidays. Did PJ come out and say that this was our offense? If not, isn't it just as likely that we'll run the "spread option" out of the shotgun?

 

[BeerNutts]

I think I missed something. Although there's a good chance we'll run this traditional or pseudo-traditional TO, I haven't seen anyone confirm that this is what we're running for sure.

I may have missed a quote or something over the holidays. Did PJ come out and say that this was our offense? If not, isn't it just as likely that we'll run the "spread option" out of the shotgun?

No, it isn't as likely we'll run out of the gun. CPJ has an offense, and it's based on the formation above. Out of the double-slot formation, he can just as easily run it as he can throw it (it's almost a 4-wide set...the receivers can get in their routes very quickly). We'll run the ball a ton, I guarantee it.

 

[Techbert]

It is my understanding that PJ's slotbacks rotated last year through left and right and out of the game. So we do not have to differentiate between left and right slots, the way we might about boundary and field corners, for example.

 

[beej67]

The AJC asked him "Will you switch and run things out of the shotgun?" and he responded, "Yeah, I'm just going to throw away my offense." I could feel the sarcasm leaking from the page.

I expect little to zero shotgun. I expect 80% of our plays to be out of this formation:

I expect half of our play calls to be the veer option or the trap option, and I expect them to work. A lot.

 

[beej67]

Here's a fun WRECKBONE link:

http://justindd.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-are-they-doing-at-naval-academy.html

 

[ContactBuzz]

No, it isn't as likely we'll run out of the gun. CPJ has an offense, and it's based on the formation above. Out of the double-slot formation, he can just as easily run it as he can throw it (it's almost a 4-wide set...the receivers can get in their routes very quickly). We'll run the ball a ton, I guarantee it.

In addition to that, take a look at the credentials of his offensive assistants and pay attention to recruiting. CPJ is bringing in people to run his offense.

 

[vrjacket]

I think I missed something. Although there's a good chance we'll run this traditional or pseudo-traditional TO, I haven't seen anyone confirm that this is what we're running for sure.

I may have missed a quote or something over the holidays. Did PJ come out and say that this was our offense? If not, isn't it just as likely that we'll run the "spread option" out of the shotgun?

In the opening meeting with the players, when asked what our base formation would be by a certain TE, CPJ said "the double-slot". This is what a FB player friend told me. As many others have repeated, this is similar to the WV spread only under center.

 

[Jacket59]

We are basically going to be running the above offense which is also called the flexbone formation of the triple option. The triple option can be run out of the I formation, the wishbone/ the veer, the flexbone, etc. Triple option is the general term for all of these various formations. The base flexbone formation with two slotbacks (SB), two wide receivers (WR), a quarterback (QB), a fullback (FB), and five down linemen (OL).

There are two versions of the flexbone, the above formation and the stacked or unbalanced flexbone formation:



Don't be fooled by the TE. This is more of an H-back. A role that a big FB type player would be positioned.

Under these scenario's, here is my guess as to our depth chart.

QB: 1.) Josh Nesbitt, 2.) Booker, 3.) Jaybo Shaw possibility of Dominque Reese switching positions.
FB/RB: 1.) Dwyer 2.) Quincy Kelly, 3.) Trevor Bray
SB left: 1.) Jamaal Evans 2.) Dwyer 3.) Peeples
SB right: 1.) Roddy Jones 2.) Dwyer
WR: 1.) Demarious Thomas, 2.) Greg Smith
WR: 1.) Corey Earls, 2.) J. Johnson
Left Tackle: 1.) Gardner 2.) Claytor
Left Guard: 1.) Lonowski 2.) Brown
Center: 1.) Dunman 2.) McRae
Right Guard: 1.) Voss 2.) Howard
Right Tackle: 1.) Yandell 1a) Howard 2.) AJ Smith

In the unbalanced formation, I would see Earls being the Wingback (WB), Dwyer at the FB, with Kelly as the TE/HB.

Discuss....

To get back to the original topic which I believe was the depth chart for this offense (and yes, the 1'st formation shown will be our base offense) ... I can agree with your predictions. I do have a few that could be different. I think A.J. Smith will start somewhere on the line. He earned the starting spot last year over the others until he hurt his elbow. The injury will probably be healed 100% and I expect him to show he should be the starter again.

I think the offensive line is flip-flopped in this offense in that the guards are supposed to be the huge mass movers for drive blocking and the tackles are supposed to be quicker for getting to blocks at the LB level as opposed to Chan's system where the tackles were mammoths and the guards somewhat smaller and quicker for pulling/trapping purposes. So, it will be interesting to see how that might affect our projections of who starts where based on last year. I'll take a guess at the line like this:
LT - Garner, he'll stay there because he's our best lineman and can do whatever's asked of him
LG - Yandell
C - Dunmon
RG - A.J. Smith
RT - ??, I really don't know who fits the bill as quick and good enough to start here.

I agree almost completely with your backfield. I think Earls may figure into the mix at SB some too though. He'd be a nice hybrid WR/SB. We've got to have 4 there though I think without Dwyer. Jones/Evans are obvious. Then I think it's Earls and maybe the other T.Evans. I think the two freshmen will redshirt. B-back is spot on with my assessment.

WR - I think all of our WR's are equal. There are no clear starters. I think D.Thomas and G.Smith are the best blockers which may factor into who starts the game. But, I like Earls too, and James Johnson may be the best we have as a senior. I really feel just as good with any 2 of these guys out there as the other 2. I actually think that D.Thomas and J.Johnson have the edge as pass catchers, so I predict them as the starters.

QB - How can you not predict Nesbitt here? I hope the freshmen QB's redshirt. I hope they never have to think about seeing the field because that will mean Nesbitt is doing well and staying healthy. They probably won't be able to redshirt though b/c of no depth for option type QB's. I would guess Shaw as the backup barring something amazing from D.Reese. I will also predict perhaps a 2-minute/change of pace package with Booker.

 

[77GTFan]

I have real questions about Nesbitt at QB. If our QB is under center running this offense, the number 1 need is for him to be a great ballhandler. Number 2 is to make great reads. Putting the ball in the FB's belly and reading before deciding whether or not to pull it out or hand it off is an amazing skill. Then, reading an end and deciding to keep or pitch and making that pitch correctly is equally difficult. Nesbitt did not look like he handled the ball well at all to me this year.

If he does not work out at QB, I think he would be a great slotback, including some pass option plays.

Does anyone think Manley will be a possible darkhorse to "get" this offense and be a contender for playing time?

 

[Bunger Henry]

Is he going to run anything out of the shotgun? I would like to see some plays run out of the shotgun to spread the defense out a little bit.

The only direction the shotgun would "spread" the defense is into our own backfield. There is a reason PJ likes the QB under center, and that's because you aren't giving up much ground. You want to avoid negative yardage plays. How better to do that than not to start the play 7 or more yards behind the line of scrimmage? You do want to spread the defense out, but you do that by spreading out the line east-west along the line of scrimmage, not back toward your own endzone.

 

[demjackets]

Does anyone think Manley will be a possible darkhorse to "get" this offense and be a contender for playing time?

Manley is done along with Bennett

 

[GT_LUVER]

The only direction the shotgun would "spread" the defense is into our own backfield. There is a reason PJ likes the QB under center, and that's because you aren't giving up much ground. You want to avoid negative yardage plays. How better to do that than not to start the play 7 or more yards behind the line of scrimmage? You do want to spread the defense out, but you do that by spreading out the line east-west along the line of scrimmage, not back toward your own endzone.

It seems to work for UF and WV who run the ball alot and iv seen it work for alot of high school programs as well but yeah I see what you are saying. As long as it works and the offense is productive im all for it either way.

 

[GT_LUVER]

Manley is done along with Bennett

What happened to Manley?

 

[beej67]

It seems to work for UF and WV who run the ball alot and iv seen it work for alot of high school programs as well but yeah I see what you are saying. As long as it works and the offense is productive im all for it either way.

If you'll notice, a fair bit of what UF runs is with the QB under center. They mix it up a lot. I agree WVU is essentially all shotgun.

I think there's a slight difference in philosophy between WVU's system and PJ's. WVU's system spreads you as wide as they can, by making you fear the pass, then runs on you. PJ's system is a power running system from a spread formation, making you fear the run, then passes on you when it hurts most.

But I'm just some idiot on the internet.

 

[Techbert]

What happened to Manley?

The last coach decided not to renew his scholarship for a 5th year, and the current coach agrees with that assessment. So he is graduating after 4 years.

 

[GoldenTornado]

It is my understanding that PJ's slotbacks rotated last year through left and right and out of the game. So we do not have to differentiate between left and right slots, the way we might about boundary and field corners, for example.

Agreed Techbert, this is my understanding as well.

The offense's symmetry is one of its principal strengths. I think this interchangeability applies not only to the SB's but to all positions -- WR's, T's, etc.

It seems to me that one reason the playbook is so "simple yet complex" is that it's the same in both directions. Each play is only one play for the offense to learn, but it's two plays for the D to defend b/c it can be run in either direction.

JD/Fridge posted a few days ago about how hard this symmetry is to defend based on his coaching experience. He said he knew from painful personal experience that the D will cheat over to the wide side and you will get burned with the same play to the short side.

And CPJ is the acknowledged national master of the offense. :eek5:

The more I study the system, the more I like it. It simplifies things for you but complicates them for your opponent. It makes the whole team much more versatile, makes it much easier to have your best players on the field. I believe that the elimination of the "pseudo-skill" players (TE and blocking FB) helps with program development. You recruit the best athletes you can get, and play them where they fit. Unlike TE's, FB's and dropback QB's who usually don't fit anywhere else all that well if they don't become starters at their positions, and at most schools FB's and TE's don't start every down anyway. It's almost like having a half dozen extra scholarships, once we start finally filling them all!

Finally the highest impact players on a team are the RB's and QB's, and we will recruit a lot more RB's and QB's than anyone else will. More of them on campus means a bigger pool from which a superstar might emerge.