Gameplan for FSU.....Thoughts?

[gtfan1147]

My take is this:

We have to shut down Greg Jones. Rix is better than Jason Campbell, but we have to make him beat us. We need to force 2nd and long. 2nd and 8, 2nd and 9, so we can force Rix into obvious passing situations. First down stuffing the run is a big key.
Field position could be a factor if the defenses are as good as they played Saturday.

Offensively, we have to establish the run. Take some pressure off of Reggie Ball. Give him some 2nd and 5, 2nd and 4's and we can do more. We need to open up the offense a little more though if we are to beat the Noles. Reggie can run the draw, or roll out and throw.

Special Teams and intangibles are always big. In the most hostile environment the Jackets have seen yet, we need to maximize oppurtunities and minimize turnovers. We have our work cut out for us, although, we weren't supposed to beat Auburn either, were we?

 

[Gold Rush]

One thing I have noticed with the teams that can beat FSU.....and I first noticed Spurrier doing it, then Amato at NCSU.....These teams throw the long ball A LOT and beat FSU deep...Usualy on timing patterns when they are in man coverage...State threw a TON of long balls in both of the last 2 NCSU wins.

I think their corners and safeties cheat up a lot to support the run and they are aggressive in coverage as well...I suppose there is something there that opens things up for these long timing patterns...When teams get successful doing this and get a lead --> FSU goes exclusively to pass, and then the D's can play pass and then it helps the D..

Obviously theres a lot more to it - this is just a trend I have observed FWIW

 

[gtfan1147]

You know Gold, that is an interesting point. I remember last year we had some of those open. Suggs just overthrew it. A play like that can definitely change the face of a game.

By the way, I loved the playcalling on our first play Saturday going for it all right out of the gate.

 

[GTCrew]

It will be extremely hard to beat FSU with Ball being so green. Misdirection would help neutralize their speed on D but it will be tough to have enough with our limited playbook. A little option would help but that takes time to get really smooth and exposes Ball to injuries we can't afford.

This game will have to be won on D, and FSU's O seems to be clicking. Time of posession could get ugly. We will have to stop the run (Jones) and force Rix to beat us. Rix will do just that unless we can get some serious pressure on him.

IMHO, the ends need to put Rix on the ground and the CBs need to win the jump balls he heaves up there. Nix needs to be prepared to go for the home run often if we have as much trouble moving the ball as others have had.

 

[GoldZ]

Key will be 1st down creativity to take the pressure off of Ball on 3rd, and to keep fsu from playing jail break on 3rd & long. Mixing up 1st down calls like last Sat. will be critical. Also, I hope we lose that consistently ineffective passive type handoff to PJ deep in the backfield. THWG

 

[hiveredtech]

Originally posted by GoldZ:
Also, I hope we lose that consistently ineffective passive type handoff to PJ deep in the backfield. THWG

<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">You have to run the "ineffective passive type handoff"...whatever that is :-) in order to keep the defense honest and balanced. You have to make the defense cover the entire field.

I can remember Friedgen saying that he purposefully ran plays that he was almost sure would not get any yardage...just to keep the defense honest. He responded to this when someone asked why once or twice each half he would try to pound it up the middle even when it was ineffective.

ALSO...Friedgen was infamous for going to one receiver early in the season so that the future defenses would cheat their safety over that direction...then he would open it up to other receivers.

Every play can have a purpose...even if it does not seem like it.

 

[lil'jacket]

I'll I have to say is that Ball better be prepared for this game becuase FSU will go for every cheap blow available.

 

[bandmaster]

As I recall, we threw deep on two of the first three plays last year on FSU, and AJ missed the open receivers.

Ironically, FSU is one team we have not been afraid of in years. We should have won last year. I do not think our senior LBs are going to be intimidated, and our DBs are the best we have had 7 deep ever (4 starters, plus Dennis, Reis, and Scott).

The D-line is still the key. No matter how good our DBs, FSU is still going to throw it up for grabs and expect their guys to go get it. We just have to disrupt the timing when making the throw - and we know Rix can be rattled.

Offense key: can our receivers make the big play? FSU will play man, and force us to beat them over the top as always. It is not likely we are going to have 10 play scoring drives. I also fear Reggie overthrowing - FSU will make us pay for that.

Finally, ACE needs to play in the first half, and certainly on 3rd and short. If you can't run for it on 3rd and 1, you are not likely to win any championships.

GO JACKETS! STING EM!

 

[TIARB]

I thought we had a tremendous gameplan against F$U last year, especially in light of our offensive limitations.

Several formations and plays were utilized for the first time in that game.

Our execution wasn't always there, but that one game plan made a believer out of me wrt the football knowledge of this staff last year.

Two things we have got to improve on:
One is the obvious - we cannot keep putting the ball on the ground - we were very lucky last week, as at least 2 bounced right back to us and we recovered another.

The second is that our receivers must do a much better job of getting off of press coverage. F$U lives with press contain, and other than JS we have done a *lousy* job of getting off of press. I am really hopefull that we see #8 in the slot next week - he is just too big and physical to press. I am hoping we have been holding him back a bit.

 

[GTPilot]

We did well this past weekend and I really give big ups to the team. However, there is plenty of improvement that is needed to get the W on Saturday.

1. Fumbles / Turnovers. We are still carrying the ball a little too casually for my taste. FSU will likely hit us harder than the other two teams we've faced and thus not carrying the ball tight will generate more balls on the ground. Not good.

2. Punting. I wasn't really impressed with Higgins punting this past week. It was average and we will need better than that to help control the field position. We really need him to unleash a few bombs on them this week (hopefully not too many because that won't be good either).

3. No big plays. If FSU is going to score on us (and they likely will), we need them to have to drive 80 yards and use lots of plays to get there. The reason is simple. The more plays they have to use the greater the chance they will make a mistake (especially Rix who has shown a tendency to get impatient in the past). The real key is to stop them for short gains on first downs. This will help put them in more predictable scenarios.

4. FSU mistakes. We will need them. They have great athletes who will beat us at least 25% of the time. What we need is for the ball to be overthrown, turnovers, missed TOs by them or blown assignments. We got those things against Auburn and we will still need them to beat FSU.

5. Big plays by Tech. We need our players to make the amazing catches and big yards after contact. When the ball hits our defenders in the hands, they have to catch it, or when the ball is on the ground, they have to recover it.

We tackled well this past week and Reggie continues to show maturity beyond his years. We will need above average performances (in other words more ACC POTW winners) to beat this team on their home turf. Not impossible but our margin for error will likely be the smallest it has been all year (especially when you consider that they always seem to get 2-3 huge mistakes by the refs).

I'll be there cheering loudly and I hope to be celebrating a victory in Tally on Saturday night. Either way, this team showed great character and improvement on Saturday which is all I really demand at this point. Keep it up boys!!!

 

[GoldZ]

hiveredtech, of course you have to run some conservative plays, that's as basic as mud, but you don't have to run it that passively (PJ waiting for the ball instead of taking the handoff while running forward), or the same one so many times. This Sat. that play equals minus 4. Let's keep em honest with say +2. THWG

 

[hiveredtech]

Originally posted by GoldZ:
hiveredtech, of course you have to run some conservative plays, that's as basic as mud, but you don't have to run it that passively (PJ waiting for the ball instead of taking the handoff while running forward), or the same one so many times. This Sat. that play equals minus 4. Let's keep em honest with say +2. THWG

<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">I cannot recall PJ losing that much yardage. He generally a north/south runner. However, he is not a game breaking back. Unfortunately we have to face the fact that we do not have a dominant backfield. I do not want to insult our current kids back there because I love 'em...they are part of our team...and with time they will improve. I would think they would agree that as of today...none of them are pushing Ivery, Lavette, Mays, Bell, Levens, Burns, Wilder, Gregory, Wiley, P.Rogers, Hollings, etc. We have been fortunate with very good to great RB's for many years.

I would not count on being able to run the ball against FSU...just my two cents.

 

[ncjacket]

Goldz, I'm sure you know this but the deep handoff is to give the back time to see the hole he wants to take. The problem is that with a quick D Line, the hole can close up before he gets there, or in FSU's case, they can beat the QB back to the RB. I agree that I would like us to use more quick hitters against them. I think our line has a better chance of creating a quick crease than holding them up longer.

 

[GoldZ]

nc...yep. THWG

 

[Y Jacket]

My keys to the game:

1) GT Oline has to have a great day. We have to be able to run. We cannot put Reggie in position where he has to win this game with his arm. We also need to keep our D off the field as much as we can. Punts are OK if they come after 4 - 5 minute drives. The big guys have to keep FSU off of Reggie when he throws.

2) Reggie cannot make freshman mistakes. He has to make reads and not be flustered by what will be a swarming tricky to read offense. He cannot get in positions where he has to take lots of direct hits. FSU will make sport of trying to get him out of the game.

3) We cannot turn the ball over. We were lucky against Auburn in that we put it on the ground 3 or 4 times and got all fo them back. Put it on the ground 4 times against FSU and we lose 2 at least.

4) We have to fluster Rix. We can stop Jones on the run. But to do so we will have to sell out to some degree. Between this and Tanuta's long held passion for the blitz, we have to get to Rix before he can make us pay. The BYU kid made us pay - Campbell did not handle the pressure well at all. I also do not expect FSU to be as inept as Auburn was in their offensive schemes, reads and adjustments. My bet is Tanuta will try to make Rix have to beat us - we have to make sure he doesn't.

5) We have to make plays on offense and defense. Our defense has to make plays that allow them to get off the field. They can't allow long BYU type drives. I hope our offense is conservative, but that we have 3 or 4 plays where Reggie, Smith or someone else comes through with big plays for scores.

I also agree with the post above that the punting has to improve. We didn't do too good there.

My hope is for a 21 - 17 GT win or something like that. I don't think we can win a shoot out with em but we have to be able to score 21 or so to win.

 

[beeware]

I have one request of the coaches.....PLAY THIS GAME TO WIN!!! No more of this NOT TO LOSE crap like we used at BYU.

The awBARN game was a big improvement but they are a one dimensional team....FSU is FAR BETTER....and I mean FAR BETTER than awBARN is.

Our defense played a great game against awBARN but against FSU they will need more of the OFFENSE's help. We have to score more and we have to have more time of possession. Now if the time of possession is not good because we score quickly then that is acceptable. If it is because we go 3 and out too often then that will kill our defense against a tough FSU team.

This game is winnable...but it is going to be tough. The biggest thing I am looking for out of this staff is to unconditionally PLAY TO WIN. If we do that, then we can live with the outcome...whatever it is.

I am headed to Tally.

Go JACKETS.....CONVICT the crimiNOLES!!!!