to suit Vad Lee's strengths?
Obviously we are running more formations that Vad Lee likes like the Pistol and Diamond. But do you think PJ has struggled calling the offense this year? We have a QB who isn't necessarily inclined to maximize the potential of the TO particularly the mesh read from the flexbone.
It seems to me that PJ has struggled calling the games this year moreso than in past years. Discuss.
One, unless he's calling the fumble play, I think CPJ is doing fine. Against two really good defenses we scored 10 and 20. That's obviously the low point. In the rest of our games, all conference, we've scored 56, 38, 35, 30, 28, and 21. That's despite having a turnover margin of -8 in FBS games, including -6 in conference.
Two, I think you are mostly overreacting to the Pitt game. In every other win I feel like the offense has gotten better as the game went on. If you look at the Pitt game, we were moving the ball on our second possession (after scoring a TD) and then fumbled the ball. Third possession we again moved the ball, but through an incomplete pass on 1st down and Laskey got stuffed on 3rd down. In the third quarter we were moving it again but Sims fumbled.
Three, we are calling a lot more passing plays when it matters. Just look at Pitt for example. First possession, we converted 3rd and 5 with a pass. Second possession, 2nd and 15. Third possession we tried to get Waller a big play but couldn't complete the pass. Fourth possession was a TD. Sixth possession was again an incomplete pass. Eighth possession was an incomplete pass on 1st and 10 to start the drive. Ninth possession we threw twice. We obviously drilled the 3rd and 17 play.
We are very clearly gearing our offense toward VL. He's already thrown for 1000 yards, which should be good for the 2nd or 3rd best passing season we've had since CPJ got here (in Vad's first season starting without any experienced WRs besides Waller to start the year).
The problem isn't the playcalling, it's the execution. A lot of our passing game will always be the jump ball. That is because our run game is designed to bring defenders up in the box to open up the deep pass. A lot of people on here complain about how we don't throw enough slant passes. Well that is exactly what you DON'T want to do if teams are bringing up corners or safeties to help stop the run.