Paul Johnson on Roddy Jones

[hiveredtech]

Paul said part of what got Roddy was exhaustion...he is one of the few players that has not missed time due to injuries as well...

AJC:
The speedy Jones will keep returning kickoffs. At A-back, he ran six times for 56 yards Saturday. Johnson pointed out, however, that Jones missed a couple chances for huge runs.
Paul Johnson:
“He probably didn’t play as well Saturday as he has played,” Johnson said. “He’s having to play too many reps. He’s on special teams, returning kicks and he played over 70 reps Saturday. I think that takes away some from his effectiveness when he gets the ball outside, so we’ve got to take away some of that.”

 

[GTland03]

I think Nesbitt took away some of the success that Roddy could have had...

IMO, Nesbitt missed at least 4 pitches to Roddy on the outside that would have went for 8-15 yards at minimum. Why cant nestbitt just bait the defenders in and then pitch at the last moment. Just as I think he's about to pitch it for a big gain, he holds onto the ball for a 2 yard pickup...

Thoughts hivered?

 

[GTSaxophone]

I think Nesbitt took away some of the success that Roddy could have had...

IMO, Nesbitt missed at least 4 pitches to Roddy on the outside that would have went for 8-15 yards at minimum. Why cant nestbitt just bait the defenders in and then pitch at the last moment. Just as I think he's about to pitch it for a big gain, he holds onto the ball for a 2 yard pickup...

Thoughts hivered?

You have to keep in mind the fact that in a situation like that, the danger of fumbling grows immensely. If is tackled in the right way while pitching, the ball could fall out of his hand, or travel backwards, inviting the defense to partake of a fumble return for touchdown. This is the same physics behind hitting a QB's arm when he's trying to throw, except the ball would be going backwards, and the danger is a fumble instead of an interception. In fact, the danger of a fumble would be greater because almost every scenario would be a fumble (he's performing a lateral, which, I believe, is a fumble if it hits the ground).

Personally, I have like to see some fake pitches (on the option, not fake tosses), but once I thought about what I wrote above, I quelled those thoughts.

 

[RoswellWreck]

Saturday was not the first time Roddy had bobbled the ball on a punt/kick off. Yes, it was the first time he actually GAVE IT UP, but I can count NUMEROUS times that he fumbled and fell back on it for no gain. I dont think it would hurt to try someone else at punt returns.

 

[The Jacket]

Saturday was not the first time Roddy had bobbled the ball on a punt/kick off. Yes, it was the first time he actually GAVE IT UP, but I can count NUMEROUS times that he fumbled and fell back on it for no gain. I dont think it would hurt to try someone else at punt returns.

Not true. If Roddy is the best PJ thinks he has, putting someone else in there could easily result in more muffs and drops.

 

[hiveredtech]

Saturday was not the first time Roddy had bobbled the ball on a punt/kick off. Yes, it was the first time he actually GAVE IT UP, but I can count NUMEROUS times that he fumbled and fell back on it for no gain. I dont think it would hurt to try someone else at punt returns.

Roswell

It is not just Saturday he was used a lot. He has been doing this week in and week out all year. He is far and away the most used AB...and they are all over the field running vertically and horizontally. He never comes out of the game as he is never injured....and never sits out a single practice.

Getting worn down physically can effect your concentration.

 

[bellyseries]

I think Nesbitt took away some of the success that Roddy could have had...

IMO, Nesbitt missed at least 4 pitches to Roddy on the outside that would have went for 8-15 yards at minimum. Why cant nestbitt just bait the defenders in and then pitch at the last moment. Just as I think he's about to pitch it for a big gain, he holds onto the ball for a 2 yard pickup...

Thoughts hivered?

"...would have went..."?

 

[hdtvfan]

Saturday was not the first time Roddy had bobbled the ball on a punt/kick off. Yes, it was the first time he actually GAVE IT UP, but I can count NUMEROUS times that he fumbled and fell back on it for no gain. I dont think it would hurt to try someone else at punt returns.

I don't remember RJ doing it before Saturday but TM did it a few times when he was back there.

 

[midatlantech]

Roddy is a fine football player and I'm happy he's on our team, but I just don't care for him catching the ball with his hands right up in front of his face. It obscurs his vision and allows a defender an earlier hit before he can tuck the ball away. Most punt returners receive the ball in a "ready to run" position, well below their eyes. I just wonder if he's taking the "catch the ball (passes) with your hands" too far.

 

[Jacket4Life13]

You have to keep in mind the fact that in a situation like that, the danger of fumbling grows immensely. If is tackled in the right way while pitching, the ball could fall out of his hand, or travel backwards, inviting the defense to partake of a fumble return for touchdown. This is the same physics behind hitting a QB's arm when he's trying to throw, except the ball would be going backwards, and the danger is a fumble instead of an interception. In fact, the danger of a fumble would be greater because almost every scenario would be a fumble (he's performing a lateral, which, I believe, is a fumble if it hits the ground).

Personally, I have like to see some fake pitches (on the option, not fake tosses), but once I thought about what I wrote above, I quelled those thoughts.

Yeah, because we dont already have a problem with fumbling. The risk of fumbling is no reason for a QB in THIS offense not to pitch the football. JN has to get better at reading the defense and knowing when to keep and when to pitch. I agree with the creater of this thread that JN missed some pitches on saturday.

 

[gtrat1967]

There is NOTHING which would make opposing defenses pay for stuffing the option pitch and run quicker than a well-timed pass which, until it leaves the hand, is apparently yet another running play.

Not talking about a straight drop-back which is immediately obvious.

Most of the time last game, while DB's and LB's were stringing the option run out to the sideline or JN was being limited to a couple yards on one of his many keepers, a simple mid-range crossing route (like UVA did successfully to us) would have been WIDE open.

I really think we need to develop this as a viable 4th option

 

[beej67]

I really think we need to develop this as a viable 4th option

It's in our playbook for sure.

The rub is you have to make sure the QB isn't in danger of getting sacked when he pulls up to pass it. Once our blocking gets a little better, we'll run this play all the time.

 

[GTSaxophone]

Yeah, because we dont already have a problem with fumbling. The risk of fumbling is no reason for a QB in THIS offense not to pitch the football. JN has to get better at reading the defense and knowing when to keep and when to pitch. I agree with the creater of this thread that JN missed some pitches on saturday.

My point wasn't that he shouldn't pitch the ball. My point was that waiting until the absolute last second puts us at an even bigger risk for fumbling. Granted, there are times when this is the only way to make a play work, but I was simply pointing out that I don't want to see Nesbitt pitching it while going down or while getting hit if we can.

 

[GTland03]

The facts are that nesbitt should have pitched the ball many times rather than taking it himself for a no-gain.

 

[Womenandcookies]

It's in our playbook for sure.

The rub is you have to make sure the QB isn't in danger of getting sacked when he pulls up to pass it. Once our blocking gets a little better, we'll run this play all the time.

The problem I see with this play is that the tackle on the backside tries to get to the second level to block the LB. Well if we did pull up and throw then our tackle would have to stay there and I guess block the DE on the backside. This would be a very clear indicator to a smart defense of our intentions when running this play. I think if we do run an option play that also includes the pass it will not look exactly like the 3O and I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what it would look like since we can't have our line get to the second level like the usually try to do when running the 3O.

 

[feelinthesting]

This is Roddy's first time muffing punts this season. TMelton bobbled a couple and lost one on a fumble (BC) that I can remember, but these were the first for Roddy. Not to say that he doesn't need work...he obviously does...but the earlier mistakes weren't his.

So...we've had a 2 freshmen bobble and muff punts. We've had a sophomore and freshman fumble and miss reads at QB. We've had a STUD sophomore at B-back fumble the ball a few times. We've had several underclassmen drop passes, including our STUD sophomore receiver. We've had missed blocks, missed assignments, bad pass blocking and other mistakes from a young offensive line. So...what should we do?

CELEBRATE OUR BUTTS OFF!!!

These young guys are being led by one helluva coach! He demands excellence from them, doesn't make any excuses, and expects them to be mistake-free and win every game. They expect the same from themselves, but they are still YOUNG! With youth and minimal experience come mistakes. The last time most of these guys played a full season, they were one of the top 4 players on the field at any time. Now they're with the BIG BOYS!

I'm excited as hell about this season, but darn near giddy about the next. I hope these 'young guns' get all of the bobbles, fumbles, drops, bad reads, missed assignments, etc out of there system this season. We're headed towards a frickin' 10 - 3 season with a bunch of mistake-prone babes. We should be partying our a$$es off at every game, and applauding our coach and his staff for the great job they are doing with the hand they were dealt!

 

[beej67]

The problem I see with this play is that the tackle on the backside tries to get to the second level to block the LB. Well if we did pull up and throw then our tackle would have to stay there and I guess block the DE on the backside.

I'm no expert, but I think part of the problem is how slow we are to get off the ball. Once we're able to start the play, make the mesh read, and move out for the pitch/etc at the same speed Navy does it, we won't have to worry about the backside DE because he won't be able to catch Nesbitt before he makes the throw.

 

[JWE37]

Everyone forgets Navy was 2-10 CPJ first year there and GSU was mediocre I think.
We will exponentially improve! Rome was not built in 9 months. With that said, we have enough talent to win out if the ball bounces our way. We should all be happy!

 

[TechinItEasy]

There is NOTHING which would make opposing defenses pay for stuffing the option pitch and run quicker than a well-timed pass which, until it leaves the hand, is apparently yet another running play.

Not talking about a straight drop-back which is immediately obvious.

Most of the time last game, while DB's and LB's were stringing the option run out to the sideline or JN was being limited to a couple yards on one of his many keepers, a simple mid-range crossing route (like UVA did successfully to us) would have been WIDE open.

I really think we need to develop this as a viable 4th option

If you watch some of navy's old stuff almost all of their pass plays were like this.

The QB would roll out like he was running a quick option but right when he got outside of the pocket he would chuck it 40-50 yards.

So it's definitely here, we just aren't to a point(Offensive Line!) where we can run it yet.

 

[Womenandcookies]

I'm no expert, but I think part of the problem is how slow we are to get off the ball. Once we're able to start the play, make the mesh read, and move out for the pitch/etc at the same speed Navy does it, we won't have to worry about the backside DE because he won't be able to catch Nesbitt before he makes the throw.

I was talking about if Josh where the throw the ball on the option. On the option the line's job is to get to the LB's and block the second level. If we are throwing they can't move off the line to get to the linebackers without getting a penalty. I'm trying to think of a way to show triple option but still keep an effective blocking scheme without our linemen moving downfield. I'm sure PJ can do it, but I'm just saying I don't know how he would.