Tech's offense since ND 2015

TechRush

TechRush

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It seems to me that since the Notre Dame game last year Tech's offense (run game) has been much less effective. What happened? I thought it was due to injuries but I watched the same run game getting stuffed on first and second down on Saturday. Was it because BC's defense is that good?

My observation is that the oline is having difficulty with their assignments. Linebackers and safeties flood the line of scrimmage causing confusion on who to block. Linebackers are getting in the backfield in pitch lanes. Also there seems to be more movement on the defense prior to snap. It's as if ND figured something out and everyone else is emulating it.

I'm waiting for CPJ and his staff to counter but haven't seen much success yet. I would think more quick hitch or slant passes would help but I'm not a million dollar coach.

Anyone else with observations regarding the difficulty Tech is having lately in the run game?
 
it is something that concerns me. I have not yet been calmed but this game is not one to draw too many conclusions from. Location, travel, distraction, weather, first game, motivated opponent, etc. very unique position
 
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Last year we had a bunch of freshmen out there who didn't know what to do, assignment wise.

Vs BC our assignments looked good. It was more like the Iowa Orange Bowl. Just got beat, particularly through GCG, and our A backs couldn't get up to speed because of the field conditions.

I think it's too early to tell.
 
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TechRush said:
It seems to me that since the Notre Dame game last year Tech's offense (run game) has been much less effective. What happened? I thought it was due to injuries but I watched the same run game getting stuffed on first and second down on Saturday. Was it because BC's defense is that good?

My observation is that the oline is having difficulty with their assignments. Linebackers and safeties flood the line of scrimmage causing confusion on who to block. Linebackers are getting in the backfield in pitch lanes. Also there seems to be more movement on the defense prior to snap. It's as if ND figured something out and everyone else is emulating it.

I'm waiting for CPJ and his staff to counter but haven't seen much success yet. I would think more quick hitch or slant passes would help but I'm not a million dollar coach.

Anyone else with observations regarding the difficulty Tech is having lately in the run game?
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I expressed the same "maybe it's been figured out" thought in the we still can't block thread.

The arguments against there being a blueprint to stop the offense boil down to: look at 2014, Sewak bad, no Shaq Mason.

It is too soon to tell this season. Won't learn anything from Mercer.
 
I don't believe the blueprint thing for a second. People have tried everything under the sun for decades against CPJ and mostly gotten their asses beaten. If teams are suddenly stopping us it's because they have recruited better players or coached them more effectively, not because there is some inherent flaw in our system or the opposition has developed a new wrinkle that we cannot account for.

Remember, we has the most efficient offense in recorded history in 2014. Even then, we had bad games (remember Duke?) Who knows how we'll end up this year, but I'm just trying to avoid jumping to outlandish conclusions.
 
One major issue is that since 2008/2009, we have not had a reliable, aggressive short passing game to take advantage of cheating LBs/corners. I don't know why, but the only very reliable receiving A-back we've had since was Godhigh (maybe others have also have been just as good, but we haven't been able to get the ball to them in the air). It didn't matter in 2014, because Shaq + Laskey was a viable option against all of the defenses we faced and Smelter was almost perfect.

Thankfully it looks like pass pro will in the very least exist this year, which will make the deep ball viable option again.
 
Another difference I've seen is that in the past most defenses against Tech ran a more patient read and react defense. Over the years VT ran an aggressive, crash the line of scrimmage and get into the pitch lanes defense. Since ND it seems every team Tech faces runs this more aggressive type defense. Tech coaches need to figure out how to put these defenses on their heels.
 
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TechRush said:
Another deference I've seen is that in the past most defenses against Tech ran a more patient read and react defense. Over the years VT ran an aggressive, crash the line of scrimmage and get into the pitch lanes defense. Since ND it seems every team Tech faces runs this more aggressive type defense. Tech coaches need to figure out how to put these defenses on their heels.
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I could be completely wrong here, but I think the reason some teams have done better against us is that they have finally abandoned the "assignment" defenses they have been trying to run. They are using 5 of their 7 in the box to plug the gaps, and relying on their OLBs to slide into position on the outside. That and the FS is playing shallow and relying on the CBs to play man coverage on our WRs. That frees up the FS to move to the ball.

You can see it pretty easily that on many of our outside runs you have an AB trying to block both the OLB and/or the FS. And that assumes that the WR has taken the CB out of the play, which isn't happening either.

I think the biggest difference is that in the past, teams have tried to use their DEs to penetrate and force the QB to pitch. Now, they are using DEs to stop the interior run.

I really liked Marshall's vision in his runs. He averaged 3.4 ypc and I think they were all on dives.

Our other play that can bust this defense is the well executed BB pitch play that we got like 20 yards on once yesterday. That gives us an extra blocker if the AB is in motion.
 
coit said:
I could be completely wrong here, but I think the reason some teams have done better against us is that they have finally abandoned the "assignment" defenses they have been trying to run. They are using 5 of their 7 in the box to plug the gaps, and relying on their OLBs to slide into position on the outside. That and the FS is playing shallow and relying on the CBs to play man coverage on our WRs. That frees up the FS to move to the ball.

You can see it pretty easily that on many of our outside runs you have an AB trying to block both the OLB and/or the FS. And that assumes that the WR has taken the CB out of the play, which isn't happening either.

I think the biggest difference is that in the past, teams have tried to use their DEs to penetrate and force the QB to pitch. Now, they are using DEs to stop the interior run.

I really liked Marshall's vision in his runs. He averaged 3.4 ypc and I think they were all on dives.

Our other play that can bust this defense is the well executed BB pitch play that we got like 20 yards on once yesterday. That gives us an extra blocker if the AB is in motion.
Click to expand...

This, or something close to it, is what I've been seeing. A blueprint can be as simple as a change in approach or technique. Looks like a 4-4-3 defensive attack to me. Front 4 crash the middle, next 4 flow to pitch side, with FS free to cover backside in case of reverse action. It's not man-on-man engagement and the penetration is what disrupts the timing. Also seems like the teams are coaching to take half a count before engaging a blocker, which leaves our guys rolling around on the ground.

It looked to me like CPJ was putting the A back into motion much closer to the snap, maybe to try to slow the 2nd wave getting to the edge ahead of the ball. Wet field may have negated that.
 
johncu said:
Remember, we has the most efficient offense in recorded history in 2014. Even then, we had bad games (remember Duke?) Who knows how we'll end up this year, but I'm just trying to avoid jumping to outlandish conclusions.
Click to expand...

I want a great big jump to conclusions mat. If I could buy an outlandish conclusions mat, I would jump at the chance
 
TechRush said:
It seems to me that since the Notre Dame game last year Tech's offense (run game) has been much less effective. What happened? I thought it was due to injuries but I watched the same run game getting stuffed on first and second down on Saturday. Was it because BC's defense is that good?

My observation is that the oline is having difficulty with their assignments. Linebackers and safeties flood the line of scrimmage causing confusion on who to block. Linebackers are getting in the backfield in pitch lanes. Also there seems to be more movement on the defense prior to snap. It's as if ND figured something out and everyone else is emulating it.

I'm waiting for CPJ and his staff to counter but haven't seen much success yet. I would think more quick hitch or slant passes would help but I'm not a million dollar coach.

Anyone else with observations regarding the difficulty Tech is having lately in the run game?
Click to expand...
Recommend you call in to the coaches show and point this out to CPJ. You have a good take.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk
 
coit said:
I could be completely wrong here, but I think the reason some teams have done better against us is that they have finally abandoned the "assignment" defenses they have been trying to run. They are using 5 of their 7 in the box to plug the gaps, and relying on their OLBs to slide into position on the outside. That and the FS is playing shallow and relying on the CBs to play man coverage on our WRs. That frees up the FS to move to the ball.

You can see it pretty easily that on many of our outside runs you have an AB trying to block both the OLB and/or the FS. And that assumes that the WR has taken the CB out of the play, which isn't happening either.

I think the biggest difference is that in the past, teams have tried to use their DEs to penetrate and force the QB to pitch. Now, they are using DEs to stop the interior run.

I really liked Marshall's vision in his runs. He averaged 3.4 ypc and I think they were all on dives.

Our other play that can bust this defense is the well executed BB pitch play that we got like 20 yards on once yesterday. That gives us an extra blocker if the AB is in motion.
Click to expand...

Agreed on a lot of this. BC's linebackers, IIRC, were flowing hard to the play side. No hesitation to wait for a counter. I was waiting the whole game for us to do the inside A-back give a la Orwin Smith vs Kansas in 2011, but obviously we never used it. The traditional 3-O counter didn't work either because their DEs crashed hard and always forced the pitch, so it was effectively a "1-O".

My non-expert opinion but I felt like we left lots of yards on the field Saturday because we didn't exploit their defensive speed.
 
beej67 said:
Last year we had a bunch of freshmen out there who didn't know what to do, assignment wise.

Vs BC our assignments looked good. It was more like the Iowa Orange Bowl. Just got beat, particularly through GCG, and our A backs couldn't get up to speed because of the field conditions.

I think it's too early to tell.
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Umm, I thought in the n.d. game we were starting 4 ol guys that started in the OB ?
Regardless, the cleats, location, travel excuses are BS.
What is true is, for good or bad, it is one game and it is over.
The concern to me is the 1 constant involved. And we all know the definition of insanity.
 
texstinger said:
Umm, I thought in the n.d. game we were starting 4 ol guys that started in the OB ?
Regardless, the cleats, location, travel excuses are BS.
What is true is, for good or bad, it is one game and it is over.
The concern to me is the 1 constant involved. And we all know the definition of insanity.
Click to expand...

Posting on StingTalk?


Ha just kidding
 
WR play didn't scare anyone, so the safeties can cheat.
OL whiffing on the 2nd level (LB).

Study any 5 plays from the BC game. You'll see a ton of our OL whiffing on cut blocks, & their man gets in the backfield.
I don't know if that's a technique thing or a strength thing or a late-getting to your assignment thing.
 
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