We have no counter-punch

[Ish]

Used to be, if we were gashing a team on the ground eventually the opposing team would cheat the safeties closer to the line to help against the run. Sometimes we were still superior to that adjustment, and continued to run at will against teams. So we did. Until we couldn't. Then you'd see our counter punch. An A-back streaking down the middle of the field, 10 yards past the nearest defender. You would see it and say "touchdown" to yourself. Or "please catch it".

Not this year. We simply are not hitting those passes, and it's killing us. I haven't looked at all of them, but I think TM is putting too much air under the ball on these throws. Allowing the defenders time to adjust and make up ground.

 

[Diseqc]

What do you expect with an a-back throwing passes? A good a-back, but an a-back nonetheless.

 

[00Burdell]

Used to be that teams would not load the box until after we ran a stack of running plays out of respect for the possibility that we'd go downfield early.

Now, they don't even bother - they put 11 guys within 2 yards of the LoS on our first snap and don't give it a second thought.

If we don't come up with something by Saturday, VT is going to hold us to negative yardage for the game.

 

[savbandjacket]

Used to be, if we were gashing a team on the ground eventually the opposing team would cheat the safeties closer to the line to help against the run. Sometimes we were still superior to that adjustment, and continued to run at will against teams. So we did. Until we couldn't. Then you'd see our counter punch. An A-back streaking down the middle of the field, 10 yards past the nearest defender. You would see it and say "touchdown" to yourself. Or "please catch it".

Not this year. We simply are not hitting those passes, and it's killing us. I haven't looked at all of them, but I think TM is putting too much air under the ball on these throws. Allowing the defenders time to adjust and make up ground.

Translation: we are a completely one dimensional team.

 

[RamblinWreck92]

Fire Ted Roof!
?

 

[wesleyd21]

You're reading too much into it. Guys aren't blocking good so we suck again.

 

[WracerX]

We were supposed to have Miami on a Thursday. That would have given us rest before and after that game. Instead, we have a long streak of games with no bye. Couple that with the OL injuries and you get a poor power running team. We need some of those guys for fresh legs.

In short, iiwii.

 

[Ish]

You're reading too much into it. Guys aren't blocking good so we suck again.

In the first half, yes. But he had a pretty clean pocket in the 2nd

 

[wesleyd21]

It was also wet.

So having a smaller type QB playing in the rain is obviously not the ideal situation for throwing the football around.

 

[aeromech]

It was also wet.

So having a smaller type QB playing in the rain is obviously not the ideal situation for throwing the football around.

Doug Flutie says hi.

 

[buzz93]

It was also wet.

So having a smaller type QB playing in the rain is obviously not the ideal situation for throwing the football around.

Very True - TM has small hands and the weather has not been great for our last 3 losses. Impacts the pass and even more so the pitch...TM seemed to eat the ball alot against Clemson when the pitch was clearly there. There are obviously other problems too, but this is a valid point.

Let's hope for clear skies in the last 3 games and shock the world.

 

[Highriser987]

Doug Flutie says hi.

Man I remember watching that game as a kid!

 

[RamblinWreck92]

It was also wet.

So having a smaller type QB playing in the rain is obviously not the ideal situation for throwing the football around.

So let's see - when it rains, we can't Rush the ball nor Pass the ball.

Which is interesting: The option-heavy Nebraska and Oklahoma teams of the 70s never had a problem in the rain. Only this rushing offense seems to have weather issues. For every other ground-and-pound team, playing in the rain is an advantage.

 

[wesleyd21]

So let's see - when it rains, we can't Rush the ball nor Pass the ball.

Which is interesting: The option-heavy Nebraska and Oklahoma teams of the 70s never had a problem in the rain. Only this rushing offense seems to have weather issues. For every other ground-and-pound team, playing in the rain is an advantage.

We haven't had many issues in the past when it comes to running in the rain.

Passing in the rain usually has a negative impact on any team, NFL or college.

 

[RamblinWreck92]

We haven't had many issues in the past when it comes to running in the rain.

Passing in the rain usually has a negative impact on any team, NFL or college.

Agreed - I don't understand why all of the sudden this year, rain is so detrimental to rushing the football. Normally, it's an advantage to that.

Passing always sucks in the rain - you're right.

 

[00Burdell]

I don't understand why all of the sudden this year, rain is so detrimental to rushing the football. Normally, it's an advantage to that.

Rain has given run-heavy teams an advantage since the forward pass was introduced to football.

With, apparently, one notable exception.

 

[eg1]

We haven't had many issues in the past when it comes to running in the rain.

Passing in the rain usually has a negative impact on any team, NFL or college.

Unless you're ööööing U7, apparently

 

[TampaBayJacket]

I think the problem is not the threat of pass but more that when we do pass, the type of pass is predictable. This diagram pretty much sums up the GT route tree:

 

[wesleyd21]

^^^correct!

Nobody ever mentions this. We have the most simple routes known to man.

 

[ramblin' wagon]

I think the problem is not the threat of pass but more that when we do pass, the type of pass is predictable. This diagram pretty much sums up the GT route tree:

UVA scored on us 3 times with this play.