Friday Thoughts on the MSU offense

[Irondawg]

So far we've played one atrocious defense, one really bad defense and probably the best defense in the nation. Here are my observations over the weeks:

* While it's really special teams I want to start with the kick returns. Banks has done a fine job on punts but I think we've seen enough to know the Perkins is a horrible KO returner. Lewis is our best and we should try to have him return almost every kick. I'd put Banks or maybe Carr or Bump (who did a good job as a freshman) back there with him

* Our best drives are based around getting Ballard the ball. He's our best offensive player and when we feed him consistently on the ground or through the air we tend to move the ball better than at other times.

* The passing game as a whole has been disappointing. Relf has a decent completion %, but when you watch the game you realize how inaccurate he's been. Passes are routinely behind receivers or thrown where YAC are out of the question - and most of are passing are designed around generating YAC. his last two games he's also been unable to connect on the deep throws and we had several guys open to make big plays.

* Where are the screens that were so effective at the end of last year? What about the slants against man coverage? I thought we'd see Carr or Bump step up and I can't figure out if it's because they're not getting open or if we're not doing a good job getting them involved.

* We've left a lot of big plays on the field the past two weeks. Relf missed on some bombs and against LSU there were about 3-4 plays where we were about to bust them for 20+ yard plays and LSU got enough of a shoelace to trip up somebody

* As a whole our WR are not blocking as well as last year

* Given the injuries I've been pleased with our OL. Clausell got abused some last week, but that's expected when you have a RFr vs. LSU DE

* Run game needs a little more consistency. We're having too many tackles for losses or little gain on 1st down and that's killing some drives.

* TE has been a problem - Green has missed some key blocks and had some key drops.

* I'm growing concernd about Russel and Perk next year...Perk hasn't shown much explosion this year and Russell looked great against Memphis but had the deer in headlights look against LSU.

* I'm really excited about getting the ball more to J. Lewis

* Does any quarterback in America stand more flat footed in teh pocket that Relf?

* Our QB's as a whole need to learn to throw the ball to the coaches if they've been in the pocket for 4 second and they can't run it.

At the end of the day we left a few big plays on the field against Auburn or we would have won. I still don't mind the run call there on 2nd down and Relf should have gotten in there. Against LSU after rewatching it I saw how we actually moved the ball well in the 1st half and had some chances for big plays in the 2nd half and just couldn't make any of them (the pass to Carr that was the INT and the Green drop come to mind). The 2nd half they shut down our 1st down run game and we never adjusted.

Going forward I think we need to get Ballard more involved, incorporate more screen passes and get Relf to improve his accuracy a little so our WR's can make plays after the catch. I don't want to harp on the WR's not getting open against LSU, b/c I want to see if anybody else's WR's can either. But that certain was an issue in the game b/c they used man coverage a lot and we were blanketed most of the time.

The GA game will the big test for us.

 

[Foronce]

our whole motive on offense should be to get players like perkins, bumphis, carr, lewis, heavens in space and let them go

ballard should be getting more carries

relf has got to be more decisive, rather steping up in the pocket (running or throwing)... when you get out of the pocket get out in the open space and make a decision ...getting bottled up is not an option (he has to know this)

we need more tricks (more misdirection), we are very vanilla and transparent for a spread offense in most cases.

 

[Irondawg]

I have noticed that we seem to have a harder time getting receivers in space than some other spreads, but without being able to see the overhead views it's difficult to really tell why

 

[AzzurriDawg4]

We have to put someone else deep on KR with Tubby.<div>
</div><div>We seem reluctant to call plays where we are throwing the ball over the middle. I dont know if the coaches are scared Relf is going to sail it to the safeties, but I figure that is the most likely explanation for not seeing many slants or crossing routes. Most of our pass plays up the middle are seam routes. </div><div>
</div><div>As far as offensive output goes, I think we will see something in-between Auburn and LSU against UGA and USC. I really think it just boils down to personnel and execution, and at this point, it is about 65% personnel and 35% execution. Georgia and SC dont have the personnel that LSU does on defense. I think we can put up somewhere in the range of 24-30 points on those teams. The question is, will our defense stand up like it did against LSU or appear overmatched like it did against Auburn, because Georgia and SC are better offensively than LSU. We will have a good shot of getting to 30 against Ark and Ole Miss. Alabama, we are going to have to hope for a few pick 6's. </div><div>
</div><div>Re: Russell and Perk next year, I agree. But I don't think Perk's role is going to change. I think you will see Griffin and/or Milton take the reigns. If Griffin gets back to pre-injury form...he will be our next great back. I also think Russell is going to have to play his *** off to hold off Prescott. From someone that went to the closed scrimmage, the word was that if you didn't know otherwise, you would think that Prescott was the upperclassman and Russell was the true freshman - just based on their pocket presence and demeanor. </div><div>
</div><div>In sum, we just have to accept that, until recruiting turns, Bama and LSU are going to be the longest of longshots. We lost to Arkansas and Auburn last year (and Auburn this year) because we couldnt put a complete game together. Last year we stop Auburn on offense but can't score. We score all over Ark, but cant stop them. Ditto with Auburn this year. We have the ability to beat every team left on our schedule outside of Bama, we just have to be good in all 3 phases. If one phase has an off day, we are staring down the barrel. That is just how its going to be until we start landing more big fish. </div>

 

[Irondawg]

I agree that I think the staff is scared to allow Relf to throw over the middle and also in the red zone. We rarely throw anything other than teh bubble screen or quick hitch inside the 20

 

[davatron]

If one phase has an off day, we are staring down the barrel. That is just how its going to be until we start landing more big fish

That is what really frustrates me. I feel like we can't afford any mistakes against a conference opponent or else we are in trouble. Last year we couldn't recover from negative plays. 3rd and 11 felt the same as 3rd 30. This year I feel like we're doing better in that area but in general I feel like a bad offensive series or giving up a big play on defense kills us.

 

[MedDawg]

LSU covered our WR's as good as I've ever seen, and as a result, our QB's stood in the pocket way too long and took sacks. Their LB and DB closing speed is incredible--State ball carriers going around the outside were hit before getting to the line of scrimmage by LSU when those same plays would gain 5-8 yards or more against others.<div>
</div><div>But I do agree with the OP's points. </div><div>
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[drt7891]

Screens are designed to catch an aggressive defense out of position, like when they blitz. LSU didn't blitz much at all... the most they did was bring a dog off one side. That is still too much coverage to effectively run a screen play. Ole Miss' Defense was screen heaven because Nix has them playing so aggressive with blitzing and strong angles, it's easy to screen. LSU and even Auburn didn't leave us much room to capitalize on screen passes (except bubble screens).

I can't understand why we don't use Ballard more on key drives, though... that's what is still boggling my mind.

 

[Hector.sixpack]

1. At Auburn we had a lot of success running, so why throw
2. Against LSU, too scared to throw deep- the one time we do it gets picked. LSU has the best defense I think I've ever seen, at least in recent memory.

With that said, we've got some decent down the field threats that we will use alittle moreas the season goes on.We are gonna move the ball well against most teams.
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[1dawgfan09]

Relf's not the problem. We have an average (yes, even Bumphis) receiving core. The man's making better throws than I have ever seen him consistently make.