Play Calling

[Prestonyte]

A running game is important but forcing the running game is foolish.
MSU had not shown they could stop Rattler and the passing game as he was 13/13 at half and finished with only 2 incompletions (one should have been PI penalty). I know that based on previous games we were focused on fixing our running game, but when we ran the ball last night MSU was happy as we were killing them through the air. Moving the ball down the field with 8 straight passes and then running the ball 3 straight times and giving up the ball is idiotic. PICKING THE RIGHT TIMES TO RUN THE BALL IS AS IMPORTANT AS BEING ABLE TO RUN IT. With that said, Anderson showed he can be a weapon and Rattler also was effective with a few keepers on after faking handoffs. Our primary weapon is Rattler and the passing game so we should not give the opponent free downs by forcing running the ball when the opponent hasn't proven they can stop our passing game.

 

[CWW]

We can’t throw every play!

 

[Beanerball]

What was up with the play where we ran on 3rd and 4? Not smart at all. Happy we found a running game but I agree we tried to force it too much. I ‘d like to see us throwing 60% of the time or higher, depending on the team we are playing.

 

[Prestonyte]

We can’t throw every play!

We could, there's no rule against it. But that's absurd.
What's even more absurd is us moving the ball down field with 8 straight pass plays and then we decide to run the ball 3 straight times and give up the ball. That is what I'm talking about. Forcing a running game when the pass is not being stopped is dumb.

 

[Deleted11512]

I’m fine with the way Logg called it. I’m sure he felt comfortable they could have their way through the air. It’s critical to the success of our season that the run game improves. To me it felt like they were to run DK and Mario and just see who looks better and hopefully ride that horse the rest of the way. But we also saw MSU start blitzing more in the 2nd half, just as UGA did. They can do that when there’s no threat to run.

 

[BftCocks09]

I’m fine with the way Logg called it. I’m sure he felt comfortable they could have their way through the air. It’s critical to the success of our season that the run game improves. To me it felt like they were to run DK and Mario and just see who looks better and hopefully ride that horse the rest of the way. But we also saw MSU start blitzing more in the 2nd half, just as UGA did. They can do that when there’s no threat to run.

I’ll beg to differ. Last night was the first night I did have a problem with the play calling. In our other losses it was a matter of bad play (NC) or having less talent (GA). I felt like last night there were way too many drives where it was very predictable that we would run, run, pass. I’m all for balance, but there was no need to always run first down just because.

 

[Prestonyte]

I’ll beg to differ. Last night was the first night I did have a problem with the play calling. In our other losses it was a matter of bad play (NC) or having less talent (GA). I felt like last night there were way too many drives where it was very predictable that we would run, run, pass. I’m all for balance, but there was no need to always run first down just because.

A first down pass has a 47% chance of gaining 5 yards which puts you in a manageable position to get a first down. Should be used more often than the automatic hand off run play on first down.

 

[Bubba Fett]

We ran the ball too much on first down, and MS seemed to know we were running, or they read it very quickly

 

[Cocky99]

I think we were still trying to establish RB1, who is not Joyner it’s safe to say. We need to be eyeballing players from other teams to get them teleported here through that portal.

 

[Mic4usc]

I thought the same thing and worried a solid running performance might end up losing us a game… that sounds just crazy to say. But look at Clemson. They run the ball very well yet they are 2-2. Rattler was dealing and called runs should’ve been limited.

 

[Psycock]

We didn’t run on the 1st play of the 2nd half!!

 

[Fried Chicken]

I think we did force the run a little too much Saturday. But the run certainly helped us sustain drives. We could’ve passed a bit more.

 

[Deleted11512]

I think we did force the run a little too much Saturday. But the run certainly helped us sustain drives. We could’ve passed a bit more.

We will be much better off having forced it a bit against MSU than if we had just done what we’d been doing. We found what could be an answer, and proved we can move the ball on the ground. I would not have wanted us going on the road at UT still wondering who the started is going to be. Sometimes you just have to flesh it out with live bullets.

 

[Rogue Cock]

What was up with the play where we ran on 3rd and 4? Not smart at all. Happy we found a running game but I agree we tried to force it too much. I ‘d like to see us throwing 60% of the time or higher, depending on the team we are playing.

More than likely doing what all coaches do at times....trying to be cute and outguess the opponent thinking they won't expect us to run here, so we will do just that and catch them out of position. Eh, sometimes it works, other times, not so much...

 

[Maccmaine12]

I think the coaches kinda felt like they could beat MSU and wanted to put confidence in players to run the ball. I like the decision

 

[The Reel Ess]

Learn to take the W. It's a lot better than the alternative. And I believe a starting RB emerged in the process.

 

[18IsTheMan]

based on the limited film, Anderson seems to give us a RB option that defenses will at the very least need to think about.

 

[athenscock3]

Maybe the passing game was effective because it was mixed with the run. Pass only and you give the opponent the express lane to your qb

 

[Slim Chickens Gamecock]

We can’t throw every play!

We might have to in order to open up any kind of a running game.

 

[GWMorris]

What surprised me was that, having established the run, I don't think we ran a single play-action pass. Although that's more commonly done when the quarterback is under center, it can be done from the shotgun. If we can get any run game going at Tennessee, I hope we mix in some play-action to keep the Vol defense off balance.

 

[Cocky Hobbit]

A running game is important but forcing the running game is foolish.
MSU had not shown they could stop Rattler and the passing game as he was 13/13 at half and finished with only 2 incompletions (one should have been PI penalty). I know that based on previous games we were focused on fixing our running game, but when we ran the ball last night MSU was happy as we were killing them through the air. Moving the ball down the field with 8 straight passes and then running the ball 3 straight times and giving up the ball is idiotic. PICKING THE RIGHT TIMES TO RUN THE BALL IS AS IMPORTANT AS BEING ABLE TO RUN IT. With that said, Anderson showed he can be a weapon and Rattler also was effective with a few keepers on after faking handoffs. Our primary weapon is Rattler and the passing game so we should not give the opponent free downs by forcing running the ball when the opponent hasn't proven they can stop our passing game.

I understand what you're saying but respectfully disagree a bit. Psychologically, it is incredibly important for the defense to respect the run. That means we sometimes have to force the issue just to show we are NOT predictable and also to show our own team we can rely on the run instead of always doubting it. Tennessee saw more than enough to know that they can't just plan for Spencer to throw on every play. RPO's and draws, as well as bootlegs and read/options plays could eat them alive if they sell out to the pass. DK and Super Mario are proving to be damn good blockers so that throws yet one more wrench in the Vols' "revenge" plans.

Putting Tree at Left tackle seems to have transformed this unit. I know it's more complicated than that but Spencer seems so much more comfortable with him watching his back.

I can't recall any team maintaining any degree of success with zero run game. That's where we were. Zero. Nada. Now that the line is beginning to gel and we've found our #1 running back -- as well as excellent blocking backs... the running game is starting to show signs of carrying its weight.

 

[Deleted11512]

I understand what you're saying but respectfully disagree a bit. Psychologically, it is incredibly important for the defense to respect the run. That means we sometimes have to force the issue just to show we are NOT predictable and also to show our own team we can rely on the run instead of always doubting it. Tennessee saw more than enough to know that they can't just plan for Spencer to throw on every play. RPO's and draws, as well as bootlegs and read/options plays could eat them alive if they sell out to the pass. DK and Super Mario are proving to be damn good blockers so that throws yet one more wrench in the Vols' "revenge" plans.

Putting Tree at Left tackle seems to have transformed this unit. I know it's more complicated than that but Spencer seems so much more comfortable with him watching his back.

I can't recall any team maintaining any degree of success with zero run game. That's where we were. Zero. Nada. Now that the line is beginning to gel and we've found our #1 running back -- as well as excellent blocking backs... the running game is starting to show signs of carrying its weight.

Agree. Teams are blitzing 42% of Ratt's dropbacks. That's nuts. When defenses can pin their ears back bc they don't respect the run, you're in trouble. Thankfully, Ratt is handling the pressure like a boss. If it were impacting his game, we'd be 1-3 with a close win over FU.

 

[bayrooster]

We can’t throw every play!

Because why? Tradition? I say keep doing what works until they stop you.

 

[Prestonyte]

Because why? Tradition? I say keep doing what works until they stop you.

Agree. Running is only a distraction to enable the passing game. When we run the ball on consecutive plays in a possession it leads to surrendering the ball on downs to the opponent.