Sayeth the commentators:
"There's not a sound football guy in the world [who would have kicked the onside kick when Leach elected to]"
Sayeth Joel:
Leach doesn't think like other college football coaches. That is, in part, why he is so effective (I'm attributing the rest to his emphasis on the fundamentals *of his scheme*). Therefore the rationale for the onside kick - an unexpected onside kick is much more likely to be effective than an expected onside kick. By taking the chance he looked to put his O back on the field and continue to make the Longhorns suffer from his attritional style, whilst at the same time relying on his D who had played excellently in the first half.
A sound football guy should know that the unexpected is effective - see PLAY ACTION PASS and DRAW for more details. Of course, it isn't always (Seahawks 3rd down draw scheme) but that isn't to say that we should criticise coaches for taking shots and risks.
Rant over.
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Weekend fixtures
As I gobble through the weekend fixtures here are some more observations:
1 - I love it that some programmes are scheduling proper inter divisional match ups. Ok, so Oregon wasn't a scorcher against Boise, and SC vs NC State wasn't a giggle fest either, but these (and the Va Tech vs Tide game) give me much more respect for the programmes involved, particularly on opening weekend. And no, it didn't work out for Georgia. But if it had, and they ran the table in the SEC, there could have been no disputing their national title credentials. I haven't finished watching the Tide game yet.
2 - The first Alabama TD was great. Lovely to see the RB just hammering somebody to go over the line.
3 - Tyrod Taylor looks overrated. However the 1 read offense being run in the passing game by 'bama isn't super impressive either.
1 - I love it that some programmes are scheduling proper inter divisional match ups. Ok, so Oregon wasn't a scorcher against Boise, and SC vs NC State wasn't a giggle fest either, but these (and the Va Tech vs Tide game) give me much more respect for the programmes involved, particularly on opening weekend. And no, it didn't work out for Georgia. But if it had, and they ran the table in the SEC, there could have been no disputing their national title credentials. I haven't finished watching the Tide game yet.
2 - The first Alabama TD was great. Lovely to see the RB just hammering somebody to go over the line.
3 - Tyrod Taylor looks overrated. However the 1 read offense being run in the passing game by 'bama isn't super impressive either.
Friday, 4 September 2009
Football season!
I'm lucky enough to have ESPN America. The first game I'm watching this year is Oregon and Boise State on the smurf turf, and I'm super excited.
I guess this is a kind of live blog thing. But I have no readers.
I could be more excited during the game, to be fair. Boise have decided fumbling is an effective offensive play, and Oregon aren't exactly getting a decent return out of their enormous combination of QB and RB (Masoli is a giant of a man, and Blount is a freak beast senior, who will go high in the draft this year if he can put together some decent productivity and stay healthy). First quarter and some punts isn't what I was after.
In fact, so far the most impressive play has been a fourth down conversion from Boise when they went super heavy on the line and ploughed up for the yard they needed and then some. I say this was the best play because it was designed for success, coming off a quick count, rather than the odd completion which seems to be a bit flukey.
I'm quite liking the lefty quarterback for Boise. It's odd watching pass plays develop back to front. You'd think with that kind of advantage Leinart would be handy for the Buzzsaw, but there you go.
The coverage of this game is absolute garbage - let's have some crows shots and then "how about this formation... maybe the Ducks didn't have this on their reel of trick plays". No shit, jerk off, probably because you've elected not to show the actual formation. "It's as funky a formation as you are going to see"- then show it you fuckwits.
Five minutes later we finally get it.
The Ducks are in some serious trouble here. A safety gets scored when the defense just flat out inhales the spread read. I actually agree with the commentator a little here - the East/West running style of the spread option read offense does make you vulnerable in the tight areas.
Second half - a change of starting/featured backs seems to have made Boise even more menacing. Avery didn't seem to be hitting the hole as quickly as the new back (Harper) in the first half, and he promptly breaks off a long run, showing good patience to wait for the blocks on the right hand side to come back downhill.
Oregon come back out on offense, show a lovely zone read play, but only get a yard or two. The edge defender wasn't interested in the (to me very convincing) play fake and gobbles up the QB. The subsequent play goes for a loss. I'm wondering where the inside zone play is. A little underneath screen sees Blount take a horrific shot in the back. Boise are happy to cough up a yard for that kind of impact.
For all the talk about the TZR/Taser position, this is not a new innovation Oregon. You're using itty bitty backs as waterbug receivers to run jet sweeps and bubble screens. For more details of how this works, see Percy Harvin last year, and basically every other team who use the zone read.
Oregon get on the board with the inside zone. I'd take credit and kudos, except two plays back Blount bashed into the line for a yard on the other half of the inside zone, so I shan't.
Now they're showing Masoli bulldozing a safety from last year. I'm more impressed that the O Lineman is in the mix with the three other DBs, chasing like a man half his size.
Boise get a gorgeous downfield pass off. The left tackle cut down the pass rush like he was chopping with an axe and the pass came out over the middle like an absolute rocket.
Boise put the game to bed after having a decent try at giving it away with fumbles - Oregon could have won this with a bit of composure, but their O just didn't get started.
And the game ends in scandal. Excellent news. That's just what we want
Bored of writing now
I guess this is a kind of live blog thing. But I have no readers.
I could be more excited during the game, to be fair. Boise have decided fumbling is an effective offensive play, and Oregon aren't exactly getting a decent return out of their enormous combination of QB and RB (Masoli is a giant of a man, and Blount is a freak beast senior, who will go high in the draft this year if he can put together some decent productivity and stay healthy). First quarter and some punts isn't what I was after.
In fact, so far the most impressive play has been a fourth down conversion from Boise when they went super heavy on the line and ploughed up for the yard they needed and then some. I say this was the best play because it was designed for success, coming off a quick count, rather than the odd completion which seems to be a bit flukey.
I'm quite liking the lefty quarterback for Boise. It's odd watching pass plays develop back to front. You'd think with that kind of advantage Leinart would be handy for the Buzzsaw, but there you go.
The coverage of this game is absolute garbage - let's have some crows shots and then "how about this formation... maybe the Ducks didn't have this on their reel of trick plays". No shit, jerk off, probably because you've elected not to show the actual formation. "It's as funky a formation as you are going to see"- then show it you fuckwits.
Five minutes later we finally get it.
The Ducks are in some serious trouble here. A safety gets scored when the defense just flat out inhales the spread read. I actually agree with the commentator a little here - the East/West running style of the spread option read offense does make you vulnerable in the tight areas.
Second half - a change of starting/featured backs seems to have made Boise even more menacing. Avery didn't seem to be hitting the hole as quickly as the new back (Harper) in the first half, and he promptly breaks off a long run, showing good patience to wait for the blocks on the right hand side to come back downhill.
Oregon come back out on offense, show a lovely zone read play, but only get a yard or two. The edge defender wasn't interested in the (to me very convincing) play fake and gobbles up the QB. The subsequent play goes for a loss. I'm wondering where the inside zone play is. A little underneath screen sees Blount take a horrific shot in the back. Boise are happy to cough up a yard for that kind of impact.
For all the talk about the TZR/Taser position, this is not a new innovation Oregon. You're using itty bitty backs as waterbug receivers to run jet sweeps and bubble screens. For more details of how this works, see Percy Harvin last year, and basically every other team who use the zone read.
Oregon get on the board with the inside zone. I'd take credit and kudos, except two plays back Blount bashed into the line for a yard on the other half of the inside zone, so I shan't.
Now they're showing Masoli bulldozing a safety from last year. I'm more impressed that the O Lineman is in the mix with the three other DBs, chasing like a man half his size.
Boise get a gorgeous downfield pass off. The left tackle cut down the pass rush like he was chopping with an axe and the pass came out over the middle like an absolute rocket.
Boise put the game to bed after having a decent try at giving it away with fumbles - Oregon could have won this with a bit of composure, but their O just didn't get started.
And the game ends in scandal. Excellent news. That's just what we want
Bored of writing now
Sunday, 14 June 2009
Scouting next year's draft
I love the draft. Love it to bits. The hope, the promise, the prospect for change... and then the success, the failure, the disappointment, plus the odd bolter.
This is why I love the National Football Post's scouting the draft - because it is never too early to start guessing at who will go high in the next draft.
And, of course, it adds spice to my watching of the fall's college ball. And yes, I don't like the word fall for autumn, but there we go. Here's a link:
Scouting Series
This is why I love the National Football Post's scouting the draft - because it is never too early to start guessing at who will go high in the next draft.
And, of course, it adds spice to my watching of the fall's college ball. And yes, I don't like the word fall for autumn, but there we go. Here's a link:
Scouting Series
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