Echoing
@skyman,
@JayCane20, and
@dudenate, we need to start stretching the field through the air against conference foes. I would be surprised if Mensah's FBS ADOT is much different from Beck's last year, and Mensah was one of the best deep ball passers in the country last year. While it's cool that Mensah is completing 85% of his passes, that number is also an indicator that we aren't trying to stress the defense downfield enough. I am all for efficient QB-play, but you really shouldn't be completing passes at such a high rate, and no other QB with 100 attempts is above 75% this year.
It's partly a function of trying to protect the new OL holding up in pass protection (where they are weakest) long enough to stretch the field. Everything is held back a level downfield because of that. We are keeping our backs in to block much more, thus they have barely been factors in the passing game against ACC foes. I haven't watched too closely, but I would guess Lofton is hanging out on the line a bit longer than is ideal with how well he is playing as a receiver. Upshaw's long reception is for 21 yards and he's averaging just 9.9 yards/reception. Jacobs has been less existent than Sam Brown, which needs to change ASAP. Wingo is the most obvious candidate for more snaps, but I don't think the Earth will stop spinning if we try Spafford and Toney on the field at the same time.
Similarly, we need to manufacture some explosive run plays beyond the inevitable Fletcher/Mallory going beast mode late in the game against an exhausted opponent. Probably should be a combo of reverses/jet sweeps to Toney leveraging off Fletcher/Mallory success running between the tackles, and simply giving Pringle and Lyle a few more carries each game.
There's no reason to go full carnival trickster mode this year, but the complete absence of the Malicat package this year has been an overcorrection, IMO, and its reintroduction could help us manufacture more explosive opportunities on offense.
