Let’s just stick to the facts:
- 7th in Total Offense
- 13th in points per game (37.7)
- 14th in Passing Offense
- 12th in Completion %
- 11th in Passing efficiency
- 17th in Time of possession
- 22nd in Sacks allowed
- 27th in Rushing Offense
- 28th in 3rd down conversion
- 34th in First downs
Have tremendous respect for your opinions, Memnon. Here are a few observations as to why there are some significant issues on Offense right now that need to be fixed fast or this season will end up being a poor one:
1) When the outcome of the UNC game was really going to be determined (3rd qtr & 1st half of the 4th qtr), the Offense was too predictable, didn’t produce much & made mistakes. A lot of those yds produced by our O last night came when the game was already well out of reach. The stats in the crucial 3rd qtr were poor;
2) A lot of those stats were generated against weak teams. Everyone rags on the ACC, but the truth is it’s actually really tough to go through the ACC slate unscathed. Even Duke has become a seriously tough out. Virtually any team in the ACC can beat any other team on any given night (especially if there are multiple turnovers, dumb penalties at the wrong time etc). Even BC gave FSU a serious scare;
3) The O hasn’t been nearly as crisp the last two games as it was in the 1st 4 games. That is troubling. The lack of diversity in the offense (it’s basically run between the tackles & throw to the 3 WRs (especially X), means it’s now far too predictable. There’s now film on what Dawson is going to do on O at Miami. I like Dawson as an OC (big upgrade over last yr’s OC) but he should be giving opponents fits with a diverse offense that puts speed in space & is multiple. By not targeting the TEs more & the RBs in the passing game, it’s making the job of defending us infinitely easier. DCs can basically commit greater resources to defending our WRs (which makes their job harder) and a “two trick pony” will start to falter. Have we thrown a wheel route to CJ? Run him outside the tackles. Run a reverse to Harrell? We’ve done none of that. The serious lack of production in the 2nd half (while the outcome was still in doubt), is a trouble sign. Simply cannot keep doing the same two things over & over the rest of the season and expect a good outcome. It’s far too predictable;
4) Won’t win in the ACC with multiple turnovers. The RBs need to have two hands on the ball on critical downs. Parrish has been so dependable for us to date but that was a huge fumble last night. Harris should also have been right in front of Chaney at the end of the GT game preaching two hands on the ball & not to fight for extra yardage in that situation. The INTs are also starting to really pile up (because the O has become predictable & we’re now playing better teams with better coaching & TVD has got to get more players not named X involved). Can’t keep going back to the same well over & over and expect that to work out. Doing that also makes X’s job infinitely harder;
5) We have home run threats that we’re barely using. CJ has ridiculous speed. It popped off the screen in the few plays he’s had. I get that he’s likely not able to withstand 20+ carries per game (especially between the tackles) but he can be used for 5-10 plays a game the same way that his namesake was used in the NFL (where he was an absolute superstar) & Reggie Bush & Duke Johnson we’re used in the pros. Have him run outside the tackles, throw him a wheel route, screen plays, toss sweeps etc. You could also use Harrell by literally putting the ball in his hands & letting him run. Also, send him deep early in games (to loosen up the D) & when nothing else is working. Worst case scenario, you throw an INT 40-50 yds down the field (basically the equivalent of a punt especially on 3rd down). Best case, he houses a few & the D then has to adjust to that opening everything else up;
6) TVD should spend far more time in practice throwing to the TEs & RBs. He then needs to make better decisions in games & use them heavily instead of forcing balls into coverage. This one adjustment — which should be very doable if it’s made a point of emphasis — would completely change the Offense & make it multiple. It will also limit the number of INTs thrown;
7) We need to use the TEs more in the red zone. Go big. Split TEs out & give TVD some big targets to throw at. We could change our efficiency in the red zone significantly by using this strategy. Red zone efficiency needs to improve. Dorsey to Shockey (against FSU & Nebraska) seems like a distant memory at this point. It’s a very effective strategy. We badly need Arroyo back but Riley also needs more targets;
8) More Brashard Smth please. He has really developed this season. Major props to him. Dude is becoming a dawg. The “fight” in him is evident. His return against A&M was a game changer & he’s come close to busting some big gainers in his limited opps. Needs more targets. Deserves more targets. We need more explosive plays on O to limit our dependence on a sustained high level of execution play after play. Brashard offers that potential; and
9) Give TVD time in games to regain his composure. Take some pressure off him. Jacurri has 4 games he can play w/out burning his redshirt. Physically, he’s a monster. Put him in for a series or two if things aren’t going well. Run him out of the wildcat & give the D something different to contend with. I also think Emory is poised & intelligent & absolutely can handle a series or two, if called upon. Put him in to spell TVD & let him play (don’t handcuff him). I’m confident he would distribute the ball effectively to the playmakers & let them do their thing. At minimum, that could let TVD settle down & take some pressure off him when things aren’t going well (instead of letting things spiral).
In summary, those stats will start nosediving hard if we don’t become more diverse on offense. The most important stat is W-L and that has already gone from 4-0 to 4-2. We need to win this year. It’s crucial to the trajectory of the Mario Cristobal era.
