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How to utilize Elijah Lofton

DC3 said:
I mean we really didn’t even use Arroyo much last year so this really shouldn’t be a shock to anyone. They aren’t going to feed him like he is Bowers at UGA.
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They better utilize Schott like Bowers
 
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IndayArtHauz said:
Usually not a good sign that a generational talent needs a strategy session on how to use them.
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Damiencane86 said:
My biggest knock on Dawson as an OC has been his puzzling underutilization of TE's in general. Lofton might not be a great blocker at current but he can still be used in run game on 3rd/4th & short + RZ packages. And can still be split wide depending on the matchup. Dawson needs to figure it out. Bauman & Ruskovich can block in the meantime.
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This is the fair critique.

That being said, I don’t think we’ll be able to judge this offense until after UF and FSU. By then they should be fully gelled, playbook will be opened up, etc.
 
Have my doubts on Lofton being a big time contributor here atleast at Tight end. Dawson like alot of air raid guys just run their offense and dont really go out their box to scheme a specific guy up in the way i believe you need to in order for Lofton to have the impact alot of Cane fans except
 
nickster said:
It's so funny how coaches and fans rave about him but so far but he's done very little on the field to garner that praise.
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I mean he came out the gate with two big catches vs UF last year but coaches consistently say he’s one of if not the best player on the team, so there is significant hype around him.
 
sstcane said:
His blocking was definitely a concern. I hope it was just rust and he improves going forward.

I would love to see him in a split backfield, running or motioning out putting the defense in a bind. Possibly in space against a LB.

Use him in some RPO's in the flats like we did with Herndon and Njoku back in the day, He's a beast to bring down in the open field.

TE Screens - suck the pass rush up field and drop it off to him. maybe save this for the Gators.

Also rushing the ball - I was at the spring practice scrimmage last year that he looked amazing.

What other ways would you hope to see Dawson use some creativity with him?
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He’s not an in-line tight end, we got to move him outside. Play him in the slot for some snaps. We have to put him in the position where he can showcase how good of football player he is. Blocking just isn’t his strength.
 
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It's the QB's decision as to who gets the ball on a play by play basis.

People act as is Dawson tells the QB to not throw to the TE.

If the TE is on the field & isn't blocking, then he's running a route. If he's running a route, then that means he's an option to get a target. If the QB doesn't throw him the ball, that's not on the OC.
 
I was watching some old highlights the other day and every time I saw Najeh Davenport catch a wheel route or pass out of the backfield I kept seeing Elijah Lofton in that role. Lofton clearly isn’t the running back Davenport was but he could still be a reliable weapon used in the right situations.

There’s only so many receptions to be made in a game. I would guess Carson back might attempt 30 to 35 passes a game, completing 65 to 70% of those. You’ve got Baby Jesus out there running routes, with CJ Daniels, Josh Moore, Marion, et al.
 
This is more important than we think

We play tons of 11 personnel(3wr 1rb 1te). So as our TE or really just in general for any level you have to be able to 1. Block well IN- LINE, 2. Be a better WR than our 3rd or 4th WR. For example:

2023 arroyo was hurt so we had Cam McCormick, very good in-line blocker but he isn’t a receiving threat we valued his blocking over brashard who was our wr4. This led to our tendencies being predictable because if brashard is in at wr its most likely a pass if cam is in its most likely a run and even if its not its basically just an extra olineman out there instead of a receiving threat

2024 Arroyo is healthy, now we can play our regular 11 personnel and teams can’t use those same tendencies because arroyo can block in line and he could easily be one of our best WRs. So its harder to match personnel, harder to figure out tendencies and really it’s just a better player on the field if you have someone who can block in line and be a real threat as a receiver.

So my thing with lofton is, just measurables wise he probably wont be that good of a blocker vs real comp, he doesnt look like a very good wr just with his movement ability & route running but maybe they think he is a better wr than our wr4 who knows.

So either we design plays specifically for him to get the ball for his playmaking ability which dawson hasn’t shown he likes for swiss army players or we move him to RB?…We will see but it’s something to watch for the entire offense
 
nickster said:
It's so funny how coaches and fans rave about him but so far but he's done very little on the field to garner that praise.
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That's because they're not getting him the ball. Have you seen him drop any passes or get blanketed by a defender. No because they used him to block 90% of the game. They know what he can do now it's time to unleash it.
 
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Damiencane86 said:
My biggest knock on Dawson as an OC has been his puzzling underutilization of TE's in general. Lofton might not be a great blocker at current but he can still be used in run game on 3rd/4th & short + RZ packages. And can still be split wide depending on the matchup. Dawson needs to figure it out. Bauman & Ruskovich can block in the meantime.
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They need changing formations where he can be dangerous flexed out and/or carrying the ball so he can punish the other team for being in the wrong look and either too small or too slow, otherwise just put a real blocker in there or a real receiver if we are gonna line up and do vanilla stuff.
 
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