CanesAreAble
All-ACC
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2011
- Messages
- 9,241
I tried to figure out how and why our offense just died after looking unstoppable.
The offensive line had a few bad reps, but they weren't the main culprit.
The two biggest issues I saw:
1. Playcalling/personnel grouping
I don't understand why Lofton was getting so much burn in obvious passing sets. For example, on the possession that began at our 14-yard line at 8:51 in the 4th quarter, it was 3rd & 6. We're in a 2x2 set with Lofton flexed to the slot like he's Kyle Pitts or something. Wake brings a 5-man pressure, but Mensah has time to get rid of the ball. On the broadcast, Jordan Rodgers said Mensah should've looked for Toney on the other side. I don't think the slot go-ball was a bad decision, IF you have a WR in the game. If that's Upshaw/Spafford/Wingo/Jacobs, it's probably a touchdown. Instead he slightly overshoots Lofton.
On top of that, Dawson ran cold with the playcalling. Bunch sets to the boundary instead of getting guys in space. We ran a couple mesh concepts (one against man, one against zone), but neither worked. As dialed as he was in the 1st half and the beginning of the 3rd quarter, he was just off.
If you're gonna insist on Lofton in the game, maybe run some pistol w/ some boot action. Maybe run a counter off the TE wheel we hit for a TD in the 2nd quarter.
I've seen some say Dawson got conservative, but that's not really what I saw. Only 3 of the 15 plays called in that stretch were runs. And yes I know you can still call passes and be conservative, but that just wasn't the case, IMO.
He was simply not good. Bad time for Dawson to get cold.
2. Mensah having an uncharacteristically poor stretch
Mensah has been better than advertised, and **** near perfect. But this was a bit of a rough stretch for him. I thought his eyes were in the wrong place a couple times. I thought he didn't pull the trigger on one play that was there. That was when Dawson went over to talk to him. He looked ****ed after the game. I think he knows he could've played better and we should've choked them out when it was 31-13.
I know I said the OL wasn't the main culprit, but they weren't a strength, either. The IOL simply has to get better. That would alleviate some of the pressure on Mensah to be nearly flawless. Being able to run for 4 or 5 yards consistently would open up so much. That was the underrated strength of the 2024 offense with Cam Ward. We were 5th in the nation in ypc. We dropped to 82nd last year.
Right now, we're much closer to 2025 than 2024, but we don't have the elite pass-blocking and short-yardage running to compensate.
Mario and Mirabal are really gonna have to earn their money this season.
The offensive line had a few bad reps, but they weren't the main culprit.
The two biggest issues I saw:
1. Playcalling/personnel grouping
I don't understand why Lofton was getting so much burn in obvious passing sets. For example, on the possession that began at our 14-yard line at 8:51 in the 4th quarter, it was 3rd & 6. We're in a 2x2 set with Lofton flexed to the slot like he's Kyle Pitts or something. Wake brings a 5-man pressure, but Mensah has time to get rid of the ball. On the broadcast, Jordan Rodgers said Mensah should've looked for Toney on the other side. I don't think the slot go-ball was a bad decision, IF you have a WR in the game. If that's Upshaw/Spafford/Wingo/Jacobs, it's probably a touchdown. Instead he slightly overshoots Lofton.
On top of that, Dawson ran cold with the playcalling. Bunch sets to the boundary instead of getting guys in space. We ran a couple mesh concepts (one against man, one against zone), but neither worked. As dialed as he was in the 1st half and the beginning of the 3rd quarter, he was just off.
If you're gonna insist on Lofton in the game, maybe run some pistol w/ some boot action. Maybe run a counter off the TE wheel we hit for a TD in the 2nd quarter.
I've seen some say Dawson got conservative, but that's not really what I saw. Only 3 of the 15 plays called in that stretch were runs. And yes I know you can still call passes and be conservative, but that just wasn't the case, IMO.
He was simply not good. Bad time for Dawson to get cold.
2. Mensah having an uncharacteristically poor stretch
Mensah has been better than advertised, and **** near perfect. But this was a bit of a rough stretch for him. I thought his eyes were in the wrong place a couple times. I thought he didn't pull the trigger on one play that was there. That was when Dawson went over to talk to him. He looked ****ed after the game. I think he knows he could've played better and we should've choked them out when it was 31-13.
I know I said the OL wasn't the main culprit, but they weren't a strength, either. The IOL simply has to get better. That would alleviate some of the pressure on Mensah to be nearly flawless. Being able to run for 4 or 5 yards consistently would open up so much. That was the underrated strength of the 2024 offense with Cam Ward. We were 5th in the nation in ypc. We dropped to 82nd last year.
Right now, we're much closer to 2025 than 2024, but we don't have the elite pass-blocking and short-yardage running to compensate.
Mario and Mirabal are really gonna have to earn their money this season.
