Our run game vs FSU

lol. I mean in some cases, it might work. Just not often for us.

Honestly, I think D'Eriq King getting hurt might have been the best thing to happen to Rhett Lashlee. He's had to be a little bit more deliberate on offense and I think that's paid off with better play calling. I'm a Lashlee fan and I think he can scheme with the best of them but I honestly believe he was/is too wrapped up in going as fast as possible and it leads to lazy play calling at times. I get that you want to get to the line fast after a first down and catch the defense off guard but if you just call the same inside zone play every first down, especially if your line is below average, you're shooting yourself in the foot. Since TVD has taken over, they still operate at a fast pace but it's a bit more deliberate now. It's almost like instead of just running any play as fast as possible, Lashlee is taking a second more to make his calls and the offense is just much more functional.
I was never a huge fan of his bc he’s always been run first. I never thought a run first guy would work here bc our line has been so bad for so long. But when he put up 30+ a game last year, I was left trying to figure out if it was him or King. Still haven’t really made up my mind on that yet.

You are correct on the fast part. He wanted to win with speed not scheme. When that stopped working he finally made some strides out scheming people. He’s always been a rhythm guy but when it matters most or he’s inside the 20s, he falls back into what he knows. It’s a real issue and hasn’t gotten any better in two years. IMO the jury is still out on him.
 
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I was never a huge fan of his bc he’s always been run first. I never thought a run first guy would work here bc our line has been so bad for so long. But when he put up 30+ a game last year, I was left trying to figure out if it was him or King. Still haven’t really made up my mind on that yet.

You are correct on the fast part. He wanted to win with speed not scheme. When that stopped working he finally made some strides out scheming people. He’s always been a rhythm guy but when it matters most or he’s inside the 20s, he falls back into what he knows. It’s a real issue and hasn’t gotten any better in two years. IMO the jury is still out on him.
I think the two seasons he spent at SMU with Sonny Dykes really helped expand his playbook. Before that he was just a younger Gus Malzahn. Gus has obviously had success but his passing offense leaves a lot to be desired. Very limited route tree and not really creative. Getting a couple years with a real air raid guy like Dykes was the best thing for Lashlee. This offense with TVD at QB looks a lot more like his offense at SMU and less like his offense at Auburn.
 
We haven't been good in short yardage in 15 years. It's not a Lashlee thing or Rooster thing. It's an S&C and OL recruiting/coaching thing.

However, as hard as it is to swallow, Lashlee needs to recognize this and just scrap it entirely. We're not good at it. Stop trying to force it. Spread the field and throw it on 3rd and 1 if you have to. Or get under center and run a QB sneak. Your QB is 6'5 and 240 pounds.
He's also the only QB on the roster. I'm kinda ok not putting him in harms way.
 
They’ve expanded the run game quite a bit. More outside zone and fewer designed QB runs (obviously). They’re still poor in short yardage. There’s just no push, so any type of Inside run, regardless of formation or personnel, rarely works. You’ve got options but you also have to weigh personnel. You can’t rely on “heavy” formations because we don’t have blocking tight ends or even a fullback on the roster. So I think they need to do the opposite and really spread the field on short yardage. You can check to a run or pass call based on the defensive formation or even run an RPO. A slant when the middle of the field is vacated by run aggressive linebackers is an easier play than trying to force the ball up the gut against a defense that’s ready for it.
They act like they will get a push. Why, I’ll never know. -3 yards in a cloud of dust is usually the result when we need one.
 
The little rollout play where the TE fakes like he’s blocking and just leaks out late has been a short yardage staple for us. Provided Mallory doesn’t fumble the ball backwards, of course.
Have a counter built in just in case you get busted. I would have Key Smiff lined up on the same side where the play to Mallory will be going and have Key Smiff go deep or run a post.
 
I've said it in a few other threads, but I think the lack of designed runs for TVD is a direct result of not having a backup QB.

Good.

I don’t like them. Overusing them got King hurt and really held him back finding a passing rhythm.

TVD has the athletic ability to get crucial scramble yards. Let him get them when plays break down.

No need to beat the kid up unnecessarily when he is throwing the football and running the offense well.
 
The little rollout play where the TE fakes like he’s blocking and just leaks out late has been a short yardage staple for us. Provided Mallory doesn’t fumble the ball backwards, of course.
This is what we should’ve calling all along. And, if the TE is covered, TVD scrambles for 1.5 yards.
 
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