Richt's (over)use of 4 verticals

[F-MarioCristobal]

The 3rd and 6 play clip gives me the vibe that VT knew exactly what we were about to do, run 4 verticals. 3rd and 6 is a great down and distance to play press man and bring your most effective blitz, it's rare you see a cushion 5 yards past the chains on every WR.

I like the vertical routes, and that's exactly why I don't understand why we think Harley doesn't fit in our offense. Do you know how much of a nightmare it would be to have Richards, Mullins, Devonta Smith, and Mike Harley running verts at the same time with N'Kosi at QB? Harley is a perfect fit for everything we're doing, if we were running a real Pro style, I'd understand but we're not.

At the same time, you gotta have a chance to throw these passes, and our OL can't give us that time so it makes no sense to me right now. Maybe after you run some quick hitters and get the D biting the quick plays and calling off the dogs on blitzing as a result, not when they have their ears pinned back the entire game

 

[StoneWallLoungeCane]

That third and 3 playcall is just bizarre.

 

[Jedi Master Cane]

Great post OP...your post highlights what several of us have been saying is the biggest problem with this offense, schematically.

We're ignoring the short to intermediate middle of the field. I went back and counted and we've run 5 slants TOTAL in 6 total games. Four of those 5 were completion for first downs and the fifth drew a pass interference. How this route is not the staple of our offense is beyond me, especially with the way DB's are lining up on us pre-snap. I have looked like crazy and still havent' seen a shallow cross. Crossing patterns in general are nonexistent in this offense. Digs and drags are nowhere to be found.

We get verticals, we get stops, and we get stops and go. It's the most schematically broken offense I've ever seen and doesn't even give our players a chance on many drives. It's like Richt is ignoring down and distance and assuming these route combinations are universally successful in every situation.

We need a dedicated OC.....and soon.

 

[Coach Macho]

I said this during the game. I was watching VT heat us up and we're just running 4-verts evert play. I actually saw us run 4-verts concept THREE plays in a row.

It's embarrassing and shows no imagination.

First off, we ain't even got four legitimate vertical threats on our team. We've got TWO receivers who can actually run.
Second, there's so many more effective ways to attack 2-high. Four verts is easy to cover when you're in 2-high.

Just flat-out embarrassing and shows no imagination.

 

[xo59english]

I was waiting for Herndon to break across the linebackers face on that seam route all game we never adjusted. Drag routes and the Texas route by the running backs would have killed them all game. I get depressed watching our offense.

 

[LuCane]

We talked about 4Vert all week after FSU and part of last week leading up to and after UNC. Kaaya did well with it under Coley at times, so it was natural to wonder why it wasn't being used. And, when we were going to see more of it.

Doesn't mean use it out of context. I'm still supportive of use of 4Vert for Kaaya. He just has to pull the trigger and we need to either use the RB to stay in or outlet underneath (as opposed to also streak). Again, TIMING is the bigger issue. Against FSU, 4Vert was the right call at times. Against VT, it may not have been. That is not playing the result. It's saying ahead of time that we need better timing and anticipation for when we're going to attack vertically or go into the underneath stuff or run into an 8 man box, etc.

 

[Moro]

Richt understands that he has a Hyundai vs a Top Fuel Dragster in a race to the finish line. As soon as he lets the button go; that **** dragster is already at the finish line pulling the shoots. These defenses are Teeing off on this OL the same way. You can scheme all you want ain't going to work with DB's and S's comfortably sitting on routes. Richt knows that he has to upgrade the OL. However, for now he can change what he and Searles are doing with the OL technique wise. He will have 50% more successful plays if they can just get that area together first. And then work on the next levels of the passing game as others have suggested; attacking the middle and deep field. I can't emphasis this enough; You can't scheme your way out the first level.

 

[iLoveTDs]

It's embarrassing. Richt actually wants Kayaa to find the 1v1 matchup there and chunk it up. But Kayaa isn't used to throwing WRs open or just tossing it up for grabs.

This is why people need to lay off Kayaa some. He's being asked to do things that are so counterintuitive (and in some cases unnecessary with today's modern offenses). Richt's passing game is archaic. His QBs have always had poor TD to INT ratios.

all too easy to blame the QB for everything. Proof is in the pudding though. Kayaa looks horrible under Richt. And these examples are a few reasons why.

 

[paksat]

His QBs have always had poor TD to INT ratios.

Don't make sh*t up dude

What stats are you gonna quote? The one where he had to play a backup QB vs TENN in the national championship?

David ***ing greene had 20 TDs to 4 INTs his final year at uga

I'll let you look up weinke's stats yourself

 

[iLoveTDs]

His QBs have always had poor TD to INT ratios.

Don't make sh*t up dude

What stats are you gonna quote? The one where he had to play a backup QB vs TENN in the national championship?

David ***ing greene had 20 TDs to 4 INTs his final year at uga

I'll let you look up weinke's stats yourself

How about Matthew stafford in 2006 7 TDs and 13 INTs. On his career he had 48 TDs and 32 INTs. That's the #1 overall draft pick and 5 star HS QB. Not impressed w/ that TD/INT ratio. David Greene in 2003 (jr year)had 13 TDs to 11 INTs.

Modern offenses are designed to take pressure off of QBs. Look at trubinskys numbers at UNC. Look all around the country. No one has TD/INT ratio like that. And certainly not a future 1st pick.

Go watch old UGA games. 4 verts is literally a staple of Richt's offense. He wants you to find 1v1 matchups and let it fly. Also - his offense is easy to prepare for (not many plays or different routes). I saw stafford throw a pick on a FB flats play (just like Kayaa against App st).

 

[paksat]

His QBs have always had poor TD to INT ratios.

Don't make sh*t up dude

What stats are you gonna quote? The one where he had to play a backup QB vs TENN in the national championship?

David ***ing greene had 20 TDs to 4 INTs his final year at uga

I'll let you look up weinke's stats yourself

How about Matthew stafford in 2006 13 INTs and 7 TDs. On his career he had 48 TDs and 32 INTs. That's the #1 overall draft pick and 5 star HS QB. Not impressed.

first year starting, not everyone's a pro right out the gates dude..

richt wasn't even calling plays anymore at that point anyway.. but go on

 

[iLoveTDs]

His QBs have always had poor TD to INT ratios.

Don't make sh*t up dude

What stats are you gonna quote? The one where he had to play a backup QB vs TENN in the national championship?

David ***ing greene had 20 TDs to 4 INTs his final year at uga

I'll let you look up weinke's stats yourself

How about Matthew stafford in 2006 13 INTs and 7 TDs. On his career he had 48 TDs and 32 INTs. That's the #1 overall draft pick and 5 star HS QB. Not impressed.

first year starting, not everyone's a pro right out the gates dude..

richt wasn't even calling plays anymore at that point anyway.. but go on

His career ratio is there. It's not impressive. And again, future 1st pick taken in draft and 5 star out of HS.

 

[Waffle Honcho]

4 Verticals sounds like a 60's soul group.

It's the same old plays, with a different result since Coley's been gone.

 

[paksat]

His QBs have always had poor TD to INT ratios.

Don't make sh*t up dude

What stats are you gonna quote? The one where he had to play a backup QB vs TENN in the national championship?

David ***ing greene had 20 TDs to 4 INTs his final year at uga

I'll let you look up weinke's stats yourself

How about Matthew stafford in 2006 13 INTs and 7 TDs. On his career he had 48 TDs and 32 INTs. That's the #1 overall draft pick and 5 star HS QB. Not impressed.

first year starting, not everyone's a pro right out the gates dude..

richt wasn't even calling plays anymore at that point anyway.. but go on

His career ratio is there. It's not impressive. And again, future 1st pick taken in draft and 5 star out of HS.

who was calling the plays? Pick a quarterback that he was actually directly involved in

besides, you're digging your own hole even deeper because that same trash quarterback became a 1st round 1st overall draft pick

if you really wanna push the point with stafford though:

following season posted almost a 2 to 1 ratio

season after posted a 2.5 to 1 ratio

horrible

 

[iLoveTDs]

Don't make sh*t up dude

What stats are you gonna quote? The one where he had to play a backup QB vs TENN in the national championship?

David ***ing greene had 20 TDs to 4 INTs his final year at uga

I'll let you look up weinke's stats yourself

How about Matthew stafford in 2006 13 INTs and 7 TDs. On his career he had 48 TDs and 32 INTs. That's the #1 overall draft pick and 5 star HS QB. Not impressed.

first year starting, not everyone's a pro right out the gates dude..

richt wasn't even calling plays anymore at that point anyway.. but go on

His career ratio is there. It's not impressive. And again, future 1st pick taken in draft and 5 star out of HS.

who was calling the plays? Pick a quarterback that he was actually directly involved in

besides, you're digging your own hole even deeper because that same trash quarterback became a 1st round 1st overall draft pick

if you really wanna push the point with stafford though:

following season posted almost a 2 to 1 ratio

season after posted a 2.5 to 1 ratio

horrible

Richt was calling the plays in 03 when junior QB David green (3rd year in system) threw 13 TDs and 11 INTs.

I'm listing Some of Richt's better QBs too. I didn't even look at Terishinski, Joe Cox, or Lambert/Grayson.

The best argument for Richt's system is when shockley was running the show his senior season. The most mobile QB Richt's ever had put up the best TD/INT ratio. (Charlie Ward at FSU too).

Which begs the question, why doesn't Richt strictly recruit mobiles? Hopefully that's the trend moving forward for us. N'Kosi seems like the first step.

 

[Coach Macho]

There's nothing wrong with 4-verts. It's about timing and when to use it.

There's no logical reason for running it 3 times in a row.
There's also no logical reason to run it when you're being heated up with the blitz. Get the **** ball out of the QB's hands.

At this point right now, Coley's offense looks much better than Richt's. When Coley got 2-high last year he ran the CB's and Safeties off with verts (or smash routes) and sent Yearby on an angle route. We killed Linebackers with this.

It's not some briliant play design but at least it attempts to put a defender into a conflict. (the MLB)

 

[Moro]

None of that is going to work consistently; if you don't take a way the angles the DE's are using against your T's. See FSU, NC and VT for examples... That play was blown up 98% of the time that was it was run, that is why Richt stopped going to it. I can't emphasis this enough; You can't scheme your way out the first level.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

The North Carolina game was the most egregious example, IMO. That defense is pathetic yet we let them off the hook largely via play calling and timing of it. There's nothing wrong with 4 verticals in attacking situations, as others have emphasized. But we had receivers far too deep when all we needed was a basic third down conversion. I mentioned it immediately following that game. I couldn't believe the difficult deep sideline throws we were asking Kaaya to make when North Carolina was all but ignoring short stuff over the middle and out of the backfield.

We go for it on 4th down in that game and challenge the end zone when all we needed was a couple of yards. There weren't even routes designed to pick up a couple of yards on that play. As soon as Kaaya forced it I yelled to the guy seated next to me that we were trying a 1 in 3 pass when there should have been multiple 2 in 3 options.

It's all about stealing a few percent here and there. These Canes are doing it in reverse, sacrificing a few percent in so many categories. I almost want to punch something because I envisioned a power based I formation team, and all the wonderful residue that flows from that.

 

[brock]

The North Carolina game was the most egregious example, IMO. That defense is pathetic yet we let them off the hook largely via play calling and timing of it. There's nothing wrong with 4 verticals in attacking situations, as others have emphasized. But we had receivers far too deep when all we needed was a basic third down conversion. I mentioned it immediately following that game. I couldn't believe the difficult deep sideline throws we were asking Kaaya to make when North Carolina was all but ignoring short stuff over the middle and out of the backfield.

We go for it on 4th down in that game and challenge the end zone when all we needed was a couple of yards. There weren't even routes designed to pick up a couple of yards on that play. As soon as Kaaya forced it I yelled to the guy seated next to me that we were trying a 1 in 3 pass when there should have been multiple 2 in 3 options.

It's all about stealing a few percent here and there. These Canes are doing it in reverse, sacrificing a few percent in so many categories. I almost want to punch something because I envisioned a power based I formation team, and all the wonderful residue that flows from that.

That's why I don't understand all the heat kaaya is taking. Between the play calling, the oline and receivers dropping passes it's almost like he's set up to fail from the get go. Could he have played better this year? Of course no one isn't saying that but the problem with our offense extends much further than his play

 

[2Focusd804]

Kaaya is being coached where to throw the football because of richt's "system" y'all should keep that in mind..

you got anything to back that up or is it just your opinion?