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Shannon Dawson

bigmeech

bigmeech

Joined
Aug 6, 2026
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People love to hate on Shannon Dawson, but most of them just don’t get how good of a play-caller he actually is.
This is a guy who inherited a QB who couldn’t throw until late in fall camp due to Carson's UCL surgery and still found a way to get them to a national championship by scheming around that limitation. Last year was massive for his growth as a play-caller because he was forced to lean on the run game — something that goes completely against his Air Raid roots.
In 2024 we had the best offense in college football. The only real problem was that we scored so fast we couldn’t keep our defense off the field, and that’s exactly what cost us against Syracuse. Look at what happens whenever Shannon has legitimate weapons: 2012 WVU, the Tank Dell Houston teams, and 2024. Straight video-game numbers every single time.
Right now he’s working with the most talented offense he’s ever coached. We were on pace to be better than 2019 LSU in 2024 with Cam , and I fully expect the same (or better) this year.
 
I hope reporters irritate him much earlier in the season so his creative juices are immediately flowing.

Please stay away from particular tendencies, like the 13/13 run calls into the SMU overloaded front.

I forgot the exact saying around here, but something like ‘let it rip’ or ‘let it fly.’ Whatever. Do that all the time. That’s directed at more than Dawson. It’s for Mario/Dawson/Mirabal.
 
Anyone hating on Dawson is a lost soul. Bow you hate on him is beyond me. Especially when none of his haters can do what he do
 
My only gripe is lack of TE usage and screen game. I’m not talking about bubble passes to WRs but rather like a HB slip screen. The year with Arroyo until proven otherwise is an outlier regarding TE usage.

This year we happen to be thin at TE and loaded at WR so I guess we’ll see.

When we had ward in 2024 it also seemed like we threw the ball too much in certain situations, like if it’s 3rd and 1 I don’t mind just pounding the rock and living with the results if you don’t get it


With all that said he has been a good OC for us. The fact that we retained our coordinators on both sides is huge for this year.
 
Overall, I think he's good and the consistency of having him is good as well, so on the balance, I'm glad we were able to keep him.

Having said that, there were times where he would be a little gimmicky instead of meat and potatoes, when we should have just gone for a boring, high percentage play. Again, I think we're lucky to have him and as the OP said, he seems willing to learn and evolve. I hope part of that evolution is him continuing to get a better feel for the flow of a game and have a better sense of when to toss in a low-percentage gimmick and when to just get the first down and be creative at another time.

I raise a glass to Dawson! May he help lead us to our first natty since Chud was calling the plays.
 
LuCane said:
I hope reporters irritate him much earlier in the season so his creative juices are immediately flowing.

Please stay away from particular tendencies, like the 13/13 run calls into the SMU overloaded front.

I forgot the exact saying around here, but something like ‘let it rip’ or ‘let it fly.’ Whatever. Do that all the time. That’s directed at more than Dawson. It’s for Mario/Dawson/Mirabal.
Click to expand...
Let it rip, and keep dawson in his Clark Kent glasses, seems to have his best games while on.
 
Very hard to hate on Dawson. I think this season is a blend of both of his last two QBs and he’s going to be much more comfortable.
 
canes_226 said:
My only gripe is lack of TE usage and screen game. I’m not talking about bubble passes to WRs but rather like a HB slip screen. The year with Arroyo until proven otherwise is an outlier regarding TE usage.

This year we happen to be thin at TE and loaded at WR so I guess we’ll see.

When we had ward in 2024 it also seemed like we threw the ball too much in certain situations, like if it’s 3rd and 1 I don’t mind just pounding the rock and living with the results if you don’t get it


With all that said he has been a good OC for us. The fact that we retained our coordinators on both sides is huge for this year.
Click to expand...
Are you forgetting what he did with Elijah? Last year our TEs were simply not good enough. Bauman was bad and Lofton was hurt and over weight. Why should he have incorporated them last year when they weren't productive when they did get opportunities?
 
filmcane said:
Overall, I think he's good and the consistency of having him is good as well, so on the balance, I'm glad we were able to keep him.

Having said that, there were times where he would be a little gimmicky instead of meat and potatoes, when we should have just gone for a boring, high percentage play. Again, I think we're lucky to have him and as the OP said, he seems willing to learn and evolve. I hope part of that evolution is him continuing to get a better feel for the flow of a game and have a better sense of when to toss in a low-percentage gimmick and when to just get the first down and be creative at another time.

I raise a glass to Dawson! May he help lead us to our first natty since Chud was calling the plays.
Click to expand...
We had to rely on gimmicks at times because carsons arm kind of went dead as the season went on.
 
bigmeech said:
Are you forgetting what he did with Elijah? Last year our TEs were simply not good enough. Bauman was bad and Lofton was hurt and over weight. Why should he have incorporated them last year when they weren't productive when they did get opportunities?
Click to expand...

I hope he proves me wrong. TE usage has been underwhelming as a whole though during his time here. Hopefully Lofton becomes that guy this year.

I also don’t think there has been a single HB screen during his tenure here too, it might just not be apart of the offense.

I’m not bashing him, this is more nitpicking. He’s a good OC and I do think Mensah will be the perfect gun slinger for him. Would like to see more RPO this year as well which I think we will.
 
bigmeech said:
People love to hate on Shannon Dawson, but most of them just don’t get how good of a play-caller he actually is.
This is a guy who inherited a QB who couldn’t throw until late in fall camp due to Carson's UCL surgery and still found a way to get them to a national championship by scheming around that limitation. Last year was massive for his growth as a play-caller because he was forced to lean on the run game — something that goes completely against his Air Raid roots.
In 2024 we had the best offense in college football. The only real problem was that we scored so fast we couldn’t keep our defense off the field, and that’s exactly what cost us against Syracuse. Look at what happens whenever Shannon has legitimate weapons: 2012 WVU, the Tank Dell Houston teams, and 2024. Straight video-game numbers every single time.
Right now he’s working with the most talented offense he’s ever coached. We were on pace to be better than 2019 LSU in 2024 with Cam , and I fully expect the same (or better) this year.
Click to expand...
So you’re saying that in 2024 we lost vs Syracuse because we scored too fast? Thats what you’re going with?
 
bigmeech said:
People love to hate on Shannon Dawson, but most of them just don’t get how good of a play-caller he actually is.
This is a guy who inherited a QB who couldn’t throw until late in fall camp due to Carson's UCL surgery and still found a way to get them to a national championship by scheming around that limitation. Last year was massive for his growth as a play-caller because he was forced to lean on the run game — something that goes completely against his Air Raid roots.
In 2024 we had the best offense in college football. The only real problem was that we scored so fast we couldn’t keep our defense off the field, and that’s exactly what cost us against Syracuse. Look at what happens whenever Shannon has legitimate weapons: 2012 WVU, the Tank Dell Houston teams, and 2024. Straight video-game numbers every single time.
Right now he’s working with the most talented offense he’s ever coached. We were on pace to be better than 2019 LSU in 2024 with Cam , and I fully expect the same (or better) this year.
Click to expand...
Miami’s TD drives vs Syracuse in 2024

9 plays 75 yard 4:14
7 plays 63 yards 3:04
8 plays 93 yards 3:38
8 plays 75 yards 3:19
8 plays 75 yards 3:45

That’s too fast?

And Holgorsen was the play-caller for 2012 WVU
 
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✅ Top transfer QB that participated in Spring practice.

✅ The best skill talent and competitive depth he's ever had to work with (arguably tops in CFB) on year 3 in his system.

✅ Quality defensive coaching with high-level talent and competitive depth on other side of the ball.

I've seen Mensah/Mali/Fletcher carry teams to wins, and I believe Lofton/Lyle have gamebreaking talent as well.

This year should be fun.
 
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LuCane said:
I hope reporters irritate him much earlier in the season so his creative juices are immediately flowing.

Please stay away from particular tendencies, like the 13/13 run calls into the SMU overloaded front.

I forgot the exact saying around here, but something like ‘let it rip’ or ‘let it fly.’ Whatever. Do that all the time. That’s directed at more than Dawson. It’s for Mario/Dawson/Mirabal.
Click to expand...
I expect him to come out on fire with the play calling like he did in 2024
 
Numb Nuts said:
bigmeech said:
People love to hate on Shannon Dawson, but most of them just don’t get how good of a play-caller he actually is.
This is a guy who inherited a QB who couldn’t throw until late in fall camp due to Carson's UCL surgery and still found a way to get them to a national championship by scheming around that limitation. Last year was massive for his growth as a play-caller because he was forced to lean on the run game — something that goes completely against his Air Raid roots.
In 2024 we had the best offense in college football. The only real problem was that we scored so fast we couldn’t keep our defense off the field, and that’s exactly what cost us against Syracuse. Look at what happens whenever Shannon has legitimate weapons: 2012 WVU, the Tank Dell Houston teams, and 2024. Straight video-game numbers every single time.
Right now he’s working with the most talented offense he’s ever coached. We were on pace to be better than 2019 LSU in 2024 with Cam , and I fully expect the same (or better) this year.
Click to expand...
Miami’s TD drives vs Syracuse in 2024

9 plays 75 yard 4:14
7 plays 63 yards 3:04
8 plays 93 yards 3:38
8 plays 75 yards 3:19
8 plays 75 yards 3:45

That’s too fast?

And Holgorsen was the play-caller for 2012 WVU
Click to expand...
With how bad our defense was? Yes.
 
Pearson704 said:
✅ Top transfer QB that participated in Spring practice.

✅ The best skill talent and competitive depth he's ever had to work with (arguably tops in CFB) on year 3 in his system.

✅ Quality defensive coaching with high-level talent and competitive depth on other side of the ball.

I've seen Mensah/Mali/Fletcher carry teams to wins, and I believe Lofton/Lyle have gamebreaking talent as well.

This year should be fun.
Click to expand...
This team can do something very special this year. I don't want to get ahead of myself but I see a lot of records being broke this year.
 
bigmeech said:
People love to hate on Shannon Dawson, but most of them just don’t get how good of a play-caller he actually is.
This is a guy who inherited a QB who couldn’t throw until late in fall camp due to Carson's UCL surgery and still found a way to get them to a national championship by scheming around that limitation. Last year was massive for his growth as a play-caller because he was forced to lean on the run game — something that goes completely against his Air Raid roots.
In 2024 we had the best offense in college football. The only real problem was that we scored so fast we couldn’t keep our defense off the field, and that’s exactly what cost us against Syracuse. Look at what happens whenever Shannon has legitimate weapons: 2012 WVU, the Tank Dell Houston teams, and 2024. Straight video-game numbers every single time.
Right now he’s working with the most talented offense he’s ever coached. We were on pace to be better than 2019 LSU in 2024 with Cam , and I fully expect the same (or better) this year.
Click to expand...
It’s how long he take to make adjustments that’s his real issue .
 
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