Short yardage problems

[ejfudd]

There was a thread in August about this where I️ said this would be a problem and would cost us. I️ remember [MENTION=3]LuCane[/MENTION] and a few others saying you don’t need to pound it, the game has evolved, just need to get creative, etc.

Well, Richt isn’t getting creative and it almost cost us. We couldn’t get the first down, UVA got the ball back, and marched it down to our 35 or so. That could’ve been disastrous, and had they scored on that drive this board would be calling for Richt’s head for putting a walk on fullback in the game.

We don’t ever go under center, so QB sneak is not an option. We can’t run between the tackles. Running wide isn’t preferred because horizontal in short yardage has low percentage conversion rate, and especially won’t work against fast defenses like Clemson.

Bubble screen has worked at times, but you saw the UVA guy almost pick 6 one yesterday. It’s gotta be wildcat or rosier with his legs. I️ don’t think Richt necessarily trusts Rosier to make an accurate short yardage throw in these situations, because Between AR, Berrios and Herndon we have 3 very solid possession receivers.

My guess is we have a trick play in the bag that we are saving for when we really need it (Clemson, playoffs). But not being able to convert a single third and 1 ALL SEASON by smashing it up the middle is pathetic and unacceptable.


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Back to humbly claim a bit of credit for raising this issue in August...said it may turn out to be our Achilles Heel, (obviously overstated). IMO, this issue is important, but mostly unfixable with the current roster...OL issues, no FB, no power back (Homer is 195 lbs, soaking wet). Creative play calling only gets you so far IMO, because it inevitably involves risks of TFLs and turnovers when you can't afford them. Next year will be different. This year, we make do, and continue to find ways to win...

 

[LuCane]

There was a thread in August about this where I️ said this would be a problem and would cost us. I️ remember @LuCane and a few others saying you don’t need to pound it, the game has evolved, just need to get creative, etc.

Well, Richt isn’t getting creative and it almost cost us.


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Well, you need to get creative. If we're not going to do that, then sure, we're going to struggle. Like I said in that thread, this isnt a unique problem. Teams at all levels are spreading it out and getting creative inside the 10. We're resorting to a handful of plays and someone is going to focus on the QB draw at some point, closing one of them down. Then we'll have the 50/50, low percentage fade and a handful of others. I have to think we've got something in the bag for later. I'm not sure we've yet run a single rub route in the RZ.

 

[TheRichtShow]

Gauthier at center is killing us in short yardage. Go watch the game and you'll see it.

If your center gets pushed back into the backfield you are done.

And he's single handedly the reason we have success on QB draws.

Dude has been playing at an all-ACC level. I agree though he needs to get stronger so he can hold up better in short yardage. But it's not all on him. Darling hasn't been good, other than Herndon we don't have a TE that blocks, and we have no FB.

 

[JMG]

I’m tired of hearing about the ******* fullback excuse.

No you don’t need a FB to run a short yardage play.

Maybe it’s because our offensive line is not very good. Has anyone thought of that?

I watched Gauthier get blown into the backfield and Donaldson get thrown around like a ragdoll. Donaldson has no balance whatsoever it’s hard to watch.

 

[scrantoncane]

There was a thread in August about this where I️ said this would be a problem and would cost us. I️ remember @LuCane and a few others saying you don’t need to pound it, the game has evolved, just need to get creative, etc.

Well, Richt isn’t getting creative and it almost cost us.


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Well, you need to get creative. If we're not going to do that, then sure, we're going to struggle. Like I said in that thread, this isnt a unique problem. Teams at all levels are spreading it out and getting creative inside the 10. We're resorting to a handful of plays and someone is going to focus on the QB draw at some point, closing one of them down. Then we'll have the 50/50, low percentage fade and a handful of others. I have to think we've got something in the bag for later. I'm not sure we've yet run a single rub route in the RZ.

Malik is actually a very patient and shifty runner. He has looked great on those draws. But I️ agree that we’ve probably got everything we could out of that play. Teams are going to be ready for it. But if nothing else, it should freeze a LB that has to account for it and give us better matchup numbers elsewhere.

Herndon whiffed on his block too. If we are going to show our cards and trot out the walk on, I’d rather see an unbalanced line. Maybe one of our backup OL can help get a push.




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[Lokest]

I would really like deejay in the wildcat in some of these short yardage situations. He rarely loses yards and is patient enough to find some type of room to fit through.

 

[native]

I have a fundamental problem with the notion that it is somehow the right play to attempt to run the ball right into the heart of a defense which is expecting that very play and expecting good things to come of it. I will never understand this concept, and for the life of me do not understand why coaches are so fond of this abortion of a play. You have the entire width of the field available to you. Why on earth would you lock in to between the tackles plays knowing full well that's exactly what the defense is lining up to stop? I don't understand if it's ego or stubbornness or what, but this has never made any sense to me.

That is the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results!

 

[native]

Homer could have run for 200 in this game had he seen the holes and I'm being 150% serious.

You are so right. I love Homer but his vision is clearly not his strong suit.

 

[88]

I’m tired of hearing about the ******* fullback excuse.

No you don’t need a FB to run a short yardage play.

Maybe it’s because our offensive line is not very good. Has anyone thought of that?

I watched Gauthier get blown into the backfield and Donaldson get thrown around like a ragdoll. Donaldson has no balance whatsoever it’s hard to watch.

He needs to cut some weight

 

[The Franchise]

You’re going to struggle to block 9 guys flying downhill at you. We are too predictable and too slow-developing in short yardage. Parrot blocks like a parakeet. And teams simply fly at the LOS when we line up in 3rd and short.

 

[avicenna75]

we have no full back.

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A fullback doesn’t prevent a center from getting blown off the ball.

 

[Unsider]

I have a fundamental problem with the notion that it is somehow the right play to attempt to run the ball right into the heart of a defense which is expecting that very play and expecting good things to come of it. I will never understand this concept, and for the life of me do not understand why coaches are so fond of this abortion of a play. You have the entire width of the field available to you. Why on earth would you lock in to between the tackles plays knowing full well that's exactly what the defense is lining up to stop? I don't understand if it's ego or stubbornness or what, but this has never made any sense to me.

Why we don't roll Rosier out and he can either keep it and run or toss two yard pass to TE .... duh

Agree. On this one play/formation with the fullback, he could have easily kept the ball and run after a fake. There was hardly anyone on D outside the pocket in Malik's lane as everyone bought the run.

 

[RepTheGables]

Nice name, OP.

 

[avicenna75]

We’re also way too predictable on short yardage. This offensive line can’t consistently get a push, and we ask them to block an ISO play on an obvious running play? I’d like to see us do more qb sneaks, misdirection, and bootlegs.

 

[OrdunaDrive]

If we were confident with the quarterback being under center, the QB sneak would be the play. A super effective play, especially if you hurry to the line and catch the D out of position.

 

[STtheGreat]

we never line up in iform so the one time we do on 3rd and 1 we were asking to get stuffed... and we did

 

[Canezum5]

Gauthier at center is killing us in short yardage. Go watch the game and you'll see it.

If your center gets pushed back into the backfield you are done.

I was looking for this. At the end of the day. If your center cant hold the point of attack youre going to get killed in short yardage no matter what. Hanback was backhanding gauthier.

 

[Canezum5]

Gauthier at center is killing us in short yardage. Go watch the game and you'll see it.

If your center gets pushed back into the backfield you are done.

And he's single handedly the reason we have success on QB draws.

Dude has been playing at an all-ACC level. I agree though he needs to get stronger so he can hold up better in short yardage. But it's not all on him. Darling hasn't been good, other than Herndon we don't have a TE that blocks, and we have no FB.

A draw is such a mentally deceptive play, it gives, even a below average center a chance to seal off a defender.

He is definitely serviceable but he struggle holding the point of attack.

 

[ejfudd]

There was a thread in August about this where I️ said this would be a problem and would cost us. I️ remember @LuCane and a few others saying you don’t need to pound it, the game has evolved, just need to get creative, etc.

Well, Richt isn’t getting creative and it almost cost us.


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Well, you need to get creative. If we're not going to do that, then sure, we're going to struggle. Like I said in that thread, this isnt a unique problem. Teams at all levels are spreading it out and getting creative inside the 10. We're resorting to a handful of plays and someone is going to focus on the QB draw at some point, closing one of them down. Then we'll have the 50/50, low percentage fade and a handful of others. I have to think we've got something in the bag for later. I'm not sure we've yet run a single rub route in the RZ.

Marshawn Lynch stared in disbelief as Pete Carroll's "creativity" lost him a Super Bowl ring.

 

[gogeta4]

The full back thing is an excuse.

Were not creative- half of the time we run right into the teeth
Were not creative with our snap count. The dl constantly get a jump on our guys in short yardage
We have a horrendous blcok scheme on alot of them. On the play yesterday. Gauthier got pushed back....BUT Darling didnt have a man on his head..its short yardage and he didnt even attempt to double on the shaded nose and was heading outside helping.

Im gonna go with were simply not creative. EVERYTIME we have short yardage i can predict the play the gap everything. If ic an do it a dline getting off definately can and a blitzing lb can. Also its a MINDSET. If you have finess blocking schemes..dont practice it much..or at full tilt. You get what we see the last two years.

M