Based on what we saw in
@Stevo365 breakdown, I think some are going a little overboard on the, "dink and dunk" stuff. I get why that's a concern given past experiences by us and the "other" UM, but he did not have TVD at QB.
Unless he is a complete fool, and totally ignores every drop of film on TVD from JR year of HS through the end of last season, he will have an intermediate and downfield element to his offense. TVD is at his best when teams are afraid he is going to chuck it. That's all over every game last season from NC State onward.
We passed from multiple formations and all personnel groupings, from a bunch formation with trips through trips way the **** spread to the field side. In at least 50% of the passing calls we are sending, or at least threatening downfield. Now, unfortunately, we bungled a ton of those with some crappy stuff from the WRs. I think some of you are forgetting how bad it is when you don't have a short and intermediate passing game.
You saw it with Richt, everything was a downfield throw or an RPO, there was no intermediate passing game. With Lashlee, the guy almost never had a RB in a primary pass catching role even when the defenses were completely giving that to us. Remember that pass to the RB that FSU ripped off for 40 on the go-ahead drive? We had that open for US all **** day. It's all a trade-off.
Whether you want to run to setup the pass, or pass to setup the run, you need to be a threat to do so out of all your formations, so there will be some
'dink and dunks" to keep teams honest when they are cheating heavily towards the run. Not all of what Gattis will run is my cup of tea. I hate, hate, hate those unblocked run concepts. They just don't work as much as OC think they do, and if they get you 1 yard on the first try, you lose 3 to 4 the next three times you try it. It becomes a major advantage to the defense to crash those every time and come out ahead. Edge players have gotten way to fast for that anyway. I do like how varied his running game is overall. Between Richt and Lashlee, if I see one more inside zone I am going to puke. We have to be able to manufacture some run game.
Looming in the background is everyone's concern about the Justin Herbert experience, and I share that one, too. I highly doubt Cristobal has had some philosophical change where he's now an Air Raid guy. He wants physicality first and foremost. If there is one thing consistent about Alabama, they are built to run the football when all else fails. I think he shares that view. He also shares the view that he needs South FL athletes, and I hope he is perceptive enough to realize he needs
this year's team to buy-in or eventually, there is no more next year. If he allows his offense to be put in a 10 yard box, a la Enos, he will lose both groups fast. Pay attention, Mario, and we're all good.