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What offense and defense would you run at Miami?

motorcitycane

motorcitycane

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If you could choose to run any type of offense or defense here which offense would you run given our talent and recruiting base.

Also please list a current college team that runs the offense or defense you would run.

For offense I had some difficulty because there are so many great offenses in college.

Consistently over the years I don’t think I’ve watched a team more consistent on offense than Oklahoma. I actually believe they do more with less than most other teams. Outside of the occasional Top 10 they usually fall between 11-20 in the final recruiting rankings. That’s about where we have been also with the occasional top 10 Class.

I like the run pass ratio that they go with.
Usually 500-600 Rush attempts per season with 400+ passing attempts.

I think a lot spread and gimmick coaches would kill it at Miami. I was always a fan of the pro style back when it worked for us in the early 2000s. I think it actually may have hurt us in addition to coaching in the mid to late 2000s and early 2010s.

Some teams that lack talent like Louisville make up for it with the gimmick offenses. Even Washington State has upset some big time teams with less talent with innovative offenses. A innovative offense the last 15 years probably gets us at no less than 9-10 wins a season.

I used data from CFB Reference to compare the two schools.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes Football Record By Year | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

Oklahoma Sooners Football Record By Year | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

247 Recruiting Rankings Team
Miami vs Oklahoma (We have landed pretty close in team rankings)

Miami (Years Outrecruited OU)
2018
2014
2013
2012
2008
2007

OU (Years OU outrecruited Miami)
2017
2016
2015
2011
2010
2009

It’s even over the last 12 years. But who has had my re success the last 12 years? I’d say Oklahoma with the offense.


Let’s look at run and pass attempts for Miami and OU. (Yes we run drastically different styles)

2017
Miami
424 Pass Attempts
400 Rush Attempts

OU
433 pass attempts
534 rush attempts over 14 games is an extra (38 rushing attempts per game)

I’m okay with our pass attempt numbers that’s why Rosier broke records. More attempts = More opportunities. But we could definitely stand to run the ball some more.

Defensively some may be surprised by this one.
I’d like to run the VT 4-4 defense really as a 4-2-5. But similar looks that VT gives. They’ve consistently given teams fits over the years.

Also the Wisconsin defensive playbook has been consistent over the years. They also rank highly on defense year in and year out. VT gets the vote because they usually accumulate more explosive defensive plays than Wisky.

Our defense would be lightning fast and disruptive like Miami should be and is known for.

Let’s hear you guys takes and opinions?

Ohio State offense is also a close 2nd for me.
 
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I think Clemson's screen offense would be best here with the many athletes we have. Oklahoma's is great as well.

Defensively, I think the 3-3-5 defense that San Diego State runs would be best here.
 
Nothing wrong with running a pro set. It works.

Defense, I'm happy with the 4-3 hybrid that we run. Because our CB's our good enough, I wish we could see some more 4-4 and really lay the smackdown on spread option teams.

Ole Miss knocked Tim Tebows **** in the dirt by running a lot of 4-4 in that game. It makes the QB have to throw deep to beat you, something that Jesus never really did well.
 
this is a tough question
i always felt a wide open attack like art briles would have worked here

in terms of defense
im a homer when it comes to a classic 4x3 alignment and i feel michigan state runs that system the best
 
Astcloud11 said:
I think Clemson's screen offense would be best here with the many athletes we have. .
Click to expand...

Great poster. Couldn't disagree with you more on this one point.

That pop gun offense requires a generational talent like DeShaun Watson to win at an elite level. We are seeing their struggles since he left and even Clemson fans are starting to accept the fact that, with their current offense, they aren't the perennial juggernaut they thought they were a couple years ago. Yes, their talent overall is still ridiculous and in the ACC that makes them essentially a playoff shoe-in given Willie in their division, and our struggles to take it to the next level. BUT, as long as Clemson is running this offense, they are going to need a Watson/Lamar Jackson/Jameis Winston/Johhny Manzeil type QB to have a chance at the ultimate prize. Those type of guys just don't come around that often.

I still think a "pro-style" offense; think Philly, LAR, NE, etc is the way to win consistently in today's college football with the talent available to us. The problem we are having right now is that we are calling our offense "pro-style" when it is really the functional equivalent of the triple wishbone in today's college game. The other problem we are having right now is that we are playing a QB who, even in Clemson's screen offense, would struggle to complete more than half of his passes.

As for defense, Miami should be running a 4 down linemen system that relies heavily on press coverage, generally keeps the safeties over the top as centerfielders and has athletic backers and d-linemen who are given the freedom to make plays. A Miami defense should be a defense that isn't afraid to give up some plays underneath, but is going to have an upfield rush, ball hawking and hard hitting playmakers all over the field. To score on us should require 10-15 play drives and should be very infrequent because if a drive takes that many plays, we are going to get a sack, a pick, a fumble, or just knock someone out somewhere along the way.
 
I've always been a fan of the pro-style offense, with a few spread elements/packages mixed in. Personally I think it has helped prepare players for the next level and to an extent, explains why so many UM players have gone on to success in the league.

Defensively, I tend to favor a 4-2-5 alignment as it helps to defend against many of the spread offenses used in college today. I love the idea of a hybrid safety/lb aka "striker" position and the flexibility it offers.
 
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Clemson or OSU's offense

Keep the 4-3 but make it more disciplined. CBs pressing and a better emphasis tackling.
 
IMO, it's easier for Miami to find skill position playmakers than top flight offensive linemen. Without 5 NFL players on your line, the pro-style/ two back offense doesn't work. Plus, it requires the QB to make a lot of reads that most college quarterbacks aren't capable of. The spread is simpler and plays to our strengths. It doesn't require five superstar linemen and can be altered to be as run-heavy or pass heavy as you want. I like what Clemson does. They don't have near the skill position talent as Miami and Kelly Bryant is a limited passer but they're still effective. Obviously Oklahoma is probably the offensive king of college football right now but I believe a lot of that has to do with who's under center. I think Miami wins the national championship last year if you swapped Malik Rosier for Baker Mayfield.

As for defense, I'm all in on the 4-2-5. I like the idea of swapping a third linebacker for a safety who can still play the run. Most teams in college run some type of 3 wide offense so playing a 4-3 just forces you into a mismatch playing a linebacker on a receiver. I actually like a lot of what Manny Diaz does. I'm far more interested in a defense that puts a premium on negative yardage "havoc" plays. I just think Manny needs to dial it back a little bit. You don't always have to blitz in passing situations. Especially when you put a premium on linemen that can get upfield. You'll probably get gouged for big gains occasionally because that's what happens when you're aggressive but I'd take that every day over getting nickle and dimed up and down the field ala D'Onfrio.
 
g8rh8rMD said:
Great poster. Couldn't disagree with you more on this one point.

That pop gun offense requires a generational talent like DeShaun Watson to win at an elite level. We are seeing their struggles since he left and even Clemson fans are starting to accept the fact that, with their current offense, they aren't the perennial juggernaut they thought they were a couple years ago. Yes, their talent overall is still ridiculous and in the ACC that makes them essentially a playoff shoe-in given Willie in their division, and our struggles to take it to the next level. BUT, as long as Clemson is running this offense, they are going to need a Watson/Lamar Jackson/Jameis Winston/Johhny Manzeil type QB to have a chance at the ultimate prize. Those type of guys just don't come around that often.
Click to expand...

I think their WR play has gone down tremendously. We on the other hand, can continue to get guys like Mark Pope, Jeff Thomas, Mike Harley ( who would be a perfect blocker/WR in the scheme), AR, and pretty much all these shifty WRs that can get huge YAC.

Our TE's are known to be good to great pass catchers and we also have done a great job recruiting in and out of state at the position...even Jordan Leggett who became a 5th round pick out of that offense is from Florida.

In terms of QB, I strongly agree with you that we can't expect to luck into those elite QB's every year...But Nkosi Perry would do good in this offense, as it is a lot less stress on a systematical approach like Richt's offense. (Which is why Lamar Jackson did so great at UL, and I feel Perry would've had his talents best maximized there if we're being honest). Nkosi is not a bad QB, but we are square pegging him right now and it's taking a bit to mold him into what this scheme requires. Nkosi was breaking records last year and didn't even know how to read a defense? Yeah, I don't think a guy like Perry would be hard to find in Florida at least every other year.
 
luciano.8 said:
3-3-5...what in the world
Click to expand...

The 3-3-5, if I'm not mistaken, fits well with what you'll find a ton of in South Florida. Tons of DB's, and ton's of DE/LB hybrids.

Edit: Forgot to mention, it's good for teams who don't have huge D-Lineman
 
Gsugradcanefan said:
Wasn't that the defense Richt was running at UGA when they got blasted by WV in the 06 sugar bowl?
Click to expand...

I believe that was Todd Grantham's defense of choice. There's two types of 3-3-5 defenses. There's the "stack" which uses 3 down linemen, 3 traditional linebackers two corners, two safeties and a "rover" extra safety.

Then you have Jeremy Pruitt's 3-3-5 which he used successfully at Alabama and Florida State. He uses an odd front 3 down linemen (NT usually lining up over the center) with a hybrid rush linebacker (essentially a standup D-End) There's two traditional linebackers and a rover that plays closer to the line of scrimmage (Derwin James at FSU) and the rest of the backfield is traditional 2 corners, 2 deep safeties.
 
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The Offense I would love to see us run is something from a Josh Heupel's, Mike Norvell's or Sterlin Gilbert's systems.

Not just because of their lethal Passing attacks, but they also have maximized how to run the ball at a high level despite not having elite OL's. Heupel was at Oklahoma from 06-14 & a lot of the offensive innovation people attribute to Lincoln Riley really came from him. He's also developed QB's like Bradford, Landry Jones, Drew Lock etc.

Mike Norvell made below average QB's like Paxton Lynch & Riley Ferguson look like good passers & when he was OC at AZ St they won 10 games back to back in 2013-14 & he made another below average QB like Taylor Kelly look like a legit passer, he threw for 3,365yds 28TD's & 12INT's his Junior year.

And Sterlin Gilbert has one of the best rushing offenses in college, they've been a top 10 rushing team since he got there at USF & even in the down years at Texas his offense produced a 2,000yd rusher in D'Onta Foreman who was a 3-star RB coming out of HS.

My point is, if you gave these guys as OC's our skill players as we would annihilate teams with an uptempo pace attack hitting teams with breakneck speed on the perimeter & our Run game would improve drastically which would make our overall Offense run more efficiently regardless of who the QB is.

As for Defense, whatever system that makes us top 10 in stopping the run is what we need. I think from a personnel standpoint we're a 4-3/ 4-2-5 team, but we need to be way more stout upfront at the point of attack. And we need to play way more Press Coverage with our Corners. Dial down the Zone Blitzes, we leave too many holes open in the middle of the field.

Gary Patterson runs the 4-2-5 the correct way, especially given they're playing with one hand tied behind their back in the Big XII & he still manages to put together pretty good Defenses.
 
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I would run Chip Kelly’s Oregon offense. I don’t think we can have the Oline to run a pro style and win Nattys over what Bama has on Dline. Our skill positions are second to none which would allow maximum value from them.

Dual threat QBs can be found while I think the pro style ones are difficult to find and develop.

Those undersized SF speedsters could become takes as Kelly knows how to use them.

How fun would it be to watch us drop 60 on folks. The way to counter what Bama/UGA do on D is to go uptempo. I think we can get out oline to be light years better than what Oregon had back in the day.

On defense give me what TCU does on D (4-2-5).
 
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