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Picking up the pace

DBT

DBT

Club Member
Club Member
How many times from the previous two staffs have we heard "we are going to pick up the pace" on offense only to witness an epic fail. Was our inability to do it because of the talent level on the field or did our coaches not have the ability to teach and execute it? Does MM intend to do it? Can he?

i know it is a complex topic. If we don't execute it puts our D back on the field too often. It increases the likelihood of mistakes including penalties. It requires getting plays in on time and players on and off the field quickly.
 
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From spring practice reports, it appears this coaching staff may actually know how to teach kids how to pick up the pace. But I'm not buying in until I see it on Saturday.
 
Neither of the previous two staffs knew how to put the kids in a position to understand their responsibilities well enough to go up tempo. I'm optimistic (but not holding my breath) that this staff knows better.
 
"Picking up the pace," or the failure to do so is a coaching issue plain and simple, you might not get it 100% right in year 1 but by year 2 you should be pretty well entrenched and successful.
 
I asked HCMM that question in a fan chat on ESPN and he answered that he does intend to do so, but not necessarily 100% of the time. From what I have read, it is actually not easy for the coaching staff b/c it changes how much they can coach up on the sidelines, it requires real precision and timing with the QB, etc., and is a bit of a science in terms of sign language and the speed of getting plays in, having the right player groupings in.

Therefore, given the fact that Embree, et. al. were mostly incompetent to be running a Div.1 program, they were doomed to fail in implementing something I suspect none of them had any real experience with even as position coaches. I believe that HCMM & Co. did some of that already at SJSU so it is not a stretch to believe they can implement it here.

However, as Absinthe said it may take another season to see it fully implemented b/c it takes better conditioning and better knowledge of the playbook (less thinking more reacting) than our team is probably ready for.
 
Neither of our previous offenses were designed to be run in a full on hurry up similar to what other colleges are doing these days. I have a feeling that the pistol may lend itself better to this. It doesnt seem that HCMM is making it a priority however which is actually sort of refreshing.
 
Not sure his offense at SJSU and here is typical "hurry up" type, but it will be much better than the crap we've seen for 7 years. Coach Mac really emphasizes playing fast though...
 
DBT said:
How many times from the previous two staffs have we heard "we are going to pick up the pace" on offense only to witness an epic fail. Was our inability to do it because of the talent level on the field or did our coaches not have the ability to teach and execute it? Does MM intend to do it? Can he?

i know it is a complex topic. If we don't execute it puts our D back on the field too often. It increases the likelihood of mistakes including penalties. It requires getting plays in on time and players on and off the field quickly.
Click to expand...

I am not sure what you mean by "pick up the pace". Typically the no huddle is to limit defensive substitutions - they don't necessarily snap the ball any quicker. The offense runs up to the line of scrimmage in a set formation and then the QB calls the play (or has it relayed in) based on the defensive set. The challenge is it takes a lot of coordination to do it successfully - from the coaches up in the box to the signalers to the QB. Embree et al did not seem to realize that you cannot get it up in running in one fall camp unless your coaches are really experienced. Look at WSU - Leach is an expert but they struggled with their offense.

You bring it in slowly over a couple of years...AND you have to have a QB that can run it.
 
I think changing the pace, or whatever you want to call it, situationally would be most effective. Kind of like a pitcher. Kind of "lull" the defense into a rythm then on a certain play in a given situation break the rythm and catch the defense off guard. Or maybe do it for a series of plays. Doing that for an entire game could play with the defense's head.
 
I believe HCMM on this.

1. He has an offense.
2. We have evidence of what he runs and how he runs it.
3. It was very successful.
4. He brought his OC with him to CU.

I like the practice reports from players about the pace at which they're playing, but what's been shown on the field at HCMM's previous stop is much more compelling.
 
Buffnik said:
I believe HCMM on this.

1. He has an offense.
2. We have evidence of what he runs and how he runs it.
3. It was very successful.
4. He brought his OC with him to CU.

I like the practice reports from players about the pace at which they're playing, but what's been shown on the field at HCMM's previous stop is much more compelling.
Click to expand...

Cue buffedup
 
DBT said:
I think changing the pace, or whatever you want to call it, situationally would be most effective. Kind of like a pitcher. Kind of "lull" the defense into a rythm then on a certain play in a given situation break the rythm and catch the defense off guard. Or maybe do it for a series of plays. Doing that for an entire game could play with the defense's head.
Click to expand...

HCMM's idea of "picking up the pace" begins in practice where the plyers hustle from one drill to the next and once involved, quickly move from one set to the next. No more standing around watching "1's run plays, everybody's involved and running the drills. When Neweasel came into Boulder for the Spring--commentator preview , he observed HCMM's team ran three reps in the same amount of time that Neweasel's UCLA guys would typically run one! You reap what you sow in practice. Even the injured players are running football-related exercises on the side---not moving wheelbarrows full of sand!
 
The last two staffs said they had a system each summer and then none of us could see it when they hit the field.
Pace of play within the lastt two staffs was also greatly hindered by the lack of discipline. There is no advantage to hurry up when penalties allow the defense time to rest and to execute substitutions. It will be a large step forward if the team can execute at a high pace this year without blowing up.
 
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Buffnik said:
I believe HCMM on this.

1. He has an offense.
2. We have evidence of what he runs and how he runs it.
3. It was very successful.
4. He brought his OC with him to CU.

I like the practice reports from players about the pace at which they're playing, but what's been shown on the field at HCMM's previous stop is much more compelling.
Click to expand...


Based on what I observed in some of the spring practices and scrimmages, things looked far more organized than what I saw during the Talkins/Embree days. Yes, every player was involved in some sort of drill/scrimmage and they all hustled to move from one drill to another. No one was standing around. IMO this should translate to better performance on game days. I will say that way back in March when practices 1st started, I did see some of the freshmen players who straggled to the practice field in a caviler way ended up getting the attention of their position coaches. Not in a good way.
 
Speeding up the pace is a good way to put pressure on the defense and limit adjustments.

As we saw the last couple years it requires that the offense to be organized and disciplined, both severely lacking.

I'd like to see us have the ability to use it in certain situations but in the first year of a new coaching staff with a whole roster that hasn't had a lot of discipline and organization in the past. I'd much rather us first take the time needed to get things right and have some success.

We are also seeing the effectiveness of speeding up the tempo decline as more teams do it and defenses put more effort into preparing for it.
 
'Tini said:
Cue buffedup
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I'm honored that you thought of me. Honestly, I hope that MM carries through with this plan, and based on his resume, it appears to be as likely as anything, but we have been fed this same line of bull**** by two previous coaching staffs over that last 7 years. I am now at the point where I will absolutely not be convinced or persuaded until I see the proof on the field. I've been duped one too many times as a Colorado fan.
 
This must be the theme of the offseason. Broncos are talking about picking up the pace. Tad is talking about picking up the pace.
 
buffedup said:
I'm honored that you thought of me. Honestly, I hope that MM carries through with this plan, and based on his resume, it appears to be as likely as anything, but we have been fed this same line of bull**** by two previous coaching staffs over that last 7 years. I am now at the point where I will absolutely not be convinced or persuaded until I see the proof on the field. I've been duped one too many times as a Colorado fan.
Click to expand...
No mention of "This is not SJSU!"? I'm a little disappointed.
 
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