MarkW
Well-Known Member
My favorite offensive play of the season:
That’s what I’ve been wanting to see from the O line and backs.
That’s what I’ve been wanting to see from the O line and backs.
AllBuffs | Unofficial fan site for the University of Colorado at Boulder Athletics programs
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
Prime Time. Prime Time. Its a new era for Colorado football. Consider signing up for a club membership! For $20/year, you can get access to all the special features at Allbuffs, including club member only forums, dark mode, avatars and best of all no ads ! But seriously, please sign up so that we can pay the bills. No one earns money here, and we can use your $20 to keep this hellhole running. You can sign up for a club membership by navigating to your account in the upper right and clicking on "Account Upgrades". Make it happen!
The Running Game - or lack thereof
- Thread starter Darth Snow
- Start date
I'm so glad I didn't see that tweet until after the game was over
Smalls is developing as a TE and it has made a huge difference. His blocking has been impactful and he's doing just enough as a receiver right now to make our 11 personnel sets as dangerous to a defense as 10 personnel. We're starting to get some diversity and balance to our offense that's much harder to scheme against.
GoldStampede
Well-Known Member
During halftime, I texted a friend and told him that it was the most complete half of football we had seen from Deion other than the first half of the Stanford game. He was not pleased with me!
I knew we weren't going to fold though, so I didn't care about the potential jinx
SeanMSan
Well-Known Member
I was happy at halftime, but then remembered the 2018 OSU game (BWalk game?), and Stanford from last season.During halftime, I texted a friend and told him that it was the most complete half of football we had seen from Deion other than the first half of the Stanford game. He was not pleased with me!
I knew we weren't going to fold though, so I didn't care about the potential jinx
Bump. We didn't try and run the ball for two full quarters, and only half the issues were on the OL. Where did 11 personnel and the misdirection (or just more complicated scheme) running go? Why do we keep forgetting the lessons on this subject as a coaching staff?
This was a very poorly called game by PS/SS
Having an entire Bye Week to come up with even more creative stuff against KSU, and we essentially roll out the Week 1 and 2 offense that killed us, instead of building off the Week 5 offense. Incredible use of 13 days. I liked the TD run with 2 Tight Ends, and it is obvious that Augustave is the home run back, he should get the most carries, but it sounds like practice rep efforts hold him back, and Dallan has the best QB Protect skills.
Our offense looks like a High School JV offense with John Elway at QB, and it is embarrassing to watch such imbalance and non-creativity. Would love to see a toss sweep, would love to see SS under center, loved the Quick Game that was really effective. When we were in 10 personnel, it was either a sack or a great effort and throw by SS, and I cannot remember a single run that even got 4 yards from the draw game. Prime said Pat called a great game, we just did not execute, and that just rings hollow considering we know what all our players can and cannot do, so scheming and being creative to confuse and misdirect the defense is all we got the rest of the year.
Couple analysts talked about how the other teams know that they can show a certain Box to Shedeur up to the 15 second mark, or until he checks the play, and then move into another look or defense and confusion will reign. It is also obvious that all our Routes are very long routes which seems counterproductive to our line play and the amount of time he will have. We actually went bunch, or brought the WR's tighter to the formation and there was minor success on a throw or two, but the went tight and then ran into a more heavy box? Why not play fake and make that a throwing down with extra protection.
This offense is a conundrum and we will just have to watch 6 more iterations of it and we shall see if it ever gets back to balance.
I keep thinking during the game that a draw with a patient RB would have been successful.
GRM
I'm a ****ty troll
You hit it on the head, bad game called by both PS and SS. Either PS w/ Prime demands the plays as called be run 85% of the time; or SS understands the value in running the ball--thereby refraining on some pass audibles and running more, so the overall game plan is basically followed. The Buffs are in a catch 22. A ton of SS's yards and big plays are passing via him extending the play, however this opens the O up for the big sacks and penalties. That is a risk of frequently changing things at the line. These are college kids not NFL lineman.
I get the feeling that SS is supremely confident that he can hit big on any pass play, yet this mindset can be root cause slowing the run game audibling out of run into pass. If Buffs get a penalty or sack, then they are in bad down and distances forced to pass and more one dimensional. Also, on pass plays the online is moving lateral or back, not pressing forward. At home, you reward the Oline by letting them eat (i.e. hit, plow and punish) via running the ball even if only moderate success. This generally keeps the team out of poor down and distances-- 2nd & 8/9 is better than 1st & 15, or 2nd and 18.
I'm vexed at CU's inability to run well at home. The Oline/backs should be fired up by the crowd and just make some things happen--ride the crowd. The Oline and backs have to be given the opportunity to pound early or they get frustrated. With even a little running success, the Oline gains confidence and they bully the defense some. However, at home the crowd is quieter for the home O, enabling more more play changes at the line--and I think the CU O gets caught in this trap.
I feel one reason we ran better at UCF was their crowd was so loud rendering line audibles difficult; so the called play was ran. The result was a much better offensive outing, and exerting some control on the game. 1st half of kNU was so brutal, since CU/SS thought they could run line audibles, and it was just too loud.
Thing is overall, KSU was one of SS's better statistical games of the season even with all the players going down to injury. Almost a come from behind, however they were playing from behind, briefly got the lead yet it was a loss. With the WR's going down they should have dumbed things down a bit--as injuries limited options. TH value as a WR it that he is SS's security blanket, he is the player SS relies on for the shorter hot route, as he always gets separation and has crazy ball skills. Also, TH simplifies the game for SS, as he probably dictates the defense more than any other player on the field. This leaves JH Jr. (2nd security blanket), Wester, Sheppard or whoever as the 2nd option. The Buffs have a week to get this straightened out, and put into place a plan B.
Also, is Welsh hurt? I same him on the participation chart, yet on his last run against UCF, he ran wide and sort of limped off. He is a Frosh, so getting banged up is to be expected. They need to 2 RB's involved, if not a trio running--each brings a different skill set. Dallan Hayden is the best back, but this can be because he may is probably best pass blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield.
GRM
I'm a ****ty troll
Agree with your take. They should have been more nuanced out of the bye week, both running and passing. Maybe show some motion, provide other hot short pass options looking for YAC. Even when teams stack the box, the run as called or a run audible can still break a big play. How many times has CU been gashed on a 3rd or 4th and short when we stacked? This happens to other teams as well.
With SS's at QB and the speed/athleticism at WR, it is not like teams who stack the box bring a full house blitz--they have to drop some guys to prevent being exploited.
Actually, I fear we can.
It’s almost like I’m starting to lose faith in Shurmur.
Yes we can, and most likely will
In order to lose faith in someone, one must have had some to begin with
You can be a very dynamic passing team with even just 2 WR's out in the pattern. Our route tree is very duplicative and just not as creative as anyone you see on any NFL team or the more creative CFB teams. Just not sure what our MO is? It feels like it is just "We have the best QB, so send 4 guys out and he will hit them". All these amazing stats and it never feels like we are in total control except for NU last year and UCF this year and that was defensively driven by turnovers and more balance.
Perplexed in many ways. Interesting that Cam Ward does a lot of the same things that SS does to just try and hero ball a lot of big throws and pocket escapes and they are coached by the same QB coach. Both can throw the ball incredibly well, but the interplay between running, line coordination, and game flow can really go off the rails with them both.
How does that get SS any stats?
That QB coach is fraud. Just sayin'
I think the Throwing and Accuracy aspect of the coaching is spectacular, but the mind of the QB in relation to a wholistic offensive approach is missing for some reason. Blend that with Shurmur that just also seems to miss the brilliance that is new NFL offenses from KC, Miami, or San Fran and it is an adventure every week.
pretty sure he missed a big hole on one of them too.
If we don't rely a lot more on 11 personnel while our WR room is down a bunch of guys next week, even my doom induced calmness will be challenged
Both plays were middle school level concepts.
Well then you are embracing the fat lady.....