RPO

[SisyphusMiner]

I've been reading about the RPO, and here's what i think I've learned and how it applies to the Miners.  If there is someone here that knows more please correct me where I'm wrong.

The RPO is really a specific type of play.  You can't run it every down, and it's not really well suited for 3rd and long.  But it can be the dominant play you implement if you do it well.

On the RPO, the offensive line run blocks.  This is so the D still doesn't know post-snap what will happen until it does.  Given that our line was built around run blocking, I can see why Dimel thinks this is his best bet.

You have two choices, call the run/pass option before the snap based on what the defense shows you, or after the snap based on what the defense does.

If you decide after the snap, you in theory always choose correctly because you are basing it on what the linebackers do.  But it requires a QB that can correctly identify what is happening and make the right choice very quickly. 

Based on the way we line up, look at the D and then call the play in from the sidelines, it appears our coaching staff does not trust our QBs to do this.

Ideally you have a QB that is a threat to run, creating a 3rd option.

If you (offense) decide pre-snap, it becomes a chess game between the two coaching staffs to correctly guess what the other one is going to do.  Therefore the D should try to not telegraph what they are going to do, and trick the offensive playcaller.

Obviously if the offense guesses correctly it's potentially a big gain.

If the offense chooses run pre-snap and the defense plays run, there are no options left except for the RB/QB to do his best to make a play.

If the O chooses pass pre-snap and the defense chooses pass, then due to the run blocking scheme the QB has a much shorter window than on a normal pass play to decide to tuck and run, throw it away, or try to complete a pass.  If your QB was able to make those quick decisions, you would have him make them post-snap every play. 

Either way, if you are choosing pre-snap as we appear to do, your coaching staff must outguess the other team or you are going to pay a heavy price most of the time.

So it appears that a line may look much worse than they are based on the offense choosing the wrong play, especially on a pass.

If you have a QB that can make quick correct decisions, you can run a no-huddle offense and absolutely tear up a defense.  If he is mobile, so much the better.

If you don't have a QB that can make quick correct decisions, it's all about outguessing your opponent, and you get what we have.

My suspicion is that like many JC basketball players, the adjustment to the speed of the game has proven difficult for Locksley.  He seems to do fairly well out of standard pass sets when he has adequate time (not 3rd and long when the D knows the play).  When he has to make rapid decisions, he chooses disastrously wrong way too often.

I think for us to be successful with this we need a QB that can run and that we trust to make the decisions.  IF we have such a kid on the sidelines waiting for his chance next year, are Dimel/Canales constitutionally capable of allowing him to do that?

[Chanson]

All good points, Sisy. Its half time against UNT & there offense scored 5 touchdowns. Yes 5 in the 1st half. Dimel is running out of positive things to say. Soon were gonna here "our jerseys are nice and clean" or " I'm very happy with the 2 plays we executed well on."
I accepted a long time ago that we were not going to be good. I just wish our coach didnt sugar coat & be realistic. I can back up facts, but not long shot potential.

[kyyote]

Sis, you nailed it!  I think you are spot on, on all counts.

From the 27th;

It may actually have something to do with body types.  Kugler was running the ball almost exclusively.  He probably found shorter armed more powerful "Hogs" if you will.  Mike Price always wanted tall long armed linemen to keep the defensive linemen at arms length for pass blocking.  We are running an Run Pass Option and notice the pass part.  We still have run blocking, power football offensive linemen when we need hybrids.  They are having to relearn if they even can.  They can't change their body types.  I also see why Jones can be successful at times in the offense but the running part is a problem for him, whereas Locksley is pretty damned good at the run option. I think sometimes he may take an instant too long to decide and it gets him in trouble causing many of the no gains at the line.

I think we have seen the running game look great and then go two running plays for a loss of 4.  Locksley has had a couple of games where he was able to pass.  Not long passes, but passes to at least keep the defense a little bit honest.  So, I think the key is understanding why we can run great on 1/3 of the plays and lose yards on the other 2/3s.

Of course, the defense seemed to be as tough as wet Charmin.   But, we did score 26 points.  When you allow 52 to be hung on you, you lose-almost always.  Special Teams decided the offense and defense were getting all of the blame and decided to do their part, spotting NT 14 points in 29 seconds.  That is quite a feat!

UTEP's first drive;
Hughes 2
Pass 12 1st down
Pass 16 1st down
Hughes 5
Hughes 4
Locksley 3 1st down
Pass incomplete
Locksley 1
Locksley 5  So, on 3rd and 9 we run Locksley or NT forced the run.  Idk, but running on 3rd and 9 when you average 100 yards rushing for a game is not a good thing.  But,
Pass 9 1st down on a fourth down play
Hughes 7
Hughes 1 TD 
On the drive Hughes 19 yards for a 4 yard/carry average including a 1 yard carry for a TD.  Averaging 4.5 yards per carry.  The o-line doing their job for Hughes.  Locksley 9 yards on 3 carries , 3, 1, and 5.  Three yards per carry average.  But, the run on 3rd and 9?  Passing 3/4 12, 16, and 9 yards for 12 y/pass average on completions Overall, 9+ yards per pass average.  Not long, but a balanced offense of 4 passes to 8 rushes.  Kind of.   Back to the 3rd and 9 run?  Was it forced or was that called?

Fine 33 and 17 yards for 2 touchdowns.  off of the opening kick and a fumble.

 First series after that and UTEP's defense gives up a
21 yd pass-1st down,
then a 2 yard run and a
2 yard loss on a run, and an
 icp pass.
 Punt.

UTEP
Pass 5 yards
Pass for 0
Pass 4
Punt  Three complete passes for 9 yards.  How bad is that?  More importantly, why?  Hughes was running like a boss.

NT
Rush 10
Pass 48 TD 
119 yards on 4 passes.  30 yards per pass average.

 UTEP
Pass inc
Pass 10 1st down
Pass inc
Pass inc
Pass inc
Punt
WTF! 5 passes 4 incomplete.  Last 2 series, 8 passes 4 incomplete and 4 complete for a total of 19yards!  What happened to Hughes?  The run by a running back?
This isn't the offensive line calling these plays.  Hughes had no problem with the o-line.

NT
4 yads
Pass 7 1st down
1 yard
Pass inc
Pass 12 1st down
2 yards
Pass 0
End of 1st quarter. 
Pass inc
FG

UTEP
100 yard KO return TD

NT
IP
4
pass 25
ip
p 17
6
5
ip
9
ip
pass 7 TD

UTEP
Hughes 7
Hughes -2
Pass 8
ip
ip
3rd and 10
Pass 8
4th and 2 Incomplete pass at UTEP 47

NT
8
ip
p 7
3
6
5
p 1
-4
p 12
3
ip
ip
p 6 TD

UTEP
p 9
Hughes 2 1st dn
p 7
p 2
p 7 1st dn
p 4
Locksley 3
Locksley sacked -10  Five attempts, 4 complete for an average of 5 yards per pass. 
punt

Half is over and this tells us how it was going.

[SisyphusMiner]

So what kind of players do we need offensively?  The whole idea of this offense is to kill you 5-6 yards at a time and periodically break one long.

1.  A QB that can make quick reads/decisions, can complete a high percentage of short quick passes, and can run.  The search for this guy may be why we have so many QBs on the roster.  Success in this offense depends so heavily on the QB.

2.  Quick receivers with good hands.  Not necessarily top end speed, but quick.

3.  TE that can catch.

4.  Fast RB that ideally can catch.

5.  Linemen that can run block.


Current roster -- Weakness is clearly at the QB.  Not so sure about the speedy RB thing either.  Hughes is big and strong, not necessarily a speedster.  We might actually be OK at the other positions.

Next year -- QB unknown, TJ Goodwin was billed as a pro-style pocket passer QB and does not have a stellar 40yd time.  WR -- Workman (3 star), Wolf, etc. ,  TE-- unknown,  RB -- Hankins should fit the bill,   Linemen -- probably OK?

If Goodwin is our future, this raises a new set of questions.  Do we intend to stay with the RPO or was that just our best option for what we have right now?  Did we land him promising an RPO offense?  Will we go pro-style with occasional RPO that does not involve the QB run?

[kyyote]

 The first half'
23 passes 14 complete for 102 with -10 for the sack.  Seven point three yards per catch.
12 rushes for 38
Hughes 8 for 26 yards.

23 passes 12 runs.  What the Hell! 

[SisyphusMiner]

EP Times reports that Gavin Hardison may see some playtime, and further that he is "who they have settled on as the quarterback of the future".

Interesting that this comes up after my question of "how does Goodwin fit in our offense?"
Hardison's 40 yard in high school was 4.9, and 4.7 at NMMI, which I think is respectable. 

Watching his video highlights from NMMI, one thing I notice is that his short passes are on a frozen rope.  They are tight and fast.  I think that has been part of Locksley's problem.
His scrambles are not as fast as Locksley by any means, but seems mobile enough to pick up 5 yards here and there, which is generally all you need.

Hell, we might as well try him, I don't think it can get worse.