Do we feel better about Cool Kid's play calling today?

[OttoinGrotto]

Granted the opponent was way overmatched, but we strung together some effective and diversified offense yesterday. For as poorly as we executed yesterday during the three Allen series, it was clear that the plan was to look deeper down the field than we had been and target West. With Hunt in we saw an efficient mix of run and pass calls that were executed cleanly.

I think MacDonald is still a work in progress, but I feel a little more confident in his play calling. It was nice to see our team take an inferior opponent out of the game early. These types of games are supposed to be easy, and it was.

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[Dcuse]

Playcalling: THEE most over-rated criticism in football. Always has been...always will be. As if MacDonald had a light go on in his head just when Hunt came into the game. What a coincidence!!!

 

[SmilinBob]

You're only as good as your last game. That's the thing about coaching that makes it quite unique, the world sees your results in seconds and in todays world we tend to judge way too quickly due to the ADD we seem to suffer from.

I like a lot of things about this offense and when it works it's a thing of beauty on the most part but the o-line still has to improve the run blocking and those swing/quick outs have to be better executed before things really move smoothly. I truly believe that this offense is the one that many have been clamoring about for years.

 

[Chip]

I feel better about everything. Well, maybe not kicking. Most all offense of course. I know people are saying this was FCS, but we've played plenty of FCS teams. Never saw anything like that. A lot of FBS play FCS and do not win that lopsided. 54-0, over 500 yards to under 100 yards. So it's ok to enjoy it for a couple of days. Nothing will be that easy the rest of the season, but this team needed to feel good about itself. That kind of win does it. Letting FCS hang around until the 2nd half, as we're used to, may not have done anything good mentally.

Complete domination. Hope Tulane is somewhat the same. At least a 3 TD win. Then you get 2 weeks off. I don't hold out any hopes for a win against Clemson, but unlike Northwestern, I'd like Clemson to at least know they got a game, and have the bumps and bruises to prove it.

 

[Crusty]

It's not the playbook or the play calling.

I think McD realizes that last years offense added hurry-up and zone read but was essentially the same NFK style O that we ran in previous years, which I believe is why we did not jell until the line was at full strength. Nassib had three years to learn and grow but he did not blossom until the OLine did (this is not meant to be a knock on Ryan). In his last year, he had two lineman that now play in the league - we are not going to see that every year.

There may be a lesson to learn here. Many college schemes (McD's included) are designed to overcome the lack of a dominant OLine and to neutralize bigger defenses. Every team seeks lineman and it may be the most difficult position to recruit on a consistent basis. An offense designed around a true dual threat QB mitigates this recruiting challenge somewhat.

The striking difference between Drew and Terrel raises the question as to the type of QB, we need to run the offense (every year, not just last year). Running the same plays against the same competition, the difference between the Allen and Hunt is striking. Some of that, I believe, is related to style as well as the individual.

 

[OrangeAl]

I don't hold out any hopes for a win against Clemson, but unlike Northwestern, I'd like Clemson to at least know they got a game, and have the bumps and bruises to prove it.

You have no hope for a win against Clemson? Anyone who's watched football for any length of time knows that upsets happen all the time. Why would we - a fair to middling FBS program - have no chance at beating a good (but not awesome) team like Clemson - at home, no less? That reeks of defeatist thinking. We're hard-nosed, so stop cowering!

 

[Chip]

You have no hope for a win against Clemson? Anyone who's watched football for any length of time knows that upsets happen all the time. Why would we - a fair to middling FBS program - have no chance at beating a good (but not awesome) team like Clemson - at home, no less? That reeks of defeatist thinking. We're hard-nosed, so stop cowering!

As long as I don't lose celebrating rights if we win. Anything can happen on this sport.

Realistically I'm not going to set myself up for a big fall.

House money.


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[timkay99]

I think MacDonald is still a work in progress, but I feel a little more confident in his play calling. It was nice to see our team take an inferior opponent out of the game early. These types of games are supposed to be easy, and it was.

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I am still concerned. Defense won the game early, Cuse didn't get on an opponent early. Really, the offense was the exact same as it was vs. Northwestern, just the opponent didn't score points.

Through the first 3 possessions, Smith had 1 touch. This has been my biggest issue with play-calling and it continued in this game.

 

[All4SU]

Honestly, I was too consumed with the dysfunction of our offense in games one and two two be concerned about our play calling. And as you said, yesterday doesn't really show us anything as far as play calling goes. It is my hope that HCSS and CCGM are feeling a little better now about what they can and cannot do, and the Tulane game will be a better indication whether our play calling is coming along or not.

 

[TheCusian]

I am still concerned. Defense won the game early, Cuse didn't get on an opponent early. Really, the offense was the exact same as it was vs. Northwestern, just the opponent didn't score points.

Through the first 3 possessions, Smith had 1 touch. This has been my biggest issue with play-calling and it continued in this game.

The same!? You mean minus interceptions and batted balls and passes down the field to receivers in stride?

The biggest difference is the QB. No doubt. No starring down receivers and actual passes down field. That opens up the running game. I don't think teams will be so quick to stack the line. As Terrell gets better, run game goes to Jerome more - McDonald will have more options and look much better.

 

[timkay99]

The same!? You mean minus interceptions and batted balls and passes down the field to receivers in stride?

The biggest difference is the QB. No doubt. No starring down receivers and actual passes down field. That opens up the running game. I don't think teams will be so quick to stack the line. As Terrell gets better, run game goes to Jerome more - McDonald will have more options and look much better.

Yes, the same. The first 3 drives were the same for Cuse as they were vs. Northwestern. Difference is the defense stopped everything Wagner tried to do and forced a turnover in plus territory to get Syracuse on the board.

Strength is the run game, Smith is the best player. Best player needs more then 1 touch in the first 3 offensive possessions.

Syracuse could do whatever they wanted against Wagner with Hunt in the game. If Hunt plays like that against Tulane, then I will be easier on the playcalling b/c it will prove that Hunt can make plays. I need to see it against Tulane to feel truly good about our pass v rush ratio, especially early in the game.

 

[Alsacs]

If I am going to criticize him to death for the Penn State game then I gotta give him credit when he does an excellent job. The offense scored on 6 straight possessions and we completely dominated an overmatched opponent. Good job Coach Mac the QB Mr. Hunt executed your gameplan to perfection and looked completely composed in rhythm.

 

[ImperialOrange]

The biggest thing is the plays got in fast and the players got set. Even in the first 3 series we had players in positions to make plays we just didn't make them.

So yeah I feel better and hopefully it will continue as such. The pace was a lot better as well. We only ran 10 more plays then the first couple games but thatsmisleading since so many went for big chunks of yardage.

 

[CuseOnly]

Execution was the only thing that changed. Hunt executed the offense as I am sure it was meant to be done.

Kind of like a Great salesman can make a turrible sales manager look like a genius. I am NOT saying that GMcD is terrible but he called the plays and for the first time we saw consistent execution all game long. Except of course when Drew was in.

 

[CuseOnly]

I still think some of the personnel packages are odd, especially any that do not have Smith in there 75% of the time. I still think he is being mis-used.

 

[TheCusian]

Yes, the same. The first 3 drives were the same for Cuse as they were vs. Northwestern. Difference is the defense stopped everything Wagner tried to do and forced a turnover in plus territory to get Syracuse on the board.

Strength is the run game, Smith is the best player. Best player needs more then 1 touch in the first 3 offensive possessions.

Syracuse could do whatever they wanted against Wagner with Hunt in the game. If Hunt plays like that against Tulane, then I will be easier on the playcalling b/c it will prove that Hunt can make plays. I need to see it against Tulane to feel truly good about our pass v rush ratio, especially early in the game.

The 1st drives with Allen did look the same. Short dump downs, telegraphing passes, etc. Then Hunt comes in, we run Jerome 2 for good yardage and then Hunt eats them up.

The difference is the QB choosing to go down field with passes. Same plays, better decision - playmaker. I have zero problem with not running Jerome all day in this game. He could have had 200+ yards on 30 carries or something. What's gained by that? Knowing that the kid is a beast?

I think in the 1st two games, the box was stacked forcing us to throw. This game it was too - but it wouldn't have mattered due to size and talent. We need someone to be successful down the field to open up the run. Once the two are able to be balanced - I think you'll see 150+ yards a game for Jerome vs. mediocre ACC competition.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

Meh, not really. I can't stand all of the flanker (bubble) screens. They strike me as long handoffs.

That being said, i think he kept things pretty vanilla against Wagner, and likely will do so against Tulane if feasible. I imagine Hunt can run read option and i think there was very little or none of that, and only one designed QB run.

 

[timkay99]

I think in the 1st two games, the box was stacked forcing us to throw. This game it was too - but it wouldn't have mattered due to size and talent. We need someone to be successful down the field to open up the run. Once the two are able to be balanced - I think you'll see 150+ yards a game for Jerome vs. mediocre ACC competition.

Maybe the box was stacked, but throwing a flanker screen to open the game does nothing to stop that. Talk so much about being hardnosed, then come out in the game throwing finesse passes and not pounding your top draft pick up the gut to set the tempo concerns me. If they only did this in this game, I agree, not much to gain in this game and that would be the reason why. But, it is 2 games deep now and concerns me.

For Jerome to get 150+ yards a game means that he would need to be the only back playing given the current playcalling, IMO.

The talk was on playcalling for this game. I am saying that this game doesn't make me feel any better about McDonald about it b/c the same issues I saw are still there, just disguised by facing an inferior opponent. If the QB was truly the problem (I mean, a lot of people had issues with our WR's too, but those have apparently been forgotten) and that position is a playmaking position in this offense (moreso then Jerome), then I will say I was wrong about it.