For those waiting for a switch to be flipped on offense

[IthacaBarrel]

I would use extreme caution with this, nassib will be back next year, we will lose Provo, bailey and tiller... It's not going to be easy to replace... I understand these guys arent world beaters but they are the best we have.. I think we are falling into the trap we did under robinson. It will get better next year, recruit, few new assistants, etc etc etc. I understand Marrone isn't going anywhere unless he does something himself because gross tells hin changes need to be made, but the body of work on offense in year 3 speaks for itself.. Unless we get a new oc I am not expecting much different next year maybe worse

 

[PhatOrange]

I would use extreme caution with this, nassib will be back next year, we will lose Provo, bailey and tiller... It's not going to be easy to replace... I understand these guys arent world beaters but they are the best we have.. I think we are falling into the trap we did under robinson. It will get better next year, recruit, few new assistants, etc etc etc. I understand Marrone isn't going anywhere unless he does something himself because gross tells hin changes need to be made, but the body of work on offense in year 3 speaks for itself.. Unless we get a new oc I am not expecting much different next year maybe worse

Just have to hope everyone comes back a year better, more mature, lighter, bigger, stronger, faster, smarter. (See Fab Melo). Coaches included. The returning lineman all have another year under their belts. Everybody will have another spring, hopefully another 15 bowl practices to.

At RB - Gulley is faster and shiftier than Bailey. Hope like heck that Smith/AAM can show something. Somebody has to be able to block at that position and then there's the wildcard of a true frosh back. One of the few positions a true frosh can actually make an impact.

No getting around Provo. Stevens can catch to though and Wales fills the other side. Maybe the return of Sales offsets Provo. Hale is the only WR we don't know anything about.

I don't believe the offense is gonna change much either but it's not going to get worse and I just have to have the belief that kids come back better (older) and make plays. There's no denying we haven't recruited well on offense but the flip side is 17 of 22 kids on the two deep return. You figure there has to be natural progression (and sometimes the switch goes on - and sometimes it doesn't).

On defense 18 of 22 kids on the two deep return.

 

[690West]

Just have to hope everyone comes back a year better, more mature, lighter, bigger, stronger, faster, smarter. (See Fab Melo). Coaches included. The returning lineman all have another year under their belts. Everybody will have another spring, hopefully another 15 bowl practices to.

At RB - Gulley is faster and shiftier than Bailey. Hope like heck that Smith/AAM can show something. Somebody has to be able to block at that position and then there's the wildcard of a true frosh back. One of the few positions a true frosh can actually make an impact.

No getting around Provo. Stevens can catch to though and Wales fills the other side. Maybe the return of Sales offsets Provo. Hale is the only WR we don't know anything about.

I don't believe the offense is gonna change much either but it's not going to get worse and I just have to have the belief that kids come back better (older) and make plays. There's no denying we haven't recruited well on offense but the flip side is 17 of 22 kids on the two deep return. You figure there has to be natural progression (and sometimes the switch goes on - and sometimes it doesn't).

On defense 18 of 22 kids on the two deep return.

Great post phat. Gulley will be an upgrade over Bailey. No doubt

Sales back, huge

IMPOSSIBLE for us not to be better on offense next year. Almost statistically impossible

 

[kingottoiii]

I can't see us being better next year on O. Marrone wants to pound the ball. Plain and simple. So how does having an undersized C and a right side of the line with no experience going to be an improvement over this year's OL? How is a RB smaller than Bailey or two big RBs who haven't shown much going to make things better? How does losing Provo improve the passing game? Sales would improve passing but does he come back? Marrone better hope so.

 

[Cuseman78]

Next year I think you start to see us run "packages" with the chosen future QB, either Kinder or Terrel Hunt. Nassib will play and start (as he should), but I think you start grooming the back-up for the '13 season next year.

My biggest concern for us next year isn't QB, its RB. The fact that Bailey is a starting RB this year says all you need to know. He always was a nice change of pace back but he clearly didn't have the skill set to be "the" guy. (Don't get me wrong, I root hard for the guy). I think the coaches have done a bad job at utilizing him but I don't think they felt they had another every down back on the team. I miss the old Bailey where he was catching balls out of the back-field etc. How many catches does he have this year? Next year, I'm assuming we will probably do a little thunder and lightening with Gulley (if he's back) and Ameen-Moore and/or Smith.

 

[rrlbees]

Great post phat. Gulley will be an upgrade over Bailey. No doubt

Sales back, huge

First, do we know Sales will be back?

Second, and the point of this post is Bailey/Gulley. How do we know Gulley will be an upgrade from Bailey? Hear me out here. Rewind a couple seasons. Carter was Carter and we all loved him and he had a great season last year. But many fans, some won't admit it, were calling for more Bailey who was in the role of the "change of pace back off the bench". Everyone thought that while Carter was great, Bailey was quicker and shiftier and folks wanted him to get more than the carries he was getting. What happened? Well, when these small change of pace guys who are quick and shifty, go through the process of getting to be "the man" and getting 20 carries per game, they need to bulk up, get bigger and be ready for a pounding all game. IMO, they lose a step and they lose some of that "quickness". If we are now saying Gulley will be an upgrade to Bailey then he will have to be the man and will get the bulk of the carries. He too will have to get bigger and stronger to withstand the pounding all game. Will that take away from his quickness and shiftiness? Does he just look better now because he was that change of pace guy off the bench getting 6 carries? I've seen it happen several times in the past but maybe it won't happen to Gulley. Personally, I still don't think we have that RB who comes in almost ready made to handle 20 carries per game and not have to give up speed and quickness to get there.

 

[rrlbees]

Next year I think you start to see us run "packages" with the chosen future QB, either Kinder or Terrel Hunt. Nassib will play and start (as he should), but I think you start grooming the back-up for the '13 season next year.

My biggest concern for us next year isn't QB, its RB. The fact that Bailey is a starting RB this year says all you need to know. He always was a nice change of pace back but he clearly didn't have the skill set to be "the" guy. (Don't get me wrong, I root hard for the guy). I think the coaches have done a bad job at utilizing him but I don't think they felt they had another every down back on the team. I miss the old Bailey where he was catching balls out of the back-field etc. How many catches does he have this year? Next year, I'm assuming we will probably do a little thunder and lightening with Gulley (if he's back) and Ameen-Moore and/or Smith.

Ha, see my lengthy post I just made about being "the man". Also, I agree, I think next year at QB we will see Hunt in some packages. Kind of what Nassib did with Paulus (different packages though).

 

[Cuseman78]

Ha, see my lengthy post I just made about being "the man". Also, I agree, I think next year at QB we will see Hunt in some packages. Kind of what Nassib did with Paulus (different packages though).

Yes, I had just read your post. We must have eaten the same breakfast this morning. And agreed on the QB packages

 

[Dick_in_MI]

I would use extreme caution with this, nassib will be back next year, we will lose Provo, bailey and tiller... It's not going to be easy to replace... I understand these guys arent world beaters but they are the best we have.. I think we are falling into the trap we did under robinson. It will get better next year, recruit, few new assistants, etc etc etc. I understand Marrone isn't going anywhere unless he does something himself because gross tells hin changes need to be made, but the body of work on offense in year 3 speaks for itself.. Unless we get a new oc I am not expecting much different next year maybe worse

I am waiting for a switch to be flipped on D as well. Not talked about much with the board's obsession with the O, the D has given up 30 ppg over the past 5 games.

The O hasn't helped the D, but the D hasn't helped itself either. They had injuries early on and they had fewer returning starters, but they have been part of the problem this year as well.

 

[boog7]

How is a RB smaller than Bailey or two big RBs who haven't shown much going to make things better? How does losing Provo improve the passing game? Sales would improve passing but does he come back? Marrone better hope so.

That why I think it's imperative the we hold onto McFarlane and sign at least one more back out of Lynch, Morris, and Perkins, although I think Perkins would be a better LB than RB. The perfect scenario would be bringing in Lynch or Morris at RB and Perkins at LB. Don't know if that's very likely though.

If Gulley is the lead back next year, and Marrone is still intent on pounding the ball, I think we'll see more of the same futility we're seeing this year. While Gulley may be shiftier and more explosive than Bailey, he doesn't seem anymore suited for the every down, between-the-tackles workhorse role than AB is, and Marrone's offense obviously needs that kind of guy. Someone out of the returning backs or incoming frosh needs to fill that role and let Gulley be the change-of-pace/3rd down back. I think he'd be a very effective weapon in that role ala AB in 2010.

Provo's loss will hurt but Stevens will be back, and while I don't think he'll put up Provo numbers, he should be solid. And with both incoming freshmen TEs already weighing over 240lbs. they'll at least be physically ready to see the field.

And of course if Sales returns, that'll be a tremendous boost to the WR corps as he'll probably vie with Lemon to be our best wideout.

 

[Millhouse]

Great post phat. Gulley will be an upgrade over Bailey. No doubt

Sales back, huge

IMPOSSIBLE for us not to be better on offense next year. Almost statistically impossible

No doubt?

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[007]

I am waiting for a switch to be flipped on D as well. Not talked about much with the board's obsession with the O, the D has given up 30 ppg over the past 5 games.

The O hasn't helped the D, but the D hasn't helped itself either. They had injuries early on and they had fewer returning starters, but they have been part of the problem this year as well.

Agree with this take, Dick. The D has been equally as bad as the O. I am sure this wont go over well, but Spruill is just not getting it done at MLB. In no way am I singling out Spruill, there is more than enough of blame to go around at all positions. Just pointing out one small piece that has not been talked about much. In this scheme, the MLB has to make plays in the running game. There is no question Spruill has talent.

 

[Millhouse]

First, do we know Sales will be back?

Second, and the point of this post is Bailey/Gulley. How do we know Gulley will be an upgrade from Bailey? Hear me out here. Rewind a couple seasons. Carter was Carter and we all loved him and he had a great season last year. But many fans, some won't admit it, were calling for more Bailey who was in the role of the "change of pace back off the bench". Everyone thought that while Carter was great, Bailey was quicker and shiftier and folks wanted him to get more than the carries he was getting. What happened? Well, when these small change of pace guys who are quick and shifty, go through the process of getting to be "the man" and getting 20 carries per game, they need to bulk up, get bigger and be ready for a pounding all game. IMO, they lose a step and they lose some of that "quickness". If we are now saying Gulley will be an upgrade to Bailey then he will have to be the man and will get the bulk of the carries. He too will have to get bigger and stronger to withstand the pounding all game. Will that take away from his quickness and shiftiness? Does he just look better now because he was that change of pace guy off the bench getting 6 carries? I've seen it happen several times in the past but maybe it won't happen to Gulley. Personally, I still don't think we have that RB who comes in almost ready made to handle 20 carries per game and not have to give up speed and quickness to get there.

Is it really neccessary to bulk up? I think it is a shaky assumption

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[rrlbees]

Is it really neccessary to bulk up? I think it is a shaky assumption

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I don't know if it is necessary, but they do. Bailey this year is not the same as Bailey a couple years ago in bulk nor quickness/shiftiness.

 

[690West]

No doubt?

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I'm prone to hyperbole

 

[Millhouse]

I don't know if it is necessary, but they do. Bailey this year is not the same as Bailey a couple years ago in bulk nor quickness/shiftiness.

a prominent chapter of the meathead manual is about how heavy running backs don't feel pain

 

[orangepassion]

Great post phat. Gulley will be an upgrade over Bailey. No doubt

Sales back, huge

IMPOSSIBLE for us not to be better on offense next year. Almost statistically impossible

Didn't we think that last year?

 

[690West]

Didn't we think that last year?

Indeed. Lol

 

[upperdeck]

Qb- nassib.. probably a slight chance at a bit of improvement. doubt he regresses and maybe he really works on the deep ball all summer and hits a few. Loeb hasnt really seen the field and we will have a real competition with the running qbs to earn playing time. I think those guys are more prepared for the nassib role than he was 2 yrs ago. I give nassib a B this year. i can see this position going to B+..

RB's Losing Gulley just as he appeared to growing into the spot hurt. Bailey has played the most. I dont think people are looking enough at how many yds we are losing on carries due to his size. Bailey runs hard but has his limits. Smith lost most of last year. Moore is Fr.. They will both probably offer more next year. Moore may get a bit quicker. Smith has shown when the oline can get him to the line the pile will move, Moore the same. I think Smith is actually much better than people realize, he has made a few runs that i dont think Bailey can make.

Gulley wont need to carry 20 times next year, just 5-10 and hopefully 20+ from the other 2 guys. We have need seen a drive all year where we just pounded it and i think next year we see a few.
RBs get a B as well. Getting close to a 1000 yds rusher with this offense has to mean something.. I think this spot will see the biggest jump next year.

WR - really a wildcard.. A solid sales return and this will be a big jump next year. Without him who knows.. So many young kids, does Graham take another leap. Lemon has been solid and spots of very solid play.. Kobena/Hale/Cornelius?/West/foster. The most size and speed in years.
Seeing lemon with 2 speed guys could be interesting. A group that has gone back and forth from C- to B+ all year. You add in Sales and this group could be a solid B+

TE. provo has had a great year.. still too many drops. never seems to get away from LBs in coverage. I think Stephens can have the same year or better, has more speed, the issue will be blocking as Provo has improved more than people realize. Wales/stephens still struggle. Wonder if Addazio can be a wildcard here.. supposedly was a good blocker when he came in.. B+ year , we dont ask alot of these guys just catch the ones you should. could be the same next year.

Oline - this is really driving the bus.. we need more games like WV where the rb's can get started and the QB has time to find people. Chibane has been spotty, Macky Spotty, Pugh mostly solid, Hay Spotty and Tiller spotty.. I think C- this year.. when you cant run on 2nd and two and make it most times you have issues.. Have actually gotten better in pass protection , when they dont get confused they have done OK.. Hickey healthy is huge. I think one of the R-FR starts, will we see two? what has happened with Alexander? can they really play worse ?

Can they get the oline to play at a Solid B, can we do a QB sneak again. If they get to B- it might be enough.. Would they replace Macky? Would he be able to play anywhere else can he add another 10-15 lbs?

still no playmakers,, not sure one is coming in, need one bad. only the coaches know if they have one and why its been so hard to get one..

 

[690West]

Qb- nassib.. probably a slight chance at a bit of improvement. doubt he regresses and maybe he really works on the deep ball all summer and hits a few. Loeb hasnt really seen the field and we will have a real competition with the running qbs to earn playing time. I think those guys are more prepared for the nassib role than he was 2 yrs ago. I give nassib a B this year. i can see this position going to B+..

.

Nassib only has a "slight chance" at improvement? Well he's already hitting guys in the hand every time we enter the redzone, so maybe you're right.

 

[Chip]

Next year I think you start to see us run "packages" with the chosen future QB, either Kinder or Terrel Hunt. Nassib will play and start (as he should), but I think you start grooming the back-up for the '13 season next year.

My biggest concern for us next year isn't QB, its RB. The fact that Bailey is a starting RB this year says all you need to know. He always was a nice change of pace back but he clearly didn't have the skill set to be "the" guy. (Don't get me wrong, I root hard for the guy). I think the coaches have done a bad job at utilizing him but I don't think they felt they had another every down back on the team. I miss the old Bailey where he was catching balls out of the back-field etc. How many catches does he have this year? Next year, I'm assuming we will probably do a little thunder and lightening with Gulley (if he's back) and Ameen-Moore and/or Smith.

So why would we go into games like Friday with a gameplan to wear them down running the ball? (as per Rahme article this morning). Just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I get that we're not prepared to be an all out pass to set up the run kind of team, but still, we're certainly not a team that's going to wear an opponent down running the game. So when it inevitably fails we have to turn to a wide open passing game and we're chasing the whole game.

 

[Millhouse]

So why would we go into games like Friday with a gameplan to wear them down running the ball? (as per Rahme article this morning). Just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I get that we're not prepared to be an all out pass to set up the run kind of team, but still, we're certainly not a team that's going to wear an opponent down running the game. So when it inevitably fails we have to turn to a wide open passing game and we're chasing the whole game.

they want the WVU game every game. they're able to put it together once a year and it teases them just enough to think it's repeatable

 

[kingottoiii]

Another question is why are we recruiting so many TEs? The last two years Marrone has been in love with 2 TE sets. People are assuming though that our O would be vastly different when Marrone has his players. If that is the case then why are we recruiting like we will be a 2 TE set team? I am starting to think this IS Marrone's system that we are seeing. Sure another QB will be a lot better at hitting the deep pass. Sure another QB will be better at extending plays with their legs or taking off an running. But when it comes to actually executing the plays called, then in all likelihood another QB will be WORSE than Nassib. So if Marrone's system needs a QB who can improvise the actually play called, or needs deep passes (which will only be a few per game tops), isn't that an indictment on the ENTIRE system? Doesn't that say you have no bread and butter? You just rely on the players to make something happen?

I think the Marrone plan was the same as the Harbaugh Stanford plan. The problem is Marrone is not as good of a HC, not as good of a recruiter, and does not have Andrew Luck. Stanford won't be able to sustain their success, even if Harbaugh had stayed. So why does it seem like we are modeling after them?

On last point on the current O. Our goal on first down should be to get a first down. Same on 2nd down. However it seems like our goal on 1st and 2nd downs is simply to get positive yards so we have a manageable 3rd down. That is BS. We should try and avoid 3rd downs all together.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I don't think it matters who's back next year. We play WV, South Florida, Cincy,Rutgers,USC, BC, and Minny on the road. We won't be the favorite in any of those games. Doug's failure is going to be his inability to recruit. We still haven't cracked the top 50.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

QB - Nassib, will improve like last off-season. Hopefully he improves his accuracy. If he could do that he'd get a shot in the NFL.
Hunt, will play in a few packages. We'll probably see him most games.

HB - Gulley, will hopefully be back, and be better.
Ameen-Moore, needs to slim down some in the off-season. Turn that 244 into solid muscle, and he'll play more than Smith.
McFarlane, we need to hold onto this kid. If he leaves and Perkins goes elsewhere, we'll be pretty thin at HB.

WR - Sales, will be back. Even if he hasn't improved he'll be valuable.
Lemon, is really developing into a player.
Graham, needs to improve for our offense to improve. His catching specifically.
West, I think he's in the mold of Lemon.
Some of the younger guys should make an impact here too.

TE - Thompson, if he's the real deal he could come in and start right away.
Our other TE's are solid players, this is a position of strength right now.

OL - Pugh is the only one who has been consistent.
The rest is a wildcard.

I don't think our offense will be worse next season. I don't think it will be considerably better though. I do think it will be more consistent.