I'm not so sure the OL is as bad as some here are making it out to be, although I don't believe this current group is a bunch of world beaters either.
The discussion we are having with the OL, or offense in general is a typical "chicken or egg" debate. I firmly believe that the current skill group on the field from QB to WR does not instill andy fear in opposing defensive coordinators. JerseyOrange said as much last week.
It is no secret on this board that the team struggles with the vertical passing game. Nassib has a strong arm, but it is apparent that he is struggling with touch on the deep balls. That's not to say he cannot hit an open deep receiver, however, he struggles to hit a receiver when they have only a stride or two on the defender -- the missed deep ball to Chew against Rutgers when he had split the safeties is an example of this. That floater he threw to Graham against Tulane which was completed, but it allowed the safety to close the field and make the tackle on what should have been a sure touchdown.
Since we have yet to prove we can attack the coverage vertically, it allows the opposing defensive coordinators to play press coverage and make our underneath routes much more difficult (slants, hitches, etc). It is up to our wide receivers towin those battles at the line of scrimmage, and right now they aren't winning them.
This trend really started the second or third possession against USC, where Kiffen abandoned his Tampa 2 defense (safeties taking the deep halfs with a deeper Mike zone than usual)
to a more aggressive man press with single high safety look (hence our moderate success to Provo mathced up on a backer at times) This is against an empty look.
In summary, the defenses have now made up on dimensional -- they do not fear the pass, and can load up on the run. We are seeing 8 in the box a mjaority of the time, making it much more difficult to run against. On passing downs, defenses are sending one or two more than we can block. For us to successfully combat this, four things have to happen on the offense: ID the blitz, ID the hot receiver, beat the defender, deliver the accurate throw. We aren't doing that at all right now.
Typically the center and QB try to ID the blitzing player -- we are starting a first year center and Nassib has historically struggled in this area. It's tough to ID the hot route if you don't know where the blitz is coming from, and if the WR is losing that battle forget it -- and we need to deliver astrike to the WR. This is what marrone is referring to when saying we aren't executing properly. We're not.
How should Hackett try to counter this with the talent given on the field?
1.) Screen pass opposing defenses to death.
2.) Run away from the blitz -- allow nassib to check to a run opposite the side of the blitz
3.) Give Nassib the green light to run, even designed draws. It doesn't have to come ou tof the "spread" formation. What this does is counter the man press coverage if successful and force the defense to consider zone coverage or spy Nassib (allowing one less potential blitzer or potential missmatch on a backer on TE or RB). It's difficult to defenders to keep and eye on a running QB if theit backs are to the play due to playing man.
We'll see if those happen this week, although WV is more of a zone blitz scheme. We'll also see if WVU uses the USC, RU, Tulane blue print or stays in their scheme.
