So here's what I think we know

[OttoinGrotto]

Here's a recap of what I gather we know about the offense this upcoming season:

1. The staff spent the offseason reviewing the offense and consulting with other coaches on how to improve the offense.
2. Part of the new offensive plan is to have more designed runs for the QB.
3. Marrone now has a backup he feels he can trust in Loeb, who I understand is now not only trustworthy but also ridiculously good looking.
4. We have a player in Ashton Broyld that will be used in a slash capacity.
5. Part of Broyld's repertoire may include wildcat packages.
6. Though coach has traditionally assigned the bulk of the carries to a single player, we don't have a proven commodity at running back that has shown they can handle that type of workload.
7. Our two top receivers are coming off of an injury and a suspension.
8. Our top lineman is coming off of an injury that will most likely sideline him for the beginning of the season.
9. Our top fullbacks are a walkon and true freshman.
10. Our top rated incoming offensive recruit is a TE.
11. Camp has gone dark.

What do you think it all means?

My guess is that we won't actually see all that much in the way of designed runs for the QB. That said, Nassib will be encouraged to leave the pocket and move the ball on the ground when those opportunities are present, which will be a departure from last season when it was clear that he was instructed to avoid running. Broyld will see the field in a limited capacity. In the early part of the season he may be deployed in a handful of packages where his assignment is very clearly defined. As the season progresses he will find a home at one position, and it won't be QB. I don't expect any QBs other than Nassib to take a snap (wildcat packages excluded) all season. We will see something that more closely resembles a halfback rotation than we have in the past. The role of the fullback will be reduced, however concerns over the oline will once again encourage the coaches to try to establish the offensive identity as a ground oriented team. Lemon and Sales will almost never leave the field - Kobena, West and company will see the field but in a limited capacity. I have a hunch that we'll see a lot of double tight end shotgun sets that we'll run out of and that Ron Thompson is going to be on the field a lot.

In all, I'm not expecting much in the way of the type of offense we play to change. Hopefully some players have improved and are ready to be successful assuming a bigger role, but aside from an interesting guy in Broyld I just don't see a radical departure from what we've seen the past three seasons.

 

[kingottoiii]

This year will be very interesting on O. We will see how much of year's 1-3 is kept vs moving toward something different, ie successful. It would be nice to go and play a system like Northwesterns. They will never be the most talented team in the world due to many factors. Yet they are able to put out a fast paced O that teams actually have to prepare for. Wouldn't that make sense in the Dome?. Why is it that NW with no real recruits in their back yard, a fan base that makes ours look SECesque, no tradition, and high admission standards (all while playing in the mighty B1G) can put out a functional O? Yet SU playing in the crappy BE has one of the worst Os in the nation?

I think our O talent compared to who we play really isn't that much different than NWs compared to who they play. And if we were to switch our O players and put them on NW and vice versa you really wouldn't see a big drop off in their O production, while our O production would still be severally lacking. IMO Marrone's willingness to tailor his O will make or break his tenure here.

2011
Total O
NW 34 SU 90
Scoring O
NW 51 SU 84
SOS
NW 58 SU 86

2010
Total O
NW 48 SU 97
Scoring O
NW 63 SU 93
SOS
NW 71 SU 48

2009
Total O
NW 40 SU 94
Scoring O
NW 71 SU 99
SOS
NW 61 SU 83

This year if there isn't a jump in those O categories I think it is safe to say that the system is broken. We have gone from 94 to 97 back to 90 in total yards. That doesn't show progress. It would be nice to see a Top 80 O for once.

 

[SU2NASA]

Here's a recap of what I gather we know about the offense this upcoming season:

1. The staff spent the offseason reviewing the offense and consulting with other coaches on how to improve the offense.
2. Part of the new offensive plan is to have more designed runs for the QB.
3. Marrone now has a backup he feels he can trust in Loeb, who I understand is now not only trustworthy but also ridiculously good looking.
4. We have a player in Ashton Broyld that will be used in a slash capacity.
5. Part of Broyld's repertoire may include wildcat packages.
6. Though coach has traditionally assigned the bulk of the carries to a single player, we don't have a proven commodity at running back that has shown they can handle that type of workload.
7. Our two top receivers are coming off of an injury and a suspension.
8. Our top lineman is coming off of an injury that will most likely sideline him for the beginning of the season.
9. Our top fullbacks are a walkon and true freshman.
10. Our top rated incoming offensive recruit is a TE.
11. Camp has gone dark.

What do you think it all means?

My guess is that we won't actually see all that much in the way of designed runs for the QB. That said, Nassib will be encouraged to leave the pocket and move the ball on the ground when those opportunities are present, which will be a departure from last season when it was clear that he was instructed to avoid running. Broyld will see the field in a limited capacity. In the early part of the season he may be deployed in a handful of packages where his assignment is very clearly defined. As the season progresses he will find a home at one position, and it won't be QB. I don't expect any QBs other than Nassib to take a snap (wildcat packages excluded) all season. We will see something that more closely resembles a halfback rotation than we have in the past. The role of the fullback will be reduced, however concerns over the oline will once again encourage the coaches to try to establish the offensive identity as a ground oriented team. Lemon and Sales will almost never leave the field - Kobena, West and company will see the field but in a limited capacity. I have a hunch that we'll see a lot of double tight end shotgun sets that we'll run out of and that Ron Thompson is going to be on the field a lot.

In all, I'm not expecting much in the way of the type of offense we play to change. Hopefully some players have improved and are ready to be successful assuming a bigger role, but aside from an interesting guy in Broyld I just don't see a radical departure from what we've seen the past three seasons.

Our starting center is a practice sled.

 

[Rocco]

slAshton will be fun to watch...

 

[ImperialOrange]

How about Bromley at FB in short yardage sets... and Trudo at FB on passing downs... and no FB on the field ever aside from those 2?

 

[CaliCuse]

How about Bromley at FB in short yardage sets... and Trudo at FB on passing downs... and no FB on the field ever aside from those 2?

I don't think we need a designated fullback with Adonis and Smith on the field with speedster next to either. Both those kids can lay a block on a defende with authority. Of the two I would say that Adonis would be the best. Big year for running game .

 

[ImperialOrange]

I don't think we need a designated fullback with Adonis and Smith on the field with speedster next to either. Both those kids can lay a block on a defende with authority. Of the two I would say that Adonis would be the best. Big year for running game .

Didn't AAM have issues with pass blocking last year?

 

[upperdeck]

i think it still comes down to play by the oline.. we are still unable to run the ball on 3rd and short so teams just pressure us at will and it breaks down the whole flow of play calling. you cant rely on the RB to make the play every time. add to that the drops/bad passes we probably lost 10-15 tds on simple mistakes made on good calls.

 

[Chip]

Barring key injuries, there's no reason this group shouldn't be getting at least 400 yards, 30 points against the average to bad defenses on the schedule.

Nassib throwing better deep balls (and having some time to do so) would get us much closer.

Sales is such a key. Marrone hit on the C word again for him yesterday. Consistency, which at this point in Sales playing career, I take to mean "effort".

 

[GoSU96]

I just don't see a radical departure from what we've seen the past three seasons.

Depth, speed, talent, and experience. More of each at almost every position.

There is no need to drop freshmen in the two deep at any skill position other than TE. Regardless of game snaps, players who will be in the two deep have been in the program 2, 3, 4 years.

If Broyld, Morris, Thompson, and Parris, are contributors it's because of performance, not necessity.

 

[GoSU96]

Didn't AAM have issues with pass blocking last year?

He was an overweight true freshmen.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Depth, speed, talent, and experience. More of each at almost every position.

There is no need to drop freshmen in the two deep at any skill position other than TE. Regardless of game snaps, players who will be in the two deep have been in the program 2, 3, 4 years.

If Broyld, Morris, Thompson, and Parris, are contributors it's because of performance, not necessity.

My comment about radical departure was more on the offensive philosophy. I am glad that the program is built back to a point where freshman contributions are reserved for the exceptional talents. That's how it should be and is a cycle for how long term success.

FWIW I can see all four of those guys seeing the field. Should Cornelius also be in that mix?

 

[Millhouse]

Barring key injuries, there's no reason this group shouldn't be getting at least 400 yards, 30 points against the average to bad defenses on the schedule.

Nassib throwing better deep balls (and having some time to do so) would get us much closer.

Sales is such a key. Marrone hit on the C word again for him yesterday. Consistency, which at this point in Sales playing career, I take to mean "effort".

if i had a leash for marrone it would be quite long this year

i reserve the right to lose my mind if sales isn't out there all the time.

 

[GoSU96]

My comment about radical departure was more on the offensive philosophy. I am glad that the program is built back to a point where freshman contributions are reserved for the exceptional talents. That's how it should be and is a cycle for how long term success.

FWIW I can see all four of those guys seeing the field. Should Cornelius also be in that mix?

Sales, Lemon, West, and Kobena are going to the four primary guys. Cornelius will have to jump Fleming and Hale to get on the field. I don't know if he going to do that.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

Sales, Lemon, West, and Kobena are going to the four primary guys. Cornelius will have to jump Fleming and Hale to get on the field. I don't know if he going to do that.

I'm pretty comfortable going into the season with those 4 top guys at WR. Definitely a group that can move the chains when we need and get behind the defense at times (I'm looking at you, Kobena).

 

[GoSU96]

Barring key injuries, there's no reason this group shouldn't be getting at least 400 yards, 30 points against the average to bad defenses on the schedule.

Nassib throwing better deep balls (and having some time to do so) would get us much closer.

Sales is such a key. Marrone hit on the C word again for him yesterday. Consistency, which at this point in Sales playing career, I take to mean "effort".

The program has been trending towards that since they got here. The area where they haven't improved all that much is running the ball. Marrone understands to take that next step the running game has to be more dynamic. That's why the addition of the zone read series and trying to figure out how the best ways to get Broyld the ball.

The passing game and overall offensive performance have improved year over year but there haven't been any great leaps. The other thing is that the improvement in scoreing has been a slog.

What has been accomplished to date is that the bottom end performances that were standard before they got here have been eliminated. Game in and game out they have become more consistent and productive, in a word, competent. That's about it to this point. There has been significant progress from where they started from, but they aren't close to where they want to be.

 

[JeremyCuse]

The program has been trending towards that since they got here. The area where they haven't improved all that much is running the ball. Marrone understands to take that next step the running game has to be more dynamic. That's why the addition of the zone read series and trying to figure out how the best ways to get Broyld the ball.

The passing game and overall offensive performance have improved year over year but there haven't been any great leaps. The other thing is that the improvement in scoreing has been a slog.

What has been accomplished to date is that the bottom end performances that were standard before they got here have been eliminated. Game in and game out they have become more consistent and productive, in a word, competent. That's about it to this point. There has been significant progress from where they started from, but they aren't close to where they want to be.

No matter how we slice or what numbers we use the team needs to increase the point total this year. We are still seeing to many games where this team simply cant score and those bottom end performances have not been eliminated see the Rutgers, Lville, Rhode Island, and Cincy games where the offense was horrendous and only got over 20 in the Rhode Island game where we scored only 3 td's against a 1AA. If there isnt a big jump this year I don't see how Hackett survives.

 

[kingottoiii]

No matter how we slice or what numbers we use the team needs to increase the point total this year. We are still seeing to many games where this team simply cant score and those bottom end performances have not been eliminated see the Rutgers, Lville, Rhode Island, and Cincy games where the offense was horrendous and only got over 20 in the Rhode Island game where we scored only 3 td's against a 1AA. If there isnt a big jump this year I don't see how Hackett survives.

I think the O was pretty good the first half of the RI game. The we went into a shell and forced trying to get the running game going in the second half. People keep pointing out that the D is "hurt" by our O, yet IMO the O was hurt last year more by the D not being able to get off the field. How many long drives did they give up? How many 3rd and longs? Get off the damn field. You cannot score if you do not have the ball. The D gave up a ton of long drives last year and the RI first half is a perfect example of that. They are a friggin 1AA team but controlled the clock by a 5:30 margin!!!!! That is ridiculous. We had 226 yards but only 14 points in large part because we didn't have the ball.

IMO OOC our O was plenty fine last year. However in BE play it was crap. The D needs to start sharing some of the blame as they were bad all year long. We gave up 471 yards to friggin Tulane for gods sake.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I think the O was pretty good the first half of the RI game. The we went into a shell and forced trying to get the running game going in the second half. People keep pointing out that the D is "hurt" by our O, yet IMO the O was hurt last year more by the D not being able to get off the field. How many long drives did they give up? How many 3rd and longs? Get off the damn field. You cannot score if you do not have the ball. The D gave up a ton of long drives last year and the RI first half is a perfect example of that. They are a friggin 1AA team but controlled the clock by a 5:30 margin!!!!! That is ridiculous. We had 226 yards but only 14 points in large part because we didn't have the ball.

IMO OOC our O was plenty fine last year. However in BE play it was crap. The D needs to start sharing some of the blame as they were bad all year long. We gave up 471 yards to friggin Tulane for gods sake.

You make some good points but I think we all knew that going into last year the D was going to take a step back and the O was going to have to carry the team in some games and take a couple steps forward, instead the O stayed the same and in some games got worse. I agree that the D didnt help things last year and gave up some awful awful scoring drives but with the turnover in college football most years one unit is going to have to carry the other for some stretch of the season. I also agree with your statement about O not being able to score because they dont have the ball but look back at the RI and Tulane games, even though the D was far from good especially the Tulane game the offense pretty much deciced to take the rest of the second half off in both games and nearly cost us to lose both games. The game where I think your premise is correct is the Uconn game, the D couldnt stop anything that game in the second half but did cause a boat load of turnovers in the first half that our offense pretty much did nothing with.

 

[kcsu]

We have plenty of weapons this year. Sales is a very good wide out one of the best we have had in years. I dont give a about his practice habits play the kid as he is a gammer. Lemon becomes so much better now that teams cant just focus on him. He now goes against the number two db and will shine. At RB you have some talent. Smith, trimed down AAm, PTG can all play some ball. PTG has a chance to be huge if he can hold onto the ball and stay injury free. Throw in Ash Stevens who i like and True frosh TE Thompson and we have plenty of kids who the opposing D needs to worry about. Nassib as a fifth year vet had better have it down by now. In short this team doesnt lack talent. The we dont have enough talent BS doesnt cut it this year. This year it is all on the coaches. This O needs to be run to win take some chances and dare to be great vs playing in a shell trying to just hang in there. Play loose and play with confidence and they will be fine. Lets see if Hack has the balls and brains to make this O go. Im sick and tired of hearing about wonder boy and what a genius he is. Just because his Old man can coach doesnt mean that Hack is destined for greatness. If he comes out of the gate slow Doug needs to take over the O and send him back to Papa at the end of the season. In my mind it is now or never for Robin lets hope he steps up.

 

[SoBristol]

I don't get the focus on Hackett (Jeremycuse: whether Hackett survives; KCSU: send him back to Papa and have Doug take over the O).

Hackett is Doug's deputy, running Doug's offense, with Doug's conservative run-first style. It is Nate's first real job, and he is growing into it under Doug's guidance. So far, they are paired at the hip -- if you don't like conservative offense, you might not like Doug.

Whether Hackett in his year 3 can break away from Doug's conservative leanings is the real question. I believe he will -- he has more weapons this season (Broyld, PTG, and Thompson) and doesn't have a blocking FB. Needs to use more formations, and get the younger talent in the mix.

 

[JeremyCuse]

I don't get the focus on Hackett (Jeremycuse: whether Hackett survives; KCSU: send him back to Papa and have Doug take over the O).

Hackett is Doug's deputy, running Doug's offense, with Doug's conservative run-first style. It is Nate's first real job, and he is growing into it under Doug's guidance. So far, they are paired at the hip -- if you don't like conservative offense, you might not like Doug.

Whether Hackett in his year 3 can break away from Doug's conservative leanings is the real question. I believe he will -- he has more weapons this season (Broyld, PTG, and Thompson) and doesn't have a blocking FB. Needs to use more formations, and get the younger talent in the mix.

Hackett gets the heat because he is the offensive coordinator, whether thats in name only or not is up for debate. Either way at some point Doug and the program are goign to have to acknowledge the offensive system is not working if we cant break the 90th mark in total offense in year four. This isnt Utica College were not a D3 program where coaches kids can come in and learn on the job for 5 years, this is a D1 program when your in year four and the offense is still in neutral things have to change or people need to be shown the door.

 

[kcsu]

Hackett gets the heat because he is the offensive coordinator, whether thats in name only or not is up for debate. Either way at some point Doug and the program are goign to have to acknowledge the offensive system is not working if we cant break the 90th mark in total offense in year four. This isnt Utica College were not a D3 program where coaches kids can come in and learn on the job for 5 years, this is a D1 program when your in year four and the offense is still in neutral things have to change or people need to be shown the door.

Thank you!

 

[OttoinGrotto]

if you don't like conservative offense, you might not like Doug.

This is the realization I came to last season.

 

[Millhouse]

This is the realization I came to last season.

that's the realization I might come to when I see him play a qb that he recruited