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Message: [QUOTE="SWC75, post: 117448, member: 289"] Do these paragraphs "sound the same" to you? They discussed the pedantic nature of our offense. “Every 15 play drive has a big play in it, 3rd and 8 or something. We didn’t do that enough. We were in the bottom half of the country in big plays. We’re not putting the players in a position to get big plays. There’s some good stats but we still don’t have that break-away run. In the off-season, we will look at spreading the field or using the short pass the way Pitt did. We really haven‘t been explosive since Donovan McNabb. I‘ve looked at some films from that era and he was able to extend some plays better than we have.” “We have to find a way to create big plays. It matters when and where the yardage is coming. Are we getting a big play when it’s too late to impact the outcome? In New Orleans we took a lot of shots, (downfield). We have to find a way to get more pressure on the defense. That’s what some teams have done to us- we don’t have enough helmets in the picture. We can’t stay where we are in the, (offensive), rankings. But we don’t’ need to just improve statistically. We need to improve enough to win games.” Matt asked what “What’s up for discussion?” Doug: “To change passing plays, the run game, use more misdirection, running the quarterback and the fullback, etc., making people defend more of the field. We’re studying what other teams are doing. I’ll be studying film of 2-3 teams.” Matt brought up my question about a two back backfield and pointed out it had been kind of a tradition at Syracuse. Doug: “I’d like to get to the point where we have someone back there who can score. We need balance- the ability to move the pile and operate in space. Different runners- so the defense can’t get in tune to one type of runner.” He didn‘t precisely say that we’d have both capabilities at once. Matt noted that they were “Back to the drawing board on punting.” Doug again said they were looking at using the “spread” formation on punts, (the “shield”). He repeated something he said on an earlier show- that in the NFL you can’t go downfield until the ball is kicked. I now think he’s referring to an NFL rule that doesn’t apply in college. He said that 38 plays per game, on average are “special teams” plays, (meaning they involve kicks). “We have to run down field and converge. When we don’t we get blocked and that’s where the problems begin.” Matt noted that the people who make plays on kicks tend to be the “speed guys” like Dorian Graham and Kyle Foster. [/QUOTE]

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