In post game interview, Frank immediately pointed to "coaching mistakes" as a reason for the loss. He cited the option play call on fourth down in the first half. (I hope he remembers that we tried it again on third and short...and failed.) I've now heard him make pretty pointed criticisms of the offensive play calling on at least three occasions this year.

The problem with our offensive coordinator could be seen throughout the first half yesterday. We knew their QB could light us up, so it made sense for us to maximize possession time with long drives. Three first-half drives began with some promise as we picked up 8-10 yards on short passes and converted both through passes and short runs. On all three of those drives he abandoned what was working in order to try ill-advised long strikes into the end zone. First one was intercepted. Second one should have been, but left us with a second and 10 (we did not convert). Third attempt ended up with Windham getting sacked and fumbling the ball. Aldin has ADHD or something - he can't stick with what works and play to our strengths.

FS should call out FS. Watching Bengals and pats and Brady is both under center and in shotgun. To think we can't line up under center and get half a yard is ridiculous. Maybe FS needs to develop some sort yardage situations in his offensive schemes OR TELL Albin to.

Why not go back to the schemes that won us 9 games a couple of times and got us to a MACC game. I just really hate what we do on both sides of the ball. Sometimes, change is not good.

I like funny: It's difficult to master direct, handoff snap from center. I laugh.


Y'know what would be awesome? If Solich solich'd in New York or Green Bay or Ohio State or Alabama or USC or Michigan or Miami etc, etc, etc. If so, what's gone on here for four years now would have gone on for about 3.5 years less.

Then again, if you tolerate it, don't be surprised if it happens.




pm me.

The snap has to be executed quickly and perfectly, 70 times a game. Dropping back from center is totally different from shotgun, in terms of what QB is seeing, doing, has to think about. The hand-off to the RB is different when you're dropping back versus handing forward. And it's not like stuff doesn't go wrong in QB-center or QB-RB exchanges all the time in football. Turnovers, busted plays result from that part of the game all the time. So having well-practiced second-nature motions is important.

I also don't think you can have such a limited package, 2-5 plays and all hand-offs, from the under-center game either. If you're going to run from under center you have to have enough installed so the defense has multiple things to worry about.

Although, I would agree that having one special play, a QB sneak from under center (even if the D knows it's coming) would probably be good. Every team should probably run that from under center especially now since they changed the rule and other offensive guys are allowed to push the ball carrier.

Do you realize that there are significant differences between footwork and reads from under center and shotgun? To dismiss the experience factor is silly.

Not always. When we went to the spread wing-T, we split receivers wide both sides. Opponents knew what to expect and it wasn't running. Our QB - a tough guy who blocked when running the single wing - threw a dozen TD passes from the wing-T. And, again, our center mastered both the direct snap to QB on his butt and the 7-yarders. Footwork? It doesn't start before the snap - or when it does we see yellow flags.

Speaking of onside kicks...I thought ours was one of the dumber I have seen. EMU had no one more than 15 yards deep. We had 2 kickers on the field. If you want to run a (poorly executed) fake, fine, but READ WHAT THE OTHER TEAM IS SHOWING, BOOT THE DAMN BALL DEEP, AND SEND YOUR GUNNERS AFTER IT.

The footwork in question is by the QB after the snap. I do think for just the QB sneak, that's not an issue though.

Especially for QB sneak and maybe for other plays, it's not impossible to run some plays from under center. The only question is how much is the benefit versus what it costs you in practice reps for the rest of your offense.

IMO this offense probably has bigger fish to fry than adding lots of plays from under center. I do think adding just the QB sneak could be good though. I might be wrong, of course.

+1. I'm not a football genius, but I can't see why having 5 plays for short yardage under center would be that hard. Sneak, tailback run left/right, fullback handoff, and a play action play of some kind. We're only looking talking 2 yards to go or less.

No, you guys are silly! It ain't rocket science or brain surgery. You just put in a FEW basic plays with simple reads to get 1 yard. You don't have two complete offensive packages.

I was screaming about this from the stands. The likelihood that we actually recover the onside kick is slim, so at least give them bad field position. In fact, sending your gunners on a free-for-all after a lob probably gives you a better chance of recovering than the standard onside kick.