Sorry; but it's time for a new verb.

Mostly, we seem incapable of reacting to circumstances. I see so much of very little pass pressure from us, the D-line not making plays and wide receivers from our D. But we don't do anything different, anything to counter these things.

But mostly it's the play-calling. Let's start with these three:

The odds that the first play that we ran at their six yard line after the turnover late 2nd quarter would not be the usual quarterback draw: Non-existent.

The odds after a successful play on offense that we'll run the exact same play or something for the same player who broke the big play: 100%. We are like a child that way.

Three running plays to get in from about two feet out at the start of the 4th quarter: We use the pistol, not under center, so our single running back is 8 yard from the goal line. For the first two plays our running back is not a power, heavy/strong guy. The H-back is a tight end, not a real big guy like a D-lineman and he's lined up in front of the qb so cannot get the ball--so can be disregarded.** We don't ever go to two-back sets, so the D can't be sure who'll get the ball

We albin.

We have the approach on offense of a saltine cracker.



** If we could actually think to do an inside/forward hand-off to the H-back, he might walk in...or fake it to him and have qb roll out, then we'd have options. But we don't have that kind of thinking.

Are we allowed to roll our qb out near the goal line such that he can look to pass or run?

Are we allowed to run try hurry-up occasionally to try to catch the D off-guard?

Are we allowed to do anything than the same plays over and over?

Coach notes in his early week presser that CMU has two large, agile good-player D-tackles. And we run a lightweight guy inside? Note CMU's roster lists Rawls at 217 lbs. Seemed to have the power on short yardage to get the yards. Any message there?

How about running the reverse again since it worked so well on the opening play of the game. We have an Offensive Dis-Coordinator.

At least he has stopped fumbling after taking the handoff!

It's not really the play calling.

Its the scheme.

I'll bet if you watch the films you'll see on most pass plays that the opponents receiver is either wide open or covered by one person. Then look at OHIO's receiver, there are usually two or more defenders right near him. That is either by the QB telegraphing the pass OR the defense all week practices and knows what to expect from OHIO. Other than a few long passes to Cochran, everyone is doubled! Those poor Sprague passes--the guys were covered by two. This shouldn't happen, there should be plays that a tight end is being trailed by a backer and catches a 5 yard dump over the middle. Against good competition, nobody is open.

Look at CMU, they ran the power I, they went shotgun, the went from under center with only one back very deep. With OHIO as a defensive coordinator you KNOW that the only way that OHIO beats you is if the OHIO offense can execute their plays and make the exact reads. You know the trick play is a reverse or a reverse with the runner then passing. OHIO wins when OUr boys are able to beat up the opponent. But in a match of talent, OHIO doesn't fair as well. Penn State two years ago--great win. TT throws to receiver who is doubled and because of a miracle it isn't picked and bounces to the receiver--it winds up a huge play--but it was all luck--it wasn't skill or a great designed play.

I loved CMU's strategy. The coach watched only one film--Buffalo last season. He knows that he has a big line and Buffalo had a big line. He knows that he has a great running back and Buffalo had a great back. Then he just pounded. Even before their turnover before the half, CMU was poised to just pound OUr defense and wear them out. He had no sense of urgency to score before half; instead just pound away.

How do you come up with 8 eligible receivers? Lets see, two tackles, two guards a center and an eligible guy to throw it--that equals 6, leaving 5 to go out on a route. Two guys guarding each would be 10 so your 16 is new math. But that is the point, 10 don't cover the receivers BUT almost every pass route allows the defenders to have two very close in short order. Why do we seldom see the opponent blow coverage and our QB have wide open guys? The defenders probably know the plays as well as the receivers if they spend a bit of time in the film room during the weeks preparation.

There is little creativity in the schemes from the way OHIO runs the Pistol. Akron can put a 275lb defensive lineman in to be ball carrier and smash the defense. We can put in Daz. The QB could have gone up under center and made those linebackers come up or the QB could have gone side of center and be untouched for the score. Different formations force the defense to counter. Doing the same formations over and over is insanity.

Thank you, Classmate for your insight, your knowledge of the obvious that many affiliated with the team are missing.

I'd really think that those who are boosters of the current situation would be rather thoughtfully quiet at this point, would realize that some things aren't right, that well-intended helpful insights should be considered.

Why are you ragging on me when you said it would take 16 to double 5? Watching the game today did it not look to you that most of their passes had one of our guys covering there guy and when JD threw most of his passes there were several of the Chips right around our guy? The TV talking heads always talk about a QB throwing into double coverage. Did our guy today make all the wrong reads to not find the several who were in one on one because of all the defenders needed in the box?

Here's some fun with numbers:

We ran 46 plays yesterday for 187 yards of offense.

63.6% of our yards came on 3 plays: 49 yard DUTM run, 46 yard pass to Cochran, and 24 yard Sprague run.

We gained 68 yards on the other 43 plays.

Before that 49 yard DUTM run, our longest DRIVE of the game was 21 yards. 20 of those yards came from penalties.

Yep, that's some fine albinin', right there.

Using this thread to respond to many posts elsewhere, espec those that pointed out stuff to me.

See all the things mentioned in this thread about strategy/tactics. It was pointed out today that we ran one reverse and not so much DUTM. But none of the stuff above here was used. It was all the same once again. Very same and easy to prepare for. Russ: "Bowling Green was prepared for that."

No four receivers on one side...no remove two receivers and put in two more linemen. Nothing to catch the other side off guard. We never do that.

Do we ever run any stop and go or stop and come back routes? Our receivers always seem to run moderate routes and not get open.


Many say that it's a matter of talent, some believing we've less than most schools in the MAC and some saying that we're young so need to develop. What if it isn't the talent? For instance, many of us thought that our D would be stand out this year. Instead it can't stop any team that's almost decent when we need a stop.

So, what if it isn't the talent. Then it's the coaching.

Or, what if it is the talent and it's subpar or young. THen shouldn't we use some creativity, some wrinkles to overcome the talent deficiency. Then it's the coaching.

I gotta stop, I suppose. I'm highly offended that we can play such lousy ball against such really not very good teams and most of you accept it and think I'm out of my mind for saying there's a problem over the last 27 games. The most recent 27 games.

Vs Akron

Three outstanding play calls that impact the game.

Run south on third and long by Oulette to the 4 and the WIDE open TD pass to him one play later.

After the JJohnson fumble recovery, the option with Sprague keeping for the first down.

Still an awful called game. I really want to get to the bottom of our read option. Do the QB's really have the read or is it a designed run everytime?

+1 This is driving me crazy. I can't tell if we run it anymore. Based on the amount of times the QB keeps it I'm guessing no. So if we indeed aren't, Why not??