The issue is, if you ONLY line up under center to sneak, how well is that going to work? Either you occasionally, randomly take a snap or two under center, so the sneak is not so obvious, or ya just run the RPO and take your chances.
Defending Rahne
- Thread starter tboyer
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The issue is, if you ONLY line up under center to sneak, how well is that going to work? Either you occasionally, randomly take a snap or two under center, so the sneak is not so obvious, or ya just run the RPO and take your chances.
The offense is not balanced or consistent. It's just undefeated.
I don't think our linemen can block a screen. I think that's why we tried briefly and abandoned it. Better to go to simple swing passes, short tight end curls, and slants. The quicker and more decisive the throw, the more likely we're going to get a completion without QB pressure.
But, my take is that Franklin is a stretch-the-field guy. I think he has gone to shorter passes with some reluctance. Philosophically I'm sure Rahne does what Franklin wants, just not on a down by down basis.
Rahne did what he had to do to get us a win. We were on the road against a good defense with a young QB. Our big play offense has been inconsistent at times. We saw this in the first half of Buffalo, Pitt and much of the game with Purdue. So Rahne geared down with shorter, safer throws and more runs. Clifford played very well after a shaky start.
Our offense is missing some pieces at receiver right now. We don’t have a lot of guys you can simply launch balls to downfield. If we ever get those receivers, we will be a complete package. But we needed success in a game like this, especially considering we have MSU and Minny on the schedule.
Our offense is missing some pieces at receiver right now. We don’t have a lot of guys you can simply launch balls to downfield. If we ever get those receivers, we will be a complete package. But we needed success in a game like this, especially considering we have MSU and Minny on the schedule.
Sigh....how do you think this offense would do at OSU if they had to play tomorrow?
Half of this thread is about rationalizing why we aren’t a more effective, efficient offense. I really hope it has to do with Cliffs learning curve and not the offensive brain trust’s inability to scheme open our WRs. So far, this season has slowly ratcheted up the competition and we keep rising to the challenge, which is great. But I worry about everything I said earlier.
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I'd expect us to lose. One of the top four teams in the country. On the road. That doesn't mean our offense isn't any good.
I'm not sold that OSU is unbeatable. Especially with a new coach and a new QB.
They have not been tested at all - and their only real test before facing us is Wisconsin.
They also play us after consecutive games against the dynamic duo of Maryland and Rutgers. We play them after Indiana. To say it will be a change of pace is an understatement. I expect us to make that game very interesting.
I don't disagree, but I'd expect us to be at least a 6 1/2 point dog, and would honestly be surprised with a win. I hope I'm proven wrong.
But it doesn't make my point invalid.... just because you lose to a top five team on the road doesn't mean the offense isn't any good. There aren't many teams that are going to beat a top five team on the road.
I think the great thing is we went into a very tough environment and adjusted our offense to out Iowa in their stadium. That is impressive.
I wonder if the run game worked because the OL knew we were running and could block aggressively. None of that RPO stuff where they have no clue what is going on behind them.
Especially when you are allowed to push from behind now. It's almost impossible to stop a sneak when you can push the QB from behind.
You turnover the ball when you can't pick up a yard so what is to lose? They have struggled in short yardage since Franklin has been here. Quit being stubborn and get with the times. To win National Titles you need to be make a tough yard.
I agree. Iowa must have run the quarterback sneak for a first down at least three times.
You mean we can’t hand off to Cain, or another RB after taking the snap under center ? I’m not buying that, although I do understand we never go under center, so it’s apparently a moot point. It’s still bizarre to me that we don’t have a few alignments where we allow our QB to take snaps under center, especially when we are so ineffective using the RPO on short yardage situations against a stacked defensive line. It’s been our Achilles hill for quite awhile under the RPO.
@tboyer is one of the most interesting, insightful, knowledgeable and valuable posters on this entire board. I don't always agree with his positions (95% of the time, I do), but I wish more people would follow his lead. He contributes content. Real content. And I always look forward to his posts.
*raises hand*
I'm probably not the poster you were referencing, but I definitely held those same exact sentiments, privately. Spread 'em out and overwhelm the Hawkeyes with our team speed was my idea for beating Iowa. Ricky Rahne went above and beyond my expectations last night and I'm starting to think there's a reason why James Franklin is so solid in his corner. Let's keep it rolling.
Stanley had "286" yards passing; Clifford had "117." Iowa had "23" receptions; PSU had "12." Like I mentioned, Iowa WR's were wide open all night, and we will pay the price if this continues on Saturday.
If UM, OSU, or Wisky puts up those kinds of receiving numbers vs. ours, they will beat us by 3-4 TDS!
Buffalo had 245
Pitt had 372
Iowa had 286
Those yards aren't translating into points so it doesn't automatically mean UM or OSU is gonna win by 3 or 4 TDs
Yeah, against cupcakes we get by with the disparity in receptions. If UM has double the receptions Saturday night, we loose. The same with OSU and Wisky. Iowa isn't a cupcake, but I believe that was their 1st offensive TD all year!
If I'm wrong, I will certainly get back to you with an "Atta Boy, You were right." Please do the same for me.
My question is how do you think our offense would fare? Not win or lose but how do you think we would do at OSU right now?
The point I am trying to make is this....what do we consistently do well on offense? Do we excel at running? Passing?
I can’t point to one thing this offense consistently does well....
As mentioned before, Iowa completed double the amount of passes and schemed their WRs open. Why can’t we do the same? We should be spreading their LBers thin with all talent we have at RB and TE. But yet We don’t.
We run well when Cain is in the game but he is only in the game for 1/3 of the game.
All of which, IMO, is concerning. We are about to hit our toughest games and our offense still doesn’t have an identity. We don’t excel at anything, IMO.
And to think that Rahne was trying to scheme for us to get 17 points is ludicrous. His job is to out-scheme the opponent to get our players in the best situations and score the most points he can.
I know we are 6-0. I know we blew out Maryland. I am rooting like crazy for Cliff to have a breakout game. I just don’t think Rahne has figured it out yet.
Yes! As a PSU and Steelers fan, it drives me nuts that the sneak doesn't even seem to be in the playbook. Brady - the most un-athletic QB in the league, is virtually unstoppable with this. So how would 250+ lb Ben have done on sneaks over the past decade? How would an athletic QB like Trace or Cliff do with the sneak? Seems like no brainer.
I'm not coach - but can't this be learned in about 20 mins of practice time?
The only real argument I see against the sneak is that if you never line up under center, and then you do on a short yardage situation - it telegraphs the play.
Well hang on there....
Firstly, we could easily lose by 3 TDs at the Shoe even if we play well.
Secondly just losing wasn't the discussion....losing by 3 or 4 TDs was.
If we lose by 3 TDs to Michigan because they had double our passing yards I will absolutely come back and eat crow.
Sorry, I thought "we'd lose" was clear.
No I do not think the offense would fare well at OSU right now.
Pitt and Iowa showed that a decent defense is going to cause troubles.
Two of Iowa’s big passing plays were basically flukes. On one the DB almost fell down and the other was a circus catch.
However on the circus catch Reid I’m not sure what Reid was thinking or doing.
I’m worried he is going to become the Darek Fox of this defense
PSU Offensive stats from Saturday.
1st Half-
-3 plays, minus 8 yards, punt, (1:36 drive started at Iowa 41).
-3 plays, 1 yard, punt (56 sec)
-5 plays, 17 yards, punt (2:10)
-15 plays, 85 yards, TD, (5:40)
-9 plays, 26 yards, punt (3:15)
-1 play, minus 4 yards, end of half (0:20)
2nd Half-
-9 plays, 34 yards, punt (4:28)
-3 plays, 2 yards, punt (1:31)
-6 plays, 1 yard, FG (2:38)
-10 plays, 53 yards, punt (3:47)
-8 plays, 35 yards, TD (4:05)
-6 plays, 7 yards, end of game (2:31)
1st Half-
-3 plays, minus 8 yards, punt, (1:36 drive started at Iowa 41).
-3 plays, 1 yard, punt (56 sec)
-5 plays, 17 yards, punt (2:10)
-15 plays, 85 yards, TD, (5:40)
-9 plays, 26 yards, punt (3:15)
-1 play, minus 4 yards, end of half (0:20)
2nd Half-
-9 plays, 34 yards, punt (4:28)
-3 plays, 2 yards, punt (1:31)
-6 plays, 1 yard, FG (2:38)
-10 plays, 53 yards, punt (3:47)
-8 plays, 35 yards, TD (4:05)
-6 plays, 7 yards, end of game (2:31)
