Film Study - Sean Clifford and PSU Pass Pro vs. Auburn

[CaliLION79]

FTB FILM STUDY PSU-Auburn

I think it's a compliment to both Clifford and Yurcich on how quickly No. 14 has picked up on the nuances of this offense -- of which there are many -- in such a short period of time. Makes you wonder how much better he can get in this system and where his ceiling actually is. Because there's been noticeable growth in his accuracy from Week 1 to Week 3.

 

[ApexLion]

FTB FILM STUDY PSU-Auburn

I think it's a compliment to both Clifford and Yurcich on how quickly No. 14 has picked up on the nuances of this offense -- of which there are many -- in such a short period of time. Makes you wonder how much better he can get in this system and where his ceiling actually is. Because there's been noticeable growth in his accuracy from Week 1 to Week 3.

Agree. He has a limited class schedule which helps considerably.

 

[PSU_Chicago]

the one play where the OT (#79) was split wide with the TE lined up as the OT on the other side but eligible to receive a pass .... remember the play but did not notice what they were doing during the game. Great scheme, call by MY

 

[BBrown]

the one play where the OT (#79) was split wide with the TE lined up as the OT on the other side but eligible to receive a pass .... remember the play but did not notice what they were doing during the game. Great scheme, call by MY

+1. the other great thing is that the tempo really helped create that "confusion" and they (Auburn) didn't have time to fix it.
We are really seeing Tempo for the first time since the NASCAR stuff under OB and I think this is working even better.

 

[ram2020]

+1. the other great thing is that the tempo really helped create that "confusion" and they (Auburn) didn't have time to fix it.
We are really seeing Tempo for the first time since the NASCAR stuff under OB and I think this is working even better.

Tempo has really been missing the last 2 coordinators. The rush up to the line, then check with me stuff, provides the defense a rest and allows them to dictate and readjust their defense. The tempo and different looks really caught Auburn on their heels and allowed our offense of dictate. Its so nice to see.

 

[fastlax16]

Do we expect him to use his covid year and come back?

 

[PSUQBKeeper]

+1. the other great thing is that the tempo really helped create that "confusion" and they (Auburn) didn't have time to fix it.
We are really seeing Tempo for the first time since the NASCAR stuff under OB and I think this is working even better.

also no subs on offense so the official didn't hold us up waiting for defensive subs

 

[BBrown]

also no subs on offense so the official didn't hold us up waiting for defensive subs

and that is the genius of MY and the crazy ability of our TE room. You can leave them in to play WR, TE, FB, QB, OL and not give the other team any chance to adjust. Brilliant.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Amazing how much better any QB is when he has all day to throw. Sees the field, guys get open, and he doesn’t have to throw of his back foot as he back peddles for his life. Clifford was very good but the line are the stars of the game.

Now if they can run block that well.....

 

[bvillebaron]

Amazing how much better any QB is when he has all day to throw. Sees the field, guys get open, and he doesn’t have to throw of his back foot as he back peddles for his life. Clifford was very good but the line are the stars of the game.

Now if they can run block that well.....

Absolutely correct. Excellent pass blocking. Hopefully, the run blocking will improve. I thought Wisky and Auburn both have good defenses so that may have been a factor.

 

[Texas Lion]

Do we expect him to use his covid year and come back?

I hope so. I will say it like this.....If Franklin stays, Clifford comes back. If Franklin goes to USC, Cliff declares.

 

[eilion]

Finally a game where we clearly outcoached the other team. You can say Auburn really shut us down in the run game, and they did but to our credit we never gave up trying to run and were effective when it counted at the goal line. It forced Auburn's linebackers up just enough to create room behind them for our receivers. Also, our quick screens work as a supplement to the run and to bait the DBs. Auburn's DB's became too aggressive and gave up big yardage to our tight ends.

 

[AWS1022]

Do we expect him to use his covid year and come back?

Let’s hope.

 

[AWS1022]

Finally a game where we clearly outcoached the other team. You can say Auburn really shut us down in the run game, and they did but to our credit we never gave up trying to run and were effective when it counted at the goal line. It forced Auburn's linebackers up just enough to create room behind them for our receivers. Also, our quick screens work as a supplement to the run and to bait the DBs. Auburn's DB's became too aggressive and gave up big yardage to our tight ends.

There have been a ton of games where we out coached the other team…you don’t win 42 games in four years without out coaching the other team.

 

[eilion]

There have been a ton of games where we out coached the other team…you don’t win 42 games in four years without out coaching the other team.

Disagree under the Franklin era. Most of those 42 games were won with superior talent. I'm talking when we are evenly or out-matched talentwise.

 

[AWS1022]

Disagree under the Franklin era. Most of those 42 games were won with superior talent. I'm talking when we are evenly or out-matched talentwise.

That’s ridiculous. Even with better talent, you still have to coach (hello Brady Hoke). And we were evenly matched many times where we won. And even if we have better talent, we’ve blown many of those teams out and that’s just not because of the talent. How about games we had opportunities to win and that superior talent didn’t make plays? And how about close games we lost to teams with superior talent? That’s good coaching too.

 

[fastlax16]

Disagree under the Franklin era. Most of those 42 games were won with superior talent. I'm talking when we are evenly or out-matched talentwise.

Coaching and talent are not mutually exclusive. Using your criteria it is basically impossible for Nick Saban to ever out coach someone. Unless you feel Nick Saban never out coaches his opponents.

 

[mn78psu83]

That’s ridiculous.

It really is.

 

[royboy]

Absolutely correct. Excellent pass blocking. Hopefully, the run blocking will improve. I thought Wisky and Auburn both have good defenses so that may have been a factor.

Yeah, the Auburn Linebackers were aggressive against the run (not as good on short pass coverage)

They also had two guys in the middle of the D-Line that were hard to move -- Tony Fair, a 330# Nose Tackle, and Marcus Harris, a 280# DT, both transfers.

We'll have to see if the upcoming Big 10 opponents have that level of size and talent. Improvement in the PSU run game is critical.

 

[BBrown]

Yeah, the Auburn Linebackers were aggressive against the run (not as good on short pass coverage)

They also had two guys in the middle of the D-Line that were hard to move -- Tony Fair, a 330# Nose Tackle, and Marcus Harris, a 280# DT, both transfers.

We'll have to see if the upcoming Big 10 opponents have that level of size and talent. Improvement in the PSU run game is critical.

I thought their one DE, #99 was very good as well.

 

[eilion]

That’s ridiculous. Even with better talent, you still have to coach (hello Brady Hoke). And we were evenly matched many times where we won. And even if we have better talent, we’ve blown many of those teams out and that’s just not because of the talent. How about games we had opportunities to win and that superior talent didn’t make plays? And how about close games we lost to teams with superior talent? That’s good coaching too.

Of course you do. That's not my point. That wasn't even the point of the post. Against Auburn, a team with even or better talent, imho, coaching was the difference. We coached good, they coached bad. Since 2016, when we have faced similar teams, i.e. Ohio State, it has typically been the opposite. That is all.

 

[fastlax16]

Of course you do. That's not my point. That wasn't even the point of the post. Against Auburn, a team with even or better talent, imho, coaching was the difference. We coached good, they coached bad. Since 2016, when we have faced similar teams, i.e. Ohio State, it has typically been the opposite. That is all.

Ohio state has superior talent to us every year so they can’t “coach good” they just have superior talent. your logic not mine.

 

[lazydave841]

Coaching and talent are not mutually exclusive. Using your criteria it is basically impossible for Nick Saban to ever out coach someone. Unless you feel Nick Saban never out coaches his opponents.

Why do you think Saban has only been blown out of like 2 games since 2009?

Because he takes the best talent and coaches the piss out of em.

 

[eilion]

Ohio state has superior talent to us every year so they can’t “coach good” they just have superior talent. your logic not mine.

Again, not my point. I can't understand it for you.

 

[The Spin Meister]

Finally a game where we clearly outcoached the other team. You can say Auburn really shut us down in the run game, and they did but to our credit we never gave up trying to run and were effective when it counted at the goal line. It forced Auburn's linebackers up just enough to create room behind them for our receivers. Also, our quick screens work as a supplement to the run and to bait the DBs. Auburn's DB's became too aggressive and gave up big yardage to our tight ends.

We have had a lot of good coaching. A few not so good.

Methinks both Wisky and Auburn emphasized stopping the run and forcing us to throw. Last year’s tape showed that was the pathway to victory. But improved pass protection, improved QB play, and improved play design/calling allowed us to exploit their weakened pass defense.

I expect to see more balanced defenses in the future which should open our run game. More blitzing and stunts. More attempts to pressure Clifford. This should lead to more big plays by the offense.

 

[AWS1022]

Why do you think Saban has only been blown out of like 2 games since 2009?

Because he takes the best talent and coaches the piss out of em.

Apparently he’s lost it….see Florida game last week. So if Saban wins it’s because he coaches the piss out of his talent….if Franklin wins it’s because he has better players than the other team. Got it.

 

[AWS1022]

Of course you do. That's not my point. That wasn't even the point of the post. Against Auburn, a team with even or better talent, imho, coaching was the difference. We coached good, they coached bad. Since 2016, when we have faced similar teams, i.e. Ohio State, it has typically been the opposite. That is all.

Or they coached well and we coached better. Not every loss is bad coaching….I know, tough concept for you to understand. You can out coach the other team and still lose, it happens. If the team is in a position to win the game and they can’t make plays, that’s on the players.

 

[lazydave841]

Apparently he’s lost it….see Florida game last week. So if Saban wins it’s because he coaches the piss out of his talent….if Franklin wins it’s because he has better players than the other team. Got it.

I think we are on the same side of the discussion, but you didn't realize it. Or maybe you are being sarcastic and I don't realize it.

JF has out coached plenty of our opponents. I'm not disputing that. Too much consideration goes into a handful of games JF lost and not near enough goes into games he won.

 

[tboyer]

Methinks both Wisky and Auburn emphasized stopping the run and forcing us to throw. Last year’s tape showed that was the pathway to victory.

This has probably not been emphasized enough. The early season game plans were shaped a lot by last year's PSU team -- so everybody figured they could stop PSU by stopping the run.

But now people are going to have to adjust -- safeties will have to play back more to help out with Dotson and Washington. Linebackers will have to worry about PSU TEs. PSU O is designed to force defenses to play the whole field, and that usually means some lanes for running backs.

Auburn didn't blitz much and SC had all day in the backfield. Teams are going to have to blitz to get pressure (watch Indiana) and then hopefully PSU is ready for that.

 

[AWS1022]

I think we are on the same side of the discussion, but you didn't realize it. Or maybe you are being sarcastic and I don't realize it.

JF has out coached plenty of our opponents. I'm not disputing that. Too much consideration goes into a handful of games JF lost and not near enough goes into games he won.

Wasn’t trying to go after you in particular, it’s just that many posters on here say Franklin can win when he has better talent, but not so much with equal or less talent. Saban always has better talent so he should win every game by that argument. If Franklin coached Bama, he’d win every game apparently.

 

[lazydave841]

Wasn’t trying to go after you in particular, it’s just that many posters on here say Franklin can win when he has better talent, but not so much with equal or less talent. Saban always has better talent so he should win every game by that argument. If Franklin coached Bama, he’d win every game apparently.

I'd say JF would have at least one title if he had Saban's talent since '14.

 

[AWS1022]

I'd say JF would have at least one title if he had Saban's talent since '14.

And Saban would have zero if he had Franklin’s talent since ‘14.

 

[ChiTownLion]

Video directly embedded (by pasting the URL address into the message):

 

[The Spin Meister]

This has probably not been emphasized enough. The early season game plans were shaped a lot by last year's PSU team -- so everybody figured they could stop PSU by stopping the run.

But now people are going to have to adjust -- safeties will have to play back more to help out with Dotson and Washington. Linebackers will have to worry about PSU TEs. PSU O is designed to force defenses to play the whole field, and that usually means some lanes for running backs.

Auburn didn't blitz much and SC had all day in the backfield. Teams are going to have to blitz to get pressure (watch Indiana) and then hopefully PSU is ready for that.

Yep, that was my point that you so eloquently said better!

Going to be interesting how defenses adjust and how Yurcich counters. He is really good on the football chessboard.

 

[fastlax16]

Again, not my point. I can't understand it for you.

Might not be your point but it was your argument. “ Most of those 42 games were won with superior talent. I'm talking when we are evenly or out-matched talentwise.” Pretty straight forward.

 

[tboyer]

Yep, that was my point that you so eloquently said better!

Going to be interesting how defenses adjust and how Yurcich counters. He is really good on the football chessboard.

Yeah I'm trying to not get carried away, but I'm fairly amazed at how sophisticated the PSU offense is already -- and with less early-season confusion than usual. Yurcich is a good schemer and play-caller but maybe most importantly he must be a gifted teacher.

He's able to get everybody to understand the concepts and play with confidence. That's how it was under Moorhead but it was never that way under the next two guys. Under the poor dude who went to ODU the passing game was such a mess -- QB and receivers were constantly out of synch -- and the result was constant drops and route miscommunications. Maybe it's a really strong group of receivers -- and it is -- but they are getting some excellent coaching that just wasn't happening 2-3 years ago.

 

[cntblvitsbutter]

Yeah I'm trying to not get carried away, but I'm fairly amazed at how sophisticated the PSU offense is already -- and with less early-season confusion than usual. Yurcich is a good schemer and play-caller but maybe most importantly he must be a gifted teacher.

He's able to get everybody to understand the concepts and play with confidence. That's how it was under Moorhead but it was never that way under the next two guys. Under the poor dude who went to ODU the passing game was such a mess -- QB and receivers were constantly out of synch -- and the result was constant drops and route miscommunications. Maybe it's a really strong group of receivers -- and it is -- but they are getting some excellent coaching that just wasn't happening 2-3 years ago.

This. Everyone seems to be on the same page. I can't imagine they could've run the play where the TE lined up as the OT for a big gainer down the middle as quickly as they did in previous years.

 

[Wallace Breen]

Watching that video, I like what MY is doing but I am now worried that Auburn isn't as good as expected and I didn't expect a lot. Obviously, teams improve throughout the season but I doubt they top 7 wins.

 

[lazydave841]

Watching that video, I like what MY is doing but I am now worried that Auburn isn't as good as expected and I didn't expect a lot. Obviously, teams improve throughout the season but I doubt they top 7 wins.

You sure thought they were going to beat us for the past 5 months.

 

[bison13]

This out coaching somebody thing is ridiculous. There's way more that goes into coaching than just on Gameday to determine if you out coached someone. How about putting in a good game plan through the week of practice to have your kids ready to play or you come out early get a lead and don't have to make any kind of crazy in-game adjustments. What about getting the best out of your players on really working an individual aspects of their game through the week. All of these things part of out coaching someone.