I certainly have concerns vav the loss of Joe Moorhead...

[stormingnorm]

.... and it is way too early to come to any conclusions wrt how well PSU will be able to replace his contributions.

I was not overly impressed with what we saw from the PSU O in Week 1 (from a tactical and strategic standpoint).

I must say though, that there was a lot more to feel good about in that regard from the Pitt game (even before they started to roll in the second half)

Haven’t gone through the entire game review yet - - - - but a play that belongs in the “hall of fame” for OCs:
- The TD at the end of the first half.... what a brilliant design to deal with Pitt’s red zone two deep.
Going to the five wide, and the way they split open the safeties, and creased Hamler into a wide open void, was a schematic thing of beauty (which was perfectly executed by the three inside receivers - Hamler, Miles, Friermuth, IIRC)

Lots of good stuff to see from Saturday’s work by the O coaches..... IMO

 

[djr4rebs]

We have incorporated 2RB, 2TE, and 4WR sets under Rahne. We never saw those under Moorhead. Positive.

We are running inside much better. Positive.

We ran a jet sweep utilizing Hamler. Positive.

Our passing on RPOs seems less potent and telegraphed. Negative.

Not throwing deep near as much. Negative.

 

[OhioLion]

what a brilliant design to deal with Pitt’s red zone two deep.

Kevin Wilson showed this last year at the Ohio HS FB coaches clinic. The film clip he showed was that of the Penn State game.
Run verts on outside, cross underneath to middle of field and then go vertical. Nice routes.

OL

 

[marshall23]

I turned the page at the Fiesta Bowl.

 

[marshall23]

We have incorporated 2RB, 2TE, and 4WR sets under Rahne. We never saw those under Moorhead. Positive.

We are running inside much better. Positive.

We ran a jet sweep utilizing Hamler. Positive.

Our passing on RPOs seems less potent and telegraphed. Negative.

Not throwing deep near as much. Negative.

Some things will vary as we are not dealing with computer chips.....but athletes with different skill sets.

 

[Roar More]

This may be weather related if you are just referring to last night.

 

[BBrown]

We have incorporated 2RB, 2TE, and 4WR sets under Rahne. We never saw those under Moorhead. Positive.

We are running inside much better. Positive.

We ran a jet sweep utilizing Hamler. Positive.

Our passing on RPOs seems less potent and telegraphed. Negative.

Not throwing deep near as much. Negative.

and when they do the WR's need to catch the ball. Geez. I know the weather was bad but it didn't seem to bother Hammler, Holland, Polk but JJ and Thompkins need to get their act together. JJ just doesn't look like he's enjoying playing right now. Weird.

 

[Nitwit]

The backward pass out in the flat scares me. We had one nice gain by Sanders I believe, but the play was stuffed at least two other times. If it was a forward swing pass I would be more comfortable, but it’s a lateral, and a bothched catch could result in a turnover.

 

[djr4rebs]

Some things will vary as we are not dealing with computer chips.....but athletes with different skill sets.

Yes and no.

We have thrown deep considerably less since Godwin turned pro. That lends to players with different skill sets.

Barkley and Sanders is the best 2RB duo we have had under Moorhead and Rahne. The fact Rahne used it with Sanders/Allen and Moorhead never did with Barkley/Sanders (I don't count Stevens as any play he is in on is strategically different) lends to coaching philosophy.

 

[marshall23]

Yes and no.

We have thrown deep considerably less since Godwin turned pro. That lends to players with different skill sets.

Barkley and Sanders is the best 2RB duo we have had under Moorhead and Rahne. The fact Rahne used it with Sanders/Allen and Moorhead never did with Barkley/Sanders (I don't count Stevens as any play he is in on is strategically different) lends to coaching philosophy.

You don't see Allen as a different type of player than Sanders? I always felt a 2 back set would be Barkley and Robinson. Sanders and Barkley are too similar.

 

[djr4rebs]

You don't see Allen as a different type of player than Sanders?

I think they trust Allen to pick up blitzs and like him better on check downs when Trace doesn't like what he sees or the rush gets there quick. Additionally, Allen is very disciplined. He runs the play as it's called, always getting north and south.

Still doesn't change the fact that Moorhead likes 3WR, 1RB, 1TE near exclusively regardless of what skill set is available to him. Rahne doesn't have the same attachment to the system. He's at least looking for ways to exploit the opponent via formation.

Curious about where you are going with your comment. You have very good perspective.

 

[marshall23]

I think they trust Allen to pick up blitzs and like him better on check downs when Trace doesn't like what he sees or the rush gets there quick. Additionally, Allen is very disciplined. He runs the play as it's called, always getting north and south.

Still doesn't change the fact that Moorhead likes 3WR, 1RB, 1TE near exclusively regardless of what skill set is available to him. Rahne doesn't have the same attachment to the system. He's at least looking for ways to exploit the opponent via formation.

Curious about where you are going with your comment. You have very good perspective.

JM used a 2 back set for one season at Fordham.
I think it comes down to putting the best threats on the field. He felt the WRs were more of a head ache for the D than removing one and going with another RB. Without depth and talent at WR, he might have opted for 2 RBs.

 

[doctornick]

I don't think we can really judge Rahne's full offensive philosophy/planning yet. I'd expect that are trying to keep things as vanilla as possible early in the season against weaker opponents to save some wrinkles versus the tough opponents. Remember when we all of the sudden used the wildcat versus Michigan last season and it caught them completely off guard? Probably gonna be some similar things later this year.

Point is, let's evaluate after the tOSU game.

 

[djr4rebs]

JM used a 2 back set for one season at Fordham.
I think it comes down to putting the best threats on the field. He felt the WRs were more of a head ache for the D than removing one and going with another RB. Without depth and talent at WR, he might have opted for 2 RBs.

Which is why I said Sanders over Robinson.

A couple of our play calls to Allen had me scratching my head. The RPO we did was too slow developed, poorly blocked, Trace could have ran, Hamler was probably open, etc. Another was a run play to the left where Allen took it wide, but didn't have the extra gear to get around the corner (he was tackled for no gain I believe). Why run your slowest RB wide, on a wet field, when even Sanders couldn't get outside?

 

[marshall23]

Which is why I said Sanders over Robinson.

A couple of our play calls to Allen had me scratching my head. The RPO we did was too slow developed, poorly blocked, Trace could have ran, Hamler was probably open, etc. Another was a run play to the left where Allen took it wide, but didn't have the extra gear to get around the corner (he was tackled for no gain I believe). Why run your slowest RB wide, on a wet field, when even Sanders couldn't get outside?

I don't recall advocating anyone running wide on a soggy field.

 

[christoph]

I think that rpo play was on trace. He should have seen that unblocked man. Maybe he did but thought he might get around him

 

[djr4rebs]

I don't recall advocating anyone running wide on a soggy field.

Didn't say you did. Just mentioning it.

 

[marshall23]

Which is why I said Sanders over Robinson.

A couple of our play calls to Allen had me scratching my head. The RPO we did was too slow developed, poorly blocked, Trace could have ran, Hamler was probably open, etc. Another was a run play to the left where Allen took it wide, but didn't have the extra gear to get around the corner (he was tackled for no gain I believe). Why run your slowest RB wide, on a wet field, when even Sanders couldn't get outside?

My point was simple. I think JM went with 1 RB set at PSU because he had so many talented receivers at his disposal.
If he had a dearth of talent or lack of depth at WR and had depth at RB, he may have gone to a 2 back set. We will never know, will we? Just my opinion. Coaching 101 is to find a scheme that puts the most talented players on the field.

 

[canuckhal]

Yes and no.

We have thrown deep considerably less since Godwin turned pro. That lends to players with different skill sets.

Barkley and Sanders is the best 2RB duo we have had under Moorhead and Rahne. The fact Rahne used it with Sanders/Allen and Moorhead never did with Barkley/Sanders (I don't count Stevens as any play he is in on is strategically different) lends to coaching philosophy.

I wonder if this is by design or just Trace not going through all his progressions. Clearly, WRs ares still running deep routes, but depending on how much time Trace has, he may dumping off the ball for a higher percentage play. Certainly, App State had some pressure that would impact that. It does seem he isn't throwing as many as those so called 50/50 balls, but the WRs are different this year. Also, I believe that the coaches wanted a more possession game. In Moorhead's first year, they were explosive, but IIRC Franklin said they needed a mix of explosiveness and time possession.

What I am seeing thus far, are higher percentage plays, fewer negative plays, fewer 3 and outs, and more time possession. I think Rahne is fine. Lots of open receivers last night with a lot of drops in poor weather conditions.

 

[djr4rebs]

My point was simple. I think JM went with 1 RB set at PSU because he had so many talented receivers at his disposal.
If he had a dearth of talent or lack of depth at WR and had depth at RB, he may have gone to a 2 back set. We will never know, will we? Just my opinion. Coaching 101 is to find a scheme that puts the most talented players on the field.

He's using the same personnel grouping at Miss State, at least he did yesterday against KState. I could have missed some snaps, but I don't remember it. The RBs he has are better playmakers than the WRs from limited viewing. He also has a QB who runs the read option very well, but isn't a great passer.

I think Moorhead has evolved his scheme to where he likes his options of play calling from the 3-1-1 set. I don't remember the TE being a big receiving threat, but he/they blocked good.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

2 games in..... bwahahahahaha.... Ever see the movie 'Analyze This'! You guys certainly put the Anal in Analyze.

 

[djr4rebs]

I wonder if this is by design or just Trace not going through all his progressions. Clearly, WRs ares still running deep routes, but depending on how much time Trace has, he may dumping off the ball for a higher percentage play. Certainly, App State had some pressure that would impact that. It does seem he isn't throwing as many as those so called 50/50 balls, but the WRs are different this year. Also, I believe that the coaches wanted a more possession game. In Moorhead's first year, they were explosive, but IIRC Franklin said they needed a mix of explosiveness and time possession.

What I am seeing thus far, are higher percentage plays, fewer negative plays, fewer 3 and outs, and more time possession. I think Rahne is fine. Lots of open receivers last night with a lot of drops in poor weather conditions.

Possession could very well be the long term plan. Extending drives, working on an inside running game...all complaints that seems to be getting attention.

2 games in..... bwahahahahaha.... Ever see the movie 'Analyze This'! You guys certainly put the Anal in Analyze.

And you put the anal in anal. What else is new?

 

[djr4rebs]

2 games in.....

Good grip gloves that are effective when sopping wet. Hamler used his whole body to catch his TD pass..... I think Hip and others did too, when they could. However, when the passes were right in the hands of guys going away from them down field.... usually sure handed receivers saw them slip through their hands and gloves Just wondering if gloves had anything to do with this problem. If so, I hope the receivers vocalize this to the coaching staff.

2 games in and you think this?

Bwahahaha!

You sure are one to talk about ANALyze.

Had to dig down to page 3 to find this gem.

Move along. It's obvious that you don't have anything to add to this discussion.