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In a single play this shows what upsets me about our offense...

LionDeNittany

LionDeNittany

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In critical situations.

It's 3rd and 2. We have Levis in the game. Everyone in the world knows we are going to try and run to pick up the first and if we don't we will likely try again.

What's with the RPO / Fake to the RB? Why are we giving the Indiana d-line time to get off their blocks?

Hike and run.

 
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Everyone knows we started running these to setup a flea flicker type play for Clifford.
 
Lion 2.0??? An overwhelming sense of dread came over me when I saw this formation for the 1st time yesterday. For sure would have a better chance of success if they snapped the ball and started running, as opposed to the RPO/fake nonsense.
 
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okinburg1 said:
Lion 2.0??? An overwhelming sense of dread came over me when I saw this formation for the 1st time yesterday. For sure would have a better chance of success if they snapped the ball and started running, as opposed to the RPO/fake nonsense.
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To me the point of having Clifford on the field is so when we break the huddle we have a potential passing play. So the defense keeps a DB on the field.

But all of that advantage is lost when you run the RPO nonsense.

Snap / Run / First down

LdN
 
ftlpsu said:
Not sure why you don’t just flex the running back to the flat pre snap, it would pull a linebacker out of the box and create another option.
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That would require at least a smidgen of creativity and imagination from the OC, not holding my breathe on that one.
 
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mn78psu83 said:
That was sweet. Can't say it enough - 18 plays, 75 yards, 9:01. Damn, that's good. The Levis thing is a bit amusing though.
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I’m surprised the naysayers aren’t complaining that the drive took too long and too many plays.....if Rahne knew what he was doing we would have scored with a couple of minutes....you know, they’re always finding reasons to bitch.
 
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Nitt1300 said:
and yet, when we needed a drive to seal the win...
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The issue isnt with this drive. It is our inability to overpower teams and run the clock when we need to do so at the end of games.

Our reliance on a gimmick... effectively, on 3rd and 2 in four down territory tells me we have an ineffective playbook.

LdN
 
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First of all, it is a read option run not a RPO. There was no passing option on that play so not sure why people get these mixed up.

Second, I don’t think PSU is trying to setup anything for next week or anytime. I think the QB run with the running back leading is their answer to power running game and a full back. I think they probably feel Levis is a strong runner, and Clifford is banged up so they are probably trying to take some of the wear and tear off him as well.

I wouldn’t read too much into it but the play to setup would be Levis taking the ball toward the line for the power run and then backing off and throwing. Levis throwing the ball is the play but we won’t see it.
 
LionDeNittany said:
The issue isnt with this drive. It is our inability to overpower teams and run the clock when we need to do so at the end of games.

Our reliance on a gimmick... effectively, on 3rd and 2 in four down territory tells me we have an ineffective playbook.

LdN
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Lord, give me patience
 
PennStateTurf2002 said:
I think the QB run with the running back leading is their answer to power running game and a full back.
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Yes, and that is my point.
Our version of a power running game involves a QB taking the snap in the shotgun, faking a handoff flatfooted, then following a tailback to a hole.

And this is why we cannot sustain drives with the lead when other teams know we are trying to run the ball.

LdN
 
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BBrown said:
You really think our OC is the problem? Interesting. JMO but I see many of the same issues that have plagued this defense since 2016.
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There's more than enough blame to go around, both Rahne and Pry have to step up. Just because the secondary couldn't cover Peter Dinklage in a phone booth right now, doesn't mean we don't have problems on offense. If we're being honest not many on the coaching staff are deserving of high praise currently.
 
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Westbrook#36 said:
There's more than enough blame to go around, both Rahne and Pry have to step up. Just because the secondary couldn't cover Peter Dinklage in a phone booth right now, doesn't mean we don't have problems on offense. If we're being honest not many on the coaching staff are deserving of high praise currently.
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I am being completely honest and I don't think the Offense is the biggest issue, other than we need another WR to step up big time.
Not many teams could morph into a power running team to go on a 9 minute drive to win the game only to watch the defense come out and almost blow a 10 point lead with 1:30 left. Ok "almost blow" is probably an exaggeration but yea I'm far more concerned about the last 2 QB's going 49/61 for 80% and 700+ yards.
If I'm doing percentages I go biggest issue is defense at 60%.
 
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LionDeNittany said:
In critical situations.

It's 3rd and 2. We have Levis in the game. Everyone in the world knows we are going to try and run to pick up the first and if we don't we will likely try again.

What's with the RPO / Fake to the RB? Why are we giving the Indiana d-line time to get off their blocks?

Hike and run.

View embedded media
Click to expand...

STOP!! You're making too much sense!! lol
 
If you don't show the "give" as a possibility, then:

a) everyone is definitely keying on the QB (if you fake the give) the defenders with RB responsibility HAS to at least pause slightly which helps the QB.

b) if you run it with Levis a couple of times and the defender with RB responsibility starts to crash the QB, you do give it for a successful gain.

I'd love to see them run a pop pass from it (Clifford kinds of does this sometimes where he runs toward the LOS then throws to the TE at the last second) because my guess is that the safety or LB will get sucked in and the TE should be open.
 
BBrown said:
I am being completely honest and I don't think the Offense is the biggest issue, other than we need another WR to step up big time.
Not many teams could morph into a power running team to go on a 9 minute drive to win the game only to watch the defense come out and almost blow a 10 point lead with 1:30 left. Ok "almost blow" is probably an exaggeration but yea I'm far more concerned about the last 2 QB's going 49/61 for 80% and 700+ yards.
If I'm doing percentages I go biggest issue is defense at 60%.
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Defense is the biggest concern right now, but again, that doesn't mean the offense is above some criticism. I made one snarky j/k comment on offense play calling prowess doesn't mean I'm blaming the offense more than the defense. Play calling, WR play, red zone scoring efficiency(play calling) have been a problem for a couple of years now. Maybe not as big as the secondary concerns, but worrisome none the less.
 
Westbrook#36 said:
Defense is the biggest concern right now, but again, that doesn't mean the offense is above some criticism. I made one snarky j/k comment on offense play calling prowess doesn't mean I'm blaming the offense more than the defense. Play calling, WR play, red zone scoring efficiency(play calling) have been a problem for a couple of years now. Maybe not as big as the secondary concerns, but worrisome none the less.
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Actually our red zone percentage has been pretty good. It took a nose dive at minny but IMO the loss of Cain was a big reason.
 
BBrown said:
Actually our red zone percentage has been pretty good. It took a nose dive at minny but IMO the loss of Cain was a big reason.
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That might be so against the Idaho's, Purdue's, Maryland's, and Rutger's of the world. If we don't score on explosive plays against the better teams it sure seems like it's pulling teeth to score in the red zone with a bunch of Rahne's play calling prowess down there. Don't think the loss of Cain has much to do with it at all, considering the way(lack of) they use(d) him.
 
BBrown said:
I am being completely honest and I don't think the Offense is the biggest issue, other than we need another WR to step up big time.
Not many teams could morph into a power running team to go on a 9 minute drive to win the game only to watch the defense come out and almost blow a 10 point lead with 1:30 left. Ok "almost blow" is probably an exaggeration but yea I'm far more concerned about the last 2 QB's going 49/61 for 80% and 700+ yards.
If I'm doing percentages I go biggest issue is defense at 60%.
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I am not asking they morph into anything.

When you cant fool anyone, dont try.

We unecessarily delayed the run and it ended up getting stuffed.

LdN
 
LionDeNittany said:
Yes, and that is my point.
Our version of a power running game involves a QB taking the snap in the shotgun, faking a handoff flatfooted, then following a tailback to a hole.

And this is why we cannot sustain drives with the lead when other teams know we are trying to run the ball.

LdN
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Which is exactly what we did. That play worked for Minny last week. Worked for us this week. Our only power runner is out with an injury, so Levis becomes the power runner. IT WORKED.
 
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Westbrook#36 said:
That might be so against the Idaho's, Purdue's, Maryland's, and Rutger's of the world. If we don't score on explosive plays against the better teams it sure seems like it's pulling teeth to score in the red zone with a bunch of Rahne's play calling prowess down there. Don't think the loss of Cain has much to do with it at all, considering the way(lack of) they use(d) him.
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I'm going to disagree. Noah has 6 TD's I would bet the majority of those came inside the RZ. And frankly how do you want them to use him since he's been hurt for the last 2 games, which ironically enough is when the RZ production seemed to fall off.
 
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BBrown said:
I'm going to disagree. Noah has 6 TD's I would bet the majority of those came inside the RZ. And frankly how do you want them to use him since he's been hurt for the last 2 games, which ironically enough is when the RZ production seemed to fall off.
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We disagree, remember the 5 carry game when he was(is) clearly are best option? I do. Are you sure that if healthy Cain would be getting the bulk of the carries in the RZ? I'm not. Again back to coaching decisions and play calling, saying it's suspect would be generous.
 
I seem to remember IU losing one or two DL’s right before that down.
So yeah, if there was going to be a dropoff on their DL and the way our OL had been playing, it seemed reasonable.
 
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