Kotelnicki’s “Trick Plays”

[NittanyLionRoar]

I think a lot of people who complain about the “trick plays” Kotelnicki runs don’t understand what’s actually happening. They’re not really trick plays, they’re simply unusual motions or movements meant to make the defense flinch or cover the wrong guy. But he still runs normal plays within those. From what I see, he seems to run the same number of actually trick plays as other coaches.

If you need it explained again:

 

[NittanyLionRoar]

Also, I just want to add that when Franklin got Joe Moorhead, we installed the RPO at the same time everyone else was around college football. We enjoyed a few years of success with it, but we weren’t the innovative ones, we jumped on board.

This time, it seems to me Kotelnicki has the innovative offense for which we’re ahead of college football and we’re going to see a lot of teams start to do the same kinds of things he does over the next few years.

 

[LandoComando]

I think a lot of people who complain about the “trick plays” Kotelnicki runs don’t understand what’s actually happening. They’re not really trick plays, they’re simply unusual motions or movements meant to make the defense flinch or cover the wrong guy. But he still runs normal plays within those. From what I see, he seems to run the same number of actually trick plays as other coaches.

If you need it explained again:

View embedded media

The issue isn't the motions or formations--it's bringing in your backup QB while keeping your starting QB in the game out wide when he's not a threat to run a route. Yes, we all know that set up the USC play but is one play worth it?
It's also about the timing of the plays. He gets "too fancy" at times when he doesn't need to be. See, ND--we could have ran over them all game. Boise State is even a better example--they had no answer for our run game.
The complaint is he wants to showcase "how smart he is" instead of just keeping things basic. AK is a great OC--he'll be even better in time when he's still innovative but not to an extreme.
He also needs to take the Read Option (we don't run RPO) out of the game with Allar as his QB. Elite OC's adapt to the skillset around them. He's still running the offense like he has Jalon Daniels running his offense at Kansas against Big XII defenses. I'm hopeful year 2 will be better. More play action--more underneath throws--more real check down options that aren't a 4th or 5th read.

 

[NittanyLionRoar]

Now that we have some strengths we can use to really bully opponents, which I feel like we haven’t had much in the last 30 years, I would like to see us do stuff like Michigan and OSU and just run over teams if they can’t stop it. Michigan got a win against us because they didn’t throw the ball for an entire half. I agree, let’s do that to people.

But also, the two qb thing aren’t trick plays either. It could be argued they’re too cute and sometimes I felt frustrated that it would mess up the flow. But more often than not the plays worked. They just seemed to always come at a time when the offense was humming and it didn’t feel right to interrupt the flow.

 

[LandoComando]

Now that we have some strengths we can use to really bully opponents, which I feel like we haven’t had much in the last 30 years, I would like to see us do stuff like Michigan and OSU and just run over teams if they can’t stop it. Michigan got a win against us because they didn’t throw the ball for an entire half. I agree, let’s do that to people.

But also, the two qb thing aren’t trick plays either. It could be argued they’re too cute and sometimes I felt frustrated that it would mess up the flow. But more often than not the plays worked. They just seemed to always come at a time when the offense was humming and it didn’t feel right to interrupt the flow.

The bold is the problem

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

Well done. I think that Koltenicky's motion offense at this time doesn't need the trick plays. That, may change as defenses adapt to his motion offense. I think that will take some time though.

 

[LionDeNittany]

Also, I just want to add that when Franklin got Joe Moorhead, we installed the RPO at the same time everyone else was around college football. We enjoyed a few years of success with it, but we weren’t the innovative ones, we jumped on board.

This time, it seems to me Kotelnicki has the innovative offense for which we’re ahead of college football and we’re going to see a lot of teams start to do the same kinds of things he does over the next few years.

Here's a made up example but not too different from what happened against Notre Dame. Can't exactly pinpoint the series, but it went like this:

Kaytron for 8 yards to ND 20
Kaytron for 7 yards to ND 13 and a first down

Now we have several options here, but this is what we did:

3. Line up your QB as a WR, then take 5 seconds formationing back to a somewhat standard set with your QB under center and run a play. Any incorrect movement would cause a false start.

Why are we wasting time on this? Our QB couldn't hit the broad side of a barn against ND and no one with a brain expected us to try to throw it to him at this point.

The play was a run and it got stuffed.

 

[Ian]

I’m shocked Coach K can’t attract WRs… embarrassing. It’s the last piece to winning. Instead it’s whining.

 

[PSU4U]

Here's a made up example but not too different from what happened against Notre Dame. Can't exactly pinpoint the series, but it went like this:

Kaytron for 8 yards to ND 20
Kaytron for 7 yards to ND 13 and a first down

Now we have several options here, but this is what we did:

3. Line up your QB as a WR, then take 5 seconds formationing back to a somewhat standard set with your QB under center and run a play. Any incorrect movement would cause a false start.

Why are we wasting time on this? Our QB couldn't hit the broad side of a barn against ND and no one with a brain expected us to try to throw it to him at this point.

The play was a run and it got stuffed.

Momentum Killers.

 

[voltz99]

I’m shocked Coach K can’t attract WRs… embarrassing. It’s the last piece to winning. Instead it’s whining.

Based on what? The recruits that signed before he was hired?

 

[lazydave841]

Based on what? The recruits that signed before he was hired?

How many top 100 WRs did we sign in December? Verbaled in our '26 and '27 class currently?

 

[Ward Hog]

Part of AK's using trickery is that at the places he was coaching, he had limited talent and needed to be different to move the ball. He never had an Oline and backs capable of pounding the other team. Part of what makes him good is the creative use of motion, odd formations and personnel. He has to learn, and I think he will.

 

[psrurock]

I still say, it doesn't matter what your system or offensive strategy is. You coach the players on the field and put them in the best position to succeed. When Michigan ran the ball on every play cause it worked. Cast your ego aside and play to your strengths.

 

[PurposePitch]

I think a lot of people who complain about the “trick plays” Kotelnicki runs don’t understand what’s actually happening. They’re not really trick plays, they’re simply unusual motions or movements meant to make the defense flinch or cover the wrong guy. But he still runs normal plays within those. From what I see, he seems to run the same number of actually trick plays as other coaches.

If you need it explained again:

View embedded media

Yeah, that wasn't very instructive or illuminating. We all know what motion can do, and I don't think anyone questioned the benefit of said motion and shifting. That was a definite positive that AK brought to PSU. It was refreshing.

The issue was with the gimmicks involving a subbed in QB. Many of those would be considered "trick plays," and they mostly didn't work, and weren't worth the time or effort. We'd often get confusion on our own end, and he'd do these things while the offense was rolling ... and then, suddenly, we got off schedule and the drive ground to a halt. Putting an "extra" QB out wide is dumb when you're running the ball, and we did that frequently. It takes away a blocker, and doesn't add any real "confusion." Running the QB, or running the wildcat, is beneficial, largely, because it adds a blocker. We always knew he'd try to run a lateral to the other QB and downfield pass, but it wasn't worth it to ruin all those other drives.

Additionally, a lot of the times, the routes of the plays stunk. Multiple long-developing routes in the same area, with nothing underneath ... often resulting in a jumbled mess of easily covered receivers.

We saw later in the year we didn't need all that gimmicky nonsense. Fix the routes, continue with the motions and the shifts, and we're good to go.