Exchange issues with Menet during the first couple of games ( remember last year's exchange fumbles early on?)
OL blocking: will McS have more time to dissect the opposing D? (remember how Pitt blitzed and had a man on Barkley's back almost as fast as the ball was handed to him? )
Rushing game: it may take a game or two but this aspect of the O should be dramatically improved in 2017. A rotation of RBs will be used to keep them fresh for the BT season. but our rushing yards should exceed the passing yardage early on. Our 1st qtr offense should dominate once the O gets past the early year jitters. And our 3rd down completion percentage should grow steadily as the season progresses. McS showed a deftness with his ball fakes that should only get better. He wont run it too much, for obvious reasons, but needs to show he can break a few big ones . And he will.
Passing game: We will see fewer bombs, as the O focuses on the short game, scores early, and rarely has to play from behind. If Trace can start off the way he did in last years BW game ( something like a 75% completion percentage) we will show the ability to march down the field, with a balanced O. There will be far less need to throw the bomb, but we still have to go deep often enough to keep the timing that proved so effective for us in 2016. I expect a beautiful mix of runs, short passes, and downfield passes that as often as not result in TDs.
I see his completion %age ending up around 63%, mainly due to a propensity to throw long that has proven so successful, that Coach wont want to give up, even if we establish a superior run game. It reminds me of 1994 when we had a plethora of weapons and could score from anywhere on the field. The potential is there for a repeat of that type offense in 2017.
In an effort to keep McS upright, MOJO will use Stevens a lot more, especially in the run game. He knows he needs depth at QB if we are to have another magical season so I look for Stevens to play about 15 minutes per game on average, with more blowouts coming from a much improved OLine and more polished command of the offense.
It will be interesting to see who becomes the #3 QB this season.
All eyes will be on Barkley's Heisman run, and on the dark horse Heisman QB, Trace McSorley. Can he lift his game, balance out the O, improve his completion percentage, and keep his TD-INT ration above 3:1? It will take about 43-45 ppg to make a splash, and that in turn will take the young OL maturing into a powerhouse by Game 4 or so.
There are so many stories with this 2017 Team, and we've only touched on a few of them. Wow. What a year this will be!
OL blocking: will McS have more time to dissect the opposing D? (remember how Pitt blitzed and had a man on Barkley's back almost as fast as the ball was handed to him? )
Rushing game: it may take a game or two but this aspect of the O should be dramatically improved in 2017. A rotation of RBs will be used to keep them fresh for the BT season. but our rushing yards should exceed the passing yardage early on. Our 1st qtr offense should dominate once the O gets past the early year jitters. And our 3rd down completion percentage should grow steadily as the season progresses. McS showed a deftness with his ball fakes that should only get better. He wont run it too much, for obvious reasons, but needs to show he can break a few big ones . And he will.
Passing game: We will see fewer bombs, as the O focuses on the short game, scores early, and rarely has to play from behind. If Trace can start off the way he did in last years BW game ( something like a 75% completion percentage) we will show the ability to march down the field, with a balanced O. There will be far less need to throw the bomb, but we still have to go deep often enough to keep the timing that proved so effective for us in 2016. I expect a beautiful mix of runs, short passes, and downfield passes that as often as not result in TDs.
I see his completion %age ending up around 63%, mainly due to a propensity to throw long that has proven so successful, that Coach wont want to give up, even if we establish a superior run game. It reminds me of 1994 when we had a plethora of weapons and could score from anywhere on the field. The potential is there for a repeat of that type offense in 2017.
In an effort to keep McS upright, MOJO will use Stevens a lot more, especially in the run game. He knows he needs depth at QB if we are to have another magical season so I look for Stevens to play about 15 minutes per game on average, with more blowouts coming from a much improved OLine and more polished command of the offense.
It will be interesting to see who becomes the #3 QB this season.
All eyes will be on Barkley's Heisman run, and on the dark horse Heisman QB, Trace McSorley. Can he lift his game, balance out the O, improve his completion percentage, and keep his TD-INT ration above 3:1? It will take about 43-45 ppg to make a splash, and that in turn will take the young OL maturing into a powerhouse by Game 4 or so.
There are so many stories with this 2017 Team, and we've only touched on a few of them. Wow. What a year this will be!
