gave my season preview for the defense over the weekend, so now I take on the offense.
like most of us, I'm expecting big things from the offense this year. mainly because I expect the offensive line to be much improved this year. it's remarkable to think we put up 49 points and almost 500 yards on USC last year with three freshmen and a sophomore on the offensive line. those kids are all going to be stronger and more mature this year, plus they get two former starters back in Mahon and Nelson. the only player they lose is Gaia and McGovern should be an improvement there. hopefully he will be able to make all the necessary calls and the line will gel as a unit. if so, with the talent at the skill positions, they should put up huge numbers.
there really isn't anything to say about Barkley that hasn't already been said. what he did last year while continually being hit or avoiding d players in the backfield was remarkable. he is an amazing talent and I look forward to seeing him run behind an improved line.
the receivers are talented enough though I disagree with many on here about Hamilton and Blacknall. I don't see either of these guys in the NFL.
the big question for the offense is McSorley. he had a fabulous year last year that I don't think anyone could realistically say they saw coming. so how does he build on that? he has to improve his judgment. both passing and running. on the read option, he has to keep the ball more often. many times last year, he handed to Barkley when he could have kept it and got outside the end for positive yards. teams are again going to be keying on Barkley, so Trace is going to have to keep the ball to make them pay. I don't know if he was hurt or told not to run last year by the coaches, but to truly get the full benefit of this offense the QB has to keep the ball sometimes on the read option.
in the passing game, he has to temper his desire for the bomb. he hit many long throws last year and the offense was incredibly exciting. but the cold truth is that his judgment in this area cost us the USC and Pitt games. he had lesser throws available in each game at the critical juncture but went long and threw a pick that cost us our final chance at victory in each game. those are the type of decisions that make the difference between making the CFPlayoff and watching from home.
like most of us, I'm expecting big things from the offense this year. mainly because I expect the offensive line to be much improved this year. it's remarkable to think we put up 49 points and almost 500 yards on USC last year with three freshmen and a sophomore on the offensive line. those kids are all going to be stronger and more mature this year, plus they get two former starters back in Mahon and Nelson. the only player they lose is Gaia and McGovern should be an improvement there. hopefully he will be able to make all the necessary calls and the line will gel as a unit. if so, with the talent at the skill positions, they should put up huge numbers.
there really isn't anything to say about Barkley that hasn't already been said. what he did last year while continually being hit or avoiding d players in the backfield was remarkable. he is an amazing talent and I look forward to seeing him run behind an improved line.
the receivers are talented enough though I disagree with many on here about Hamilton and Blacknall. I don't see either of these guys in the NFL.
the big question for the offense is McSorley. he had a fabulous year last year that I don't think anyone could realistically say they saw coming. so how does he build on that? he has to improve his judgment. both passing and running. on the read option, he has to keep the ball more often. many times last year, he handed to Barkley when he could have kept it and got outside the end for positive yards. teams are again going to be keying on Barkley, so Trace is going to have to keep the ball to make them pay. I don't know if he was hurt or told not to run last year by the coaches, but to truly get the full benefit of this offense the QB has to keep the ball sometimes on the read option.
in the passing game, he has to temper his desire for the bomb. he hit many long throws last year and the offense was incredibly exciting. but the cold truth is that his judgment in this area cost us the USC and Pitt games. he had lesser throws available in each game at the critical juncture but went long and threw a pick that cost us our final chance at victory in each game. those are the type of decisions that make the difference between making the CFPlayoff and watching from home.
