I'm really starting to wonder if there is much hope for that side of the ball. Something is very off and it is not just personnel issues. The one thing I cannot get past is an overall lack of identity in year four. If someone were to ask you what style of offensive football we play, would you have a ready-made answer? I mean, I go to all the home games and I watch all the road games on television, but I am at a loss most of the time as to what we're trying to do. If you cannot adopt a coherent offensive strategy, there is not much hope.
Breaking it down by position, here are my thoughts:
QB-At this juncture, I don't think anyone can say they're comfortable with Cody as the starting QB. I honestly cannot say that he does any one thing well. He is short, he is slow, he has a weak arm, and he lacks pocket presence. He is probably our best option, but that is the entire problem. He really locks on McKnight and looks like a freshman out there. You have to be able to check off your primary receiver from time to time. The vertical passing game is non-existent, which allows teams to crowd the line of scrimmage. I think we're going to see quite a few INTs come conference play.
RB-The one bright spot of this offense IMO. We have some players here that all add a unique element. The problem is the coaches cannot seem to get a reliable rotation going. Some of that has been injuries, but it also seems our coaches struggle with getting the right personnel enough touches. Sumler getting anything more than 3-4 carries a game is a detriment. Speedy and Scott both need to get the bulk of the carries and the coaches have to figure out how to utilize Lockridge better. How are these guys go to gain any type of comfort with this offense and their role in it if the coaches continue to haphazardly substitute them? We have talent here, there is no excuse for improperly utilizing that talent.
WR-It has been beaten to death on this board, but starting McKnight and Espinoza as wideouts is laughable. They are both better suited for the slot and I'm not even sure Espinoza should be on the field at all. Hopefully Simas gets healed in a hurry because we need him badly. I think we're all at a loss about the lack of playing time for Simmons, Wright, and others. Yesterday was a good chance to get those guys some good live action in the second half. The coaches have not been reluctant to take the baptism by fire approach to other positions, so why are they reluctant in this case? We need to be able to stretch the field at times.
TE-I like Geer and Deehan, but I am wondering if we're being forced to keep tight ends for pass protection. I honestly did not look closely enough yesterday, but it would not surprise me if we basically see a six man line for the rest of the season. I also wonder how realistic it is to expect major production from this group because I'm not sure you can trust Cody to make the right reads or the right throws to get the ball to the tight ends. You have to be able to look off the safeties, along with being able to progress through the reads as tight ends are rarely the primary receivers, and Cody really struggles with both aspects.
OL-Very disappointing to see us getting pushed around by opposing defensive lines on a regular basis. Solder plays very well on one play and then looks slow the very next play. Miller is a nice leader, but you can tell he is still trying to get by on size alone most of the time. I think he will be a fine player in time. The interior line just seems jumbled with no consistent push. All the guys they have played there look a step slow. The snapping issues appear to have returned as well. This group personifies the entire offense. Some players with nice potential, but they do not work well as a group.
Thoughts?
Breaking it down by position, here are my thoughts:
QB-At this juncture, I don't think anyone can say they're comfortable with Cody as the starting QB. I honestly cannot say that he does any one thing well. He is short, he is slow, he has a weak arm, and he lacks pocket presence. He is probably our best option, but that is the entire problem. He really locks on McKnight and looks like a freshman out there. You have to be able to check off your primary receiver from time to time. The vertical passing game is non-existent, which allows teams to crowd the line of scrimmage. I think we're going to see quite a few INTs come conference play.
RB-The one bright spot of this offense IMO. We have some players here that all add a unique element. The problem is the coaches cannot seem to get a reliable rotation going. Some of that has been injuries, but it also seems our coaches struggle with getting the right personnel enough touches. Sumler getting anything more than 3-4 carries a game is a detriment. Speedy and Scott both need to get the bulk of the carries and the coaches have to figure out how to utilize Lockridge better. How are these guys go to gain any type of comfort with this offense and their role in it if the coaches continue to haphazardly substitute them? We have talent here, there is no excuse for improperly utilizing that talent.
WR-It has been beaten to death on this board, but starting McKnight and Espinoza as wideouts is laughable. They are both better suited for the slot and I'm not even sure Espinoza should be on the field at all. Hopefully Simas gets healed in a hurry because we need him badly. I think we're all at a loss about the lack of playing time for Simmons, Wright, and others. Yesterday was a good chance to get those guys some good live action in the second half. The coaches have not been reluctant to take the baptism by fire approach to other positions, so why are they reluctant in this case? We need to be able to stretch the field at times.
TE-I like Geer and Deehan, but I am wondering if we're being forced to keep tight ends for pass protection. I honestly did not look closely enough yesterday, but it would not surprise me if we basically see a six man line for the rest of the season. I also wonder how realistic it is to expect major production from this group because I'm not sure you can trust Cody to make the right reads or the right throws to get the ball to the tight ends. You have to be able to look off the safeties, along with being able to progress through the reads as tight ends are rarely the primary receivers, and Cody really struggles with both aspects.
OL-Very disappointing to see us getting pushed around by opposing defensive lines on a regular basis. Solder plays very well on one play and then looks slow the very next play. Miller is a nice leader, but you can tell he is still trying to get by on size alone most of the time. I think he will be a fine player in time. The interior line just seems jumbled with no consistent push. All the guys they have played there look a step slow. The snapping issues appear to have returned as well. This group personifies the entire offense. Some players with nice potential, but they do not work well as a group.
Thoughts?