Spring Game Amuse-bouche
by LonghornScott on Mar 30, 2011 2:22 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns and Other Football
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PrintEver since Bryan Harsin was announced as our offensive coordinator I’ve been jonesin’ to go back and watch some of their games from last season and take the time to break down some of what they do.
"Research me, Scott. You know you need it."
Alright that’s not really the truth, what I really wanted is for someone else to watch a bunch of film and write up a nice article for me to peruse at my pleasure. I’m ambitious in theory, lazy in practice. This week I got a hold of their game against Nevada (who was a top 20 team at the time) and since it appears that no one is willing to inform my opinions for me (I’m looking at you, Scipio Tex… if that’s even your real name!), I was forced to write up some of the things I saw that got me excited.
By the way, if you haven’t already read the widely heralded article at Smart Football published before the 2010 season on the Bronco offense, quit your job or wife or whatever and read it immediately. Otherwise, I don’t think you can credibly call yourself a fan of college football (and your overall approach to life will be openly mocked).
There’s plenty to talk about from the Nevada game but I’m going to focus on a two-play sequence from the Boise State offense in the second quarter. To set the stage: Nevada has just scored it's first touchdown and is desperately trying to stop the bleeding on defense (they have already given up 17 to the Broncos). Don’t feel too bad for the Wolfpack because they eventually came back and upset Boise State in overtime.
On a 2nd and 1 from their own 24, Boise State lines up in a 3 Wide set w/ an H-Back who just motioned from the left side of the line to the right.
The motion and alignment help Boise State correctly diagnose that the Wolfpack Defense is aligned in a two deep (waayyy deep) zone with no obvious blitz threats. They have been gashed several times already in this game and if they are going to die, they want it to at least be a drawn out scene.
At the snap of the ball (below) the offensive line fires off for what looks like an outside zone run to the short side of the field. The H-back comes across the action to pick up the unblocked backside defender to open up the possibility of a cutback to the weakside (Texas installed a variation of this last year from the Twins look). The Nevada defense is in read and react mode. Notice that if the play makes it to the outside, the corner back is the only player who will have outside leverage and that has to be his first priority.
The line has sold the run so well (above) that I have to believe that the zone run is packaged with this play.
At the point when the handoff should occur (below) the entire left side of the defense is fully engaged in stopping the run (and some of them don't seem to ever figure out that it isn't a run). Notice how the shielded fake hand off serves two purposes: it sells the run for just a little longer and it segues Moore's footwork into his rollout. Also the H-Back who we thought was coming to open up the backside cut is now tasked with buying Kellen Moore a few more moments to deliver the football. I heart dual functionality.
After the fake, Kellen Moore works into his rollout and looks downfield, but he already knows where this play is probably going. They are going to capitalize on exactly the space they have created with the run fake and that is what I love the most about this play. Often times I see play action used to little effect because it doesn't target the players that it is designed to create indecision for. For instance, if you have two deep safeties sitting in cover 2 and you are trying to use a play action pass to throw a go route to your wide receiver, you haven't really done yourself any favors other than possibly buying a little extra time to deliver the ball. That safety was playing pass first all the way… the play action didn’t even make him blink. However, if you manage to draw three of the shallow zone defenders in a cover 2 toward the line of scrimmage (because you fucking sold that run fake like a champ) and you drag your receiver right into those compromised zones, then you might have something cookin’.
There is exactly one defender who still has a chance to make a play. If #52 drops hard into his middle zone right now he might have a chance to affect the outcome. But he doesn't have any idea that the route is developing behind him. He takes a half-hearted shot at pressuring the quarterback instead. But with the H-back already in position to defend Moore, the only thing the defender can really do is prevent a QB scramble.
When Moore plants to throw the ball, there is no one near him (courtesy the execution on the play action fake and play design) and no one near his target (courtesy the same).
When Austin Pettis caught this ball and turned upfield, he probably had to put down a brief fit of agoraphobia before gaining another 15 yards and almost fumbling away all that Boise had earned.
Apparently Nevada saves practice time by repping punt returns in the middle of their cover 2 drill.
The next play Boise State lines up in almost the exact same formation flipped to the other side of the field. The H-back motions from a flexed alignment all the way across the formation to the left side and he is trailed by the Nevada nickel back (man defense, blitz likely). Notice the alignment of the H-Back in relation to the defensive end. He has not aligned to gain outside leverage on the end, the H-Back is clearly aligned a as pass protector or possibly as a late releasing receiver.
The H-Back's completed motion triggers the start of an A gap blitz from the Nevada linebacker who is trying to time his arrival with the snap. Remember the context, Nevada just got scorched right across the middle sitting in a read/react defense where Kellen Moore never even felt a hint of pressure. What would you call as a DC?
The blitz is well timed and hits the line just as the ball is snapped and the offensive line settles back to form a pocket.
As Moore receives the snap (above) you can see the Nevada front is in full pass rush mode. The defensive end is attacking the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. The corners are in good position to take away any quick routes and the outside linebacker has good position to limit any hot route to the slot. The problem is that Nevada has just been rope-a-doped for the second play in a row because this isn’t a passing play.
Marvel at how beautifully the offensive line has transitioned into run blocking just as the Nevada front makes contact (above). They are on their toes and with forward lean. Notice where the defensive end who started off with outside leverage and contain responsibilities is now: completely locked up by the offensive tackle, leaving the H-back free to get downfield and get a hat on the nickel back. That means that the defenses best shot right now is the middle linebacker who is roughly even with Bronco running back, Doug Martin. It’s not an impossible task if he takes a good pursuit angle, he may be able to use the sideline to his advantage to save the defense’s bacon. Just one other issue… the backside guard has released his defender (who has no chance to make a play) and is on a mission to stamp out the defense’s last hope. The running back and the linebacker are in a footrace and the defender has to run his leg through an obstacle course. Place your bets.
Foswhitt… Donald Jr., who was your money on?
As Doug Martin turns the corner (above) he sees the three things that running backs don’t mind waking up next to: plenty of space, upfield blockers, and lots of clear running lanes. Our lone viable defender has had to widen his pursuit angle to avoid the guard and he’s a few steps off the pace. Conclusion forgone.
Yep. He scores.
So you’re saying, "Well that’s nice and everything but it’s not the first time someone has put together a 2-play scoring drive." You’re right. This sequence of plays was sexy, and Boise State had plenty of plays that didn’t result in huge offensive gains. But I wanted to share my appreciation of why these back to back plays did work so well.
Boise didn’t gouge the Nevada defense on these plays because they are better athletes. In both cases the offense gathered information pre-snap and then called plays to work the defense against itself. Every detail in alignment and in the first few moments post snap was designed and performed with the defense’s point of view in mind. The offense sent a coordinated message that the defensive athletes are trained (mentally and physically) to react to in a certain way. Two plays in a row from the same alignment, Boise State’s utter devotion to the red herring pulled the defense into a trap just as the offense was making a well-timed transition into the second act of the play: in which our beloved defense dies a most horrible and gruesome death. Standing ovation.
Last season I wrote a few times about the need for the Longhorns to be more balanced on offense. In particular, I posited that they needed to use play-action passing and draw plays to create more indecision for the defense… that in order to give the offensive line a fighting chance they needed to blur the reads and create some level of confusion for the defenders. Much like Lady Gaga, Boise State’s offense thrives on ambiguity. These aren’t trick plays for them or gadgets; this is part of their offensive philosophy. That is: give the defense conflicting information from play to play and even within the same play (all the while collecting as much intelligence on the defense as possible from play to play)… disguise your intent so often that even when you reveal your intent from the start, the defense can’t trust it.
Incidentally, I think if the Spring Game were an actual game the most compelling story line would be the information war between Manny Diaz and Bryan Harsin. Harsin uses his pre-snap shifts to gather information on alignment and to gain quick leverage advantages. Diaz created a defense with simple roles that allows the defensive front to move a lot pre-snap and still maintain integrity (we hope). Harsin tries to detect whether the linebackers are in read/react or attack mode and then use it against them. Diaz’s defense is predicated on mixing a very aggressive front line of defenders with a read and react field behind it and he hides which players will be the attackers and which will be the reactors. Like I said, it would be a fun matchup, particularly if the players were further along in the two schemes. As excited as I am for Saturday’s Sunday's game, I know that it won’t really be a strategic battle. It’ll be a staged show but it will still be informative.
Top on my list of things to watch:
1) How coordinated is our offensive line? Can they sell their fakes with anything near the creditability of the Bronco line I just watched?
2) How is the secondary adjusting to the shift to zone coverage? Have we figured out how to defend the seam in cover 3? Can we really get away with a 3-3 zone? How susceptible are our underneath zones to exactly the sort of exploitation we saw in the Drag play above (crossing routes)?
It’s hard to say if any of those questions will be answered, but if nothing else it will be football in April and that’s never a bad thing. Hope you enjoyed. It may have been a little more than a mouthful.
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Outfuckingstanding. Thanks a bunch for that.
by Jesus Shuttlesworth on Mar 30, 2011 2:58 PM CDT reply actions
Yeah, well, he didn’t spread out the defense with a 1 yard hitch first, so maybe he’s not THAT smart.
by PatronSaint on Mar 30, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions
This is what I needed. Can’t wait for the Spring game breakdowns.
Great job of detailing how introducing doubt instead of certainty can render a defense passive.
by Scipio Tex on Mar 30, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions
Slow clap … building … building … FULL CONFERENCE ROOM CORPORATE FRENZY CLAPPING HYSTERIA!!
You have redeemed your unchecked hipster ways with this post.
I fully expect a play in the first game where all of our offensive linemen run into eachother, fall down, and Gilbert is sacked by four guys at the same time.
Then the next play goes for a 70 yard bomb with three flavors of misdirection.
by Vasherized on Mar 30, 2011 3:05 PM CDT reply actions
Did we hire a vampire for an offensive coordinator?
by ut-06 on Mar 30, 2011 3:10 PM CDT reply actions
Great stuff, thanks!
Also, Is the Spring Game Saturday? I thought it was Sunday.
by Stuart on Mar 30, 2011 3:16 PM CDT reply actions
The screenshot bukkake in this post was arousing. Great breakdown, LS.
I still don’t understand why Austin Pettis didn’t just run a bubble screen to the sideline in play 1. I mean, take what the defense gives you.
by jc25 on Mar 30, 2011 3:21 PM CDT reply actions
ut-06 -
Given our prior OC’s inability to look in the mirror, I’d say we got rid of one.
Fantastic read, longhornscott – it’s been a while since I’ve seen your stuff on the intertubes and it’s as good as I remember it. I hope to see this very two-play package make a couple of appearances this season. Can’t see anything in the first play that we couldn’t pull off minus possibly the play-fake sales job by the OL that you noted (and I get very horny at the idea of Mike D catching that ball in space). On the second play, my only other question is whether we have a tackle that we can count on to lull that DE inside and keep him locked up long enough for the back to make the corner.
In Jesus’ Offense thread on the ‘Cosm I expressed my hope for meaningful run-game misdirection from the HarsinWhite offense – I’d say getting the entire defense to f up their run-pass reads should get the job done pretty nicely.
by nobis60 on Mar 30, 2011 4:05 PM CDT reply actions
Only one major elephant in the room. Garrett Gilbert is no Kellen Moore. Change the scheme all you want, but it will not matter until a QB is found.
by Negative Nancy on Mar 30, 2011 4:08 PM CDT reply actions
I’m sporting a partial… Let the Harsinwhite era begin.
by Grimoren189 on Mar 30, 2011 4:22 PM CDT reply actions
Gilbert is really going to surprise some people.
Plus, we’re just used to requiring superhuman performances from our QBs in order to be successful. Not anymore. Not that we can get away with dogshit at the position mind you, but it’s just a different deal now.
by nordberg on Mar 30, 2011 4:33 PM CDT reply actions
Plus, we’re just used to requiring superhuman performances from our QBs in order to be successful. Not anymore. Not that we can get away with dogshit at the position mind you, but it’s just a different deal now.
Excellent point. I’ve already given up hope that Gilbert is going to be any better than okay. But it is good to remember that maybe he doesn’t have to be.
by PatronSaint on Mar 30, 2011 4:37 PM CDT reply actions
Excellent analysis. Thanks for sharing.
That two-play progression is a thing of beauty. It is the antithesis of all of the criticisms leveled against our offense in years prior.
For one thing, there’s motion. But not just extraneous motion-for-the-sake-of-motion. Harsin used motion to gain key information. Which was then used. To – get this – exploit the defense’s weaknesses. In 2010, the Longhorn offense took what the defense gave them. So did Boise State. The difference is that they didn’t take it up the cornshoot.
Moreover, Harsin used his playcalling history to lure the defense into mistakes. The same formation and pre-snap motion was used in back-to-back plays, but with a different playcall each time. Each play builds off of the previous plays in a way that makes sense and creates advantage. It’s not random, haphazard or rigidly scripted. It’s sensible. Clever. Calculating. Effective.
Man, I love using those adjectives to describe our offensive coordinator. Texas’s talent and Boise’s tactical genius are going to make for one kick-ass combo over the next few years.
by BrickHorn on Mar 30, 2011 4:38 PM CDT reply actions
Good read, LHS.
I read Boise St. used 26 different formations against Wyoming. We used six, and I’m sure that’s counting punting as one.
The preparation time teams are going to exhaust against us should alone provide us an advantage.
I agree with those that think Gilbert will be fine.
Me: I’m going to Austin this weekend.
GF: For what?
Me: Spring Game.
GF: Isn’t it just practice?
Me.; Do you still want to be in a relationship?
GF:……
Can’t wait.
by Tipsy Gypsie on Mar 30, 2011 4:56 PM CDT reply actions
I really enjoyed this LS. We will be fun to watch.
by Wyatt on Mar 30, 2011 4:59 PM CDT reply actions
It boggles the mind at how popular a sport can be so poorly understood by the masses. Hell, include me in that group too. This kind of analysis always leaves me spellbound. Can’t wait to read more!
by JoeT63 on Mar 30, 2011 5:14 PM CDT reply actions
Regarding what’s required of Gilbert, the play above certainly won’t be representative of every passing play he needs to execute, but let’s be honest. Our previous “offensive design” frequently required our QB to be insanely accurate and insanely accurate on the move. Our play it safe throws were ones that traveled 30 yards in the air and 2 yards downfield. Our routes required receivers to go to a spot and stay there, giving the defenders plenty of time to get to the spot. Without a truly threatening running ability, Gilbert never saw defenders coming off those spots to prevent his scramble. It wasn’t a very good situation given his particular skill set.
Meanwhile, even Chuck Knoblauch could have completed that throw in the first play above. I mean, seriously, how many times did we see a primary target that wide open last year? For the entire season I would love to see an analysis of the number of times a primary target was 10 yards open in every direction for both us and Boise State.
Get on it, Scott.
by Huckleberry on Mar 30, 2011 5:23 PM CDT reply actions
If the H-back were to motion back to the other side of the formation, you could also run a bubble screen.
by Greg Davis on Mar 30, 2011 5:38 PM CDT reply actions
I concur with the Gilbert optimists. Very few quarterbacks (much less true sophomore quarterbacks) have the ability to succeed in our previous offense. That offense required superhuman improvisation by the QB in order to create mismatches and space. Talent was recruited to do our coordinator’s job. More accurately, we recruited a couple of guys to do that job (only one of whom panned out at the position) and fell ass-backwards into a country kid who just happened to be able to make plays with his feet.
Offenses l like Boise’s let the quarterback win with his mind moreso than his feet or arm. With plays and gameplans designed to get receivers open against misdirected defenders, Gilbert will have many more built-in advantages than he did a year ago. At the very least, he won’t be fighting a lazy scheme that puts him in the worst possible position to succeed.
by BrickHorn on Mar 30, 2011 5:41 PM CDT reply actions
Great read, thanks LS.
Agreed with Huckleberry, I have trouble believing that Gilbert saw wide open receivers for entire games last year. Or they dropped the ball.
by Nickel Rover on Mar 30, 2011 5:53 PM CDT reply actions
I don’t think Gilbert proved last year that he can be the man, but I don’t think he proved that he CAN’T be the man, either (given the aforementioned schematic abortion he was saddled with overcoming).
I’m completely agnostic as to who wins out as our 2011 starter so long as A) it’s decided on merit relative to the abilities required to succeed in our new offense and B) the team buys into the fact that A) was legit.
by nobis60 on Mar 30, 2011 6:07 PM CDT reply actions
Well done.
It does show however, how close a play can go from a TD to no gain.
In the second play the CB on the play side is playing press coverage. At the snap of the ball he takes outside leverage and effecively takes himself out of the play (receiver simply walls him off and pushes him to the sideline). Had he jumped inside at the snap it would have been tough for the receiver to make the block (see our receivers from last season) to spring the play. More likely, the corner stops the play for no gain. If the H-back picks him up, it frees up the nickel to make a play, which might have been a minimal gain.
Harsin certainly appears to be better at scheming for, and giving us a chance to catch the defense in the wrong alignment.
by sunset87 on Mar 30, 2011 6:13 PM CDT reply actions
LH Scott – Great read. I’m digging your meticulous attention to detail in the 2-play break down. Hope you don’t mind, I posted this biyach on 247, for them to partake & comment on. Barking Carnival and its ’Cosm off-spring need more inter-web love…
Hell, we’re ALL Horns fans, aren’t we?
by D.C. Horn on Mar 30, 2011 6:23 PM CDT reply actions
This offense may not require superhuman performances by its QB. However, the question remains, is a Gilbert performance sufficient for this system to function?
by Mad Clapper on Mar 30, 2011 6:30 PM CDT reply actions
Fantastic read!
I just got the fix I’ve been looking for this offseason.
by Mulholland on Mar 30, 2011 6:31 PM CDT reply actions
Also, I do agree the most striking difference between Harsin’s system and Davis’ system is the premium placed on pre-snap information (both information conceded to the defense and information gleaned from the defense).
Davis either placed very little value on this (We’re Texas, they shouldn’t be able to stop us even if they know what’s coming!!!!) or he thought his players were too stupid to execute a system that takes advantage of pre-snap information.
After over a decade of data, I think we can all say that Davis’ KISS philosophy only works when you have a marked talent advantage against your opponent, either collectively or because you possess a supserstar player that takes the game over.
by Mad Clapper on Mar 30, 2011 6:38 PM CDT reply actions
The author nailed it with Number 1 on his List of Things to Watch. A well schooled, coordinated OL is unfortunately not what we have had for several years around here. The engine knocks and pings like crazy until the bad gas gets all burned up.
by Monster TV Watcher on Mar 30, 2011 7:09 PM CDT reply actions
So you’re saying the offense is a shapeshifter?
Time for opposing defenses to stock up on garlic, or holy water, or fishing nets.
by Lark 47 on Mar 30, 2011 7:34 PM CDT reply actions
that motion is nice and all but it’s certainly no fake end around to tony jeffrey…
by mileslong on Mar 30, 2011 7:51 PM CDT reply actions
It does show however, how close a play can go from a TD to no gain.
Harsin certainly appears to be better at scheming for, and giving us a chance to catch the defense in the wrong alignment.
I was so taken by the 3 Plays That Shook The World a few years ago, that I spent a good bit of time cruising for into on Herr Harsin. Somewhere I ran across a statement to the effect that in general, the pre-snap shift/motion has several purposes – to force the defense to reveal its calls, to force the defense to alter its alignments, and to give the defense a false impression about the type and direction of the intended play; the post-snap actions continue the misdirections. All well and good, but the follow-up statement induced gruntlement. He said “If the defense does what we expect they will, and if our players carry out their fakes and make their blocks, we can score a touchdown with any play we run.” And even if it doesn’t work that well, it still provides information for later in the game as well as conditioning the defense to anticipate incorrectly when they see the same initial development later.
What I think we’re really seeing here is a complete team offense, rather than an offense that relies on a few superstars. If that guard hadn’t released and been able to harass and impede that ‘backer, the play might’ve been stopped for only 5 or 6 yards instead of going to the house… but that’s something I think we’ll take all day, and besides, the next time the play looks exactly like that for the first three or four steps, it’ll turn out to be something different… and Fozzy or DJ might run right by the ’backer, and MB1 might run right over him…
It seems to be not so much about “catching” the defense in the wrong alignment as it is about finding out what the D is doing so we can show them what they expect to see… and it turns out to be something other than that.
by Tex Long on Mar 31, 2011 12:20 AM CDT reply actions
fantastic write up. I never left the give-Gilbert-another-chance camp. I hope he comes back with a vengeance this year. If not, I have confidence in HarsinWhite to make the necessary personnel adjustments.
God Bless Spring Football.
by godzillatron on Mar 31, 2011 12:22 AM CDT reply actions
Seriously, how am I the only person that is noticing that his fucking FANG is hanging over his bottom lip?
by ut_bkc on Mar 31, 2011 12:50 AM CDT reply actions
Seriously, how am I the only person that is noticing that his fucking FANG is hanging over his bottom lip?
You’re the only veggie-tarian around. Ever buddy else here abouts has bigger fangs than that.
by Tex Long on Mar 31, 2011 8:24 AM CDT reply actions
Thanks for the kind words from everyone. Glad you enjoyed the nuggets. I’m hoping to do some breakdowns based on what we see in the Spring Game over the next few weeks as well as a response to the game itself. If the monkeys in charge of Barking Carnival would be so kind as to send me a young, obedient, tech-savvy film slave (with clear instructions that they are NEVER to look me right in the eye)… I’ll be able to pump those out much more quickly.
P.S. It’s nice to feel some adrenaline thinking about both sides of the ball for the first time in quite a while. Maybe I’ll be able to respect myself as a fan again.
by LonghornScott on Mar 31, 2011 8:59 AM CDT reply actions
Two funny things:
1) Longhorns trying to be Boise State;
2) The game Scott picked to show off Harsin’s chops was a game that Boise lost. Pretty important one, too.
UT was going to have a better 2011 than 2010 regardless of who was coaching. Harsin’s a good guy, but there are a bunch of good guys out there on offense. Doesn’t hurt to keep in mind that Boise has been playing in the WAC, not the Big-12. And, that you can expect some transition problems until you can find the next Kellen Moore – he’s one of the the most accurate college passers since Sam Baugh. Or Colt McCoy, for that matter.
By the way, anyone else think that Kaepernick would look good in a Cowboy uniform?
by Philly Frog on Mar 31, 2011 9:22 AM CDT reply actions
“2) The game Scott picked to show off Harsin’s chops was a game that Boise lost. Pretty important one, too.”
Yeah, and Boise St. had 500+ yards of total offense and 31 points. Not that it matters though, as that wasn’t the point of the post.
by nordberg on Mar 31, 2011 9:38 AM CDT reply actions
I am starting to wonder if the Kellen Moore accuracy hype is similar to that of Tebow’s. People always talked about how great of a passer Tebow was and they would hold up his ratings and completion percentage as evidence, but when I watched them play I was seeing him make a lot of throws to guys that were ridiculously wide open. Then I would get pissed that our offense so rarely seemed to get guys that open on intermediate routes. I haven’t watched a lot of BSU, but I’d be damned if I couldn’t have hit Pettis on that first play.
by Ricky on Mar 31, 2011 9:49 AM CDT reply actions
LonghornScott,
Great stuff! Quick question for you. It’s clear you love the Harsin hire. What are your thoughts on Diaz? Do we have the talent at DT specifically (but also MLB) to execute on what Diaz likes to do on defense?
by horndude on Mar 31, 2011 9:53 AM CDT reply actions
horndude,
I think the safety position is going to be the toughest climb for us this season. You need two safeties that can handle themselves deep to really make the defense go so that you can roll your coverages and right now I don’t know that we even have one. Additionally, working a 3-3 zone on the regular is going to necessitate that your zone players close and tackle with authority in the open field… I think we are hit and miss in that regard. In terms of the defensive front, Diaz has plenty of tools to work with in his scheme because we have a number of players who are talented penetrators. There will be a lot less “hold the gap” assignments in this scheme so there’s less of a premium on dominant defensive tackle play (although like any scheme it will always be welcomed).
by LonghornScott on Mar 31, 2011 10:01 AM CDT reply actions
But to be clear, I think the jury is out for me on Diaz. I like the nature of the hire but I need to see more of his defense: how he adjusts to personnel strengths/weaknesses and game situations. Skeptically optimistic would be a fair description.
by LonghornScott on Mar 31, 2011 10:04 AM CDT reply actions
Ricky,
Moore is good. He is pretty damn accurate. Nobody that knew shit about football ever thought Tebow was accurate. Completion percentages are only part of the story. Ball placement is a bigger issue and is the driving factor in yards after catch. Sam Bradford was very very good at placing the ball for his guys to catch in stride. I think you trade 70+% completion percentage for 65%-68% completion percentage coupled with large yac numbers.
The most frustrating thing about our offense in recent years to me was that we had plays that capitalized on defense tenancies as well as plays that built off each like the two above and we used them just enough to let us know they existed. However, we were somehow not able to build a comprehensive game plan using them. That bottles my mind.
I am excited to see the team in general, though I am not putting much stock into the spring game. I am more excited for out two open practice opportunities come August. I think those practices will tell us a lot more than anything the spring game will indicate.
Good work LonghornScott
by Fico on Mar 31, 2011 10:41 AM CDT reply actions
I love this system. I think it is built to excel in college football. I can’t even begin to think about how a defense plans for it – though I reckon Diaz’s approach is the closest you can get.
I do worry about the time required to implement. I know that Harsin and Applewhite will work with what they’ve got and not overload kids. But damn it’s enticing to think about how much MORE successful this offensive strategy can be with the talent upgrade from BSU to UT. The tough question is how long does it take – years of grooming? – before these kids feel most comfortable in that system?
As much as GD has been bashed, he’s been quoted (I think I read it in a Smart Football article) as saying that when you’ve only got these kids for a certain amount of time – limited practice time, limited years on campus due to redshirts/draft/equestrian distractions – then you need to keep things simple so there’s enough time to implement the system. Whether or not GD had a system to begin with is debatable, but you get the idea.
Look at BSU’s draft history – one player drafted last year, NONE in 09, two in 08, four in 07. I know players leaving in the draft isn’t the biggest source of departures on your team, but that still shows that there’s relatively low turnover with BSU which allows you to maximize the time that your players spend learning in your system.
I’m not worried that the system can’t work at UT. I know it can. The question is – can it lead to enough success, quickly enough, that UT fans are placated? Or does Harsin need a few more years to get things going than fans are willing to afford him?
by TXinDC on Mar 31, 2011 11:06 AM CDT reply actions
“As much as GD has been bashed, he’s been quoted (I think I read it in a Smart Football article) as saying that when you’ve only got these kids for a certain amount of time – limited practice time, limited years on campus due to redshirts/draft/equestrian distractions – then you need to keep things simple so there’s enough time to implement the system. "
The problem there is that GD consistently would have to scrap huge sections of what we worked on in the off season because his implementations failed. It would have been much less work and confusion for his players if he had fixed and adjusted his offense (like an OC who understands what they are working with) rather than just continuing to sift through plays like a gold panner.
by LonghornScott on Mar 31, 2011 11:28 AM CDT reply actions
LS,
The problem there is that GD consistently would have to scrap huge sections of what we worked on in the off season because his implementations failed.
Even if they hadn’t failed, GD consistently readjusted the offense to suit his personnel (rather than recruiting to a stable system). So, his philosophy in practice undermines his philosophy in theory. If your goal is to maximize the time your players have in a system, it’s best to not change the system 2-3 times during their years of eligibility.
But maybe he was just playing the hand Mack dealt him. I never got the impression that GD had any control over (or interest in) recruiting.
by BrickHorn on Mar 31, 2011 11:34 AM CDT reply actions
Philly Frog,
On Playing in the WAC vs. the Big-12-2,
Yeah, you don’t want to go up against powerhouses like Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas, K-State, and Tech without Leach with nothing more than top 5 recruiting classes and innovative playcalling. I seem to recall Boise beating OU, a resurgent TCU team, and a good VT team-so I like our chances.
by 98horn on Mar 31, 2011 11:36 AM CDT reply actions
Fico, I am not bashing Moore. It is just I have never heard of him being a guy that could thread a needle and most of what I have seen on BC is the bloggers calling him a rag arm. Even acknowledging the potential of hyperbole, I am pretty certain he isn’t a Sam Bradford clone. If a fair number of his passes were of this variety, then I am thrilled, as it would be a decided improvement over our passing schemes of recent vintage. I would much rather have an offense that can excel without having, by necessity, a QB with Colt McCoy-level of accuracy.
by Ricky on Mar 31, 2011 12:00 PM CDT reply actions
The game Scott picked to show off Harsin’s chops was a game that Boise lost. Pretty important one, too.
Which game would you rather have analyzed? Got a link to the “film”?
UT was going to have a better 2011 than 2010 regardless of who was coaching.
Dang. You shoulda told Mack how he needed to handle it, and we could’ve avoided a lot of anguish and expense replacing most of the staff.
by Tex Long on Mar 31, 2011 12:21 PM CDT reply actions
How stupid is Bud Selig? What is the point to having opening day in cold weather cities? Its not that hard to schedule warm home games for the first couple of weeks then when it gets ridicioulusly hot, have have more home games up north in September…I thought of this in two seconds but that dumb ass hasn’t in 20 years.
by Mysterious Package on Mar 31, 2011 12:41 PM CDT reply actions
Harsin is a moron. Everyone knows that 2nd and 1 is the optimal down and distance to run a QB sneak. Now…back to Oprah.
by Greg Davis on Mar 31, 2011 1:28 PM CDT reply actions
This is a great read! As a Boise fan it’s fun to have someone else break down the team/offense like that!
@Ricky, you mentioned that you’d never really heard of Moore being a guy that could “thread a needle”. Just to give you an example of Moore’s accuracy Titus Young has mentioned on a few occasions that many times during games as soon as he turned to look at Kellen at the end of his route the ball was right there in his hands. Essentially Titus didn’t catch the ball but Kellen put it in his hands for him. (Probably didn’t word that very well but I’m sure you can get what I’m saying!) He is definitely a very accurate passer.
by Dustin on Mar 31, 2011 2:59 PM CDT reply actions
GD stole at least 95% of all the plays he ever called. If he happened to steal the right series of plays from the Broncos or the Colts or whoever he hung out with for one of his summer crib sessions, he accidentally found himself with some plays that would build off/complement each other. And, as random number theory would dictate, sometimes the order in which he pulled plays from his magic hat would sequence them in a complementary way. But he had no idea what had happened or why, and so replicating that success was completely up to the vicissitudes of chance. Contrast that football equivalent of Chicken Shit Bingo with the Harsin quote that Tex Long shared and you, too may find yourself gruntled.
by nobis60 on Mar 31, 2011 3:17 PM CDT reply actions
“but when I watched them play I was seeing him make a lot of throws to guys that were ridiculously wide open. "
This fits my reaction to watching Gilbert’s highschool highlights.
by Horncasting on Mar 31, 2011 3:37 PM CDT reply actions
… the Harsin quote…
Here’s another one, which comes directly from that “3 Plays…” youtube clip. Harsin, talking about the hook and ladder that went for six: “It was fourth and 18. We don’t have a lot of plays for fourth and 18 in our playbook. We’d been trying to get to this play the whole game…”
Two very, very interesting things there: (1) plays they had run earlier in the game were called with multiple purposes, one of them being used to set OU’s defense up for this play, if and when it was appropriate, and (2) although Harsin doesn’t dwell on the point, the lateral had not one but two possible recipients – the player who actually got it, and the running back (Ian Johnson) who sold a pass block and slipped out of the backfield. I loved the play-calls, but what really got my attention was that Harsin specifically talked about the importance of ACTING in your part of the play (including the other two – a halfback pass and the infamour statue of liberty) and that – to me – implied that the carrying out of fakes was an actual part of BSU’s practice. Having watched our WR’s and others not bothering to at least pretend they were possible participants in ’way too many plays, this one aspect gruntled the living shit out of me. Miz Long made me clean it up… but I was still gruntled.
by Tex Long on Mar 31, 2011 5:06 PM CDT reply actions
Thanks to the magic of Wikipedia, I just learned that amuse-bouche literally translates into “mouth amuser”.
This made me miss the fine young ladies of Chi Omega.
by nobis60 on Mar 31, 2011 5:18 PM CDT reply actions
nobis60,
Kind of like that old saying, “if you had a million GDs calling football games for a million years, one of them would eventually call a good game.”
by Mad Clapper on Mar 31, 2011 7:34 PM CDT reply actions
The criticism of LS’s choice of games is really stupid. Did or did not Boise St. score a touchdown and get a ton of yards in those two plays? A touchdown isn’t good or well done if you don’t win? Dumb.
by Nickel Rover on Mar 31, 2011 9:37 PM CDT reply actions
Wow, awesome analysis! What a great idea to go back and analyze Boise State.
I was always mystified at how little GD used motion since that is how you determine whether the defense is in man or zone. Both Harsin and Major are making a big emphasis that the key ability of the starting QB is being a field general, that is knowing how to analyze the defense, then figuring out how to attack it, then communicating and getting the troops into proper position to execute the play. So brains, knowledge, leadership, and judgement will be much more important than arm strength or the quality of the spiral in determining who will be the starting QB.
Studying the Boise State offense via posts like this would be a great idea for lots of posts in the period after the spring game until fall. Obviously looking at Manny’s Mississippi State defense would also be very interesting.
The H backs/flex TEs are going to make a huge difference in terms of blocking. GD introduced the flex TE concept into the UT offense a couple of years ago but he picked a flex TE who could hardly block at all. Harsin and Major seem to be realists who understand that players are not cogs in the machine and that they will have to scheme around player limitations. For example, the OTs are going to need chip blocking help from the H backs/Flex TEs to keep Gilbert (I assume Gilbert will be the starting QB) off his back on passing downs.
by Kafka on Apr 1, 2011 2:35 AM CDT reply actions
In Regards to Kellen Moore as a QB:
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHtrcI7Pco4
This is Kellen Moore’s 3rd college football game and 1st college road game ever. This is his first season starting, as a redshirt freshman. This is a road game against Oregon IN AUTZEN. Again, he’s a redshirt freshman, and this is his first road game, 3rd game of the season and in one the more hostile stadiums out west. The video isn’t necessarily exclusive of Kellen but most of it is. Pay careful attention right around the 1:48 mark. I still remember watching that play live and the announcers, the crowd, everyone watching tv and the defense all thought that was a fumble. Couldn’t believe it after the replay. Kellen was 25 of 37 that game with 386 yards, 3 TD’s and 1 INT.
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGmRfK5lDyE
Fast Forward to Virginia Tech, 2010, at the “neutral” site of Fed Ex Field. Again, this video is not exclusively of Moore but has great clips of the game and is an entertaining piece to watch. Pat careful attention at around the 2:56 mark.
I’ve watched every game of Moore’s for the last 3 years and his accuracy is, in my opinion, unquestioned. It’s not his accuracy that makes him as successful as he’s been though. It’s the fact that Harsin and Petersen both have said numerous times that having Moore on the field is like having a coach on the field. He knows exactly how the Boise offense operates, every piece of it, and how it set’s up defenses, or how to read defenses to set up the offense. In Boise, he’s called the “Dork Assassin” for his goofy looks and subtle/intelligent demeanor (among the testosterone fueled world of college football) and his ability to completely pick apart any defense thrown at him.
If Texas can QB like that to work with the system Harsin is bringing they’ll be in good shape.
by PrfctSpcmn on Apr 1, 2011 5:36 AM CDT reply actions
Horncasting said “This fits my reaction to watching Gilbert’s highschool highlights.” re: wide-open receivers.
My observation as well. Where anyone ever got the idea that he was a ‘thread-the-needle’ type of passer is beyond me. Doesn’t mean he’s not a gamer… but there aren’t a lot of small-window passes here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPYdfi-ep74
by TXinDC on Apr 1, 2011 10:28 AM CDT reply actions
PrfctSpcmn,
Thanks for the reply. I love “Dork Assassin”. Good stuff.
by LonghornScott on Apr 1, 2011 12:22 PM CDT reply actions
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