Shannon Dawson's Air Raid >>> Neal Brown's Air Raid
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I agree 100% that the offense will be better, but it's not because of the OC, it's because Towles will be in his second season instead of his first (a HUGE difference), the players will have yet another year of experience in the system, we'll have more depth at every position, and the offensive line will be noticably better (which is huge)
For those that are cheering now that Neal Brown is gone and saying, "Yay, now we get to see the TRUE Air Raid," you might want to hold your horses a little bit. Stoops has said repeatedly he wants to become MORE run-oriented this year, not less.
It still blows me away at how little credit Neal Brown gets. If you go back and look at how much his offense improved between year one and two it's just ridiculous..it was likely the most improved offense in the entire nation, even though Brown was STILL working with FAR from a full deck.
Why do you think Brown just accepted a head coaching job? It's not because he's terrible, I'll tell you that much. A bad OC moves down the ladder, NOT UP. Neal Brown is a heck of an OC, and we were lucky to have him. Was he perfect? No, but my god look what he was working with last year and just imagine if his offense improved as much between year 2&3 as it did between 1&2 we'd be looking at one of the best offenses in the SEC (like we are this year. Why do you think Stoops literally kept every single one of the coaches on Brown's staff that are used to implementing Brown's offense?
Brown wasn't fired or pushed out the door by Stoops. Stoops WANTED BROWN TO STAY, but Brown did what great OC's do: he continued moving up the coaching ladder.
Shannon Dawson might be AS GOOD as Brown (and I think he will be) but to say he's clearly BETTER is just silly. There's a reason when we see these anonymous SEC coaches comment on Kentucky one of the first things they talk about is how hard Neal Brown's offense was to prepare for, and how his tempo is second to NONE, and how hard it's going to be to replace Neal Brown. They're not sitting there saying, "well let's see if Kentucky's offense can finally improve now that Brown is gone," they're saying, "wow, I wonder if Kentucky can keep what Brown had going?"
It's just like the Patrick Towles deal. Some reason in Kentucky we don't realize when we have something good on offense..if it were up to our fans last season Towles wouldn't even be here right now, and now he's considered one of the top NFL QB draft prospects in the nation. It's the exact same with Neal Brown..I mean I know they weren't where they wanted to be last year, but my goodness..can you not step back and look at the big picture and look at how terrible they were the year before on offense? I mean we went from one of the worst offenses in UK history to being one of the top passing attacks in the SEC. It's just the most confusing and frustrating thing in the world when we have one of the worst defenses in the nation yet our fans criticized Towles and Brown (both of whom are some of the best in the nation at what they do).
For those that are cheering now that Neal Brown is gone and saying, "Yay, now we get to see the TRUE Air Raid," you might want to hold your horses a little bit. Stoops has said repeatedly he wants to become MORE run-oriented this year, not less.
It still blows me away at how little credit Neal Brown gets. If you go back and look at how much his offense improved between year one and two it's just ridiculous..it was likely the most improved offense in the entire nation, even though Brown was STILL working with FAR from a full deck.
Why do you think Brown just accepted a head coaching job? It's not because he's terrible, I'll tell you that much. A bad OC moves down the ladder, NOT UP. Neal Brown is a heck of an OC, and we were lucky to have him. Was he perfect? No, but my god look what he was working with last year and just imagine if his offense improved as much between year 2&3 as it did between 1&2 we'd be looking at one of the best offenses in the SEC (like we are this year. Why do you think Stoops literally kept every single one of the coaches on Brown's staff that are used to implementing Brown's offense?
Brown wasn't fired or pushed out the door by Stoops. Stoops WANTED BROWN TO STAY, but Brown did what great OC's do: he continued moving up the coaching ladder.
Shannon Dawson might be AS GOOD as Brown (and I think he will be) but to say he's clearly BETTER is just silly. There's a reason when we see these anonymous SEC coaches comment on Kentucky one of the first things they talk about is how hard Neal Brown's offense was to prepare for, and how his tempo is second to NONE, and how hard it's going to be to replace Neal Brown. They're not sitting there saying, "well let's see if Kentucky's offense can finally improve now that Brown is gone," they're saying, "wow, I wonder if Kentucky can keep what Brown had going?"
It's just like the Patrick Towles deal. Some reason in Kentucky we don't realize when we have something good on offense..if it were up to our fans last season Towles wouldn't even be here right now, and now he's considered one of the top NFL QB draft prospects in the nation. It's the exact same with Neal Brown..I mean I know they weren't where they wanted to be last year, but my goodness..can you not step back and look at the big picture and look at how terrible they were the year before on offense? I mean we went from one of the worst offenses in UK history to being one of the top passing attacks in the SEC. It's just the most confusing and frustrating thing in the world when we have one of the worst defenses in the nation yet our fans criticized Towles and Brown (both of whom are some of the best in the nation at what they do).
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Because one may be better don't come to the conclusion the other must be bad. Coach Brown has glaring tendencies which were easily detected by DCs. He will improve.
Lets not start this.... one being better than the other. Remember personnel wise Neal Brown built what Shannon Dawson will enjoy this year.
Definitely didn't say Dawson was better than Brown, simply that his version will be better than Brown's for this personnel...
Also pointed out how much better he was than the joker days
Also pointed out how much better he was than the joker days
I expected this offense to improve this year, as did Brown. I think we hired the right guy to continue what Brown started.
Neal Brown was terrible at times. I'm not sure why he's so untouchable on these boards. The last play vs UL tells you all you need to know about Neal Brown.
One must take in consideration the situation with UKs WR Corp for the UofL game when evaluating Browns play calling. He had several player out with injuries and perhaps his best two WRs in the game were playing with significant injuries and needed surgery after the game. I though UK gave a good game for a wounded team. One might say calling runs against UofL was good football since they had a great pass defense and were suspect against the run.
Neil Brown is not untouchable and IMO has gotten his fair amount of bashing on this board some of it justified and some of it not.
What is is supposed to tell me? That the right tackle could not handle the UofL DT? That Pat scrambled and UofL had man coverage with 4 free?
Towles was bad in that game forcing Brown to adjust. Not sure why so many people slam Brown on these boards.
I hope we can keep Coach Stoops for the rest of his career - I am that sold on him. However, if he should leave us, it will be devastating to UK - because he undoubtedly would take virtually this entire staff with him - which I think is one of the best staff's UK has had since the Paul Brown years. If Coach Stoops did leave I think UK will have to look hard at Neal Brown as a possible head coach option. Neal will have to prove himself, so the arguments on this board about Neal will not be an issue - if Neal succeeds he will/should be the number one choice. I hope Neal Brown has a great career and I hope we don't need him back at UK, but IMO he probably will be successful and the debate will be whether Neal WOULD take the job if offerered.
Go Big Blue!
Go Big Blue!
I think it's hard to say whose system is better or how they are different yet. I'm not real sure how anybody could know what Shannon Dawson's system will look like since nobody has ever seen it before. I don't assume that Dawson's system will be identical to the system run at WVU (and that's a good thing since their record was better the year that he wasn't OC than in the 3 years that he was); just like I don't assume that the system Neal Brown ran at UK was exactly the system he would have preferred to run if he had the personnel that Dawson has. All that said, I look forward to seeing what Dawson's system looks like.
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Remember Neal Brown calling a Towles run with under a minute left deep in our own territory when we needed a TD against little brother...
Some of the most bone-headed, head-scratching playcalling I've seen at ANY level.
Brown sucked as OC at UK.
Some of the most bone-headed, head-scratching playcalling I've seen at ANY level.
Brown sucked as OC at UK.
It isn't a question of good and bad. Like you say, it is a question of personnel and tendencies. Either approach can work if you have the personnel, and if you scout and game plan. Brown wants to get the football in the hands of his playmakers and let them run with the football, which he does with mainly short passing Dawson wants to look downfield. The reason I like Dawson's approach is that he will force the defense to cover downfield, which keeps them from bunching players near the line of scrimmage. But you have to be able to execute. We have 2 quarterbacks with the talent to throw the ball downfield, and about 10 good receivers who can catch it. So we have the personnel to run Dawson's offense, and I think it will make us better.
In my opinion UK had some glaring weaknesses in having to play many players who did not belong in the SEC. Both DCs and OCs had little trouble seeing how limited we were in our options on either side of the ball.
Brown was in a gunfight and all he had was a handful of gravel.
I agree with jnewc (*gulp*) and UKani. We will be improved but mainly due to the improvement in personnel. Dawson runs an offense that's similar to Brown....hence why he was brought on board. He will get to continue the build that Brown started.
The article is silly in some respects. First, the author states that Brown couldn't get things going and states that most of this is NOT due to the personnel......saying that it's so much more the "Xs and Os not the Jimmys and Joes." But then he spends 3/4ths of the article talking about how the personnel has improved to the point where the offense will be run well.
The article is silly in some respects. First, the author states that Brown couldn't get things going and states that most of this is NOT due to the personnel......saying that it's so much more the "Xs and Os not the Jimmys and Joes." But then he spends 3/4ths of the article talking about how the personnel has improved to the point where the offense will be run well.
Interesting... If you read it word for word, I never said he didn't get it going. Said it was a big improvement just not to the Mumme days level.
Eye of the beholder I guess
"While Brown's offense was a tremendous upgrade from the appropriately named Joker days, it did not quite conjure up the same memories as when Hal Mumme roamed the sidelines. There are many reasons for this."
"The Neal Brown version of the Air Raid is one that is potent, the version that Shannon Dawson is bringing is also potent, but using the right schemes to fit the personnel is where I think Brown's results fell a bit short of expectation."
^"When Neal Brown came back to Lexington with the Air Raid, we did not see the same thing as we did in the late 90s. Part of it was due to the offense no longer being a surprise. One can also say we did not have the personnel to run it, I counter with the fact that the Air Raid is more dependent on the Xs and Os instead of the Jimmys and Joes."
Paragraph 4 of the article provided above. It clearly suggests that the offense didn't get to where Brown wanted it....which obviously it didn't. Then it went on with the last sentence suggesting that "lack of personnel" is more of an excuse than a reality of the situation. Then the next part of the article discusses how the personnel has improved so that things will be better. Thus a contradiction.
It's no big deal and for the most part it's a good article that I agree with for the most part. Kudos to you.
Paragraph 4 of the article provided above. It clearly suggests that the offense didn't get to where Brown wanted it....which obviously it didn't. Then it went on with the last sentence suggesting that "lack of personnel" is more of an excuse than a reality of the situation. Then the next part of the article discusses how the personnel has improved so that things will be better. Thus a contradiction.
It's no big deal and for the most part it's a good article that I agree with for the most part. Kudos to you.
Dawson is no idiot. While confident, he must realize that he is the proverbial backup QB that many fans love when things on the field do not go perfectly and fans assume it to be the QBs fault. Because fans are not the experts they believe themselves to be, the new OC must be da bomb.
I love what I see, but Dawson must know that when a fourth down conversion goes badly, the Monday morning QB club will slam him just like they slammed Brown.
I love what I see, but Dawson must know that when a fourth down conversion goes badly, the Monday morning QB club will slam him just like they slammed Brown.
Agree completely. We have to keep in mind that Dawson is still kinda/sorta unproven at this time. He is definitely proven his proficiency at SFA and Millsaps, but the WVU connection is still up for debate. We have heard Holgorsen state that Dawson was involved in some of the OC efforts at WVU, but we don't know how much.......nor if Holgorsen was just using coach speak. Much of the WVU media and fans have always considered this Holgorsen's offense as well. So, we just don't know.
I think that he'll be fine and that the offense will be exciting to watch......still not completely cranked to the hilt, but a good take off from Brown's foundation. But I too know full well that a portion of the fanbase will be ready to slam Dawson should/when he hits a rough patch.
We do not know if Dawson is upgrade..but I do know that Brown tried to use a system that worked in the Big 12....that system DID NOT WORK AND WOULD NOT WORK - against the speed of SEC Defenses. Brown used more of sideline to sideline style of play calls that used distance/separation between players in order to make plays. That just won't work against the defensive minded coaches in the SEC and the incredible speed of DL and LB units.
Another factor that I believe lacked in Brown's system was his willingness to utilize his QB as a CALLED running option more than he ever did at any previous stops. I cannot understand the factors that might have led to these decisions....but we definitely will not see this happen in the Dawson offense (I Hope) as he has affirmed.
With that said ... Brown WOULD DEFINITELY have thrived at UK over time....with better players and experience. Something that Dawson will not have to worry as much about - and Dawson will be able to use his AND CMS desires of featured running game with the the availability of more experience and added strength to the already excellent crop of RB / WB we have. I personally have watched a few games of WVU online and likened the running game used as the one of the old Tennessee Titans when Eddie George was there...one back shifted with TE/FB (Was it Wycheck) into power and attack the DE off tackle with OL down blocks....and it worked pretty well then- hopefully NOW TOO!
One aspect of Brown that we will all miss is his in state recruiting ability - Dawson will be able to overcome that with the added wins with the team progressing towards a true contender.
Another factor that I believe lacked in Brown's system was his willingness to utilize his QB as a CALLED running option more than he ever did at any previous stops. I cannot understand the factors that might have led to these decisions....but we definitely will not see this happen in the Dawson offense (I Hope) as he has affirmed.
With that said ... Brown WOULD DEFINITELY have thrived at UK over time....with better players and experience. Something that Dawson will not have to worry as much about - and Dawson will be able to use his AND CMS desires of featured running game with the the availability of more experience and added strength to the already excellent crop of RB / WB we have. I personally have watched a few games of WVU online and likened the running game used as the one of the old Tennessee Titans when Eddie George was there...one back shifted with TE/FB (Was it Wycheck) into power and attack the DE off tackle with OL down blocks....and it worked pretty well then- hopefully NOW TOO!
One aspect of Brown that we will all miss is his in state recruiting ability - Dawson will be able to overcome that with the added wins with the team progressing towards a true contender.
^So, Brown's system was a total failure at UK, but he would've been successful given more time???
I don't follow?
I see it that we don't know if Brown's system would've worked at UK b/c he never got the time to develop it with personnel that could run it. About the most you could say with Brown is a logic chain. If Dawson is successful at UK.......and Dawson runs a similar system to Brown......then Brown may have been successful at UK.
I don't follow?
I see it that we don't know if Brown's system would've worked at UK b/c he never got the time to develop it with personnel that could run it. About the most you could say with Brown is a logic chain. If Dawson is successful at UK.......and Dawson runs a similar system to Brown......then Brown may have been successful at UK.
I'm pretty much on point with you! If we are being honest, we do not know if Dawson is upgrade..but I do know that Brown - But I'm hoping.
Brown, did have limited skill players, and subject to weak OL... Still his play calling was a head scratcher at times.
I agree that there were times when it wasn't great. But also keep in mind (warning - hyperbole coming)that if you only have personnel available that can only execute 10 plays, then as a OC you will likely only call one of the 10 plays.
That was a great article. I watched WV on TV several times last year and I am very excited to have coach Dawson here. Whether or not he is better than NB really isn't a factor in my thinking. Coach Stoops hired someone who was going to keep the continuity of NB's offense progressing. And as we all know, the talent level here has increased, as has the depth and experience. I am looking forward to a very exciting year. I am also very excited for the progress of our defense. Sure, we lost 2 studs in Dupree and Smith, but overall we have much more experience, a PROVEN linebacker Coach in AB. I think that a change in special teams results will be the key factor, and of course keeping our key personnel healthy the whole year. The part that concerns me most about all of this is that we will be much improved as a team, but may not have a better record. If we do go bowling, and I like to think that we will, then our recruiting should get even better and to me, that is the most exciting thing I can think of because we are killing it on the recruiting trail already and any improvement in that area will help us to make a quantum leap in the next couple of years.
Brown's system @ UK did not work IN HIS ONE YEAR (in the SEC) - But I did INFER it probably would with players getting better through experience and recruiting and Brown himself developing - more of an SEC approach North South with speed than a Big 12 side to side - simply because B12 LB and DL are not a match athletically for SEC DL and LB speed.
I guess, in a nutshell, what I was saying is that I believed Brown would have been successful at UK if he developed into an SEC instead of B12 style and with player experience and upgraded (even this season I would have expected better play in SEC)
And I believe DAWSON will be successful because he has MORE (than Brown) experienced players (WR/QB/RB/OL) and the style he has spoken of running is N/S and not E/W and that is usually more successful in the SEC.
Does this make more sense blue raider?
Not when you're down with under 2 minutes to go and need a td to win..... He called running plays....that's far from the right playing calling
Not when you're down with under 2 minutes to go and need a td to win..... He called running plays....that's far from the right playing calling
Here is a link to a breakdown of the final drive. Notice how many yards the QB runs gained and how many the passes gained against man 4 free coverage. Im not trying to convince you that your opinion of the play calling is wrong but there is sound reasoning for each call.
http://www.aseaofblue.com/2015/5/1/8524089/breaking-down-a-drive
Sorta, I guess. It makes perfect sense that the more talent and experienced personnel, the more successful Dawson and Brown will be. That I agree with. But are you saying that "styles" have changed? That's where you've confused me. Sure, SEC defenses are better/faster/etc, but Brown/Dawson are going to coach the UK offense with darn-near the exact style they did while in the Big12.
YES but they are different styles - I see Brown as being an E/W and use of QB in option run game while using jet sweeps (E/W) and then I see Dawson as a N/S style offense where you will see throwing at seams and rushing off tackle with lead blocker style rushing more prevalent than what we saw of NB last season.
yep. did not seem like it....I meant last season...1st season was a throw away to me...we could not have competed in the SWAC
watch this game and tell me if you see the same types of routes....rushing game, or blocking scheme
Air raid yes...but each coach has different parts of inter-changeability within that same basic Air Raid System
Air raid yes...but each coach has different parts of inter-changeability within that same basic Air Raid System
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