UK passing game next season

[USMC Cat]

So I don't know much about the new OC we ave coming in, but I read he likes to air it out.

5 of UKs top 7 receivers last season were freshman and one sophomore.

Knowing that Patrick Towels will have another year of experience, as well as our one sophomore returning receiver and four freshman receivers...

What can we expect? Will we throw more now? I think that's the best bet, as we don't have the size on the line to consistently run the ball. Kind of like a Patriots offense where the dump off and screen game is our running game, with the occasional draw as well.

So what are we looking at? Better? How much better? Are we finally going to see this air raid offense I keep hearing about? I'd love to see it.

This post was edited on 1/28 8:53 PM by USMC Cat

 

[Oak_Hill]

I think it will like a 60/40 pass to run ratio. Don't forget we also will have a healthy Alex Montgomery and Jeff Badet back this season which I think will be huge.

 

[23jumpboy]

From my observations the offense that the new OC ran at West Virginia runs deeper routes, longer developing plays and is physical in the run game. He looks to really go down the field more. Got to know that Towles is going to love this offense.

 

[GridCats]

To do that Jump you have to have an O-Line that can hold and block. They will have to coach that up. With the redshirts and guys getting stronger, just maybe that part of it is working.

 

[BlueRaider22]

First you have to understand what we saw the last couple of yrs........Brown did what he could with what he had. Watch Brown's offense when he was at Texas Tech......and then watch what Brown's going to do (within the next couple yrs) at Troy. Brown throws the ball a lot......hence the "Air Raid" name that's followed him around. The last few yrs we haven't been in a position to throw.

The last few yrs (in a nutshell)
-WR's who could not run precise routes, couldn't beat presses or physicality, didn't fully understand the playbook, and often had poor drops.
-We supposedly had 54 TE's on the team.....they apparently weren't good enough to make an impact
-The o-line was not strong enough to pass block for any length of time.
-We had a first yr starting QB who is an underclassmen......and by his own admission pretty much goofed off his first couple yrs of college and didn't apply himself.

-And a corps of really good looking and deep RB's.


So, if you are the OC what would you........or could you.......do?

You would run the ball a lot more than you'd like to, b/c that's all you can do. While you build up your ability to throw. If you notice that we threw a lot more in 2014 than 2013.......that's b/c the personnel allowed us to. So, the trend should continue. We should be able to throw a lot more in 2015.



Now, as far as Dawson/Brown. They run a very, very similar offense. Dawson takes a little more downfield shots, but that's not saying that Brown doesn't. Dawson does tend to throw a little more often than Brown, but both are "throw it first and often OC's". So, for 2015, we will throw it more. Not b/c the change in OC, but b/c we are now able to.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by GridCats:

To do that Jump you have to have an O-Line that can hold and block. They will have to coach that up. With the redshirts and guys getting stronger, just maybe that part of it is working.

An OL that can "Hold and Block". Dude I certainly hope not. I hope they can block without holding.

 

[GridCats]

Meaning all the good talent were Freshman and Sophomores, and some being redshirted. Timing wasn't there for the QB & receivers. As good as they can be, takes time working a lot together to get it down and also adjust to the speed of the game. Being patient for a team to come together is not an easy thing to do. Players are much stronger and wiser with a couple years of work and training.

 

[chris42503]

The biggest thing will be the Line. Not the QB or WR's or RB's or the OC. If the line can't slow the defense down and get the QB some time, nothing changes.

 

[BigSexyCat]

I don't think Dawson uses bubble screens like Neal did/does. I also think Dawson incorporates the middle of the field more than Neal.

 

[GridCats]

Originally posted by C1180:

Originally posted by GridCats:

To do that Jump you have to have an O-Line that can hold and block. They will have to coach that up. With the redshirts and guys getting stronger, just maybe that part of it is working.

An OL that can "Hold and Block". Dude I certainly hope not. I hope they can block without holding.

Dude, was just saying to hold off the rush and give the QB time to make the play. Didn't think that needed to be explained.

 

[Blue Decade]

Originally posted by chris42503:

The biggest thing will be the Line. Not the QB or WR's or RB's or the OC. If the line can't slow the defense down and get the QB some time, nothing changes.

That's right. If the offensive line doesn't play better, our offense cannot improve. The reverse is also true. If our offensive line plays better, then our offense can get a lot better. A lot of weight on the shoulders of our sophomore and redshirt freshman linemen.

 

[23jumpboy]

Yep, offensive line needs to be OFFENSIVE!!!! Gotta love it when your offensive line is called the big Uglies for a reason. And it won't hurt my feelings to NEVER SEE a bubble screen again!!! I hate them!!

 

[BlueRaider22]

You'll still see plenty of bubble screens. Dawson/Brown use these kind of short routes as basically an extension of the running game. The goal being to stretch the defense from sideline to sideline. Try viewing it as a running play. If they get 3 yds, good. If they don't gain anything, darn. If they break a 15 yd run, fantastic!





The last few yrs have just been a perfect storm against a passing game. The o-line couldn't protect......so the QB didn't have time to throw.......and when he could the WR's were hardly ever where they needed to be.......or couldn't get open.....or dropped the ball. And the QB/WR couldn't function just well enough to take some pressure off the o-line. And round, and round, and round.

Of course, it all starts in the trenches. If the o-line performs much improved, then the running and passing game will be much improved. But it also goes the other way a little. If the WR's can get open, be where they are supposed to be, and not drop the ball........and the QB can do his job.......it can help to mask o-line weaknesses.

Basically some of the pieces (IDEALLY ALL OF THE PIECES) need to step up.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Originally posted by BigSexyCat:

I don't think Dawson uses bubble screens like Neal did/does. I also think Dawson incorporates the middle of the field more than Neal.

This was one of the more puzzling things about Browns tenure as play caller at UK. Initially he overused WR screens. Later, he avoided them when it seemed they would have been successful against the relentless upfield pass rush.

 

[C1180]

Originally posted by GridCats:

Originally posted by C1180:

Originally posted by GridCats:

To do that Jump you have to have an O-Line that can hold and block. They will have to coach that up. With the redshirts and guys getting stronger, just maybe that part of it is working.

An OL that can "Hold and Block". Dude I certainly hope not. I hope they can block without holding.

Dude, was just saying to hold off the rush and give the QB time to make the play. Didn't think that needed to be explained.

I was just jerking at your chain a little. I knew very well what you meant. If you had an a instead of an and in that sentence it would have been a perfectly good statement but with the and it sounds ominous.