What is the issue on offense?

[K_TIME]

Wide combination of things. Certainly OL figures in. Noticed Mal Wood got several snaps at RT and thought he held his own but why no Ford or Selm? Ray with OL snaps too.

For whatever reason BV just isn't seeing the field. Guess he's locking in on one guy, don't know. At one critical stage Anderson was wide, wide open in the center of the field but BV didn't see him. No defender within 20 yards, 4th down too. Instead BV throws to ABS, smallest WR on the team, and he gets plowed for an incompletion.

Play calling, head scratcher. 4th and maybe 7 and UK runs a swing pass to the runt ABS and he gets blown up for a loss. That was the instance of the 4th down when Brown/Key were taken off the field. I mean, WTF??

3rd and 6 and you pull your passing threat QB for runner Wimsett who is promptly stuffed after short gain.

The there's Wilcox and his obligatory 3 carries/game.

I'm no expert, just a fan. Still, I'd like to know what they think they're seeing.

This is a lot of what I see....as well mswhwump.

1. We have talent/coaching issues at Oline. And until we get back to decent or superior Oline....nothing will improve much.
2. Brock....either is combo of bad Oline has him not able to see field when there is time, can't get thru progressions fast enough or just isn't being coached up. (I think you can easily see how much we miss Coen....that guy could coach up a QB for sure).
3. But the decision making by BUsh/Stoops is middle school-ish this year
- The Wimsatt alternating....just not a good plan. Gives the defense the play before we snap it....it's going to be a run.
- The play call in critical spots all year has been just down right poor. Swing passes on 4th and mid, USC play calling was just brutal, etc
- The handling of Wilcox all year has made no since....now we're working in Traynum....but Wilcox still jumps off the screen for a team that has little big play in them.
- Now we throw in Boley....and that was a mess. If you're loving on Wimsatt.....that was the time to play him...not Boley.

Just a colossal fail on offense. I truly dont know how you come back next year with it intact.....but Stoops is such a disaster....what do you do?

 

[gamecockcat]

Does Hamdan coach the QBs, too? I wonder if adding a dedicated QB coach (hopefully, a guru) would help that room develop. BV has his moments but, as others have said, he does NOT see the field. Yes, he missed Hernandez in the middle of the field running free and threw an incomplete somewhere else. He also missed Maclin early in the game running a skinny post from the slot and elected to throw at Dane who was double covered. He's not consistently taking what the defense is giving. Almost every play, there should be an 'ideal' receiver to throw to and that receiver might be originally schemed as Option #3. But, it's his job to determine that and throw the ball there. The opening drive of the 3rd quarter was well conceived and executed very well. But, it was literally the only drive Saturday night that looked and felt like there was some plan in place. Every other drive seemed to me to be haphazard, throw shit against the wall, etc.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

The biggest issue is coordinators coming in from other conferences may see defeneses with 1 or 2 elite athletes capable of playing at the next level per week. Coming to the SEC he is facing teams with 8-9 or even more with the ability to play on Sundays. Things that worked in the Sunbelt or whatever group conference they come from just doesn't work because of defenders ability to recover and make up ground on something that is wide open in lesser conferences.

 

[Bubs72]

I don't think you can blame the scheme or the OC at this point, though there doesn't seem to be a pattern or logical sequence in play calling so far. But, I think most of that falls on the multiple failures that have already been mentioned. The OL has struggle most of the season with protecting BV and he seems to be ready to dump the ball as quickly as possible.
I honestly believe the fault is the culture that Stoops has created, he wants to bleed the clock, control the ball, keep the other team off the field and physically punish their defense. To be honest I love that approach, we just aren't good at it any more. If you want to play the bully ball style, you have to be smart and limit everything from turnovers to stupid drive killing penalties. We constantly are playing behind in down and distance, because of missed blocks or holding penalties or false start penalties, and you cannot convert 2nd or 3rd and long in the SEC trying when you are built to run between the tackles. That style also demands a great short to mid range passing attack that involves the TE's way more than just blockers, and also means your WR's have to CATCH the ball when they get their chance. All of this is what baffles me, Stoops is committed to this style of play, but we don't seem to be sold out philosophically. Teams that play this way are disciplined and smart, we seem to be neither.

 

[Mark80]

I think Hamden. But also subpar line play at many times this season. Really it’s a combo of many things. The receivers are horrible right now too. It’s just bad

Disagree with wr issue are they perfect…no, but the biggest problem is the OL by now should bench all seniors and start over for next year. Might as well get the next group of lineman playing time.

 

[Mark80]

Wide receiver routes are too deep. Shorten them and QB doesn’t have to hold the ball as long.

 

[gamecockcat]

Wide receiver routes are too deep. Shorten them and QB doesn’t have to hold the ball as long.

Been saying that since 1st half of USC game. BV is decently accurate w/in 15 yards, wouldn't have to rely on OL as much, could spread the ball around, perhaps the receiver breaks a tackle and goes for 15+. It shouldn't be rocket science. Basic football 101 I would think.

 

[Tskware]

We suck. Again.

Next question please.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

100% on Stoops.

He has restricted every OC that has worked from him. Just check their abilities when they are not with UK. Dawson this year just take a look.

STOOPS STOOPS STOOPS. that is the problem with the offense. Stoops wants to win every game 3-0 not 49-42.

I hear/see this all the time despite the ocs all denying it.

Want to know how you can tell its definitely not true? Go look at ray davis' touches last season. He had a historic efficiency rating but barely got the ball after the Florida game.

If stoops was as restrictive as we're told, ray would've had the 20-25 touches a game he deserved.

I would like for Hamden to have a servicable offensive line to scheme with and Brock have time to let plays develop down field to see how we could do. Right now we have neither thanks to an O Line that is not SEC caliber.

He has one he just wont put a game plan together that fits it. We are an inside run team. We ran it well vs really good defenses then we just....stopped. instead we increased the two qb system that we barely saw during our competent offensive run.

Saw someone post about Dylan Ray. Since last season i told people he is our best OL and he is. The fact he doesn't start is crazy but i guess nil makes that decision.

That leads me to my ultimate point: stoops isnt dealing well with nil/portal. Imo thats clear to see. All the forced touches to brown over the years, the forced rotating qbs, jager playing no matter what, no discipline from dane or barion, on and on.

Stoops lost the culture of discipline and hard work that took this program to new heights. He lost it because he either has no control over players high on the nil payroll or hes afraid those same guys will leave.

 

[kybloo92]

 

[paulcalhoun]

Eddie Gran is still de facto O coordinator

False

 

[WalterTheHippo]

S T O O P S is what is wrong. Look at the OC's that leave... they are doing pretty well

 

[know1]

Injuries, awful line play, odd play calling, QB who throws the ball to only one receiver, no short/middle passing game, etc.

I think it's also obvious that maybe Brock doesn't know much of the playbook. Wimsatt ran a variety of things out of no huddle on that last drive that we don't see when Brock is in there.

 

[Thecycle27]

Stoops lost too many coordinators some controllable and uncontrollable. His defense is consistent because he hasn’t lost many guys. He also doesn’t lose many players on that side.

I agree lower level OC’s just don’t see defenses like the SEC. You have to be really good execution wise to move it consistently . I think you are seeing it across the conference.

The other factor is QB and new OC is a 50-50 deal. You have to recruit to that OC scheme. It takes time. Time you don’t have in the SEC. Then if you miss good luck. Their decisions in picking a QB was not smart. With this defense and offensive skill they needed a good veteran QB. Not a recruiting win. Brock and the other guy weren’t plug and play. There were veteran guys that would of been better.

The player evaluation on offense is questionable. I think that is a direct result of the musical chairs at OC.

 

[runthedangball2]

5 coordinators in 5 years. No continuity on oline.

 

[truebluewildcat]

Same issue it has always been under Stoops.

He, Marrow, and Gran can only recruit run game.

They can't recruit, develop passing game talent (QB, WR, pass catching TEs and RBs). Nor can they develop them to produce consistently. Nor can they come up with a system to effectively utilize whatever talent they do have.

Modern passing football alludes Stoops and any staff he has had in 12 years.

 

[gamecockcat]

Same issue it has always been under Stoops.

He, Marrow, and Gran can only recruit run game.

They can't recruit, develop, coach, play call passing game nor the necessary talent it takes to run a productive one. QB, WR, TE, pass catching hybrid RBs...

Modern passing football alludes Stoops and any staff he has had in 12 years.

^Agreed. But, all Stoops has to do (and his track record is very poor, admittedly) is HIRE someone or someones who do know how to recruit, develop, coach, play call, etc. If he sticks around, he has to find an OC/QB coach who can do these things. I don't care what system we run. 124 yards in 53 minutes is a fireable offense, imo.

 

[truebluewildcat]

^Agreed. But, all Stoops has to do (and his track record is very poor, admittedly) is HIRE someone or someones who do know how to recruit, develop, coach, play call, etc. If he sticks around, he has to find an OC/QB coach who can do these things. I don't care what system we run. 124 yards in 53 minutes is a fireable offense, imo.

This is something else that alludes him.

Hiring and staffing passing game.

You have to let the OC bring his people in. I'm not sure how much room he's given his OCs to totally come in with their people and do their thing.

I do know the TE coach and guy recruiting most of the talent, OL coach, RB coach, WR coach are not his crew. Then you have Eddie Gran in his unnofficial undefined special executive assistant or whatever role.

Look at that Boise State squad.

All this is going to get put on Hamdan and he doesn't have his staff nor any of his talent to run his system.

Most likely CMS doesn't get fired. Hard to believe someone would hire him away, but who knows.

What needs to happen is brass and booster pressure him to make some staff changes. Again, not fire Hamdan. You can't boot a guy after one year especially when everyone knows he's at a place that has struggled with offense for 12 years.

What some folks can do is pressure Stoops to bow out of offense and let Hamdan bring in his positional assistants.

Can't pay Stoops' buyout, but UK can pay every Boise St assistant, or any coach Hamdan might know, more money.

Marrow, we all love him, but it's time he moves on from the TE room. He can be the figure head recruiter, that's fine. We need someone, preferably younger more modern, who is just a coach, pin to pad Xs and Os guy in that room.

Not sure what Gran does but he can bump on out too. Go over to the defensive side with Stoops.

All the other offensive staff they can probably go.

 

[jeffky]

 

[Haggin_Hall_1983]

Is it Stoops? Is it Hamden? I tend to believe that it is Stoops. Former OC's: Coen - killing is in the NFL, Neal Brown - has had offnesive success everywhere he's been, Shannon Dawson - he's killing at Miami.

Everything comes together when a team realizes that they have a winning quarterback that can move the chains with precise throws, and it is a double bonus if that QB is also mobile. The defense instantly plays harder. The special teams play gets better. The team realizes that they can put points up at any time, and they respond with more inspired play.
This team is experiencing the opposite effect- that which happens when we do not have a QB on the roster that can read the defense, and is incapable of making the throws.
Stoops is the common denominator in all of this with the quarterback. Has anyone else noted that no matter who we play, the opposing quarterback appears to be the better QB. That includes the Central Michigan's and the EKU's. Stoops has constraints and limits on what he allows the Offensive coordinator to call. This will only change with Stoops departure.

Eddie Gran also set D1 records as OC at Cincinnati, like 500+ YPG of offense. most of that in the passing game. And that wasn't just a one off season.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

He needs to better handle nil expectations. Its that simple. Last year they paid brown to stay, so they forced him the ball every game. This year you can tell they paid gavin to xfer so theyre forcing him the ball. It killed the offensive morale both seasons and completely derailed everything.

Get back to the culture. Hard work, physical football, selfless commitment to winning. Ya it'll cost you a guy here and there but it wouldn't cause an entire season and program to fall on its face.

 

[kybloo92]

5 coordinators in 5 years. No continuity on oline.

This in a nutshell!