1.) This offense and Deshaun are badly in need of a go to guy on 3rd down now that Mike Williams is out. Discussed at length in other threads, but it's worth discussing again. We are not converting 3rd and intermediate / long very well at all. It's a huge weakness in this offense. Who is going to step up into that role. The 9 position has to be someone that can beat 1 on 1 coverage as that position is split out to weak side generally. Peake has been there and not been targeted and basically taken away half field from being defended. Willams and Nuk commanded extra attention. We gotta find that WR who strikes fear in a DC and can't be single covered in key situations.
2.) Wet conditions and a lead caused us not to pass last week. Against Louisville the reason we didn't pass was they were in 2 high safeties. The bigger reason is stated in #1. Lack of trusted go to guy in tight situations. There are routes that attack 2 high safeties down field and attack underneath and we chose to run even in 3rd and long and 3rd and medium. Notre Dame eventually figured out how to hold onto the wet ball and racked up over 300 yards on Saturday. We could've passed more in the 4th quarter if we trusted our WR's to get open and hold onto the ball. We have to find a way to get our intermediate over the middle passing game going if we expect to make noise this year. We also need a deep threat. Scott is a great receiver but his strength isn't going up to high point deep balls since he's only 5'10. That was Mike Williams. Peake has the speed but isn't aggressive enough.
3.) Improved running game is being used to burn clock to help a paper thin defense that gets tired late. I get it. But at the same time if we go too conservative we let teams back in games. Somebody has to step and prove to be reliable on 3rd down. Would love to see us use Leggett and his big body more. He had good hands and is a threat in the redzone on jump balls and caught a deep ball over the middle vs Louisville.
4.) We can 't get too predictable once we get the lead. People made a big deal about the opening play with a designed QB Run. We ran the same play on 3rd and medium in the 4th quarter and they left both ILB's in the box even after motioning the RB out. That read should've been pass but it was probably a run call from the sideline to protect the ball and we didn't get close to converting. We tend to get very conservative and predictable when the game gets tight. Have to fight those tendencies and stay aggressive at times. I will give the OC a flyer due to weather but if we find ourselves in same situation at home against GT this week then I know it's play calling and fear / lack of trust of receivers. That worries me.
That is all. Discuss if you agree or disagree with these points.
2.) Wet conditions and a lead caused us not to pass last week. Against Louisville the reason we didn't pass was they were in 2 high safeties. The bigger reason is stated in #1. Lack of trusted go to guy in tight situations. There are routes that attack 2 high safeties down field and attack underneath and we chose to run even in 3rd and long and 3rd and medium. Notre Dame eventually figured out how to hold onto the wet ball and racked up over 300 yards on Saturday. We could've passed more in the 4th quarter if we trusted our WR's to get open and hold onto the ball. We have to find a way to get our intermediate over the middle passing game going if we expect to make noise this year. We also need a deep threat. Scott is a great receiver but his strength isn't going up to high point deep balls since he's only 5'10. That was Mike Williams. Peake has the speed but isn't aggressive enough.
3.) Improved running game is being used to burn clock to help a paper thin defense that gets tired late. I get it. But at the same time if we go too conservative we let teams back in games. Somebody has to step and prove to be reliable on 3rd down. Would love to see us use Leggett and his big body more. He had good hands and is a threat in the redzone on jump balls and caught a deep ball over the middle vs Louisville.
4.) We can 't get too predictable once we get the lead. People made a big deal about the opening play with a designed QB Run. We ran the same play on 3rd and medium in the 4th quarter and they left both ILB's in the box even after motioning the RB out. That read should've been pass but it was probably a run call from the sideline to protect the ball and we didn't get close to converting. We tend to get very conservative and predictable when the game gets tight. Have to fight those tendencies and stay aggressive at times. I will give the OC a flyer due to weather but if we find ourselves in same situation at home against GT this week then I know it's play calling and fear / lack of trust of receivers. That worries me.
That is all. Discuss if you agree or disagree with these points.
