Creativity in the offense

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Sparlimb

Sparlimb

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I know we're extremely limited in personnel and there just isn't anyone very good on offense. But I was just floored today as I watched the game in person and didn't see one screen pass, any designed qb draws, any read option plays. This was an ugly vanilla offense that didn't try anything to catch Kent St off guard. They played 10 guys in the box all day long, which every team after this should do. I just don't understand why we can't try and mix it up and do something the other team isn't expecting.

No jet sweeps today. No WR screens. No Outs to Wolitarsky that worked last week. I could go on...
 

You are spot on. Even GH can't think ML7 was the only problem today. This offense is broke and I hope Kill figures out how to fix it.
 

I couldn't agree more, very predictable, very unimaginative. They also stopped trying to spread the field after those 2 interceptions. They were inviting Kent State to load the box.
 

I'm praying they're doing the ol' rope-a-dope and they're going to leave Northwestern's defense wondering what happened when they put up 35 on Oct 3.
 

I honestly think Kill gave up on our offense today. I think it happened after the fumble-TD.

So, forget for a minute what we have for players, and our past performances. Focus only on this game, when the score was 10-7 us, and we had just committed our 3rd turnover.

if you're Kill, do you:

1. Run up the middle every play, giving the ball to the one guy who is playing decently? (Smith) Hope for a score, and if that doesn't work, let one of the best punters in the nation do his thing?

or

2. Continue to risk Leidner/OL/others making mistakes by spreading the ball around and throwing downfield.

As painful as it was to watch, the play calling in the 2nd half with running up the middle every time was probably the safest way to ensure a win. (Sort of like in the Waterboy when the other time started kneeling every play to keep Bobby Boucher from making plays). Our defense was so dominant, Kill figured we would win the game if we didn't have any more turnovers. On the flip side, the only way we lose the game is to keep turning the ball over.

I am willing to give the coaches a break in the play calling today because I actually think it made sense given the situation. I am not however, so content with what they're sending out on the field each week. Obviously some type of major shakeup needs to happen to give us a chance come Big 10 time.
 


This was Kent St!!! Possibly the worst team the Gophers have played in several years. If you can't do whatever you want against them on offense, big changes are needed. Unless that happens, it's going to be a very long and bowless season.
 

My question for Coach Limegrover, just what were you attempting to do? Show nothing on tape? When the running game gave you 2nd and 4, why did we end up punting? Don't tell me you know you can run the ball. You cannot. The team needs to be able to run the ball when it has to. And we can't. And you keep saying we are working on balance. How's that going? 2 Ints and a strip touchdown. The defense pitched a shutout and the offense? Netted 3 points. I understand team play, and the value of defense. Maybe the defense failed to get a pick 6, a safety, or a punt runback.

The offense is holding this team hostage. And it all goes to the top.
 

Sparlimb said:
I know we're extremely limited in personnel and there just isn't anyone very good on offense. But I was just floored today as I watched the game in person and didn't see one screen pass, any designed qb draws, any read option plays. This was an ugly vanilla offense that didn't try anything to catch Kent St off guard. They played 10 guys in the box all day long, which every team after this should do. I just don't understand why we can't try and mix it up and do something the other team isn't expecting.

No jet sweeps today. No WR screens. No Outs to Wolitarsky that worked last week. I could go on...
Click to expand...

I concur as well. I am tired of hearing excuses of injuries. Our back ups should be able to beat Kent State. All teams have injuries and we are no different..
 

I just re watched the game twice and the offense was worse than I thought while watching it live. The comments in this post are spot on. The offense was bewildering in its lack of imagination after the opening drive and in particular after the second interception.

I can not believe that it could be true, but it really appeared as though it was settled that Kent State could not score on our defense so at all cost let's not chance another offensive miscue. Certainly we played in a way that ensured a victory. But what happens in two weeks at Northwestern. We did nothing today that might risk a loss, but we also did nothing to prepare us to win in the B1G.

But, of course, it can be said the purpose of today's game was today's victory.
 



I remember reading after the TCU game that the most likely reason we didn't run the jet sweep was TCU's players were probably to quick and/or TCU's scheme wouldn't allow it. I assume it is safe to assume that was not the case the last two weekends.

There also seems to be disagreements on here regarding Limey's terrible play calling or whether Kill is constraining the OC's play calling. I guess we'll never know, unless we can get an an unnamed source to spill the beans. Of course, we can look forward to Mike Max asking Kill some tough questions on this week's Jerry Kill Show on FSN.
 

Our O-line I thought was showing its wear and tear and were not in sync. That is were the break downs began. The KSU defense was very disruptive especially after that fumble from Rashad Still.

The team seem to lose its confidence offensively. The body language of the players did not look good.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
This was Kent St!!! Possibly the worst team the Gophers have played in several years. If you can't do whatever you want against them on offense, big changes are needed. Unless that happens, it's going to be a very long and bowless season.
Click to expand...

We should sign some free agents
 

Very frustrating offensive game plan to say the least. I get wanting to prevent Leidner from getting hit 25 times by letting him run the ball a ton, but just a few read options with him keeping it would have helped.
 



Now, don't forget, boys, since the vast majority of us posting here are not D1 coaches, we can't possibly do any better than the OC. Clearly he's doing as well as he possibly can.
 

NorthernLakesGopher said:
I'm praying they're doing the ol' rope-a-dope and they're going to leave Northwestern's defense wondering what happened when they put up 35 on Oct 3.
Click to expand...

Well that's great, but that's what very many GHers have been saying about our lack of preseason offense and creativity each of the past four to five seasons: just wait until the real games, they don't want to show anything before B1G season. Which of course has not yet been true - except for a few select games which we all fondly remember, and wonder why they don't bring back those gameplans - and still won't.
 

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