I keep reading a great deal of our fans wondering if Blake can through the deep ball, why we aren't practicing it, why such a different play selection with Coker, etc.
I can tell you though, widening the field is just as important as stretching the field vertically. The HUNH/spread teams have proven that many times over the past few years. And, what many do not realize, we have a lot of spread influenced play-calling when Sims is in the game (thus far this season).
The bubble screens, the quick screens, the zone runs are all spread elements. We are obviously using the quick screen to get the ball in our playmakers hands. (And I've heard Sims gets these throws out to the WRs a solid half-second faster than Coker). These are high percentage, easy throws as long as both WRs aren't facing press-man. If teams start playing us press man on BOTH WRs out there, we will see all sorts of options opened up. These options will be fairly simple for even a novice quarterback to exploit--especially when you have Amari Cooper. Cooper is tough to jam and if he explodes by a CB, it's an easy toss for 6. The spread is effective because a lot of times one man does not do his job, particularly in man-to-man or cover 2 situations.
If teams play press man from a nickel set on our 2 WR side of the field, odds are they will have to play a safety over the top. This should leave some good options open on the opposite side/down the middle from our TEs and our backs. Easy, simple play calling. Remember when Drake motioned to the two WR side and caught the swing against FAU? Brilliant and simple. The WRs hold their blocks (which is really easy from press coverage) and Drake finds a hole.
Also, some teams are no longer "apexing" their LBs between the tackle and the slot WR. Some teams are playing head up in a Twin WR half of the field. Against a trips look, they are apexing between the 2 and 3 WR. Why? To prevent getting blocked inside, leaving only the Safety and CB to stop a play. If the LB gets blocked out or can get penetration outside the 2 and 3 WR, the ball has to go back inside (for example on a sweep or outside zone run), where at least a Mike/Will will be scraping to help. Where does this help Alabama? Cut back lanes. When Sams and Jacks widen to help on outside runs, we are asking the Mike and Will to cover extra gaps. With solid OL, cut back lanes abound, something we do very well at Alabama.
All of that is because of spread teams "widening" the field. Not because of fear of getting beat deep.
I'm not defending Sims in the Sims v Coker debate, but I do know we can be very successful based on what we have shown through 2 games because we have easy situational adjustments built in. We do not have to throw it deep and stretch the field vertically (in the traditional sense) to win in the SEC. Auburn proved that last year and Tebow-lead UF teams did too, where most of their "deep-balls" were because of coverage break downs.
I can tell you though, widening the field is just as important as stretching the field vertically. The HUNH/spread teams have proven that many times over the past few years. And, what many do not realize, we have a lot of spread influenced play-calling when Sims is in the game (thus far this season).
The bubble screens, the quick screens, the zone runs are all spread elements. We are obviously using the quick screen to get the ball in our playmakers hands. (And I've heard Sims gets these throws out to the WRs a solid half-second faster than Coker). These are high percentage, easy throws as long as both WRs aren't facing press-man. If teams start playing us press man on BOTH WRs out there, we will see all sorts of options opened up. These options will be fairly simple for even a novice quarterback to exploit--especially when you have Amari Cooper. Cooper is tough to jam and if he explodes by a CB, it's an easy toss for 6. The spread is effective because a lot of times one man does not do his job, particularly in man-to-man or cover 2 situations.
If teams play press man from a nickel set on our 2 WR side of the field, odds are they will have to play a safety over the top. This should leave some good options open on the opposite side/down the middle from our TEs and our backs. Easy, simple play calling. Remember when Drake motioned to the two WR side and caught the swing against FAU? Brilliant and simple. The WRs hold their blocks (which is really easy from press coverage) and Drake finds a hole.
Also, some teams are no longer "apexing" their LBs between the tackle and the slot WR. Some teams are playing head up in a Twin WR half of the field. Against a trips look, they are apexing between the 2 and 3 WR. Why? To prevent getting blocked inside, leaving only the Safety and CB to stop a play. If the LB gets blocked out or can get penetration outside the 2 and 3 WR, the ball has to go back inside (for example on a sweep or outside zone run), where at least a Mike/Will will be scraping to help. Where does this help Alabama? Cut back lanes. When Sams and Jacks widen to help on outside runs, we are asking the Mike and Will to cover extra gaps. With solid OL, cut back lanes abound, something we do very well at Alabama.
All of that is because of spread teams "widening" the field. Not because of fear of getting beat deep.
I'm not defending Sims in the Sims v Coker debate, but I do know we can be very successful based on what we have shown through 2 games because we have easy situational adjustments built in. We do not have to throw it deep and stretch the field vertically (in the traditional sense) to win in the SEC. Auburn proved that last year and Tebow-lead UF teams did too, where most of their "deep-balls" were because of coverage break downs.
