Make Your Case for Our Offensive Philosophy for Next Year and Beyond (Not about QBs)

[92tide]

Bama is averaging 67 plays a game on offense. That's the first time we've been under 70/game since Nussmeier was OC.

i wonder if some of our top stats are skewed by the blowout games we had this season. i remember watching a few games this season where we would milk the clock almost the whole way down on every play, especially when the 2d team was in the game.

 

[BAMARICH]

i wonder if some of our top stats are skewed by the blowout games we had this season. i remember watching a few games this season where we would milk the clock almost the whole way down on every play, especially when the 2d team was in the game.

The number of blowouts in a season would definitely tend to increase that running percentage.

 

[BamaMoon]

The number of blowouts in a season would definitely tend to increase that running percentage.

But, wouldn't that also be a consideration for the other years too? We usually have several blowouts in the course of winning 10-12 games a year.

 

[B1GTide]

At least 10 "rushes" per game are really Jalen taking off on a pass play. In other words, the OC called a pass but Jalen ran with it instead. So the called pass/rush percentage is a lot better than the stats show.

 

[TiderJack]

At least 10 "rushes" per game are really Jalen taking off on a pass play. In other words, the OC called a pass but Jalen ran with it instead. So the called pass/rush percentage is a lot better than the stats show.

Yep. Of Jalen's 17 rush attempts against the Barn I would say 8-9 were called pass plays.

 

[BAMARICH]

But, wouldn't that also be a consideration for the other years too? We usually have several blowouts in the course of winning 10-12 games a year.

If memory serves me correct, it seems we've had more than usual this year - at least the amount of "mop up time" seems to be increased this year.

 

[gamersfuel]

true but you cant just simply ask and he does it. Pocket awareness is a rare trait that not all QB's have. Thats one of the reasons he takes off if his 1st option is not open. He cant read the pocket sometime against the better defenses and gets afraid then takes off.

Just my opinion, but having watched these Bama teams over Saban's tenure, it seems that despite the offensive philosophy, the one thing that dictates offensive success during a game has been whether or not the team wins on first down. Winning would be gaining 5+ yards on first down. It sure seems to me that if Bama can't win on first down, the offense almost throws away second down by going to a predictable play call and setting up a long third down, which over Saban's tenure, Bama has not converted at a high rate.

I know that when Blake Sims was the QB, his legs, and the freedom to run the QB if needed, helped the team avoid losses on plays that fell apart. So I don't know if going to a strictly drop back passer would be beneficial. I also don't think that asking Hurts or whomever else is the QB to stay in the pocket and deliver the ball, even with the pocket collapsing, is too much to ask either.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Running the ball hasn't been the problem. We have run the ball more this year than I think any other year under Saban, as far as run-pass ratio goes. We have run for over 200yds in a loss and a few close games. It is how and when we are running the ball that is odd (QB centric). I would much rather see us get back to a balanced offensive approach. We used to pride ourselves in having almost the exact same run plays as pass plays in a game- stats used to read 52 runs/53 passes for almost every game. But we have been pretty ineffectual at passing the last two years to the point where teams don't respect the pass and just sell out on the run. We have become one dimensional when facing good defenses, and it shows as our offense stagnates and our 3rd down percentage is abysmal.

I agree with everything you say. BUT, when the running game is working then keep working it. Had we done that against the Aubs we win. Make them load the box and stop our hosses toting the rock then Jalen has Ridley wide open. Our play calling has gotten way too cute and QB centric as you say. Let's just block, hit the hole and make them realize you will have to worry about Damien Harris hitting a 20, 40 or 60 yarder because we are running down hill at you. That will open up the play action game AND control time of possession which our defense desperately needs.

 

[GrayTide]

We all remember the endless threads on here about how CNS needed to adjust the defense to the HUNH offense that was all the rage. Then we had all the talk about how we needed to move to the HUNH to stay with what was going on in college football. So here we are 3-4 years later, we figured out how to defend the HUNH, but it now appears the better teams have figured out how to defend CNS's offense. Time for a change, who knows?

 

[uafanataum]

Here is a chart I made with some rushing stats. Bama has run the ball more this year than ever before and by a pretty big margin - yet Bama has been negative in TOP for the first time in a long time. Odd.

	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
Rushing Yards/Game	265	245	199	206	248
Rushing Yds/Attempt	6	5.75	4.67	5.1	5.8
Rushing Attempts/Game	44	42.6	42.8	40.5	35.4
Rush TDs/Game	3	2.2	2.2	2.5	2.1
Run/Pass %	65.70%	60.30%	59.00%	55.60%	56.10%
1st down % by rushing	59%	59.70%	51.80%	47.5%%	50.10%
TOP	29:50:00	30:55:00	33:35:00	31:44:00	32:00:00

The team with the highest TOP is the only national championship team. Wonder why?

 

[USCBAMA]

Here is a chart I made with some rushing stats. Bama has run the ball more this year than ever before and by a pretty big margin - yet Bama has been negative in TOP for the first time in a long time. Odd.

	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013
Rushing Yards/Game	265	245	199	206	248
Rushing Yds/Attempt	6	5.75	4.67	5.1	5.8
Rushing Attempts/Game	44	42.6	42.8	40.5	35.4
Rush TDs/Game	3	2.2	2.2	2.5	2.1
Run/Pass %	65.70%	60.30%	59.00%	55.60%	56.10%
1st down % by rushing	59%	59.70%	51.80%	47.5%%	50.10%
TOP	29:50:00	30:55:00	33:35:00	31:44:00	32:00:00

How does RB carries vs QB carries break down? I think that's a big issue with our RBs becoming less involved, but of course what I think doesn't matter, it's what the data says.

 

[USCBAMA]

I agree with everything you say. BUT, when the running game is working then keep working it. Had we done that against the Aubs we win. Make them load the box and stop our hosses toting the rock then Jalen has Ridley wide open. Our play calling has gotten way too cute and QB centric as you say. Let's just block, hit the hole and make them realize you will have to worry about Damien Harris hitting a 20, 40 or 60 yarder because we are running down hill at you. That will open up the play action game AND control time of possession which our defense desperately needs.

Couldn't agree more. When you reduce # of RB touches you reduce the chances of a RB breaking a long one...and those long ones often come when D is loading box, which seems to be a situation we don't run the ball due to RPO.

 

[BamaMoon]

How does RB carries vs QB carries break down? I think that's a big issue with our RBs becoming less involved, but of course what I think doesn't matter, it's what the data says.

Check the last couple of pages of the QB thread. Some stats were posted there about the breakdown in some of the recent games against the best teams we faced.

WARNING: You won't like it.

 

[RammerJammer14]

I agree with everything you say. BUT, when the running game is working then keep working it. Had we done that against the Aubs we win. Make them load the box and stop our hosses toting the rock then Jalen has Ridley wide open. Our play calling has gotten way too cute and QB centric as you say. Let's just block, hit the hole and make them realize you will have to worry about Damien Harris hitting a 20, 40 or 60 yarder because we are running down hill at you. That will open up the play action game AND control time of possession which our defense desperately needs.

I don't disagree. However that is predicated on us actually handing the ball off to Damien Harris instead of running a QB ISO to the short side of the field or a QB draw for 1-2yds.

 

[TomFromBama]

Without reading the whole thread, but my recollection off the top of my head -

Styles of Offense that have won the NC in the "New Millennium"

2000 - OU - Honestly can't remember.... I didn't watch a lot of football that year....
2001 - Miami - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2002 - O$U - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2003 - USC - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
- OR - LSU - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2004 - USC - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2005 - TU - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2006 -UF - Maybe somewhere in the middle, but not all out "Sandlot"??
2007 - LSU - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2008 - UF - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2009 - UA - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2010 - aub - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2011 - UA - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2012 - UA - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2013 - FRU - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2014 - O$U - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2015 - UA - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2016 - CU - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB.
2017 ???

I don't know that this is Conclusive - all I know CONCLUSIVELY is that we FAILED to win the NC last year with our miserable version of "RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB", and have almost certainly FAILED to make the P_ayoffs THIS year with the same sort of hybrid offense....

My "Vote" (as if if matters) is to DITCH the "Sandlot" style and run PRIMARILY PRO SET, leaving the option open (as it ALWAYS HAS BEEN) to call a QB draw On Occasion, or for the QB to run when there's no pass possible - but to let actual RUNNING BACKS run the ball most of the time.....

 

[B1GTide]

Here is a good article for those who think that Run Pass Offenses are the same - there are many types, and they are very different. What Alabama and OSU run are variations called "spread options" because they create space across the entire LOS.

At any rate, the pro style spread option is what Kiffin brought to Alabama. It is not what you are running today. I don't even know what to call the RPO that Alabama is running right now.

https://www.footballstudyhall.com/2...-offense-smashmouth-option-air-raid-pro-style

 

[dvldog]

I don't even know what to call the RPO that Alabama is running right now.

Someone will enlighten you in 3. 2. 1....

 

[CoachJeff]

Clemson isn't sandlot football. That's a silly thing to say.

 

[Tideflyer]

I agree with everything you say. BUT, when the running game is working then keep working it. Had we done that against the Aubs we win. Make them load the box and stop our hosses toting the rock then Jalen has Ridley wide open. Our play calling has gotten way too cute and QB centric as you say. Let's just block, hit the hole and make them realize you will have to worry about Damien Harris hitting a 20, 40 or 60 yarder because we are running down hill at you. That will open up the play action game AND control time of possession which our defense desperately needs.

Certainly agree with this or a close facsimile. A question I have is this. IF we`re fortunate enough to have another chance, AKA making the playoffs, do we have the time and if so, will we, move to a less QB centric run game to what`s described above?

 

[BamaMoon]

Without reading the whole thread, but my recollection off the top of my head -

Styles of Offense that have won the NC in the "New Millennium"

2000 - OU - Honestly can't remember.... I didn't watch a lot of football that year....
2001 - Miami - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2002 - O$U - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2003 - USC - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
- OR - LSU - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2004 - USC - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2005 - TU - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2006 -UF - Maybe somewhere in the middle, but not all out "Sandlot"??
2007 - LSU - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2008 - UF - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2009 - UA - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2010 - aub - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2011 - UA - Pro-style, RB oriented.
2012 - UA - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2013 - FRU - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2014 - O$U - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB
2015 - UA - Pro-style, RB and Pass oriented.
2016 - CU - RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB.
2017 ???

I don't know that this is Conclusive - all I know CONCLUSIVELY is that we FAILED to win the NC last year with our miserable version of "RPO/Sandlot/Freak-QB", and have almost certainly FAILED to make the P_ayoffs THIS year with the same sort of hybrid offense....

My "Vote" (as if if matters) is to DITCH the "Sandlot" style and run PRIMARILY PRO SET, leaving the option open (as it ALWAYS HAS BEEN) to call a QB draw On Occasion, or for the QB to run when there's no pass possible - but to let actual RUNNING BACKS run the ball most of the time.....

I think what stands out there is without even listing the QBs you can remember their great college years: Young, Tebow, Newton, Winston, and Watson.

Each of those teams would have struggled to win a NC without those elite, freakishly good athletes.

In our 4 recent titles, we've won with CNS our NC are:

1 title with McElroy (good, but not great drop back qb)

2 with AJ (no where as good of an athlete as freaks, but GREAT drop back, game manager, qb)

1 with Coker (probably the worst qb of the 3, but had the biggest heart, but good enough to distribute the ball).

I like our chances with an "average" pro-set guy, above waiting for the generational "freakishly great" qb to come along.