On the offense...or lack there of...

[JR4AU]

And all the "ideas" and "suggestions"...

Such as: "Why don't we run (fill in the blank) more?"  "Why are we always doing (fill in the blank) in stead of (whatever)?

This is from an ESPN.com interview with Paul Johnson.  He's pretty dry at times, but I guarantee you, he's telling you how coaches think.   Maybe you don't like Johnson, or think the option is obsolete, but he's giving you insight in to how coaches think.  "We do what we do, and that's what we're going to do."

How similar is what you do to what Urban Meyer and Rich Rodriquez do?

PJ: I think it's very similar.

How so?

PJ: We run a lot of the same plays, a lot of the same schemes. They just choose to do it out of the gun and we go through under the center.

How are the receivers' responsibilities different?

PJ: I don't know that they are. What they may call their receivers sometimes we call A-backs. Their slot receivers are like our A-backs. Most of the time we're lined up tighter, not always. We change formations, and those guys are in the same spots. We probably haven't thrown it as much, certainly as much as Florida, but I can remember a couple of years ago at Navy we threw the ball more than West Virginia did. Nobody realized that because they were in the gun.

So is the job of your quarterback easier from under center?

PJ: I just think it's different. I think it hits faster under center, there's plusses and minuses, and tradeoffs to each one. They probably each have their advantages. We're operating with the ball a lot closer to the line of scrimmage. There's probably advantages to both.

So why do you prefer to do it the way you do?

PJ: Well it's just the way we've always done it. We've always had success with it, and like I said, it hits faster, the ball is closer to the line of scrimmage and for what we want to do it makes more sense. Everybody for years knocked what we were doing [saying] 'Well you can't go to the NFL doing that, you can't do this,' and I find it interesting now the NFL is coming out and saying they're having a problem with all of the quarterbacks being in the gun. They don't know how to take a snap or drop back to pass.

Why do you think then, that most college football fans, when they think of your offense, probably don't automatically think of what Urban Meyer and Rich Rodriquez do?

PJ: Because one is under the gun and the other is under the center.

That's it?

PJ: Yeah, and most fans, quite honestly, couldn't tell you what plays they ran out of the gun. It's like anything else -- if you're successful and you have big plays, then it's great. If you're not moving the ball and you're not scoring then it's no good. If you look at last year with what Rich did at Michigan, it's the same offense they ran at West Virginia, but it was a learning process, different personnel and they didn't have near the success. In fact they had very little success. But nobody was questioning whether it would work or not. As soon as we have one game where we don't score 30 points, boy it's like, I told you this wouldn't work, everybody figured it out. That's what drives you nuts.

Because it's going to be the second year, a lot of players feel so much more comfortable in the system, would you like to pass it more?

PJ: We could pass anytime we want. The objective is to try and win the game. We're going to do whatever it takes to win the game, and hopefully we'll be a lot more efficient at running the ball. If we become more efficient at running the ball, then the passing game will open up because people will say we have to play the run.

That's usually how it works. Do you think that you guys will be more efficient running the ball because it's the second year?

PJ: We're way better right now then we were a year ago. It's not even close. If you took the first spring and this spring, it's like two different teams. Do we have a ways to go? Yeah, we're still not there yet, but we're a lot better off than we were a year ago, no question.

Have you always called all the plays?

PJ: Yeah.

Is it true you don't script it?

PJ: No, I don't script it.

Not even the first 15 plays or so?

PJ: No.

Wow. Ok. Is there anything else I didn't ask you that would help explain any misconceptions about the offense to fans?

PJ: Well it's like anything else. If you execute it properly it's going to be good, and if you don't, it won't. There are no magic ways to line up and play the offense. There's nothing magical about the offense. If we don't block people and execute right, it's not going to work. It's no different than the BYU passing or anything else. It's a system and if you do it correctly you'll be successful and if not you won't. We've done it for 26 years. It's not like it was a one-time thing. I get a kick out of people saying, 'Well they'll have another year of defending it.' Gosh, they've got 25 years, and we haven't changed much.

Anytime you do something different, people want to make more out of it than it is, but if you go back and look over the years, look at the averages and what we've done, it's been very efficient for us. If there comes a time when it's not efficient then we'll adapt and change, that's what you do. That's why we don't script plays. I want to look out and see what you're doing on defense and then I'll call the plays accordingly. It doesn't make sense to me to script 15 plays and then I look out there and you're not lined up where I thought you were going to be.

[GH2001]

With all due respect to PJ, the Triple Option WILL NOT work against a defense that is even half ass good.

With that said, I think it gives Ga Tech and their lack of personnel the best chance in games against superior foes that it normally wouldn't have a chance against. Although they have still proven that they will lose the majority of those games when the other team has a decent defense.

But I get the jist of what you are saying here.

[JR4AU]

With all due respect to PJ, the Triple Option WILL NOT work against a defense that is even half ass good.

With that said, I think it gives Ga Tech and their lack of personnel the best chance in games against superior foes that it normally wouldn't have a chance against. Although they have still proven that they will lose the majority of those games when the other team has a decent defense.

But I get the jist of what you are saying here.

As I said, regardless of what you think about the triple option (which is not all he does), or any offense, coaches stick with what they do.  You can't get better if you keep changing what you do, or adding new concepts without having mastered the one's you've been running.  It's why it's stupid to suggest, as I seem to read at least once each year after a slow offensive game, that we "go I formation".  That isn't what Gus does.  Besides that, it's just a formation.  You can run a pro style I, or an option I like Tom Osborne.  Completely different "I formation offenses".    Fact is, like in the other thread where Marshall talks about the transition year...that's what the problem is.  Everybody is starting fresh.  We lack a dynamic signal caller too, but this team will be vastly better when we return many starters who have worked hard to get stronger in the offseason, and are more experienced. 

[GH2001]

As I said, regardless of what you think about the triple option (which is not all he does), or any offense, coaches stick with what they do.  You can't get better if you keep changing what you do, or adding new concepts without having mastered the one's you've been running.  It's why it's stupid to suggest, as I seem to read at least once each year after a slow offensive game, that we "go I formation".  That isn't what Gus does.  Besides that, it's just a formation.  You can run a pro style I, or an option I like Tom Osborne.  Completely different "I formation offenses".    Fact is, like in the other thread where Marshall talks about the transition year...that's what the problem is.  Everybody is starting fresh.  We lack a dynamic signal caller too, but this team will be vastly better when we return many starters who have worked hard to get stronger in the offseason, and are more experienced.

I remember a few of those on AUC who used to call for I Formation everytime something didn't go right in 2009 and even in 2008 under Franklin. Morons. Kaos was one of them. Well, not really but I just wanted to say he was.

[Kaos]

I remember a few of those on AUC who used to call for I Formation everytime something didn't go right in 2009 and even in 2008 under Franklin. Morons. Kaos was one of them. Well, not really but I just wanted to say he was.

I may have. 

There were times I wanted to strangle Franklin.  Fuck-a-mighty, man.  Just line the fuck up there and run the ball at people.

Hmmm.  For all you offensive line lynchers out there, what are the similarities between 2008 and 2011?  Are there any? 

Inferior QB play from everybody.  Baby offensive line.  Right?

[Snaggletiger]

Being that I am one of the most renowned expert armchair quarterbacks....I will say my only beefs with Gus in the 2 1/2 years, has been:

1. Head scratcher calls in some situations.  Not always but the occasional Clemson 3rd and 2 before half and we roll Trotter out.  Even Q went, "WTF???"  Or the Northwestern game just before half when Todd had completed 3 3rd and longs, all to Darvin Adams on a drive before half that effectively puts that game away.  So, on 1st down the call is...Kodi in the shot gun to heave one down the left sideline...int.  Game on. Again, it just seems to be that on occasion, Gus just pulls the next play out of the bag and says, fuck it...run it.

2.  The topic that's been discussed about this past weekend.  OMac is the lone spark in the first quarter and he hardly sees the field for the next 2.  Why did we all have to rationalize that maybe he was saving one of the best backs in the SEC for that October run?  It's 3rd and 2 against Climpsum...we have a Dyer....use him...twice.

Yes, I see fans going overboard with their takes and wanting drastic changes the first sign of weakness.  But overall, discussing strategy and the why's and who's of a game is a big part of being a fan is all about.  I couldn't do it myself but I can damn sure tell you what I would have done...if I could.

[GH2001]

I may have. 

There were times I wanted to strangle Franklin.  Fuck-a-mighty, man.  Just line the fuck up there and run the ball at people.

Hmmm.  For all you offensive line lynchers out there, what are the similarities between 2008 and 2011?  Are there any? 

Inferior QB play from everybody.  Baby offensive line.  Right?

Nah, I was messing. If you did I don't remember it. There were a few I remember who were adamant about calling for the I Formation. My guess is they were old timers with a little Uncle Rico mixed in.

[JR4AU]

I may have. 

There were times I wanted to strangle Franklin.  Fuck-a-mighty, man.  Just line the fuck up there and run the ball at people.

Hmmm.  For all you offensive line lynchers out there, what are the similarities between 2008 and 2011?  Are there any? 

Inferior QB play from everybody.  Baby offensive line.  Right?

Tubs staff was dysfunctional in 2008, and that's the major difference in having personnel issues and managing to win the games we have, vs the clusterfuck that was 2008.

[Snaggletiger]

I may have. 

There were times I wanted to strangle Franklin.  Fuck-a-mighty, man.  Just line the fuck up there and run the ball at people.

Hmmm.  For all you offensive line lynchers out there, what are the similarities between 2008 and 2011?  Are there any? 

Inferior QB play from everybody.  Baby offensive line.  Right?

Here's the problem with the O-line in 2008.  Franklin came in and openly said he needed the linemen to slim down.  He wanted faster, more agile linemen to run his offense.  As a consequence, Ziemba was back playing in the 280's and Pugh dropped to around 270 as did the other linemen.  It was most telling after Franklin left and we had to go back to mare basic sets and try to run the ball.  That line couldn't move Daphne High off the ball.

[GH2001]

Tubs staff was dysfunctional in 2008, and that's the major difference in having personnel issues and managing to win the games we have, vs the clusterfuck that was 2008.

As much as I didn't like "Otis the Drunk" Franklin, he never had a chance the day he stepped on campus. Even if he was a great OC, we wouldve never known.

[JR4AU]

As much as I didn't like "Otis the Drunk" Franklin, he never had a chance the day he stepped on campus. Even if he was a great OC, we wouldve never known.

This man knows.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

With all due respect to PJ, the Triple Option WILL NOT work against a defense that is even half ass good.

With that said, I think it gives Ga Tech and their lack of personnel the best chance in games against superior foes that it normally wouldn't have a chance against. Although they have still proven that they will lose the majority of those games when the other team has a decent defense.

But I get the jist of what you are saying here.

The 1995-1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers say you can kiss their ass.

Best college team from my lifetime.

[JR4AU]

The 1995-1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers say you can kiss their ass.

Best college team from my lifetime.

Great team, they didn't run triple option though. 

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Great team, they didn't run triple option though.

Sure they did, they had the white QB, the black QB, and the convicted felon.

[Snaggletiger]

Sure they did, they had the white QB, the black QB, and the convicted felon.

Is LP gonna' have to slap a bitch...again?

[Kaos]

Here's the problem with the O-line in 2008.  Franklin came in and openly said he needed the linemen to slim down.  He wanted faster, more agile linemen to run his offense.  As a consequence, Ziemba was back playing in the 280's and Pugh dropped to around 270 as did the other linemen.  It was most telling after Franklin left and we had to go back to mare basic sets and try to run the ball.  That line couldn't move Daphne High off the ball.

But they were fast, dammit. Like Oregon. 

[JR4AU]

Sure they did, they had the white QB, the black QB, and the convicted felon.

But not true triple.

[Jumbo]

But they were fast, dammit. Like Oregon.

Sec can't keep up with the speed of Oregon.

[GH2001]

Great team, they didn't run triple option though.

And they didn't run it in 2011. Just like the wishbone isn't ran now. 1975, 1985 or 1995 is not today. Things have changed.

[jmar]

The 1995-1996 Nebraska Cornhuskers say you can kiss their ass.

Best college team from my lifetime.

We run Nebraska's bread & butter play. That wraparound handoff v. LSU was just a variation.

We have to block.
And something tells me Chiz is going to challenge our offensive line to do that against Ole Miss in a real old fashioned way (sort of a self-healing process). I don't expect to see a whole lot of fireworks. If you are a gambler, you might want to take the points. I think we win only I say the final score will be too close for comfort.