Our offense will never reach its full potential until we bring in the A-11 offense.
_eek: Noooooooo ! I bet several members don't get it
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Question: Bama's offensive style and the ability to adapt it.
- Thread starter BJ4TIDE
- Start date
_eek: Noooooooo ! I bet several members don't get it
JMO, but I think this season was the exception rather than the rule in regards to our overall offensive philosophy. The running game is obviously crucial and will continue to play a major role in future seasons, but I don't forsee a 70/30 run-to-pass ratio on offense for the remainder of Saban's tenure. I think our run-to-pass ratio this season was more of a product of the available talent at the skill positions, and the experience and cohesiveness of our OL. We have a QB who is limited in making reads and progressions as well as arm strength; and we had only one truly consistent option at the receiver position, so we stripped the passing game down to its most basic elements and favored the running game wherever possible. It was obviously a good move and great coaching insight on the part of the staff. That being said, if we had a real stud at QB and a few more options at receiver then I think the offense would be quite a bit more open and diverse, simply based on the track records of CNS and CJM. I would guess probably closer to a 50/50 run-to-pass ratio. Saban and McElwain have very similar offensive philosphies - spread the defense out and attack the perimeter AND mix in the power running game. With the way our recruiting has been going, in the future I think we'll see a much more open and diverse offense, perhaps along the lines of what Oklahoma did this season. RTR.
From what Saban has said, I take it that his strategy is a power running game with an effective play-action passing game. He has a metric regarding "explosive" plays (run play of 13+ yards or pass play of 17+ yards) and "big" plays (run play of 16+ yards or pass play of 21+ yards): he wants at least 7 big plays or 9 explosive plays per game.
If I were designing an offense to meet those metrics and his goal of dominating the other team, I'd put my primary emphasis on the running game and I'd want to perfect the play-action passing game. Why?
As NYBamaFan stated, running offenses wear down defenses. As taxing as running coverages might be, it is nothing next to being forced to fight off blocks by guys 100 lbs heavier than you and then tackling a guy who is pushing you along with his legs while your teammates come crashing into you from all sides. Also, a lot of defenses have changed their philosophies and are using smaller, faster linebackers and defensive ends in order to defend spread offenses and passing offenses where speed is more important than size. The power running negates the speed factor and exploits the size difference because regardless of how fast you are, you are forced to take on the block in order to make the tackle on inside running plays.
Big plays are produced typically when an offense runs a play that was unexpected by the defense. If a pass-first offense comes to the line on what the defense expects to be a passing play and instead runs the ball, the play still happens in front of the defense which means that even though the offense may gain good yardage, they aren't very likely to break a very long run. However, if a run-first offense comes to the line on what the defense expects to be a running play and a receiver gets behind the defense, whose attention is drawn first to the line because of the run threat, the possibility is good for a very long play.
A run-first team that has a good QB and good receivers can run a 60/40 run-to-pass ratio on plays and still have a balanced-yardage offense because the passing will be more effective when the other team expects more running plays. For instance, Florida ran 501 running plays this year for 2987 yards (5.96 ypc) and threw 299 passes for 2764 yards (9.24 ypa). So, Florida ran a 63/37 run-to-pass ratio, but their yardage ratio was 52/48 run-to-pass. They also had 31 TDs passing as opposed to 41 rushing, so they had 1 TD reception per 9.64 passing attempts as opposed to 1 TD rushing per 12.22 rushing attempts.
If I were designing an offense to meet those metrics and his goal of dominating the other team, I'd put my primary emphasis on the running game and I'd want to perfect the play-action passing game. Why?
As NYBamaFan stated, running offenses wear down defenses. As taxing as running coverages might be, it is nothing next to being forced to fight off blocks by guys 100 lbs heavier than you and then tackling a guy who is pushing you along with his legs while your teammates come crashing into you from all sides. Also, a lot of defenses have changed their philosophies and are using smaller, faster linebackers and defensive ends in order to defend spread offenses and passing offenses where speed is more important than size. The power running negates the speed factor and exploits the size difference because regardless of how fast you are, you are forced to take on the block in order to make the tackle on inside running plays.
Big plays are produced typically when an offense runs a play that was unexpected by the defense. If a pass-first offense comes to the line on what the defense expects to be a passing play and instead runs the ball, the play still happens in front of the defense which means that even though the offense may gain good yardage, they aren't very likely to break a very long run. However, if a run-first offense comes to the line on what the defense expects to be a running play and a receiver gets behind the defense, whose attention is drawn first to the line because of the run threat, the possibility is good for a very long play.
A run-first team that has a good QB and good receivers can run a 60/40 run-to-pass ratio on plays and still have a balanced-yardage offense because the passing will be more effective when the other team expects more running plays. For instance, Florida ran 501 running plays this year for 2987 yards (5.96 ypc) and threw 299 passes for 2764 yards (9.24 ypa). So, Florida ran a 63/37 run-to-pass ratio, but their yardage ratio was 52/48 run-to-pass. They also had 31 TDs passing as opposed to 41 rushing, so they had 1 TD reception per 9.64 passing attempts as opposed to 1 TD rushing per 12.22 rushing attempts.
I have little doubt that Saban would adapt to what we have. He has the previous 2 years. We didn't have a steady running game in 07 and we threw a lot. We didn't have a consistent passing attack this year and we ran a lot. And Coach openly called for more plays in the passing attack. He wants balance in each game, but not only that...he wants to be able to match up favorably vs any defense. Like playing vs Florida is a situation where our power running game was great to have and even if we had a great passing attack it would've probably been 65 run-35 pass (at least until the 4th where we needed a bit more pass). Then against LSU, it would've been a great time to get a bit pass happy considering their secondary.
But its great to be versatile and still potent in your attack. If we had a better passing attack we'd have won a lot of games much easier, and probably would still be undefeated. I think coach is more of a 50-50 type of guy. After all, you throw to score, you run to win. Build up a lead and run out the clock.
But its great to be versatile and still potent in your attack. If we had a better passing attack we'd have won a lot of games much easier, and probably would still be undefeated. I think coach is more of a 50-50 type of guy. After all, you throw to score, you run to win. Build up a lead and run out the clock.
About to be illegal in HS football and I think it already is in college. Only 6 players are allowed to wear pass eligible numbers on offense (I think).
When it comes to what you say about the QB I think you need to know the guys you're comparing. I had dinner with a friend and he said JP has the strongest arm of all the QB's, and the offense will be about the same. He said GMc is the smartest guy on the team but his toughness and arm strength are nowhere JP's. We also need a big WR on the other side since you can only depend on Julio. GMc will start next yr he believes. On the O-line Love needs to get ALOT stronger and that Carpenter will start day one. It all depends on the O-line. RTR!
Yes. In fact, he'll come in time to participate in bowl practice, although he's not eligible to play...
I have NOT seen him (JC kid) play, but a coaching buddy says he is the real deal and BAMA should not miss a beat at LT. I hope so, but Smith only gave up one sack in 13 games this year and he really was NOT beat on that one as much as he was tricked/confused by alignment/stunt. Smith is/was the REAL deal and will soon be really rich!!!
I agree on the "punish them with the run first" idea it has always been my approach to football. And, I understand the pressure a majority pass game puts on the D but I watched coach Mac's Fresno State offense and it was very successful incorporating a quick hitting pass attack with the rush. We have not seen his offense yet because, honestly, we have not had the personel we need at WR to run it.
We definitely have better RBs than his Fresno State teams so we will play smash mouth football. But, I don't think we have seen half of coach Mac's playbook as far as the pass attack goes.
This year we have Norwood and Bowman committed and Peak will play at TE, plus Randle and/or Kelly a real possibility. Add that to the guys we already have and I don't see how coach Mac's offensive attack doesn't incorporate them in a big way.
Coach Saban hired him because of his offensive philosophy and his ability to coach it. I think he CNS stays back a bit and let's him go for it.
:BigA: RTR!
Agreed - there almost has to be some dropoff, but we are in a much better position with an experienced LT than replacing an Andre with someone with little playing time at the position.
Still, the O-Line is a unit. Losing 3 guys will hurt, no matter how good their replacements are. They have to learn to play together. They have to learn one anothers' strengths and weaknesses, and when/how to help one another out on a given play. That takes time.
Until the new line is esablished, even practices move players in and out. Once we have the new line established (depth chart), the starters can begin to gel...
We agree for sure on this. The big concern, as far as adapting goes, is continuity on the OL. We are losing three on the OL. I sure am glad the JC OT is coming in early so he can start working with the complete OL unit. It has always been important for OLs to work together, but even more so when you are a Zone team like Bama.
Coach Mac is a real pragmatist, unlike the recent Franklin experiment at AU, and, much as I hate to say it, Major. He and CNS saw what it was going to take, with the talent we had, and went in that direction. I can hardly wait for the coming upgrades...
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