Question regarding play calling vs last season

[Trapped in California]

Other than forming a huddle between plays, is there a material difference in play calling this year (so far)?

Until Salmon leaves or dies, this is our future. 8-3, out in the second or third round. (not wishing anything bad to happen to Bill, but just accepting my fate as a fan).

PS - I am feeling worse and worse for how Joe Davis was treated.

[havok58]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

This has been my thought after watching the last two games. There has been no difference in play calling the last few seasons, no matter who is brought in for the "offensive coordinator" role. Maybe we need better recruiting to get the players to fill the needs to make the offense work. Whatever is happening, we know it wasn't Davis' fault last season.

[Trapped in California]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

Just had a thought. UNI is like the gym guy that only works the arms/chest. Always skips leg day.

Can you guess which part of the team is the legs in this analogy?

[panther-state]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

I'd say you should reverse the leg part. Legs seem to be our only area of strength (outside of our kicker apparently)

[UNI92]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

We run too many low percentage passing plays (i.e. fade routes, back shoulder, 30 yards plus) The result is a 42% completion ratio..
How about using the TE more? bubble screens? Throwing to backs in the flats? DO we ever use the middle of the field???

[wretched]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

We run too many low percentage passing plays (i.e. fade routes, back shoulder, 30 yards plus) The result is a 42% completion ratio..
How about using the TE more? bubble screens? Throwing to backs in the flats? DO we ever use the middle of the field???

Great post, and specifically UNI's version of it, just don't think there is much creativity!

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

Great post, and specifically UNI's version of it, just don't think there is much creativity!

I really don't know why we ever have Bailey throw a fade.

[Mudrafan]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

We run too many low percentage passing plays (i.e. fade routes, back shoulder, 30 yards plus) The result is a 42% completion ratio..
How about using the TE more? bubble screens? Throwing to backs in the flats? DO we ever use the middle of the field???

Bailey does not have a strong arm so he doesn't drop back as far as he should. The pocket then collapses prematurely. He also can't see over the line very well. His timing throws are awful due in part to theses things. Couldn't believe we didn't see what Dunne could do for a couple series

[Alum 99']

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

Here we go again....no creativity on offense...how can we not move the ball when they have 8 or 9 in the box...has Salmon ever heard of screens...short crossing routes...outs....if we send out tight end on a 10 yard corner route he is wide open...oh wait...let's run long developing sideline routes so we get sacked or hurried everytime...where in the hell are the adjustments???? Time to hold tryouts for a kicker....becoming plain stupid year after year...

[UNI92]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

Here we go again....no creativity on offense...how can we not move the ball when they have 8 or 9 in the box...has Salmon ever heard of screens...short crossing routes...outs....if we send out tight end on a 10 yard corner route he is wide open...oh wait...let's run long developing sideline routes so we get sacked or hurried everytime...where in the hell are the adjustments???? Time to hold tryouts for a kicker....becoming plain stupid year after year...

How about a sweep with the back that's always in motion? A quick dump to our TE?
At the end of the day, there is an answer to everything that the defense trys to do to UNI...comes down to adjusting and mixing things up so we are not predictable.
I think our offense would be much more effective with shorter routes.
If we connected on the deep ball more often, then fine...keep throwing those routes, but we're not. Need to make adjustments based on our personnel.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

How about a sweep with the back that's always in motion? A quick dump to our TE?
At the end of the day, there is an answer to everything that the defense trys to do to UNI...comes down to adjusting and mixing things up so we are not predictable.
I think our offense would be much more effective with shorter routes.
If we connected on the deep ball more often, then fine...keep throwing those routes, but we're not. Need to make adjustments based on our personnel.

Shorter routes require timing and accuracy. Those two things, particularly accuracy, are harder to achieve than most people think. Bailey's not super accurate, to be sure. But a lot of guys aren't. Teams without super accurate passers (which are most teams), tend to throw the ball down field more. You try to play to your QB's and WR's strengths, and it is what it is.

[Alum 99']

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

Shorter routes require timing and accuracy. Those two things, particularly accuracy, are harder to achieve than most people think. Bailey's not super accurate, to be sure. But a lot of guys aren't. Teams without super accurate passers (which are most teams), tend to throw the ball down field more. You try to play to your QB's and WR's strengths, and it is what it is.

Well....obviously dropping back and throwing bombs is not a strength...so...lets try something different

[Panthers#1]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

Well we apparently have a coaching staff that is the definition of insanity: To keep calling the same plays that that haven't worked and expect different results.

http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college...054359c28.html

[Panburger Partner]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

The obvious problem with our "dual threat" qb philosophy is that in order for it to work, the qb must also possess the second threat of being able to throw a football. This style of offense simply does not work consistently, unless you have one of the rare guys (i.e. Michael Vick/Tim Tebow type of player) who can actually throw a little bit too to keep the defense honest. It's not a knock on the 3 guys we have had in this role over the last several years, they were/are tremendous athletes who represented our university extremely well and who need to be utilized on the field, just not as qb's. I'm not sure what caused this shift in our program, as over the history of UNI when we utilized a pro style offense and qb, we seemed to be able to consistently put points on the board. A longer term shift back to this type of play would be ideal, however, in the short term, with the current talent we have, some short timing routes and creating some easier throws for the qb to get in some type of rhythm wouldn't hurt.

[Trapped in California]

Re: Question regarding play calling vs last season

The shift was primarily caused by Farley's reoccurring nightmares of Armanti Edwards from the NC game. Specifically, how to defend the guy. If only I had an Armanti Edwards...

The issue with that is that Edwards was one of 6 Appy State players drafted into NFL from that team (2008-2011). Drafted, not free agents. Those 3 NC Appy State teams were absolutely stacked.