Offensive Play calling

[nolasilver]

There were two missteps:

The trick play and not running the ball with Hughes down their throats.

The rest of the game was EXCELLENT. Everything we have howled at the moon for these past years with Willie (excluding the one year with svoboda).

Screen passes, bootlegs, roll outs, crossing routes, using bauman & the tight end.

[Man in Green]

I look forward to see what Shazz Preston can do.

[tjtlja]

It is hard to look for anything positive when an entire system is working against you. Paying players, ESPN, officiating, it all is big piece of crap.

[tulaneoutlaw]

I was disappointed in the red zone myself. You need 7s, not 3s. We settled for fgs twice when ksu bowed up.

[nolasilver]

Maybe I have low bar syndrome from nagel. There were definitely a few runs we almost broke and they saved with shoe string tackles

[DCGreenie]

Maybe I have low bar syndrome from nagel. There were definitely a few runs we almost broke and they saved with shoe string tackles

One problem is that both Hughes and Barnes are slow. We need a scat back next to our QB.

[PeteRasche]

It is hard to look for anything positive when an entire system is working against you. Paying players, ESPN, officiating, it all is big piece of crap.

Do we play a home game against a Big 12 team again this year? Just checking.

Guess what? The refs at Oklahoma next week are likely AAC refs.

[PeteRasche]

There were some periods where we seemed to be going run-run-pass. Or just running Mahki into the line and getting nothing. But every time I was starting to complain about it, Mahki went THROUGH the line for a long gain... so I guess it was okay.

In general I was happy and had similar thoughts as the OP.

And people complained we didn't run at the end, but it's 20/20 hindsight. Nobody seems to acknowledge that THE PLAY WORKED other than us getting jobbed by the refs, or that if we'd run the ball they would have found some illegal procedure or false start or something.

I do wish we'd brought in TT a few random times to keep KSU on their toes. His one injury-forced appearance worked perfectly.

[DCGreenie]

There were some periods where we seemed to be going run-run-pass. Or just running Mahki into the line and getting nothing. But every time I was starting to complain about it, Mahki went THROUGH the line for a long gain... so I guess it was okay.

In general I was happy and had similar thoughts as the OP.

And people complained we didn't run at the end, but it's 20/20 hindsight. Nobody seems to acknowledge that THE PLAY WORKED other than us getting jobbed by the refs, or that if we'd run the ball they would have found some illegal procedure or false start or something.

I do wish we'd brought in TT a few random times to keep KSU on their toes. His one injury-forced appearance worked perfectly.

"I do wish we'd brought in TT a few random times to keep KSU on their toes. His one injury-forced appearance worked perfectly."
This. And I think we will see more of him next Sat.

[Marathon Wave]

When things aren't going how you would like, it's time to dig down and find something good, be optimistic. It's so easy to complain, isn't it? Real fans keep cheering. Looking up, not down. There were a couple of plays we question (as fans), but, as Pete said, the pass for TD worked! We played better last Sat than the week before. Looking for further improvement this Sat.

[WaveProf]

And people complained we didn't run at the end, but it's 20/20 hindsight. Nobody seems to acknowledge that THE PLAY WORKED other than us getting jobbed by the refs, or that if we'd run the ball they would have found some illegal procedure or false start or something.

Absolutely not hindsight, Everyone around me was discussing how it would be criminal if he threw the ball BEFORE the play. I don't care that it worked. You have equal (or higher) chances of a turnover with a pass, and a much higher chance of a penalty than a run up the middle. First down at the one, all three timeouts, even with a struggling line it would have been a gimmie unless we fumbled. No excuse to pass. Sure, it "worked", we also got the penalty that a pass risks.

[tulaneoutlaw]

And people complained we didn't run at the end, but it's 20/20 hindsight. Nobody seems to acknowledge that THE PLAY WORKED other than us getting jobbed by the refs, or that if we'd run the ball they would have found some illegal procedure or false start or something.

Absolutely not hindsight, Everyone around me was discussing how it would be criminal if he threw the ball BEFORE the play. I don't care that it worked. You have equal (or higher) chances of a turnover with a pass, and a much higher chance of a penalty than a run up the middle. First down at the one, all three timeouts, even with a struggling line it would have been a gimmie unless we fumbled. No excuse to pass. Sure, it "worked", we also got the penalty that a pass risks.

To this point, you can't tell me three straight qb sneaks doesn't score a td there. We also didn't qb sneak the 4th and 1 in the first quarter, which nobody is talking about but had we gotten that there's a fair chance we get at least a fg that drive. Weve got to be able to line up and get a tough yard on the ground and the most fool proof way to do that is to sneak it. Disappointing we didn't use it in those 2 situations as it very likely wins us the game.

[waverider]

247’s Matt Zenitz named OC Joe Craddock the Co-Coordinator of the week in the AAC with Army’s DC Nate Woody.

The 4th down play was with Clayton-Johnson. Hughes or Barnes have power. I thought at the time that we should have tried something on the edge because they kept crashing the middle.

Sumrall said that running was discussed on the goal line and they went with what they felt would work. Everyone around me assumed it would be a run. Maybe no faith in the OL?

[Baywave1]

As noted above, the call went against the grain and Tulane scored. We could have run instead, also scored and then had holding. If, if, if…

I am very impressed with Craddock after two games. But I think I can safely say no one in our fan base predicted Mensah would play like he has. If he keeps it up and stays healthy, we can still have a very fun season.

[WaveProf]

As noted above, the call went against the grain and Tulane scored. We could have run instead, also scored and then had holding. If, if, if…

When's the last time you saw a hold called on a QB sneak or a RB power dive?

Everyone around me assumed it would be a run. Maybe no faith in the OL?

And there's reason to have that lack of faith. But 1 and goal from the one and 3 time outs means they could fail 2-3 times and STILL get in.

[PeteRasche]

As noted above, the call went against the grain and Tulane scored. We could have run instead, also scored and then had holding. If, if, if…

When's the last time you saw a hold called on a QB sneak or a RB power dive?

I don't know about a hold, but I saw an opponent of Tulane cough it up on a goal line dive just last year. And I even saw my Bengals clinch a playoff win on a 99-yard scoop and score on a goal line QB sneak attempt. I'm guessing both of those teams' coaches thought "well this is a gimme if we just run it."

Everyone has an opinion but there's no way to know something would have worked. Let it go.

[Baywave1]

Pete, Funny you should mention it but about 60 years ago (1965??), the Wave hosted Vanderbilt in Tulane Stadium. game. Tulane is near goal line and sends RB up the middle for an apparent easy score.

Except ball bounces off his thigh at 1/2 yard line. Vandy DT catches fumble in the air and returns it 100 yards the other way for a TD.

No scoop and score for defense then. You had to “intercept” a fumble before it hit the ground to advance it

Close game and it was the decisive play. Not at game end but when you see the most conservative call possible poorly executed and it literally reverses the expected outcome, you don’t forget seeing it.

PS, I would have had Thompson run the Wildcat Saturday. I bet we see him against Oklahoma in the red zone like SELA game

[Bham Wave]

I have been very impressed with the OC. All those runs that don't get many yards have still been useful in setting up our deep balls. It seems like we have taken more shots down the field and connected than we did most of last season.

We have hit Bauman for big plays. We have used all three of our playmaking WR's. Hughes has been solid. Even Barnes got a TD out of the FB position which was a nice wrinkle.

We shall see what they mix up for Oklahoma. They have two solid DT's so we might see more jet sweeps and runs to the outside this week.

[WaveProf]

I have been very impressed with the OC. All those runs that don't get many yards have still been useful in setting up our deep balls. It seems like we have taken more shots down the field and connected than we did most of last season.

This I totally agree with

[PeteRasche]

I have been very impressed with the OC. All those runs that don't get many yards have still been useful in setting up our deep balls. It seems like we have taken more shots down the field and connected than we did most of last season.

We have hit Bauman for big plays. We have used all three of our playmaking WR's. Hughes has been solid. Even Barnes got a TD out of the FB position which was a nice wrinkle.

We shall see what they mix up for Oklahoma. They have two solid DT's so we might see more jet sweeps and runs to the outside this week.

Agree with all of this. Watching on TV, it's hard to tell whether the consistently open WRs are because we have crazy fast guys, or the play calls (probably both?)... though I also think that we're connecting on long passes more than in the past because (dare I say it?) Mensah is actually more accurate than Pratt.

[Baywave1]

Small sample of two games. I agree. If Mensah’s passing holds up over several seasons we could have a very special QB. That’s why stadium went deathly quiet at end of 3rd Qtr when Mensah was “injured” (cramps?) on the field.

[waverider]

I have been very impressed with the OC. All those runs that don't get many yards have still been useful in setting up our deep balls. It seems like we have taken more shots down the field and connected than we did most of last season.

We have hit Bauman for big plays. We have used all three of our playmaking WR's. Hughes has been solid. Even Barnes got a TD out of the FB position which was a nice wrinkle.

We shall see what they mix up for Oklahoma. They have two solid DT's so we might see more jet sweeps and runs to the outside this week.

Agree with all of this. Watching on TV, it's hard to tell whether the consistently open WRs are because we have crazy fast guys, or the play calls (probably both?)... though I also think that we're connecting on long passes more than in the past because (dare I say it?) Mensah is actually more accurate than Pratt.

Part of it is the play design, partly due to speed of WRs and a part due to Mensah not panicking and extending plays to allow guys to get open. The latter may have cost us the game, but I think we will see that improve with experience.

[nolasilver]

It will be very interesting to see if shazz Preston gets on the field when he’s back in the next few weeks. Many thought he was the most impressive wr we had before he was injured

[Marathon Wave]

I have been very impressed with the OC. All those runs that don't get many yards have still been useful in setting up our deep balls. It seems like we have taken more shots down the field and connected than we did most of last season.

We have hit Bauman for big plays. We have used all three of our playmaking WR's. Hughes has been solid. Even Barnes got a TD out of the FB position which was a nice wrinkle.

We shall see what they mix up for Oklahoma. They have two solid DT's so we might see more jet sweeps and runs to the outside this week.

Agree with all of this. Watching on TV, it's hard to tell whether the consistently open WRs are because we have crazy fast guys, or the play calls (probably both?)... though I also think that we're connecting on long passes more than in the past because (dare I say it?) Mensah is actually more accurate than Pratt.

I think more accurate and doesn't have nearly as many underthrown balls. Allows receivers to run after catch.