What’s wrong with the offense?

acoustimac

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2009
9,243
10,831
113
Lamoni, IA
Been a lot of comments about the offensive play calling. Three critical play calls that concerned me. 1. 4th and 2 and we try a difficult pass in the flat instead going stacked I or qb sneak or doing something with options. 2. After the false start on the goal line. We have 3rd and goal with about 7 to go. A QB keeper to the outside with minimal blocking? 3. Two point conversion...what was that mess of a call? All three critical moments and those hurt.
 

stewart092284

Well-Known Member
Sep 22, 2021
2,452
2,300
113
40
Hey y'all... just thought I"d chime in but probably won't be back much but wanted to do my two cents.


A) The passing attack is not what some think it is. Coming into today we were 77th in completion percentage, 48th in passing effeciency and 48th in passing offense and bottom half in interceptions thrown.

B) We were actually 37th nationally in rushing offense. That surprised me, to be honest.

C) We miss Dylan Barrett. He was rough versus Houston, or was it Baylor? But then snapped back and its clear we missed him (and of course Brahmer)

D) We are not great on offensively. We're just not. This is not a team that can air raid when you throw it to 2 guys 90% of the time. Yes, they're great. But the targets and receptions are just so insanely skewed, I think ironically today might have been one of the better days in terms of distribution and number of catches.

E) I'll trust the coaches but watching him play, I just don't see why James Neal is thought so highly of. I thought Buhr actually played really really well. And that's not totally a knock on Neal, it's hard moving from guard to tackle than to guard, etc.

F) We're entirely too predictable. Okay, we go heavy personnel, bring Hansen in (Is he still hurt? Cause I"m wondering why in a half where he averaged I think almost 6 yards a carry and had a reception for 8 yards, he only touched the ball 5 times in the 1st half).

But my point was, we go heavy after the false start. Then go Play action pass. Run the option to the short sideline or wide side. Don't go heavy then run straight ahead. I don't mind going heavy. The problem is being so predictable in what you're doing afterwards.

We don't move the pocket much if at all, there's not many half rolls or full rolls. We don't do a ton of screens (middle or TE screens, etc). I seem to remember a few to Kolar back in the day.

We have some neat wrinkles, we have some good players - but we just are predictable and essentially reliant on two guys in the passing game.

Which is why you can pressure the QB. If you know he's going to focus on them, and most your plays are designed for then, I'm going to come in, blitz you, twist, and get pressure up front before those guys get open. That's where that TE, or slot receiver like Akers, can have a huge impact. Or Eli Green, whose had flashes, or Brown. Someone. Because now its harder to blitz when you have to worry about 3, 4 guys rather than essentially 2. Even when Brahmer's played, he's never really been super involved from a pass catching standpoint.

And I get it. Higgins and Noel are great. But as the season wears on, you've gotta be able to find someone else to step up and catch the ball more. Or at least target. Fumble aside which obviously was huge, I thought Burkle's game and Moore's catch were huge because we were getting them involved more. I take that as a positive. Its kinda like running or throwing to open the other aspect. Target Eli Green or Alston a few times a game more, whomever, I don't care, and Higgins and Noel will have an easier time getting open and separation.




But basically it comes down to we're too predictable. When we pass, when we run and out of what formation. And the fact that everyone knows we're basically targeting only 2 players, and that 90+% of our drop backs or essentially straight drop backs -

if you've ever played or coached OL - you know how hard that is to try to block. Defensive coordinators are going to have a field day with twists and games and blitzes if you have a stationary pocket with a straight drop and essentially, 2 targets or a majority of the time, two targets.

Still plenty to play for.

But the offense is what it's been all season. Inconsistent. Which to some degree should be expected with a new, young OC and a still young QB and a relatively young RB room, etc. But that's why I just don't get the idea I hear some people say that this offense is elite. It hasn't been. There's no metric other than the fact we can hit a big play a couple times a game to suggest we're anywhere close to top 25.

We were 37th in rushing, 48th in passing coming into today. That's what, 43rd ish? Very solid, very respectable. But not elite.


Anyways, hopefully we can beat Kansas next week, get Cincy at home... still have an outside shot at the league but honestly, if you told me we'd win 9-10 regular season games, playoffs / Big 12 title or not, I'd take that every year. Disappointing day but honestly, not incredibly surprising


Hope y'all are doing well and take care
 
Last edited:

jctisu

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2017
8,726
10,674
113
Been a lot of comments about the offensive play calling. Three critical play calls that concerned me. 1. 4th and 2 and we try a difficult pass in the flat instead going stacked I or qb sneak or doing something with options. 2. After the false start on the goal line. We have 3rd and goal with about 7 to go. A QB keeper to the outside with minimal blocking? 3. Two point conversion...what was that mess of a call? All three critical moments and those hurt.
The two point conversion was there, but Rocco missed it. Had he thrown that right away that was a simple conversion. Even on the run though if he just delivers the throw it was open.
 
Last edited:
  • Agree
Reactions: cayin and OKClones

acoustimac

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2009
9,243
10,831
113
Lamoni, IA
Tech gives up 30 a game, and we made them look all world today. Their secondary can’t cover anyone, but I don’t think we even tried to attack them downfield once today. Instead we lined up Klotz and Moore and tried to run right at the 7 guys they put in the box. Not to mention it’s game 8 and we’re still rotating running backs as if Hansen clearly isn’t the best guy on the field. Today was a complete and utter failure by the entire coaching staff.
We’ve been exposed. Our line can’t pick up blitzes and TTU did a great job of sending people at our QB. He barely got some passes off and was running for his life all night.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ttuadvisor

AllInForISU

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2012
4,622
4,930
113
Been a lot of comments about the offensive play calling. Three critical play calls that concerned me. 1. 4th and 2 and we try a difficult pass in the flat instead going stacked I or qb sneak or doing something with options. 2. After the false start on the goal line. We have 3rd and goal with about 7 to go. A QB keeper to the outside with minimal blocking? 3. Two point conversion...what was that mess of a call? All three critical moments and those hurt.

I would much prefer the Maryland I than the Ngoyi/3 TE formation. I don’t know if that has been stopped in short yardage all year, but they stopped running it. Is someone who is a major key in that formation injured?
 
  • Like
Reactions: acoustimac

Tpups21

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
1,779
2,432
113
44
West Des Moines, IA
It’s obvious it’s the play calling. We have good backs, good recievers, good quarterback. That 3rd and ten where Rocco just took off running should get a coach fired. So many questionable play calls today. Can’t we go find a coordinator? I mean we are a power 5 team.
Still can't believe Rocco took off running on third down. That was inexplicable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: exCYtable

jctisu

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2017
8,726
10,674
113
We’ve been exposed. Our line can’t pick up blitzes and TTU did a great job of sending people at our QB. He barely got some passes off and was running for his life all night.
The thing is a smart coaching staff (and we will see) should use this as advantage now. Much like how Heacock is a master at adjustments once he sees what you want to do, we need to do the same on offense. Blitzing leaves pockets to exploit, so now we know our weakness based on the last two games. You should be able to check down the hell out of teams. It was there all day today and we refused to do it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: acoustimac

AllInForISU

Well-Known Member
Nov 24, 2012
4,622
4,930
113
Still can't believe Rocco took off running on third down. That was inexplicable.

That was the play call. That’s how the line was blocking. Not sure if you intended to put that as being a mistake on Rocco, but that’s on Mouser
 

acoustimac

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2009
9,243
10,831
113
Lamoni, IA
We are into the toughest part of our schedule. I made a bet with my best friend as he was telling the dream (by going 4-0 the rest of the way) was still out there…I said it was much more likely this team doesn’t win again versus winning them all. Especially if they don’t fix the train wreck we have on offense. What I think will likely happen is we go 2-2…if we get lucky. I hope I eat those words, but this offense has been an inconsistent mess all season.
 

jctisu

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2017
8,726
10,674
113
We are into the toughest part of our schedule. I made a bet with my best friend as he was telling the dream (by going 4-0 the rest of the way) was still out there…I said it was much more likely this team doesn’t win again versus winning them all. Especially if they don’t fix the train wreck we have on offense. What I think will likely happen is we go 2-2…if we get lucky. I hope I eat those words, but this offense has been an inconsistent mess all season.
I still think we win the rest of them or at worst 3-1. But next week will determine it. If the last two games weren’t a wake up call then we are in trouble. And KU is dangerous.
 

ClonerJams

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 26, 2022
7,132
16,154
113
What is Campbell’s record after bye weeks?
mad-men-gif-not-great-bob.gif
 

ISU_Guy

Well-Known Member
Jul 21, 2021
5,107
4,093
113
47
Des Moines
We are into the toughest part of our schedule. I made a bet with my best friend as he was telling the dream (by going 4-0 the rest of the way) was still out there…I said it was much more likely this team doesn’t win again versus winning them all. Especially if they don’t fix the train wreck we have on offense. What I think will likely happen is we go 2-2…if we get lucky. I hope I eat those words, but this offense has been an inconsistent mess all season.
I think we are going to end 9-3

Lose to Ku and utah
 

ghyland7

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 8, 2012
873
2,300
93
Outside of the 3rd down QB draw to set up a 50 yarder, I didn't think the playcalling was all that bad.

Execution was horrendous. How many times did we get an ineligible downfield to negate a nice 15 yard gain? That's not a playcalling issue, that's an execution issue.

Mouser didn't fumble in the redzone.

Mouser didn't false start at the 1 yard line (and then get stonewalled on running plays that we have had success with in the past).

My only criticisms of the playcalling were the 3rd down QB draw (makes zero sense to "set up" a 50 yard field goal into the wind) and I feel like they don't really go with the "hot hand" with running backs; seems like once a guy makes a good play, they pull him out.

We gained 450 yards despite our o-line having a pretty bad game. Drops, turnovers, and penalties killed us. Mouser didn't call for those things to happen.