Short Yardage Situations

TheReal_jayD · December 27, 2018

I know we struggled this year on short yardage situations. After watching several bowl games this month I have noticed there is alot of teams that incorporate the wildcat formation when needing a yard or so. I would love for us to use this in 2019 and save Mason from running so much. The fact we have some speedsters that were former high school qbs in Darden and Hair Griffin. I would like to see what they could to in a wildcat type package. We did this Wilson a few times. So I know Graham and Seth can run it.

NYC Mean Green · December 27, 2018

Agreed.

UNTLifer · December 27, 2018

Great idea. Hadn't thought about Hair-Griffin and Darden running this.

Eagle71 · December 27, 2018

Agreed! It would be another nice wrinkle that the defense would have to be aware of.

"I want our offense to confuse and frustrate our opponent. If you can get a football player on the football field and have him not know for sure what he is supposed to be doing, then you have created a big advantage." Hank Stram, KC Chiefs

Marty · December 27, 2018

We did this several seasons ago with James Hamilton taking the snap and either handing off to Dunbar or keeping it. Even ran it with Brelan a few times as QB. I like it, just something else to confuse the defense.

NorthTexasWeLove · December 27, 2018

I like the idea at times, but not with those guys. I prefer a little more beef in that role so they can fall forward for that extra yardage.

RiseUNT · December 28, 2018

Vs UAB we ran what looked like the shotgun winged T lol. Mason flanked by 2 tight ends with the running back behind him. That was working until we had to get cute.

FirefightnRick · December 28, 2018

Wildcat. Sweep. Any kind of misdirection. QB power under center. Power I. Fullbacks...anything would be better than what we usually do.

Rick

meangreanmick · December 28, 2018

I’d like to see Austin Aune in a wildcat next year.

UNTLifer · December 28, 2018

1 hour ago, meangreanmick said:

I’d like to see Austin Aune in a wildcat next year.

Why Aune?

eulessismore · December 28, 2018

4 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

Why Aune?

Because he was a shortstop?

trud1966 · December 28, 2018

11 hours ago, FirefightnRick said:

Wildcat. Sweep. Any kind of misdirection. QB power under center. Power I. Fullbacks...anything would be better than what we usually do.

Rick

Agreed. This was maddening. We didn't have the line and our QB and RB, albeit very tough, they're small. So if we cant have power, lets at least build up some speed before jumping on the On-Ramp. I would scream SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!" on these plays, but nope, always up the gut into a brick wall, rarely punching through...

Aldo · December 28, 2018

Yes I too would prefer someone else to get hit behind the LOS

TheColonyEagle · December 28, 2018

12 hours ago, FirefightnRick said:

Any kind of misdirection.

Just SOME misdirection

97and03 · December 28, 2018

2 hours ago, TheColonyEagle said:

Just SOME misdirection

Honestly I feel like they tried plays that were too slow in developing. I wanted a quick handoff to the RB instead of first faking the jet sweep looking and running a delayed handoff. The LBs were usually already in the backfield by then. Maybe a direct snap to the RB would have been more effective.

Felozano · December 28, 2018

Easly take the direct snap with Kelvin as the blocking back?

greenminer · December 28, 2018

I remember when we had Brelan we would run him around a lot during pre-snap to setup plays around the end, or make it look like we were about to. Do we have anyone on our current roster with his speed?

97and03 · December 28, 2018

1 hour ago, greenminer said:

I remember when we had Brelan we would run him around a lot during pre-snap to setup plays around the end, or make it look like we were about to. Do we have anyone on our current roster with his speed?

Darden. Hair-Griffin.

We ran that play early in the season successfully with Rico.

FirefightnRick · December 29, 2018

8 hours ago, 97and03 said:

Honestly I feel like they tried plays that were too slow in developing. I wanted a quick handoff to the RB instead of first faking the jet sweep looking and running a delayed handoff. The LBs were usually already in the backfield by then. Maybe a direct snap to the RB would have been more effective.

I saw a team the other day, can’t remember if it was HS or college that huddles 3 yards from the LOS, then the center turns and gets over the ball. Suddenly....the other 10 players sprint into position and the QB under center takes the snap and went in all kinds of directions, running it, pitching it or throwing it. Half the time when the ball was snapped many of the the defensemen was still standing up or moving around trying to figure where in hell the ball was going.

It was very affective. Just something remotely close to this once in a while couldn’t hurt?l.

Rick

NorthTexasWeLove · December 29, 2018

22 minutes ago, FirefightnRick said:

I saw a team the other day, can’t remember if it was HS or college that huddles 3 yards from the LOS, then the center turns and gets over the ball. Suddenly....the other 10 players sprint into position and the QB under center takes the snap and went in all kinds of directions, running it, pitching it or throwing it. Half the time when the ball was snapped many of the the defensemen was still standing up or moving around trying to figure where in hell the ball was going.

It was very affective. Just something remotely close to this once in a while couldn’t hurt?l.

Rick

Auburn under Malzahn has been doing the huddle for years. They call it a muddle huddle.

We run too many power plays in these situations, almost exclusively. We can't do that. It's slow developing and leaves a hole unattended due to a pulling tkl or guard. The pulling lineman is also a huge key read for defenses. Also doesn't help we do it almost in all short yardage situations, so the D knows it's coming.

SilverEagle · December 29, 2018

Improving our short yardage game begins (or should begin) in a few weeks with our off season program. This is when our O-line gets bigger, stronger, and hopefully quicker. All the best mis-direction plays in the world are never going to work unless our O-line can get the jump on the guy in front of them. Or at the very least keep the defense out of the backfield while the play developes.

And the same applies to any back that is most likely to be the primary ball carrier in short yardage.