Welcome to the week 8 breakdown of the 2014 Fightin' Texas Aggie offense.
For those that are reading my breakdown for the first time, here are the threads from the first seven weeks:
Week 1: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2518225/
Week 2: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2523533/
Week 3: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2527229/
Week 4: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2529841/
Week 5: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2534806/
Week 6: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2539391/
Week 7: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2543462/
I'll make this short and sweet. We were terrible. 2 for 13 on third down is awful. The run/pass ratio was completely lopsided. We gained a total of 8 first downs all game, which is 8 less than our second lowest total
of the season (in the game against Arkansas). That's 30 less first downs than our season opener! When we did run we were stuffed. The offense has been figured out and we don't have the benefit of a true dual threat quarterback so defensive linemen don't have to worry about maintaining pass rush lanes. Defenses now play "who can get to the quarterback first?" against our offensive line who by the way has completely fallen apart. Our tight end can't seem to block either. I'm starting to get worried about the lack of development amongst the offensive line. They've regressed a ton since the beginning of the season. That's all I have to say about that.
I also thought we were supposed to see changes this week? I didn't see any changes amongst the
offensive line. And I know people want competition amongst the wide receivers to see who has the heart/willpower to block, but I don't see any major changes in that area. The guys who aren't starting aren't any better at blocking than the starters so I don't have much hope that will improve.
Data from Week 6
Next we will look at the various personnel packages the Aggies ran out against Alabama.
Here's a brief description of the 7 formations we ran on Saturday.
Personnel Group Descriptions
Personnel Groups
We called a whopping 4 run plays in the first half. Our longest run of the game was from Brandon Williams, which went for 9 yards.
We ran a new formation this week. We sent our 5 wide receivers and had 4 bunched together in a diamond formation on one side of the field. It went astonishingly bad. We ran a wide receiver screen to Malcome and of course the other 3 wide receivers all decided to block the same guy so Malcome was tackled for a loss. There were two incompletions and a Kenny Hill 4-yard scramble to net 1 yard off those 4 plays.
Targets
Kennedy resumed his status as the top target again. Also of note, neither Cam Clear nor Ricky Seals-Jones saw a target, let alone catch a pass. Ugly.
Season Total Targets
Red Zone Targets / Touches
Well, we ran one play in the red zone all game, and it was Kenny's interception intended for Tra over the middle. Hell of a play by the Alabama defensive linemen.
Season Total Red Zone Targets /Touches
X's & O's Breakdown
Do you really want me to break down THAT film? Luckily the full game film hasn't been posted to YouTube. I've only found Alabama highlight reels showing our defense get torn apart. Consider yourself lucky if you've only seen the footage once.
Let's put it this way: It got so bad for us, in the 4th quarter I saw Ogbuehi throw his hands in the air during the middle of the play because he was so fed up. He actually stopped blocking his man while Kyle was running for his life to show his frustration.
I don't have much to add on top of what the other members of the zoo are saying. I don't buy the notion that Kenny is the main problem or that his teammates don't like him but I think his confidence is rattled. I think we have massive issues on the offensive line and that is causing all the other facets of our offensive to look terrible. These SEC defensive front sevens are mauling us and we can't do anything to stop them. Our wide receivers are also not blocking well at all, which is why all the wide receiver screens are getting nowhere. I can't put much blame on the running backs because they don't get enough opportunities to make a play.
I don't have any predictions as to what changes will be made after the bye week. Our next game is against a patsy and hopefully a win will help our confidence. That confidence will be much needed because the week after that we face another top 5 team in Auburn.
For those that are reading my breakdown for the first time, here are the threads from the first seven weeks:
Week 1: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2518225/
Week 2: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2523533/
Week 3: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2527229/
Week 4: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2529841/
Week 5: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2534806/
Week 6: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2539391/
Week 7: http://texags.com/forums/5/topics/2543462/
I'll make this short and sweet. We were terrible. 2 for 13 on third down is awful. The run/pass ratio was completely lopsided. We gained a total of 8 first downs all game, which is 8 less than our second lowest total
of the season (in the game against Arkansas). That's 30 less first downs than our season opener! When we did run we were stuffed. The offense has been figured out and we don't have the benefit of a true dual threat quarterback so defensive linemen don't have to worry about maintaining pass rush lanes. Defenses now play "who can get to the quarterback first?" against our offensive line who by the way has completely fallen apart. Our tight end can't seem to block either. I'm starting to get worried about the lack of development amongst the offensive line. They've regressed a ton since the beginning of the season. That's all I have to say about that.
I also thought we were supposed to see changes this week? I didn't see any changes amongst the
offensive line. And I know people want competition amongst the wide receivers to see who has the heart/willpower to block, but I don't see any major changes in that area. The guys who aren't starting aren't any better at blocking than the starters so I don't have much hope that will improve.
Data from Week 6
Next we will look at the various personnel packages the Aggies ran out against Alabama.
Here's a brief description of the 7 formations we ran on Saturday.
Personnel Group Descriptions
Personnel Groups
We called a whopping 4 run plays in the first half. Our longest run of the game was from Brandon Williams, which went for 9 yards.
We ran a new formation this week. We sent our 5 wide receivers and had 4 bunched together in a diamond formation on one side of the field. It went astonishingly bad. We ran a wide receiver screen to Malcome and of course the other 3 wide receivers all decided to block the same guy so Malcome was tackled for a loss. There were two incompletions and a Kenny Hill 4-yard scramble to net 1 yard off those 4 plays.
Targets
Kennedy resumed his status as the top target again. Also of note, neither Cam Clear nor Ricky Seals-Jones saw a target, let alone catch a pass. Ugly.
Season Total Targets
Red Zone Targets / Touches
Well, we ran one play in the red zone all game, and it was Kenny's interception intended for Tra over the middle. Hell of a play by the Alabama defensive linemen.
Season Total Red Zone Targets /Touches
X's & O's Breakdown
Do you really want me to break down THAT film? Luckily the full game film hasn't been posted to YouTube. I've only found Alabama highlight reels showing our defense get torn apart. Consider yourself lucky if you've only seen the footage once.
Let's put it this way: It got so bad for us, in the 4th quarter I saw Ogbuehi throw his hands in the air during the middle of the play because he was so fed up. He actually stopped blocking his man while Kyle was running for his life to show his frustration.
I don't have much to add on top of what the other members of the zoo are saying. I don't buy the notion that Kenny is the main problem or that his teammates don't like him but I think his confidence is rattled. I think we have massive issues on the offensive line and that is causing all the other facets of our offensive to look terrible. These SEC defensive front sevens are mauling us and we can't do anything to stop them. Our wide receivers are also not blocking well at all, which is why all the wide receiver screens are getting nowhere. I can't put much blame on the running backs because they don't get enough opportunities to make a play.
I don't have any predictions as to what changes will be made after the bye week. Our next game is against a patsy and hopefully a win will help our confidence. That confidence will be much needed because the week after that we face another top 5 team in Auburn.