McPhersonsJaw said:
10-year lurker here. Literally created an account to reply to this drivel. Klein is not, and has not, been the problem. Tell me you aren't a real football guy without telling me. Some of you old heads have this idea that unless this offense is bombing it 50yds every play, it's a failure. Klein has done the absolute BEST job he could have with what we've got and all that has occurred. How you can watch this defense and not immediately know it's the issue is beyond me. Stop with the sensationalism and throwin **** at the wall until it sticks.
First welcome to the thread….
Second, Again, I agree with everyone here there is plenty to blame on the defense but Elko is a defensive guy and he has a track record of good defensive teams, will he fix it, I hope so…and yes in this game they were terrible to start and we were exposed like we have been in several games….so when I say Klein has to go it does not excuse the defense. Start another thread if you want to talk about defense and I'll go over and agree with you on it.
Third on Klein, this is not a one game knee jerk reaction…if you watch his play calling it is very, very predictable and he fails to take advantage of what he has on the field. Could we do better with a couple of our starters back, sure we could, but he has dynamic athletes on the field and up to now hasn't taken advantage of them.
Marcel can run, and he continues to drop him straight back, and have him hold the ball, no rolls, very few RPO's or even read options since we played LSU. The kid is a great runner, use it.
I give tons of credit to the kids on the field in this particular game, because we executed a lot of 3rd and longs because of terrible 1st and 2nd down calls. Without those plays we really would have been blown out and the point I'm
making would have been way more obvious. Yes the short side option call has to be the worse single call this year, but it's not just that call.
Beyond this game, he did terrible with Conner, who has talent. Now Reed is in who shocked the world against LSU with his legs, remember only 2 passes, and since it's like we forgot he can run.
We don't do anything to create match ups that are in our favor and we rarely run anything that has the defense making multiple decisions to create blown coverages. IE, clear out routes, crossing, or overload type sets that forces the defense into bad decisions.
We also rarely run quick slant type routes, which are great for a young QB to get the ball out of his hands and an easy route to win. We ran one good one against Auburn and it went for a touchdown, a couple others that were open and reed overthrew but never went back to it after the score.
Our typical offense order of plays:
1st and 10, drop reed back 5 or 7 steps, incompletion.
2nd down, 95% of the time inside run, counter or something like it, usually gets 3-4 yards. Not a bad play, but still sets up obvious pass play.
3rd down, drop back, rush is on, some pressure, squeezes in a 6 or 7 yard curl, off balance because of pressure, has to rush it a bit and throws it too hard.
About half the time we make that catch, then repeat.
We finally are starting to use our Tight ends, but that took 6 or 7 games, and finally starting to incorporate more touches for Bussey again why did that take so long?
I believe Elko took a flier on Klein to try and catch an up and comer and I don't disagree with that strategy, but is hasn't worked. No creativity, nothing unique, nothing that shows me we are out calling the teams on the other side of the field. Miz. was the only game where I thought our plan was better, LSU was a curve ball with Reed that they weren't prepared for. Our easy SEC schedule has given us some false hope that the offense is decent, the players are but the scheme is not. The bigger the situation, the worse the call is.
So to sum up, defense yes bad…Klein way to predictable and not taking advantage of what he has. Believe me I'm cheering for him, I hope he calls the game of his life this week and if he does I'll be back on this thread to praise him.
Not at all sensationalism but observation from all games this year.