campies
Senior
I think an interesting battle in the game will be Texas' execution of the zone read offense against the Buckeye's newer defense. As much as people are probably underestimating the Buck's LB's and secondary for being "new," I think people are feeling the same way about the zone read option for Texas sans Vince Young. However, our new QB's, young as they are, are both exceptional, multi-sport athletes who ran shotgun spread/option offenses in high school, and should not hesitate to tuck it when some green opens up. They may not be elite athletes like Vince, but who is? The point is they don't have to be to be effective.
When Vince ran the zone read, it was like lamb and tuna fish; a perfect match. Ok, bad example. Aside from Vince as the Big Daddy, though, I believe the zone read can be a devestating offense with an athletic quarterback for multiple reasons. Vince was tailor made to run it, but his skill set obviously emphasized the running game part of it. With a more pass friendly QB ( I know Vince led the nation in pass efficency and has a great arm, quick release, etc, but there are plenty other factors of the offense that contributed to that, and his mechanics/production over a 3 year career obviously didn't suggest a pass-first type player) there are so many different sets and routes that can burn a defense, provided the QB is mobile enough to consistenly avoid the rush and make things happen on the ground if need be. In many ways, a pass-first version of it could be even more effective than what we saw from us last year, because it offers so many more options. The run-first mentality is more lamen but conservative and devestating if its working, which it obviously did. No reason to work harder than necessary if you're already ahead of the class. I'm not saying this offense will be anywhere near its potential with these guys after all of 1 career games, but I am saying I dont think we've seen the best of this offensive set, especially with skill guys like Texas, and you shouldn't be suprised if they are able to execute some things that suprise you with a side of the zone read that not a lot of people expected.
The fact that makes it so dangerous is, with a mobile QB, it puts soooo much pressure on a defense to account for not only multiple plays, but from multiple attacks. In one play, you've got to seriously consider that the offense will be able to move the ball individually through either the QB, RB, or recievers. Draws, traps, counters, option attacks, all are available on the ground as part of the RB, quick pass dumps, slants, pump and go's, and draws from the QB sans handoff, then the all incompassing play-action which really sends caution to the wind with roll-outs, dump offs, crossing patterns, every other spread pass attack, etc. It all seems simple in theory to defend: Oh, he either hands it off or he doesn't, thats easy enough, but thats not where the story ends. The offense basically gets to call and stet up a formation audible in the split second it takes to put the ball in the belly of the running back and then pull it out. Thats why I think you'll see more of this offense expand in complexity and scope on the college and NFL level as the athletes become available and coaches see the benefits it provides, devert from the norm and perfect its nuances. However, aside from my long-term theory, which is neither here nor there, the game on Sept 9th should be fun. :)
When Vince ran the zone read, it was like lamb and tuna fish; a perfect match. Ok, bad example. Aside from Vince as the Big Daddy, though, I believe the zone read can be a devestating offense with an athletic quarterback for multiple reasons. Vince was tailor made to run it, but his skill set obviously emphasized the running game part of it. With a more pass friendly QB ( I know Vince led the nation in pass efficency and has a great arm, quick release, etc, but there are plenty other factors of the offense that contributed to that, and his mechanics/production over a 3 year career obviously didn't suggest a pass-first type player) there are so many different sets and routes that can burn a defense, provided the QB is mobile enough to consistenly avoid the rush and make things happen on the ground if need be. In many ways, a pass-first version of it could be even more effective than what we saw from us last year, because it offers so many more options. The run-first mentality is more lamen but conservative and devestating if its working, which it obviously did. No reason to work harder than necessary if you're already ahead of the class. I'm not saying this offense will be anywhere near its potential with these guys after all of 1 career games, but I am saying I dont think we've seen the best of this offensive set, especially with skill guys like Texas, and you shouldn't be suprised if they are able to execute some things that suprise you with a side of the zone read that not a lot of people expected.
The fact that makes it so dangerous is, with a mobile QB, it puts soooo much pressure on a defense to account for not only multiple plays, but from multiple attacks. In one play, you've got to seriously consider that the offense will be able to move the ball individually through either the QB, RB, or recievers. Draws, traps, counters, option attacks, all are available on the ground as part of the RB, quick pass dumps, slants, pump and go's, and draws from the QB sans handoff, then the all incompassing play-action which really sends caution to the wind with roll-outs, dump offs, crossing patterns, every other spread pass attack, etc. It all seems simple in theory to defend: Oh, he either hands it off or he doesn't, thats easy enough, but thats not where the story ends. The offense basically gets to call and stet up a formation audible in the split second it takes to put the ball in the belly of the running back and then pull it out. Thats why I think you'll see more of this offense expand in complexity and scope on the college and NFL level as the athletes become available and coaches see the benefits it provides, devert from the norm and perfect its nuances. However, aside from my long-term theory, which is neither here nor there, the game on Sept 9th should be fun. :)
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