Going back and charting snaps, this is where my focus ended up being - redzone struggles that cost this team The Game.
I can boil down those struggles in a few different categories.
- Play calling
- Individual OL Defeats
- Lack of execution by QB1
- Special teams misses.
As an aside, Wink Martindale is a scum fuck, but he's a solid coach. I say that because a lot of what he called in the first half on 3rd downs was him going back and meticulously picking apart, stealing and calling similar coverage rotations from the Penn State that hurt Howard early.
In order. Play calling.
The grab bag, hodge podge strings of plays that lacked cohesion and consistency when we got inside the 25 yard line. No use of the HB lead QB running game, particularly against coverage shells that bluffed and rotated into favorable box count situations for the Bucks post snap. Biggest being the QB draw. It was there, we just didn't even try to show TTUN that it was in the bag.
No use of tunnel screens and pre-snap receiver motions that out leveraged scUMs zone and match coverages off RPO or ball action. Something Oregon exploited early and often. Lack of concepts that didn't properly stress and conflict overhang defenders or force corners to come up and tackle on the perimeter. We run some form of Smash at a rate I've never seen before. The speed options that worked early were abandoned entirely in the second half.
Here's the thing, and speaking a bit in generalities. A vertical running games helps to setup a horizontal passing game. Vice versa, a horizontal running game helps to setup a vertical passing game. Part of the reason passing lanes started being choked off is because the offensive coaches felt they could line up and slam the ball into the defensive interior and that would be enough. It wasn't, and scUM out patience'd their gameplan. If we wanted to see more of the quick passing game from the offense that stressed the defense east-west, I needed more from the running game north-south. Not much, mind you. But those inside zone and split zone runs Oregon hit for 3-4 yards a few times off motion in the first half to stay *just* ahead of the chains was all they needed. They found something in the second half with the trap, crunch and wham runs just to give the scUM DL something to think about and slow their upfield push. Strangely enough, the pulls were working. Why we continued to go away from the power read game is.... confusing to me?
Route combination/selection was "MEH" at best. I counted one double move and we ran it on 3rd and 2 despite that when TTUN would rotate into their 5 under looks, the corners were aggressive to first breaks and the safeties late to cover dead/grey zones. The lack of anticipation and timing on when to call strikes makes me just stare into a wall at times.
I see comments and questions on why the Bucks didn't stay a bit more up-tempo and sling the rock a little. I have theories, including Day's near every-down breath holding watching Howard's decision making. But I also noticed that scUM didn't have time to call their 3rd down coverage rotations that would confuse him and his reads. So the bulk of what they spent in their 2 minute drill was pretty vanilla. They also struggled with communications at times. So while it's rather overly simplified, it's actually a pretty accurate critique. The Bucks could have and should have used more no-huddle, the coaches focused a better, *faster* play calling rhythm, and used that to their advantage. Tempo is something you can control, either sped up or slowed down at any point.
The OL.
Spotty, at best. Routinely couldn't win on zone steps, couldn't fire off nasty and win on gap blocks consistently. This helped let scUM put Josiah Stewart at the 7-9th and not punish using such a small(er) defender so far out wide. Some of what I saw had little to do the line being jumbled and more with execution, losing your head, poor fundamentals and not finishing your blocks. Leaning into blocks, eyes down beyond your base? Unreal. Pass pro in straight drops continues to be a problem. But they pull well enough, which is odd. Actual quality footwork in that department.
Lack of execution from QB1
As much responsibility for this loss Day is taking, and rightfully so, Howards lack of execution on those first few drives might be the most dooming part of this game. That's ignoring the inexcusable late INT he threw in the 3rd quarter. I've been diplomatic about it because I'm from an older version of BP where being critical is.... frowned upon. However this is the NIL era now. So if you're going to accept money to play this game, you accept with that both the potential of praise and ignominy in your play.
His slow(er) eyes, decision making and ball placement have been concern #1 from me since week 1. The first 3rd and 5 in the redzone, on the pass to Double E. When his backfoot hits at his drop, there's a split down the center of 5 over 2 to the boundary (short side) of the field with Tate wide open to the field breaking back inside. That's a 1st down and possibly a TD if Tate slips just one tackle, this is where I go back to reference the scUM DB's struggling on the perimeter. You absolutely HAVE to capitalize on those early looks, because they're gifts.
The INT to start the 2nd quarter. Again, locking into throws. Even if you read quarters, you're spinning the ball at a flat footed corner, showing outside shade, and the ball ends up then low and inside. This is a loss both pre and post snap, not only the read but the throw itself.
Finally the 3rd and 7 with 7ish minutes to go. Howard locking into throws presnap and checks into the corner the whole way on a SMASH design. A concept he's throw TD's and quite a few INT's on, I swear. He was bluffed by the boundary safety sitting low then bailing. Had he understood this rotation, he could have calmly stepped out and found Hendo right over the middle on a check release, replacing the middle linebacker and converting the 3rd down. Hell, he could have taken Gee on the hitch and leverage. Yes, I'm aware there is no guarantee that Bucks punch it in on these. But you have to consistently put your offense in position to convert when given the chance. Will has been 50/50 all season at his best this season. His weakness, similar to the OL, are straight drops; When a QB's eyes, mind and arm are tested the most.
- Special team misses.
Nothing more needs to be said. This is a squad that went from Tress having Nuuuuuuge, Josh Huston and Devin Barclay. Each got better season after season. Fielding regressed this year. Worse, he took a step back from 30-40 yards, which is about the most crucial category of kicking distance. I couldn't quite tell if that 2nd kick was tipped a little, but the line was blown up pretty decent. Another theme, special teams being a distant third focus under the Day Coaching staff.... and it shows (Georgia says "Hi")
Honorable mentions.
- The lack of blocking from the WR's at times. They love to catch and be flashy, but they don't end up doing a lot of the dirty work necessary to really expand this running game. Hendo left yards on the field because of a lack of effort on our perimeter
I won't say a word about the defense. Downs and Sawyer handed you two opportunities to go win this game late, one with great field position. You came away empty handed. I'm not saying Knowles is the end-all-be-all, but his group gave their all and were well prepared despite being put in bad positions all day and asked to continuously play Superman.
Problem is, I don't see this offense improving much, if at all, should they draw a so-so matchup in playoff season. The blueprints are there for both the personnel and coaching staff. And to quote Frank Lucas from American Gangster- "You are what you are in this World".
