OT-Bret Bielema continues his fight against up-tempo offense
Our old pal continues to rail against up-tempo offenses, now framing it as a safety issue. It certainly isn't that these offenses are harder to defend and have made his team look bad the last few years.
My favorite quote from the article:
"We have an obligation to do what's right," he said. "I can't understand how some guys can't see that."
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If he really is concerned about player safety he should instruct his players to sit on the field and call for a trainer if they think they are hurt. Not really his fault if his defensive players get dinged on just about every down.
Doesn't a typical Beilema OL weigh approximately six thousand pounds? I wonder if he'd object to a weight limit for safety reasons.
Excellent point and upvote. What is worse, a few extra plays with players who weigh less (assuming that up tempo teams favor speed and lighter quicker players to sheer bulk) vs. playing against the type of lineman Bret uses in his offense.
Also, with a spread offense, you have more people in playing in space and IMO less contact/multiple people tackling one player and blocking per play vs. running between the tackles where it is more tight space wise and more contact.
I'm not sure what I think is better or worse, but it's hard not to see this as transparent politicking. It's like a congressman in Lobby A's pocket warning about Lobby B's corruption.
He might even be right, but his opinion lacks any credibility because it's so transparently self serving.
Another safety issue: taking more time gives the defense more time to get set and create more severe impacts on both opposing players and themselves.
I don't know if it's a safety issue but I do feel like the offense/defense balance has become skewed in favor of offenses in college football. I don't mind some rule changes to help defenses out.
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March 20th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
Hey Coach Wilson, how you doin'?
March 20th, 2015 at 12:59 PM ^
Hey Coach Wilson, how you doin'?
but I don't know exactly why everyone thinks it's so obvious that football shouldn't do something to limit how quickly a team can run a play, as if that's antithetical to the game.
Think about inbounding a basketball, or serving in tennis, or pitching a baseball, or taking a free kick in soccer. In most sports there's a moment where the ref/ump gives the OK before allowing play, and that OK is largely based on whether the other team is "ready" so to speak.
Of course you could say "well the other team should be ready at all times." That's one approach to a game. A different approach is to say "both sides should be given the opportunity to line up with the best strategic move they can come up with and we'll let the one who does that better win that play."
It's not uncommon in almost every other sport, yet people think it's some communist proposal as a way to play football.
March 18th, 2015 at 11:04 PM ^
That cat needs to learn to think "out of the box."
I think a 270 pound defensive end blindsiding a qb is more of a safety issue than highly conditioned athletes running a few extra plays a game at an uptempo pace. Shoiuld we change that too?
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I think that is something that needs to be banned from use with O-linemen. In the open field it's a little different like with RB blocking for a QB but on the line its awful.
Cut blocks need to go.
And allowing linemen to run 3 yards downfield without being flagged is b.s. too.
Perfect images! I am SO thankful every day now that we have Coach Harbaugh instead of someone like this.
Godspeed, Bert.
Continue fighting the good fight.
There are a number of real issues in regards to safety but up tempo offenses isn't one. I would say the length of the season is more of a threat than no huddle, up tempo schemes with both Ohio State and Oregon playing 15 games.
As mentioned before, what about his scheme using massive linemen? How about sending your starting RB into the teeth of a defense 20 times per game, taking hits everytime? If he gets concerned about his players safety then use a time out. You get 6 per game Bret, use them.
Adapt or die.
is an assclown. If you don't like an up-tempo offense, STFU and don't run one.
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March 19th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^
You probably shouldn't be in the football business. It's a dangerous business. Perhaps the up-tempo O is dangerous to your career?
March 19th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^
So much fail....just so much fail.
Read a book.
http://youtu.be/zN0QTBws0t8
When you're wrong, you're wrong. The game is not less physical than it was, if anything the athletes just keep getting better so "I'm going to outmuscle you not outsmart you" doesn't work anymore.
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And for equal substitutions, its all within the rules. Keep in mind that its also within the rules to have a defensive player lay down with cramps on any or all plays as long as he sits out one play. Thats what a Saban, Bielema or any coach in a big game vs. a tempo team should do.
As far as NFL playing "manball" vs. CFB. Thats due to the placement of the hash marks as much as anything. In the NFL a defense can line up symmetrically and does not need to tip their hand in reponse to the offensive formation due to the long side of the field.