Question about the new offense
Hello MGoCommunity:
Does anyone know how much Al Borges used the screen pass at San Diego State? As I watch the films from the Lloyd Carr years on MGoVideo, I find that not only did we waggle all day, we used the screen pass to great effect. Given Denard's unique skill set, using more screens could help buy him more time to throw deep down the field. Does anyone have any insight on this?
August 25th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
Can you imagine if Denard rolled out and faked a run only to throw it back to gallon or shaw? With blockers. Epic.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
Mendenhall out of the backfield on that curl when the entire defense bit on Sheelhase? We actually ran a similar play last year in OT of the Illinois game. I think Borges will have way more up his sleeve than most people give him credit for...
August 25th, 2011 at 8:07 PM ^
I think that was Leshoure last year that you are thinking about. We were fooled multiple times by that play.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
You're totally right.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
What is making people think that Borges will be running a super exciting offense that is filled with trickery? Just curious if this is his background or just what people here are hoping will happen?
August 25th, 2011 at 8:46 PM ^
1, SDSU's offense last year was very exciting.
2. Youtube "1998 UCLA football."
August 25th, 2011 at 9:08 PM ^
Or "Auburn 2004". The guy has called plays for a number of really great offenses. Combine that with the most exciting player in college football and there is a reason why people expect big things from the offense.
And yeah, he throws to the backs a lot.
August 25th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^
When Borges was hired, I didn't get the angst amongst so many on this board. If people had actually taken the time to find out a little background on our OC before running into a tizzy, they would realize that not only has Borges been at the helm on some of the top offenses the past 10-15 years, but also some ofthe most exciting. This guy is no "run left" three yards an a cloud of dust version of Debord. He loves to (1) air it out all over the field, (2) his backs as receivers, (3) throw screens as a means of keeping defenses honest, and (4) deploy a wide array of offensive formations, including 2 TE formations, power I featuring a fb, shotgun, spread and al sorts of other formations to keep defenses guessing. At least now MSU will not be able to say for two straight years that they knew what we were goof to run and we do exactly as expected.
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<br>For those who just said "aaagh, no more spread and shred" you will be very pleasantly surprises. This guy is as good of a hire as mattison.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Yes, it is known as the wheel route...we no cover it.
They ran it twice to Leshoure for wide open TDs and once to the TE for a 20 yd gain.
We responded by running it to Smith in OT. Gained about 20 yards I beleive.
Hopefully we're running it in practice so that the offense can use it and the defense can learn how to defend it.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:13 PM ^
is vanilla in his play calling against wmu. Be sick to see him deploy some tricks against the irish.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
I also hope for a lot of vanilla against WMU. The best outcome would be that we, and therefore ND, still have absolutely no idea of what the offense is really going to look like.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:17 PM ^
August 25th, 2011 at 8:27 PM ^
August 26th, 2011 at 12:48 AM ^
It's the Transcontinental.
We never ran it under RR - though MSU actually ran it against us a couple years ago, which was irritating.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:29 PM ^
Navarre is still running untouched in the endzone as his blockers run faster than him.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
That play in the Minnesota game is still one of the balsiest calls I have ever seen.
Was that Debord? If it was, it only makes sense that we were down big before going to something like that.
Was it Breaston who threw the pass?
August 25th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
Pretty sure it was Terry Malone calling the plays in 2003. Debord was cratering CMU's program that year.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
It was Terry Malone, but DeBord did call the Transcontinental a few times - in the '97 Wisconsin game (Woodson to Griese) and the '99 PSU game (DiAllo Johnson to Henson).
Carr would run the occasional trick play. I loved his "Tiger" single-wing play.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:20 AM ^
he put it on the money too. It took Navarre 45 minutes to get the endzone after catching it but nobody was even close. Speaking of screens, I think the only play we ran for the rest of the game after that play was the dump-off screen from the shotgun. The Golphers should have possibly made an adjustment for that play after Chris Perry's 8th 20 yard gainer of the fourth quarter.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
But what else is new? In a webcomunnity filled with statistitions and chart gurus, I am the opposite. Here's what I think. We are now back to running a pro-style offense which eventually will look simmilar to a run and shoot. This year we will run a hybrid of the spread and the pro-style. During the pro-style sets, the screen pass will definitely be run. It's a staple of pro offenses and it is really effective against teams that blitz all day.
The OP mentions something about screens opening up deep passes, and I'm not following the logic there. It really is a way to get the opposition to be leary of sending the house as it effectively uses their momentum against the defense.
The play Illinois ran against us time and time agian was not a screen. It was a misdirection play where the back runs a wheel route to the weakside of the field. In a screen, the offensive line lets the defense rush past them and creates a wall to block the second level. The fact that we didn't adjust to that play after having halftime to discuss was revolting. I don't really care to relive the "gopher waiving silver haired old guy" any more, thank you.
August 25th, 2011 at 11:18 PM ^
it was a beaver
August 26th, 2011 at 8:37 AM ^
Gopher, Beaver, whatever it takes.
August 25th, 2011 at 8:59 PM ^
August 25th, 2011 at 9:14 PM ^
A role for Vincent Smith!!!
August 26th, 2011 at 12:21 AM ^
Hopefully we see it again. A Train was devastating on the screen pass...
August 26th, 2011 at 1:05 AM ^
I think we could see a version of the screen where Gardner is the QB and Denard is the receiver/back set up for the screen. There are so many things that could happen there. Run the screen or Gardner can throw the deep ball when the defense implodes while trying to figure out who to cover, or the transcontinental. I can see this causing massive seizures in our opponents' defenses.
August 26th, 2011 at 9:17 AM ^
I'd love to see it.
It'd be great for his Heisman prospects.
You talk about dominant...