Soooo, have the coaches tried to address the snap count issues at all?
I was on the road on Saturday and didn't see most of the game, but from the highlights it looked like Molk was still looking down then snapping the ball immediately after lifting his head whever Denard was in the shotgun, thus giving the defense a chance to time the snap.
It turned out not to matter I guess, but it was disappointing to still see that happening after two weeks of practice, especially with the way MSU players were openly bragging about their ability to time our snap.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
It did not seem like it. However until we fix lining up faster and giving us more than a couple seconds left on the play clock I am not sure there is much we can do.
Edit: from the couple I saw. Admittedly I was not watching for every single snap what Molk would do. At times I was trying to figure out the formations like the 3 WR stack.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:31 PM ^
On several plays, he lifted his head several times, only the last of which (obviously) was the real snap.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:13 PM ^
I still don't understand why he can't take a second pause before hiking.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
They did. Molk had a some snaps where he'd bob his head multiple times, and I think he drew an offsides call on one of them. Brian and I discussed this on the podcast, but it looks like the coaching staff has addressed this issue, albeit a couple weeks later than we would've liked.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
Yes, new coaching staff, I know, but still.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:42 PM ^
Denard would also signal for it multiple times. I think the safeties key in on Denard signalling and run up to the line when he does it. So, for him to signal twice is improvement as well.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
This is easier to do at home when the crowd noise is not in your face. Hopefully they will continue to mix it up at Iowa and Illinois.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:49 PM ^
on my 360, the players should be able to do it in real life too.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:50 PM ^
I saw Denard making an up and down motion with his left arm extended a few times. I am not sure what the significance of it was, but I have a hunch it had to do with the snap count.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:53 PM ^
and it did look like Molk did some things differently. From today's presser, though, it sounds like something they are still focusing on.
October 31st, 2011 at 1:59 PM ^
do the finger guns again. Do you think it means something?
October 31st, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
That's just his trademark move. It means he's about to rip the defense a new a*hole...
October 31st, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
He will literally run at them and explode through their chest like Aliens.
October 31st, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^
Than Woodley knowing if the Jets were going to run or pass in the AFC Championship game by whether or not the LT (I think it was their LT) was in a four point stance or three. He destroyed them that game!
October 31st, 2011 at 3:26 PM ^
I still don't get it . . . how is it that every other team is able to keep opponents from jumping the snap? Is it something peculiar to the spread offense? Still, I don't every hear about Oregon, et al. having issues with it. What gives?
October 31st, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^
Did you miss the play where the entire Purdue DL jumped offsides on the hard count?
They've addressed it.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
I explained in another thread. When I went back and watched the game a 2nd time, this was obvious, so I am confident in my assumption.
In the beginning of the game vs. MSU we were certainly focused on the snap count...it was something that was clearly stressed and coached. We drew Worthy offsides a few times and make their DL very hesistant in firing off the ball.
HOWEVA...
When we got down, it was clear we lost focus on that aspect of the game. Denard got so involved in trying to read the defense, predict coverages, etc. It's like he forgot to stress the snapcount. Also we were down, so we were rushed and you could tell Denard wanted to just snap the ball and get going rather than milk the clock trying to pull them offsides.
The Devin/Denard shuffle also seemed to have an effect.
In the 2nd half, we became completely focused on just trying to win the game and it's like we threw out all of the little subtle coaching tips that were taught in practice. We stopped hardcounting, we rushed, we became so worried about where the blitz was coming from and setting out protection that it simply looked as if it went overlooked.
It's a glaring difference...in the 1st quarter, Denard is clearly at the line and in the gun trying to change the count, he's moving around, he's starring down the DL trying to see if he can get them to jump. In the 2nd half, he's looking down field trying to predetermine where he wants to go with the ball.
We did work on it in practice, because we got Purdue on a hardcount a couple times...although someone needs to tell Denard and the WRs it's a free play and he needs to throw a Hail Mary EVERY time he draws them offsides. He snapped the ball and took a knee. Toss it up there and maybe you get a touchdown, maybe you get more yards with a PI call.
October 31st, 2011 at 4:36 PM ^
Hail Mary jump ball off his back foot to Gallon for best effect.