trick play question
After Rich Rod was hired, I remember hearing our offense would be wide open with tons of trick plays, etc. I don't count last year because the coaches were probably just happy to get positive yards. I know all our counters have been discussed and diagrammed here, but all year I waited for something surprising. After not seeing much, I thought definitely they had been saving something for this game. All I saw was an ill-advised deep pass to Denard.
This isn't meant as a criticism of his coaching, but I'm just wondering what people think. Has it been the injuries and inexperience? Or did people just have the wrong impression of Rich Rod's offense? Even Carr seemed to throw something crazy out there more often.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:49 PM ^
Trick plays are tricky for true freshmen to run...
November 21st, 2009 at 6:49 PM ^
There was that fake punt in East Lansing.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:53 PM ^
I think folks assumed they would see a ton of trick plays but I don't remember a whole lot of trick plays at WVU (admittedly I didn't follow them closely). But if he does utilize trick plays, I think we'll see more of that once the guys are executing the rgular plays better.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:55 PM ^
It relies on attacking the whole field and good execution.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:03 PM ^
was amiss, I hade dreams of multiple trick plays and reverses in my head all week and they never materialized. CAN WE PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST HOLD ONTO THE BALL NEXT YEAR, JEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZ
November 21st, 2009 at 7:14 PM ^
In looking back at this season I am really excited about the possibilities for 2010. However, I am not sure what to think about Denard and his future role. It is obvious we need to find ways to get him the ball in space but it doesn't seem like the best way to do that is by giving him a direct snap and running behind the lineman - especially two plays in a row.
I think if he had come in last January he may have well been the starter this fall, but he didn't and it is tough to expect a guy to read defenses at this level having arrived on campus in August as a true freshman. Now with the departure of Grady, Minor and Brown at RB, and the progress of Tate and future with Devin Gardner, maybe he could find his place in another role.
It just seems he could get on the field as a running back in a two back set or in 4 and 5 reciever sets he could be used a receiver. Especially if he adds a few pounds he could be so dangerous as a RB or WR. I do not doubt his ability and potential to play QB but his speed could be used so effectively in other areas.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:30 PM ^
I'm hoping for a kind of percy harvin 2.0 monster
November 21st, 2009 at 7:59 PM ^
Ooo! That's a brilliant idea.... I don't know why no one's ever suggested that type of role for Denard before.
November 21st, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
Yeah, that sequence was bad. At least put a RB back there with him to give some doubt.
November 21st, 2009 at 8:01 PM ^
Yeah I thought that was odd too, that every time Denard was in it was literally the same play, direct snap and run through a hole in the line.
I mean, of course at this point he's going to run a lot more than pass, but sheesh! Mix it up. For example, why no zone read stuff?
November 21st, 2009 at 8:17 PM ^
No that's just what people who don't get football said about his offense. Want to know what his offense at WVU was? We're going to use our LOADED offensive line, all star QB, and stable of running backs with great vision to run right over you. There were no trick plays, it was his team moving the other team off the ball. Take a look at the Oklahoma bowl game highlights to see what his team was about (Yes i understand he wasn't there, but that was his team. Bill Stewart did not turn them into that in half a month).
And to whom it may concern, Denard is not Percy Harvin. At best, he can be a Trindon Holliday kind of guy who gets into the open field once in a blue moon because he's fast, at a non-QB position. This kid is a quarterback, he's not a receiver or a running back. Everyones clambering to give Tate more time because it's been 3/4 of a year, well this kid has had 2 months of coaching. The only reason he saw spot duty at the end of the year was because they wanted a Russell Shepard effect for a change, let him use his ability while he's still raw at QB, or to discourage a transfer, if that was ever in question by the staff.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:16 PM ^
Thanks for the clarification. I only saw a few WVU games, and couldn't say one way or the other. I guess the way I feel is that he had to have known he had the inferior team all year. It would have been nice to see a new wrinkle pulled out just for this game. Maybe it's unrealistic to say that due to inexperience, but whatever.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:22 PM ^
Well, the closest thing to a "trick" play ive seen Rich Rodriguez run is off the the speed option (QB Runs at the DE with the running back behind him for a pitch, pitch/keep option) and they have the slot run in between the QB and RB as they pitch, and he gets it and runs around the other end. Rodriguez wants to run tricks off of his base plays from what I can tell, and those are generally more effective, unless your playing teams like MSU, who get killed by anything out of the ordinary. Here's Florida running it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alXHLO7SdR0
November 21st, 2009 at 9:33 PM ^
I think there were quite a few "wrinkles", its just they aren't that obvious. Don't equate trick plays with wrinkles. We unveiled quite a bit of stuff we haven't seen all year.