I've been thinking on this for the last 3 weeks really and went back and watched some film of Chaney's old offenses, dating back to Purdue (GA, ARKY, PITT). Even the Mizzou game, which we won easily, there were some oddities in how we called multiple series. Thus, I revisited the tape again and came away with a few conclusions: Primarily, I am not sure you can win with this offense without a really really sound QB.
1. I'm not sure Chaney understands what he wants to run in this league. Its a head scratcher. His successful offenses are predicated on running the football well, even at Purdue. As he progressed, he leaned more heavily on heavy sets and locking down the line of scrimmage. However, in all of his stops you can find multiple instances where his teams are doing so and he randomly abandons the run...with numbers in the box. Not just a few plays but for stretches at a time. The reason Purdue shared the BIG title with Brees is because Chaney forgot to run the football.
2. If you are going to play his pro-spread concepts....you have to RUN the football. You should lean on it, lean on it and lean on it some more. It's almost like he completely forgets this.
3. The route tree Chaney likes to run does involve a lot of long yardage throws for short gains. Ie....the JG pick that Pruitt mentions. It wasn't a good route concept and I cannot understand why it was even an option there. He is also neglecting the middle of the field for long periods. Especially in zone sets where its susceptible.
4. We run quite a bit of four vert, or all of our WR's running deep routes. In doing so, we often create space underneath. We have hit a few nice plays on the check down to the back here. Running those routes into zone should be an almost automatic check down....yet 2 crammed into coverage. Why is that not mandated for him? Take the keys away from him....give him the read as you know they are playing zone. That one could have been eliminated.
5. Chaney's sets can be confusing but I have seen nothing to tell me that a frosh QB cannot properly put us in the right protection and get us in the right plays. In fact, I have seen ample tape of true freshmen doing just that, think Jake Fromm and before him, even Jacob Eason. Both were able to operate this offense with a reasonable degree of success. So, I cannot for the life of me understand how a 5th year kid in this system cannot consistently do so and the argument of JG being the only guy who can get us in the right protection and play is utter bullshit. First, because it seems he cannot do it but even If that's the case, this offensive staff sucks, plain and simple.
6. The final conclusion, which relates to #5 above is that they have done a terrible job getting the other QB's ready to play. The same thing bit them last year and we all assumed they would learn from that. I place this on Chaney.....and I cannot overstate this.....you MUST get another QB, at least 1 ready to play in this offense. COVID or not, they've passed game reps to get kids snaps and clearly haven't gotten the other kids enough practice reps. Now, what everyone knew would happen in 2 imploding....you are once again behind the 8 ball. Just terrible roster/QB management.
1. I'm not sure Chaney understands what he wants to run in this league. Its a head scratcher. His successful offenses are predicated on running the football well, even at Purdue. As he progressed, he leaned more heavily on heavy sets and locking down the line of scrimmage. However, in all of his stops you can find multiple instances where his teams are doing so and he randomly abandons the run...with numbers in the box. Not just a few plays but for stretches at a time. The reason Purdue shared the BIG title with Brees is because Chaney forgot to run the football.
2. If you are going to play his pro-spread concepts....you have to RUN the football. You should lean on it, lean on it and lean on it some more. It's almost like he completely forgets this.
3. The route tree Chaney likes to run does involve a lot of long yardage throws for short gains. Ie....the JG pick that Pruitt mentions. It wasn't a good route concept and I cannot understand why it was even an option there. He is also neglecting the middle of the field for long periods. Especially in zone sets where its susceptible.
4. We run quite a bit of four vert, or all of our WR's running deep routes. In doing so, we often create space underneath. We have hit a few nice plays on the check down to the back here. Running those routes into zone should be an almost automatic check down....yet 2 crammed into coverage. Why is that not mandated for him? Take the keys away from him....give him the read as you know they are playing zone. That one could have been eliminated.
5. Chaney's sets can be confusing but I have seen nothing to tell me that a frosh QB cannot properly put us in the right protection and get us in the right plays. In fact, I have seen ample tape of true freshmen doing just that, think Jake Fromm and before him, even Jacob Eason. Both were able to operate this offense with a reasonable degree of success. So, I cannot for the life of me understand how a 5th year kid in this system cannot consistently do so and the argument of JG being the only guy who can get us in the right protection and play is utter bullshit. First, because it seems he cannot do it but even If that's the case, this offensive staff sucks, plain and simple.
6. The final conclusion, which relates to #5 above is that they have done a terrible job getting the other QB's ready to play. The same thing bit them last year and we all assumed they would learn from that. I place this on Chaney.....and I cannot overstate this.....you MUST get another QB, at least 1 ready to play in this offense. COVID or not, they've passed game reps to get kids snaps and clearly haven't gotten the other kids enough practice reps. Now, what everyone knew would happen in 2 imploding....you are once again behind the 8 ball. Just terrible roster/QB management.
