Is USC running he Air Raid?

[Jack Lambert]

Sure looks like it.

[ZedFedder]

Sure looks like it.

Their coordinator is Graham Harrell, QB of Leach’s best year at TTech.

[defiantdog]

Yeah and the announcers are smoking them for it..... Basically calling it a gimmick and saying it won't work.

[Jarius]

Well they are averaging over 30 ppg running it 15 games in.

[Bothrops]

They won ain't he?

[Liverpooldawg]

Yes. They are barely getting by with five star talent across the board in the dang PAC. They run the closest thing to a pure Air Raid outside of Leach. That offense absolutely SUCKS. It's dated and wasn't that great when it wasn't.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Yes. They are barely getting by with five star talent across the board in the dang PAC. They run the closest thing to a pure Air Raid outside of Leach. That offense absolutely SUCKS. It's dated and wasn't that great when it wasn't.

I think Chip Kelley is who killed the air raid. He created the super uptempo spread that made every D get thinner and more athletic. That, plus the proliferation of spread making every D run nickel all the time as their base D, = air raid isn't that much of a matchup issue

Fact is Leach could update it really easily: 1) Zone read, 2) RPO to punish LBs with responsibilities to cover the run and get back to a zone, 3) another run play or 2. pull a tackle, have the RB be the lead blocker for the QB, something. A lot is said about a mobile QB, and no doubt Leach needs to get over himself and let the QB move, but it's really hard to find an accurate QB with wheels so I can't expect him to be able to recruit that.

3-4 more plays would break the 3-8 and make D's pick their poison. You'd still have a really small playbook you can rep and rep and rep till it's perfect like Leach wants. BUT Leach apparently likes losing his way so we'll keep losing.