I'm just going to put this out there on Fitzgerald and Williams.....

[WinningIsRelentless]

No I was just making a point to Confucius say that in college football today and he'll even high level high school football that a zone read is the easiest play in the play book. I don't think williams gives us the best option to win this year but he damn sure didn't cost us that game either. He lead us on what should have been 6 scoring drives plus one other that got busted when on 3rd and 8 he couldn't even get his drop before both de's were all over him.

[HSVDawg]

And maybe I watched a different game then you guys. But I don't think quarterback play cost us the game as much as our first year DC looked like a first year DC. At some point you have to figure out how to stop the pass. And after halftime Joey Jones made the adjustment. Our defense didn't

You've got to be joking. We scored 20 points against South freaking Alabama and lost by one point, and you blame the D for the loss? Don't get me wrong, we have work to do on that side of the ball for sure. But any SEC team should be able to sleepwalk to 45 points against a team like that. Especially against their 2nd string D line.

[confucius say]

A zone read is the simplest play you can call in college football today. You said give him something easy and we did. That's all I'm saying.

I think he should play, but to blame Dan for not giving him a easy play call on the first play of the game is just bs

I agree it is simple and he should have executed it. But it is not, by far, the most simple. It requires a decision to be made on what to do with the ball. That's what I'm saying should be eliminated on the first three plays if I had my way.

[Really Clark?]

I can't help you if you think the jet sweep to Ross that went 45 yards (on his first touch) had a read option or rpo (run pass option) built in for the Qb. That is not true and you know it. Qb receives ball, hands/flips it to #8, and watches him run. That's all. No thought process.

You know he has the fake sweep, QB run option in those plays.

[WinningIsRelentless]

Every play has a decision to be made. On the sweep to Ross you mentioned, it does have a read to go with it. If the guy over the top goes in motion with him you know they are in man coverage and fitzs keeps the ball and goes to the opposite side, if the man doesn't go in motion you know you have zone and you hand it off.

[mparkerfd20]

Nick Fitzgerald may have a problem. But if Fitzgerald has the problem of not wanting to lead, and Damien has the problem of not being a legitimate power 5 QB, and Staley had the problem of not being able to compete with D. Williams, and Tiano has the problem of not being able to beat out Williams after being on campus for a year, I think it's safe to say the biggest problem is Dan Mullen.

DING WE HAVE A WINNER!

[Coach007]

I think most of you all probably saw that I saw. When Fitzgerald started, his body language was....well.....'off'. Didn't seem like the team responded well to him. I know it was just 6 plays total, but the playcalling 'seemed' bad, and it was sort of just bad. Williams came in and the offense woke up. Do we all agree there? Hopefully so. Then we saw what would happen with our offense with Williams in the 3rd quarter. Won't lose, but won't win. And with our defense, we can't have that. So we're out of options at current.

I think Tiano is probably the only option. Like I said in the other thread, I'd probably start Williams again, and go to Fitz early against SC. Probably against LSU too since we know that's a beatdown. But if things don't improve I think I would start Tiano against UMass. Bottom line.

We all know how this will go. We'll either win or lose to SC by a score like 17-14. Then LSU will beat us 35-10. So what's the point?

Not at all. What I saw was the exact same thing I saw from most every team that played this weekend. Some emotions over the top because it's the first game, first start.


Again... nope. A team playing it's first game with new leadership is what I saw.


What I saw was the play calling changed to settle an offense. The exact same as FSU did. What I saw was play calls that saw Ross running the ball rather than being thrown to. All in the name of settling the offense.


Then I saw a lot of anger and hate from ED posters. The same ones looking for any misstep so they can continue to bash Mullen.

[confucius say]

You know he has the fake sweep, QB run option in those plays.

Yes we do have those in our playbook. I agree.

[TimberBeast]

No I was just making a point to Confucius say that in college football today and he'll even high level high school football that a zone read is the easiest play in the play book. I don't think williams gives us the best option to win this year but he damn sure didn't cost us that game either. He lead us on what should have been 6 scoring drives plus one other that got busted when on 3rd and 8 he couldn't even get his drop before both de's were all over him.

I don't think anyone is saying Williams cost us the game, Mullen cost us the game. It's Mullen's fault that Williams was in there but wasn't capable, and he pulled Fitz for whatever reason, and kept Williams in even though he couldn't complete a 5 yard pass in the second half. Not to mention, if you put an actual running back in the game for one quarter, it probably doesn't matter which QB actually played because we win.

[confucius say]

Every play has a decision to be made. On the sweep to Ross you mentioned, it does have a read to go with it. If the guy over the top goes in motion with him you know they are in man coverage and fitzs keeps the ball and goes to the opposite side, if the man doesn't go in motion you know you have zone and you hand it off.

That's a way to do it sure. But it can also be pre snap determined. When the ball is flipped instead of handed off you know it's pre determined. That's what I want early. No thought required.

Oh, and a Db going with the wr in motion doesn't always mean man anymore like it use to. you are right that it's not like it was only 10 short years ago.

[GTHOM]

The very first play of the game was a read option. Just because we don't run the option of old doesn't mean it isn't the option.

And Fitz made the wrong read. He should have kept the ball would have gotten a solid play if he did. I think you have to start him next game, hes wayyyy more talented than Damian. I'd rather see him make mistakes than know we're gonna lose with 11 in there

[WinningIsRelentless]

it was determined before the game each qb was going to get two series starting the game. Williams got in a groove and we stuck with him. Dan made the right decision by staying with Williams. It was clear he had control of the offense.

Here are some stats to look at:

Damian had 93 net rushing yards. Would have been 101 without the sack in the 3rd quarter that was 100% on the online. He had a passing efficiency rating of 126.11 with 143 yards completing 71.4% of his passes. He did all this with about 19 minutes of time of possession that he was in the game.

Defensive stats to look at and be concerned about:
37 minutes of time of possession for USA (we have to get off the damn field)
11.9 yards avg yards per catch
379 total yards to USA

Dan nor Damien cost us the game. Did Dan treat it as a scrimmage yea and he shouldn't have. Dan made the right call by keeping Damien in the game. By the time he had slowed a little it was the last series of the game and you don't want to bring Fitz in under that situation. The damn defense like elitedawgrecruiting said cost us the game. We have up 379 yards and what should have been 27 points to USA. Period end of story.

With that being said I don't think williams is the best option at qb, but I look for us to do the same thing we did last week and both qbs get two series apiece and go from that point

[WinningIsRelentless]

Against USA it meant they were in man coverage. But to your point no it doesn't always mean man coverage, but what you are looking for on that option is if he goes in motion now I have the numbers advantage in the backside of the field vs if he doesn't go in motion the numbers advantage is to the sweep side. The option offense was designed to create a 6 on 5 numbers game thus giving you a advantage

[Coach007]

it was determined before the game each qb was going to get two series starting the game. Williams got in a groove and we stuck with him. Dan made the right decision by staying with Williams. It was clear he had control of the offense.

Here are some stats to look at:

Damian had 93 net rushing yards. Would have been 101 without the sack in the 3rd quarter that was 100% on the online. He had a passing efficiency rating of 126.11 with 143 yards completing 71.4% of his passes. He did all this with about 19 minutes of time of possession that he was in the game.

Defensive stats to look at and be concerned about:
37 minutes of time of possession for USA (we have to get off the damn field)
11.9 yards avg yards per catch
379 total yards to USA

Dan nor Damien cost us the game. Did Dan treat it as a scrimmage yea and he shouldn't have. Dan made the right call by keeping Damien in the game. By the time he had slowed a little it was the last series of the game and you don't want to bring Fitz in under that situation. The damn defense like elitedawgrecruiting said cost us the game. We have up 379 yards and what should have been 27 points to USA. Period end of story

Should Dan keep williams, then he has confirmed those calls here. He needs to go. Williams does not have the speed, the arm, the accuracy to play at the level we have come to expect.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Against USA it meant they were in man coverage. But to your point no it doesn't always mean man coverage, but what you are looking for on that option is if he goes in motion now I have the numbers advantage in the backside of the field vs if he doesn't go in motion the numbers advantage is to the sweep side. The option offense was designed to create a 6 on 5 numbers game thus giving you a advantage

I hope that you will consider posting more. I could be wrong, but it seems like you're educated on some of what's going on.

[confucius say]

Against USA it meant they were in man coverage. But to your point no it doesn't always mean man coverage, but what you are looking for on that option is if he goes in motion now I have the numbers advantage in the backside of the field vs if he doesn't go in motion the numbers advantage is to the sweep side. The option offense was designed to create a 6 on 5 numbers game thus giving you a advantage

Correct.

But we've lost the original point. I want no thought required from nick on those first few plays. Get him settled.

[confucius say]

it was determined before the game each qb was going to get two series starting the game. Williams got in a groove and we stuck with him. Dan made the right decision by staying with Williams. It was clear he had control of the offense.

Here are some stats to look at:

Damian had 93 net rushing yards. Would have been 101 without the sack in the 3rd quarter that was 100% on the online. He had a passing efficiency rating of 126.11 with 143 yards completing 71.4% of his passes. He did all this with about 19 minutes of time of possession that he was in the game.

Defensive stats to look at and be concerned about:
37 minutes of time of possession for USA (we have to get off the damn field)
11.9 yards avg yards per catch
379 total yards to USA

Dan nor Damien cost us the game. Did Dan treat it as a scrimmage yea and he shouldn't have. Dan made the right call by keeping Damien in the game. By the time he had slowed a little it was the last series of the game and you don't want to bring Fitz in under that situation. The damn defense like elitedawgrecruiting said cost us the game. We have up 379 yards and what should have been 27 points to USA. Period end of story.

With that being said I don't think williams is the best option at qb, but I look for us to do the same thing we did last week and both qbs get two series apiece and go from that point

Agree to disagree. We have to have a playmaker at qb to win games, either with his feet or a great passer (or both). Not a backup qb who is a game manager. And I like Damian, he just is what he is.

And yes, plenty of blame for defense too

[Tbonewannabe]

2nd Half

Damian completes pass to Fred Ross for 6
completes to Brandon Holloway for 11
Incomplete
Incomplete
Incomplete
48 yard FG (who knew Graves could kick it that far?)

Damian actually ran the ball really well. He had a 23 yard run and 10 yard run. Ok drive on that one. Fairly long drive so I didn't type up every run.


Next series
Complete for loss of 4 yards to Mixon.
Complete to Justin Johnson for a beautiful shovel pass for 18 yards.
Incomplete
Shump for 4 yard run
Damian 3 yard run
Punt

Next series
I personally think maybe you try and bring Fitz in here with 13 minutes left in the 4th but I understand Dan sticking with the experienced guy here in the 4th quarter

Damian 1 yard run
Incomplete
Pass interference 1st down
Holloway no gain
Holloway 8 yards but with holding call
Incomplete
Complete to Fred for 7 yards
Punt

Next series
Holloway no gain
Mixon 13 yard run
Holloway 2 yards
Damian 23 yard run
Incomplete
Complete to Fred for 0 yards
Damian takes a sack
Graves misses a 46 yard fg.

Last series
Complete to Donald Gray with a hell of a catch 14 yards
Holloway 8 yard run
Complete to Fred for -1 yards
Complete to Donald Gray 8 yards
Complete to Holloway 4 yards
Damian run 13 yards
Damian run 2 yards
Damian runs 6 yards and gets pushed to the left hash
Graves misses easy fg 28 yards but made harder from the left hash when he had already missed left earlier. Graves then takes full blame for loss on social media.

Damian would probably benefit from the option as much as Fitz. We can't run the same offense we did with Dak.

[WinningIsRelentless]

I personally think Fitz has a lot higher upside, but at the same time williams was productive Saturday and I damn sure don't fault Dan for not pulling him.

And I think williams earned the start Saturday but Fitz should get two series to see if he is more productive Saturday than williams is. If he isn't then williams needs to play.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

48 yard FG (who knew Graves could kick it that far?)

A bit OT....I know that he missed the kicks, but our actual kicking power looks to be improved from hiring Chris Boniol.