Game balls

A lot of our 3rd down problem, besides not running well and Jake's streakiness, is also set up by being too reliant on low percentage plays on 1st and 2nd. We like to chuck the ball up there, but oughta do it more on 2nd and shorter (if we're going to be predictable anyway). One of my concerns once 2004 started up and we started having offensive problems, was that we were taking shots rather than sustaining drives - that if we didn't run well, and weren't passing deep well enough, we wouldn't do much. We still don't see the intermediate outs as often as we could, the comebacks, the corner routes, the drags even.


And no, our slow plays shouldn't have been out there as much. The quick hits, and at time the draws, were there. But we didn't run a 3rd and long draw but once, and other times we were dumping the ball off and getting somewhat close to the first down marker, which is what I'd prefer to the draw. When you're 3rd and over ten, and you can get over half of that back, it doesn't get you the first down, but it gives you more of a chance, and at worst, gives you more field position.

 

Who was it that ran a draw Sunday on 3rd and twenty-something and made the first? I laughed.

 

i heard a stat on sunday about that play. that was the first time since 1999 that a team had converted a third down of more than 20 yards by running the ball.

 

I don't know about that. When we have offensive success, it's coming because of what we do on 1st and 2nd down. Jake's QB rating breaks down as follows:

1st down - 100.7 on 130 attempts
2nd down - 85.2 on 94 attempts
3rd down - 46.3 on 78 attempts

Meanwhile our rushing breaks down as:

1st down - 395 yards on 108 attempts (3.7)
2nd down - 314 yards on 85 attempts (3.7)
3rd down - 62 yards on 20 attempts (3.1)

 

that doesn't state we're not taking a bunch of shots.

 

It does state that what we're doing on first and second down is the only effective offense we've been able to manage.

 

certainly does.

 

Too bad we got rid of Cramer. :brickwall:

 

Give him the game ball


Wahle takes the lead at halftime

In the wake of Carolina's dismal first half, guard Mike Wahle got loud with his offensive teammates at the break.

"We just had to play better, and it was voiced," he said. "Guys came out and played better; we knew we were a better football team than that, and we embarrassed ourselves in the first half."

At the break, Wahle said, "I lost my cool a little bit and did some yelling. I just think it needed to be done. It needed to be said; it really did. I'm not one of those guys who's always sure the speech thing works. But sometimes you've just had enough.

"The guys came out and just played hard in the second half. We're a better football team, and that's what I wanted to get across. We showed the type of team we're capable of being in the second half."

 

Definitely agree, but it can be Mangum or someone else - or just Hoover and another split back. Either way, the FB dive is an interesting play and I'm glad we're forcing teams to respect it, but that won't work every game like that. Trying Hoover out for a carry or two in another fashion might see if he's the right type guy to attempt a short yard carry or two, even though Williams is just as able.