Rusty Burns

[Pony in Dawg Land]

there's been lots of talk about bennett and his impotence (no pun intended..well maybe a little) but what do you guys think about burns? looks to me like a lot of the blame may be on him. i wasn't at the unt game but how many times did we run that tired draw out of the split shotgun? we have descent receivers. why don't we show our versatility by throwing the deep ball? looks to me like either 1.) burns isn't confident in our receivers, or 2.) he has a serious case of amnesia by not realizing running the same old draw becomes evident to the opposition.

any thoughts from those who were there? anyone else?

[westexSMU]

According to Coach Bennett, the first called play was a deep ball and Willis did not execute the play correctly. The receiver was wide open. However you bring up a good point , as I have been saying, the defense has played well all considered but the offensive QB execution has been horrible at times. Experience problem ? lets hope so but Coach Burns play calling ? his offense in general ? Man, it's hard to figure out how he thinks we can win with what they are doing. We could have Ohio State's defense and still struggle to have a winning season if we don't improve offensively. I said a few weeks ago, after watching a srimmage in late August, without a deep passing threat a bowl game is not going to happen.

[RGV Pony]

If any of you watched the W. Va vs. Maryland game last night, or last year's Sugar Bowl (WVU vs. UGa), that's what our offense is supposed to look like when utilizing all its tools. WVU's playcalling & production is probably also more what JWillis was familiar with in HS.

[OC Mustang]

The offense has a name; it is the "Utah Spread Option", and it is the hot offensive flavor of the decade. It is a variation off the old run & shoot, but out of the shotgun and with one or two backs. The idea is to allow the option or triple option with short passes to incent the defense to creep up, and then get burned on the deep ball. In high school, Southlake runs it to perfection. The cool thing about it is that you can adapt to personnel without changing the look. It can operate like a double wing offense or the run shoot.

I was talking a little with Coach Southern here in Marshall, and I asked him whether David Brewer, Marshall High School's offensive coordinator, was up in the press box or on the sideline. He said this year he is on the sideline because he doesn't feel comfortable with their young QBs getting directions from the press box.

I still stand on my original comments in two other threads. Burns should get his butt in the box, and leave a QB coach who can explain to Willis on that whiteboard what he should be doing. But if Willis is that blind to his reads, then our problem is indeed the young QB. Still Bennett's ultimate responsibility, but it sure explains a lot.

[LakeHighlandsPony]

I think if we score less than 14 points than Burns ought to resign. I can't beleive how hard headed Bennett is about his O-Coordinator not being up in the box and not having a special teams coach. I really like Phil but God Bless man try and help yourself a little.

[OC Mustang]

Yeah, that special teams coach thing has me flummoxed. Don't understand that, especially with this quick return specialists we have.

And to beat a dead horse, Burns should be in the press box regardless of how Willis is getting it or not. This is college, not high school. If he is that far behind as a redshirt freshman, then Slater needs to do it.

[smuwins]

Everyone is forgetting we went through the exact same debate 3 years ago when Edmonson was the coordinator. Everyone complained about KK left, KK right, pass on 3rd, and punt on 4th. I think Burns is a very good coordinator as proved by his time at Cincinatti. Their offense was top 1 or 2 in the conference every year he was there. We do not have the talent yet to run his offense and Bennett still has the reputation of taking over the play calling in many situations. Edmonson was never able to run his offense and neither has Burns.

[BrianTinBigD]

Rusty Burns while Bennett Fiddles

Rock Me!