Willis in an option offense

[smupony]

Many seem to think Johnson would run the same triple-option attack he uses in Annapolis, but I know he would adapt his offense to the personnel at whatever school he worked at. That's what good coaches do. And, make no doubt about it: Johnson is a good coach.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vi ... p?t=302258

what good coaches do that? normally if a coach has success with a certain scheme/system...they normally stick with it...can you name a few coaches who have gone to a new school and changed their schemme and not the schools?

JT...You have no idea what you are talking about...Look back and read about Johnson before you post...He has run"spread" style offenses in the past (and been successful)...Number one in all catagories of offense with Hawaii almost every year he was there...His current offense is the only one that will work with the players he has right now...At Hawaii they threw it all over the place...

my apoligies...i didnt not really know anything about PJs prior coaching experience until looking it up now...you are right...and with what ive read...hed be a great hire...but just not a WOW in my opinion

Agreed, not a WOW...Again, I really think WOWs are for the fans...WOWs get us a few more interviews in the first few weeks of the hiring...At the end of the day, winning brings the fans, media, recruits, and money...

[Bergermeister]

Many seem to think Johnson would run the same triple-option attack he uses in Annapolis, but I know he would adapt his offense to the personnel at whatever school he worked at. That's what good coaches do. And, make no doubt about it: Johnson is a good coach.

It would not surprise me if he hired Kyle Geller as his quarterbacks coach - if he is going to run the Navy offense or an adaptation thereof.

[mrydel]

Many seem to think Johnson would run the same triple-option attack he uses in Annapolis, but I know he would adapt his offense to the personnel at whatever school he worked at. That's what good coaches do. And, make no doubt about it: Johnson is a good coach.

It would not surprise me if he hired Kyle Geller as his quarterbacks coach - if he is going to run the Navy offense or an adaptation thereof.

And if he is related to Uri Geller he may be able to tells us in advance if we will win, or a least "bend" things in our favor from the stands.

[Longtime]

Given how slow he is to take off and how timidly he hits the hole, I'm not so sure Martin gets on the field under a new coach. Not at running back, anyway.

I'm just sayin'

[Chuck Norris]

Given how slow he is to take off and how timidly he hits the hole, I'm not so sure Martin gets on the field under a new coach. Not at running back, anyway.

I'm just sayin'

I agree he has lost a step. Maybe he could play some tight end?

[regis]

Here is what you might wind up with:

Standard Flexbone


Flexbone with TE


Other Adaptations






Multiple sets are easily adjusted out of the Flexbone and passing is easy as well especially if you have the personnel. Think Martin as the back behind Willis. Butler and Mapps at the Wings. Chase as your TE and Givens and Sanders as the WR. You can move the TE out and add another receiver but do we have more than 2 good receivers?

Just my quick thoughts on this.

I think this would work, especially if they let us run with 12 men on the field as the pictures suggest...

[EastStang]

Willis is undersized and has good speed. Sounds sort of like what was that guys name, McIlhenny? An option offense with some of the talent we have in the backfield would be a great improvement. And Willis can still pass to Sanders and Givens to keep the corners honest. And BTW, we'll need to score a bunch of points, because the cupboard is pretty bare on the defensive side of the ball.

[mustang1108]

Navy has always had small undersized qbs that have always produced points. I think we could even use the standard flex wing from undercenter. Put demyron at fullback behind willis and use mapps and butler as wing backs and then givens and sanders can still be deep threats at receiver. Still the big question is defense

[OC Mustang]

I believe, in a way, SMU already runs an option similar to what Texas and Florida does (in theory, not success). The "Zone Read" is a form of that offense. You know, the plays we run where DeMyron in improperly used and runs east-west (stretch play) looking for a hole that never materializes.

Johnson was the offensive coordinator at Hawaii when they ran more of a "Zone Read Spread" (if that exists). That is pretty much what we have been recruiting for. I think Johnson would change this team dramatically for the better. He won't run a true triple option, he will run to our strengths. This is why he has been successful everywhere he has been.

He will get rid of the pistol spread it out a little and teach Willis how to properly read the defensive end and linebacker. I think a lot of our poor "Zone Read" plays comes from Willis and the line not being taught the right reads. Hell, if Vince Young can read a defense anyone can.

105-39 as a head coach, 43-29 at Navy.

Sign him up.

The "Zone Read" more describes how the offensive lineman block, not the offense. SMU's 4 WR offense is run a variety of different ways by different teams, and it is at its roots a variation of the "doublewing" offense. It is called "spread" or "Utah Option". It isn't the old run and shoot, although the last few years it has looked like it. It is supposed to balance passing and running in similar fashion to an "under-center" option team, taking momentary defensive deficiencies and making them chasms.

This is not the same offense that Todd Dodge runs. His philosophy utilizes similar techniques, but his philosophy, by his own admission, is to overwhelm an opponent early and crush their confidence in their ability to come back, forcing them to do things that aren't their strengths (usually passing).

For Justin, this is NOT going to be a huge change vis-a-vis the quantity of running he does anyway. And if Johnson is serious about using a passing QB, then the offense will be that much better because that option is viable.

However, it isn't going to be wow and pass-happy. It just isn't.

[drs1310]

phil tried to run the option with jwill and mapps a couple of times in the last two years and willis was very bad at it. he didnt pitch when he should have and when he did the ball was always way behind the runner. SMU is is going to hurt if willis is running the option. And a side note Navy tried recruiting Mapps as a QB because of how well he ran the option in High School so if PJ comes to SMU there might be some changes.

[BrianTinBigD]

I think this would work, especially if they let us run with 12 men on the field as the pictures suggest...

You don't think they will let us run a bonus flanker

[OC Mustang]

phil tried to run the option with jwill and mapps a couple of times in the last two years and willis was very bad at it. he didnt pitch when he should have and when he did the ball was always way behind the runner. SMU is is going to hurt if willis is running the option. And a side note Navy tried recruiting Mapps as a QB because of how well he ran the option in High School so if PJ comes to SMU there might be some changes.

My comments aren't an endorsement of Johnson. It's my comments on "Zone Read" and "option", with a remark about JWill.
But I think the reason that JWill didn't run option well is because it was probably the least practiced play, not because he sucks at it.
They should have used the time setting up for the swinging gate on the option...the gate never fooled anybody.

[fan]

Did anyone notice that offense was not our problem this year? Bennett was yelling the opponents plays before they were run from the sideline and we still couldn't stop anybody. Whoever is the next coach is left with the same athletes on defense.

[PK]

I can see where your ideas might work...until the ref caught on to the fact you have 12 players on the field.

[SmooBoy]

Many seem to think Johnson would run the same triple-option attack he uses in Annapolis, but I know he would adapt his offense to the personnel at whatever school he worked at. That's what good coaches do. And, make no doubt about it: Johnson is a good coach.

It would not surprise me if he hired Kyle Geller as his quarterbacks coach - if he is going to run the Navy offense or an adaptation thereof.

And if he is related to Uri Geller he may be able to tells us in advance if we will win, or a least "bend" things in our favor from the stands.

Kudos to the Uri Geller reference. Pretty sure the 1st and only time we'll see his name on the board.