"We're not...going to dominate running the ball"

[FriscoPMG]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/smu/stories/092009dnsposmulede.34a7375.html

JJ's quote in this morning's DMN...

"Obviously, we would've liked to have won the game, but we're not in a formation that we're going to dominate running the football," Jones said. "We have to make the plays in the passing game. There's a different kind of pressure on the receivers and on the quarterback.

I know he's all about the Run & Shoot, but when you have a back like Shawbrey, who had yet another solid game yesterday, can't you rely a little bit more on the run even if you're a passing first offense? And I know he's keeping his faith in BLM, but until he proves to be a more reliable QB, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to concede your running game just b/c you're supposed to be a passing team.

[mrydel]

The problem is with the OL. They are young and doing a great job of pass blocking but run blocking is a different technique. I do not think we have the size, experience, or depth to develope a major running game. McNeal will be successful by being the off balance attack rather than the primary.

Ponyte can address the blocking skills much better than I but there is a big difference. We had a lot of the same problem when Chuck Hixson was running the offense although we did have a little better running game at that time with Mike Richardson, et al.

[PonyKai]

"...one of the dozens of Washington State students who had rushed the field in celebration trailed closely behind."

So does this mean we've improved since fans of teams now rush the field when they beat back the mighty SMU Mustangs?

[Stallion]

I've been trying to explain this point all year. June Jones is exactly correct. SMU will never have have a dominate running game in this offense. It is not an offense in which it is possible to pound the defense. It is a finesse running game. In other words you try to get yards in the running game by surprising your opponent with deception. HOPEFULLY, you might get a big play out of about 5 attempts. The others might get 1-2 yards per attempt. Texas Tech which has an offensive line filled with NFL prospects does not have a consistent dominating rushing attack-and they run out of this offense better than any other team facing quality opponents. I think its great McNeil got about 120 yards rushing/receiving.

[couch 'em]

We shouldn't be even talking about 'why not run him more'. We are committed to being a passing team. The passing game has to execute. We should be asking why they did not execute when they needed to.

[ponyscott]

There must be a more conservative approach to easy short hook passes, slants, draws plays, etc without putting BLM in a position late in the game when we are AHEAD in an away game with a young QB at the helm..we have a good kicker as well.....we could have been more conservative and at least had a chance to go up by 10 late in the game instead of going for it and taking more risks than we need to....just saying as we understand that this is a passing offense but can't we be more adaptive to situational football?

[kull]

"...one of the dozens of Washington State students who had rushed the field in celebration trailed closely behind."

So does this mean we've improved since fans of teams now rush the field when they beat back the mighty SMU Mustangs?

A+

I've been trying to explain this point all year. June Jones is exactly correct. SMU will never have have a dominate running game in this offense. It is not an offense in which it is possible to pound the defense. It is a finesse running game. In other words you try to get yards in the running game by surprising your opponent with deception. HOPEFULLY, you might get a big play out of about 5 attempts. The others might get 1-2 yards per attempt. Texas Tech which has an offensive line filled with NFL prospects does not have a consistent dominating rushing attack-and they run out of this offense better than any other team facing quality opponents. I think its great McNeil got about 120 yards rushing/receiving.

in any single back, 4 wide scheme, you are dead on!

[ponyscott]

C'mon and in all due respect here and it is all very obvious that its a one back four reciever set (duh) as a base offense but I am from a basketball background and when you rely on three point outside shooting and late in a game when you are ahead you slow the play down and try to post up and go inside and/or attack in the paint to get to the line, if possible. So why isn't there alternative sets that emphasize more ball control, using the clock and an offensive scheme that doesn't put a young QB in a postion late in a winnable game to throw high risk throws?...just asking here...

[SMU2007]

I agree- I understand we are a pass first offense but how do we not run a more "conservative" offense when we are up multiple scores and KNOW blm is capable of [deleted] the lead away in a few minutes?

[FriscoPMG]

So why isn't there alternative sets that emphasize more ball control, using the clock and an offensive scheme that doesn't put a young QB in a postion late in a winnable game to throw high risk throws?...just asking here...

This was the point of my original post. I wasn't trying to imply that we try to run the ball more throughout the game, but rather go more traditional late in the game in hopes of avoiding what was BLM's 3rd pick of the game. Late in the game...already in FG territory...you're ahead and trying to burn clock...a FG makes it a 2 possession game. No matter what kind of offense you're running, those factors make it clear that you run the ball and burn clock. Add in that you've got a young QB out there who has already thrown 2 picks in the game and led the nation last yr, and all signs point to "settling" for a FG attempt by a good kicker.

I know this is all hindsight since a completed pass or even an incomplete pass makes this a moot point. And of course there's always a risk of a fumble when running on 3rd down, but I think after what you've seen thru 2 games and a half, you rely on your RB instead of your young gun slingin QB.

[Stallion]

This is one area where I think Texas Tech's system has an advantage over the Hawaii system. Texas Tech's recruits the quick RBs who are great catching the ball out of the backfield. Hawaii/jones likes to recruit the big kids for blocking. It is not unusual for the Texas Tech RB to lead the team in Pass Receptions-and sometimes they catch 60-80-100 passes from the RB position per year. If there is nothing availiable downfield the RB can be an outlet and pick up positive yards. Its time to give BLM that kind of option if there is nothing availiable.

[Treadway21]

What i don't get is that we ran the ball with the game on the line against SFA and it was successful. McNeal, I think, was doing better against WSU to that point in the game than he was against SFA. We didn't use McNeal once that I can remember in that last drive. It just makes sense that you use McNeal to clinch the game.

[Ralph]

In Junes offense, the receivers make the read on the defense, therefore there are a lot of receptions for 3 or 4 yards and its the run after catch that matters. Hit the open receiver the defense gives you and don't force the pass into coverage. Someone is open, even if it is a short route, hit him in the open field and keep on moving the chains. Bo isn't making the right choices and he is not moving the defense with his eyes to create single coverage or move coverage. Four more wins and SMU is bowl bound, can do.

[mr. pony]

There must be a more conservative approach to easy short hook passes, slants, draws plays, etc without putting BLM in a position late in the game when we are AHEAD in an away game with a young QB at the helm..we have a good kicker as well.....we could have been more conservative and at least had a chance to go up by 10 late in the game instead of going for it and taking more risks than we need to....just saying as we understand that this is a passing offense but can't we be more adaptive to situational football?

Good post.

[EastStang]

Heck three and out might be preferable to pick and a TD for the other team. At some point Woody Hayes motto about when you pass three thing can happen, two of them bad needs to be considered. By running, the clock keeps ticking and you don't risk interceptions for TD's. I'd even settle for a run a bomb downfield and a draw play on third down for a series or two. The bomb approximates a punt if its picked.