Here's the Problem With the Passing Game

[Stallion]

We are making some big plays in passes to the End Zone
We are making some nice plays in short passing game and crossing routes
What we are not doing is turning short passes into big gains
Anybody who has seen Hawaii play under June Jones can put a finger on this
I'd love to see a stat on Yards After Catch because it has been very low recently.
The Run and Shoot is designed to stretch the field and make big plays out of sharp precision passing and its just not happening right now-where are the big plays hitting the seams.
Padron has a problem with stretching the field because quite frankly right now he doesn't have a strong arm
Defenses realize this and so they know they have about 20-30 yards to defend rather than 40-50 yards to defend-this truncates(pretty big word for 3:00 a.m.) the passing game
Reminds me of the Mike Romo days
For this offense to really work and for the underneath route to open up SMU needs to be more effective in stretching the field
While we've made improvements in many areas this year the passing game remains a huge disappointment except for Emanuel Sanders-we just don't have anybody making opponents pay for doubling Sanders.

[RGV Pony]

also kind of sucks to see WRs drop balls that hit them in the hands or that miss their hands altogether and bounce off their chest

[Charleston Pony]

Padron is on the field ahead of schedule; he will get stronger and the game will slow down for him. We should also see some healthy QB competition before he finishes. I think we are ahead of schedule. We do need more big play receivers

[jimhagle]

The receivers are on the way but we have to get better talent on the o-line and the d-line. Separation for our receivers has been a problem lately especially for the speedy Robinson which is baffling.

[Charleston Pony]

the guys playing on the OL (with exception of Enright) will be around for a couple more years and we have a good bunch of RS FR waiting in the wings. This is a work in progress...we are just winning ahead of schedule (thanks to the schedule this year and some freakish play on special teams)

[Mestengo]

I thought you were going to say the O - Line

[San Antonio Mustang]

Stallion you have hit on one of our Offensive problems - yards after the catch. I don't think your reason is correct. I have seen some very well thrown long passes from Padron. The problem is our receivers so often either drop the ball or fail to break a tackle. Sanders makes his yards after the catch by breaking the first tackle. This is the same thing we see other teams do to our Defense. Our receivers are not strong enough or have to concentrate so much on catching the ball that they can't get by that first tackle. At this stage of the rebuilding the receivers we are recruiting are fast but have not perfected the art of catching the ball, particularly in traffic. That is why they are 2 and 3 stars and not 4 or 6 stars.

[panhandle_pony]

I think Stallion's observations are correct regarding both hitting the seams and Padron's arm strength. We have zero gains after the catch, generally speaking. So, BLM has better arm strength and the experience of 15 divsion 1 games. He couldn't hit the seams and make the run and shoot work, so how will Padron be able to implement the system to the fullest extent ? Does this offense take both a strong arm and a rocket scientist at qb to implement June's offense ?

[Phxfan]

Stallion you have hit on one of our Offensive problems - yards after the catch. I don't think your reason is correct. I have seen some very well thrown long passes from Padron. The problem is our receivers so often either drop the ball or fail to break a tackle. Sanders makes his yards after the catch by breaking the first tackle. This is the same thing we see other teams do to our Defense. Our receivers are not strong enough or have to concentrate so much on catching the ball that they can't get by that first tackle. At this stage of the rebuilding the receivers we are recruiting are fast but have not perfected the art of catching the ball, particularly in traffic. That is why they are 2 and 3 stars and not 4 or 6 stars.

We don't have a problem. We are going to 7-5. Then Hawaii. ND, has a problem. USC has a problem. SMU does not have a problem.

[panhandle_pony]

Phxfan, I love you ! Not because I'm from the Valley, but because your half full observation is right on !!

[Phxfan]

Phxfan, I love you ! Not because I'm from the Valley, but because your half full observation is right on !!

Thanks.

[CA Mustang]

USC has a problem.

Considering they can still finish with a 10 win season, their "problems" aren't in the same category as ND's or Michigan's.

As to SMU, actually I thought the OL had played rather well (until yesterday). As for YAC, Beasley is probably the one WR that can be counted to get the most. Maybe it is the routes he runs, but his catches usually turn into big plays for the offense.

[Pony_Fan]

You have to hit these guys in stride over the middle. Just a matter of time - year 4 or 5 I guess. Seems like the R&S takes a long time to get everything in place and then the coach leaves.

[Treadway21]

Seems to me the one game we had lots of yards after the catch was Tulsa with Padron. Is it a function of the defenses adjusting? I think the defensive pressure is also hurting timing. Marshall was getting in on Padron very fast.

[PonyTime]

USC has a problem.

Considering they can still finish with a 10 win season, their "problems" aren't in the same category as ND's or Michigan's.

As to SMU, actually I thought the OL had played rather well (until yesterday). As for YAC, Beasley is probably the one WR that can be counted to get the most. Maybe it is the routes he runs, but his catches usually turn into big plays for the offense.

SMU could still finish with 9 wins . . .

Take care of business and Go Rice Owls!