Concern about our passing game

RGV Pony · Post by **RGV Pony** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:39 am

For the record I'm ecstatic about having JJ here and all that he is, has and will do for the program. One concern I have, however, has to do with our passing game. Maybe it's personnel. Maybe it's bad timing on my part. Maybe some of the UH guys who read the board can help out.

My concern is that for probably 3 or 4 of the UH games that I remember which were televised during Chang's time there, the game was billed as a showcase for an NCAA record setter. On each occasion, it seems like he threw more interceptions than TDs. I want to say he was a prolific thrower of int's.

I don't presume to bash JWill or whomever our QB is, but if our o-line is such that it requires the qb to improvise in a timing based offense, or if the QB has shaky decision making ability, are we in for a barrage of int's?

EastStang · Post by **EastStang** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:57 am

JJ is not Woody Hayes. His offense is high risk, high reward. If teams nickle and dime us, there is DeMyron Martin ready to plow over a linebackerless defense. Yes, there will be turnovers and sacks (and if J Willis is back there look for some fumbles on sacks). But the offense is apparently very hard for college talent to defend time after time. Sooner or later the big plays come. I expect that there will be games against teams with good defenses where picks exceed TD passes. I also expect that there will be games against bad defenses where TD passes far outnumber picks.

SMU Hockey 2010 · Post by **SMU Hockey 2010** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:35 am

I honestly think that with our variety of offensive weapons, we'll be very difficult to defend against, which will give J-Will some leeway back there.

Our backfield has its own thunder-lightning thing going, with McKinney, Butler and Martin back there, and J-will has proven time and time again that he can run the football. He was our leading rusher in how many games last year, sacks included?

We have too much of a run threat out of the shotgun for teams to aggressively devote players to disrupting the pass. This will cause defenses to have more of a "[deleted], now what?" philosophy than last year.

Basically, having a huge run threat will keep defenses from putting all their efforts towards disrupting the pass, helping out J-Will.

Not to mention, JWill hasn't had real QB coaching on this level yet. His potential is mind-boggling.

RGV Pony · Post by **RGV Pony** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:12 am

SMU Hockey 2010 wrote: He was our leading rusher in how many games last year, sacks included?

We have too much of a run threat

I don't see how those two statements are congruent with one another.

EastStang · Post by **EastStang** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:24 am

Not to answer for him but two things helped J Will be our leading rusher in some games. (1) His open field abilities when he got loose. (2) Our offense last year while some version of the run and shoot was really not geared to our running back abilities. Teams stuff our run and knew pretty much what our passing plays would be and even then we put up some solid offensive numbers in many games.

SMU Hockey 2010 · Post by **SMU Hockey 2010** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:25 am

I'm saying that he's proven he can run when he has to. This year I'm anticipating the big backs will finally be used as big backs, leaving Willis as a changeup option.

We'll have a big run threat because Willis is athletic enough that he can run designed QB run plays. With our RB talent he won't have to as frequently.

Insane_Pony_Posse · Post by **Insane_Pony_Posse** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:40 am

I wonder why in the June Jones Run and Shoot typically quarterbacks very rarely run? I have heard June thinks a QB running is really a big "No No". Is it because he wants the QB to eventually find a man open and dump it? June Jones is the expert but to me it would seem that having a QB that can run is just one more worry for a defense already worried about the run & shoot possibilities? What is the downside of having a great elusive runner at QB that presents one more option in the run & shoot? Is it because the QB is so important particularly in the run & shoot that injury is even a more important concern?

RGV Pony · Post by **RGV Pony** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:43 am

Insane_Pony_Posse wrote:I wonder why in the June Jones Run and Shoot typically quarterbacks very rarely run? I have heard June thinks a QB running is really a big "No No". Is it because he wants the QB to eventually find a man open and dump it? June Jones is the expert but to me it would seem that having a QB that can run is just one more worry for a defense already worried about the run & shoot possibilities? What is the downside of having a great elusive runner at QB that presents one more option in the run & shoot?

someone on here said that was the downfall of Brennan in the Sugar Bowl...he got happy feet. The same poster went on to say you could see the difference when Graunke came in and made reads and got rid of the ball.

Insane_Pony_Posse · Post by **Insane_Pony_Posse** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:56 am

"downfall of Brennan in the Sugar Bowl"

I hear ya, but Brennan doesn't have the run ability.
Colt Brennan is not the runner Justin Willis is.
So yes for Colt to get "happy feet" when he not a good runner is bad.
But I know June thinks it's a "no no".....I am not questioning the expert.
I just dont understand why it's bad to have that extra option if the QB has run ability.....
except the injury factor and the importance of the QB in the run & shoot.

RGV Pony · Post by **RGV Pony** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:04 pm

Never said it was bad. I started the thread because I heard someone say they thought JWill's interceptions would decrease. I think they'll increase. Then someone else said we "have a run game." IMO, we haven't had a run game since KK's last stand.

SMU Football Blog · Post by **SMU Football Blog** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:10 pm

Insane_Pony_Posse wrote:"downfall of Brennan in the Sugar Bowl"

I hear ya, but Brennan doesn't have the run ability.
Colt Brennan is not the runner Justin Willis is.
So yes for Colt to get "happy feet" when he not a good runner is bad.
But I know June thinks it's a "no no".....I am not questioning the expert.
I just dont understand why it's bad to have that extra option if the QB has run ability.....
except the injury factor and the importance of the QB in the run & shoot.

It is called "instincts." The running QB won't sit there waiting to be told to run. The running QB has a tendency to try and create, which is bad in JJ's system. JJ is going to try and coach that out of Willis. Overriding a player's instincts is hard to do.

SMU Football Blog · Post by **SMU Football Blog** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:11 pm

RGV Pony wrote: Then someone else said we "have a run game." IMO, we haven't had a run game since KK's last stand.

Fumbling on the goalline is not a running game.

RGV Pony · Post by **RGV Pony** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:12 pm

SMU Football Blog wrote:
RGV Pony wrote: Then someone else said we "have a run game." IMO, we haven't had a run game since KK's last stand.

Fumbling on the goalline is not a running game.

Good point. Donte's last stand.

That reminds me...our new defensive coach that used to be at Fresno...was he on their staff for that 42-0 a$$whipping?

jtstang · Post by **jtstang** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:18 pm

The passing game? Really?

Anybody else concerned that we lost some of the better players on our defense that gave up 57,300 yards in one game to North Texas State?

iknowimright · Post by **iknowimright** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:58 pm

That will not happen this year. The defense is excited about the new defensive coach. I think you'll see McCann and Bell will actually lock down. Deion said that the boys were good with foot work, had good hips, and burst of speed on the ball. He gave them good pointers on what to work on. He told them to make the oppenents(WR) guess on how they're(CB) are going to play them instead of them guessing on how to play the receivers. He also said don't let size matter if the oppenent is bigger then out run him 9 times out of ten you will be that big man to the ball. Both Deion and PACMAN gave them key pointers. We will not be giving up no 300+ yards in the air a game guarantee.