Passing Game

[jflores]

NU *has* to develop a good to great passing game. Whether we are run oriented, using DT QB's, whatever, its a non-starter to run the ball 80% of the time.

It took some unreal recruiting and two tries, some miracle grabs by maybe the best WR in the draft and 800+ yards passing, to ultimately unseat Bama. And just barely so (4pts, and 1 sec).

Conversely, the lack of a passing threat hampered a team as talented as Bama.

 

[TheBeav815]

You have to be able to pass. Clemson rushed for over 2500 yds and 30 TDs on the season. Let's not paint a picture of a team that does one thing well.

I've long said that if you can only do one, you'll go further running that with some "air raid" style offense. But to win it all, you need to be able to do both. There are zero one-dimensional teams with rings lately.

 

[jflores]

You have to be able to pass. Clemson rushed for over 2500 yds and 30 TDs on the season. Let's not paint a picture of a team that does one thing well.

I've long said that if you can only do one, you'll go further running that with some "air raid" style offense. But to win it all, you need to be able to do both. There are zero one-dimensional teams with rings lately.

Indeed.

I'm just saying, folks tend to look at that ground production and say "hey that's where its at".

QB play and some 800+ yards passing are what kept them in those games that matter when they couldn't get as much production going on the ground.

Gotta have both!

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Clemson throws to set up the run. They do not have a line it up and run it down your throats philosophy. They are not a power running team. The do exactly what Riley has said he likes to do. Screens and draws set up by throwing it efficiently down the field. Alabama played 2 deep zone with man under, with a robber to stop the slant and a spy on the QB run. It was effective until Clemson started to exploit the man coverage with run routes and hitting a few of the intermediate throws to the sideline.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Clemson throws to set up the run. They do not have a line it up and run it down your throats philosophy. They are not a power running team. The do exactly what Riley has said he likes to do. Screens and draws set up by throwing it efficiently down the field. Alabama played 2 deep zone with man under, with a robber to stop the slant and a spy on the QB run. It was effective until Clemson started to exploit the man coverage with run routes and hitting a few of the intermediate throws to the sideline.

I agree that this is the model Riley prefers as well. So do you think our running game improves next year if our passing game is much better with a new QB? I think it will.

 

[dinglefritz]

Clemson throws to set up the run. They do not have a line it up and run it down your throats philosophy. They are not a power running team. The do exactly what Riley has said he likes to do. Screens and draws set up by throwing it efficiently down the field. Alabama played 2 deep zone with man under, with a robber to stop the slant and a spy on the QB run. It was effective until Clemson started to exploit the man coverage with run routes and hitting a few of the intermediate throws to the sideline.

And you HAVE to have a guy that can hit those throws to run that style of offense.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

I agree that this is the model Riley prefers as well. So do you think our running game improves next year if our passing game is much better with a new QB? I think it will.

No doubt it will. Little easier to run the ball when the back seven has to deal with a passing threat too.

 

[jlb321]

I agree that this is the model Riley prefers as well. So do you think our running game improves next year if our passing game is much better with a new QB? I think it will.

Depending on accuracy we may be able to run it more.

If it was 2nd and 9 with TA being a 50% completion guy you had to throw it twice with the hopes of completing one pass. Running the ball on 2nd down and making it 3rd and 5 didn't help much because TA was equally crappy throwing short.

With a highly accurate QB you can still run on 2nd and long - make it 3rd and 4-6 and still have a high probability of picking up the first down by throwing a short pass.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Depending on accuracy we may be able to run it more.

If it was 2nd and 9 with TA being a 50% completion guy you had to throw it twice with the hopes of completing one pass. Running the ball on 2nd down and making it 3rd and 5 didn't help much because TA was equally crappy throwing short.

With a highly accurate QB you can still run on 2nd and long - make it 3rd and 4-6 and still have a high probability of picking up the first down by throwing a short pass.

Agree

 

[jeans15]

TA led the conference in 3rd down conversions up until the Wisconsin game when he got hurt. And the line started to get injured as well.

Injuries derailed the season.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

TA led the conference in 3rd down conversions up until the Wisconsin game when he got hurt. And the line started to get injured as well.

Injuries derailed the season.

Total 3rd down conversion pct? 3rd down passing conversions?

 

[jeans15]

Total 3rd down conversion pct? 3rd down passing conversions?

Trying to find the article I read. But I believe ithat was conversion percentage. He was pretty good at that at the beginning of the season.

Remember the TD throw against Indiana and the 3rd down TD throw against Illinois the week before to win those games.

 

[jflores]

We had the dichotomy early in the season when we were 7-0 that we were horrible on 1st down and pretty good (if not the top as jeans noted) on third down.

However, I specifically remember coming in here and saying TA throwing a miracle ball to Jordy or Reilly and them saving his butt, or scrambling around and doing something magical on third and long with his feet, was not sustainable.

Eventually that bill comes due, to injuries, to luck running out, to facing better teams, etc.

 

[jeans15]

We had the dichotomy early in the season when we were 7-0 that we were horrible on 1st down and pretty good (if not the top as jeans noted) on third down.

However, I specifically remember coming in here and saying TA throwing a miracle ball to Jordy or Reilly and them saving his butt, or scrambling around and doing something magical on third and long with his feet, was not sustainable.

Eventually that bill comes due, to injuries, to luck running out, to facing better teams, etc.

This. Tommy never developed enough for my liking. No matter who's fault it is.