1st down play calling

[GoBigOrangeUT]

I’m positive I heard Kesling say after the game last night that UT ran the ball on first down 26 times and passed the ball only 4 times. We averaged 2.2 yards on first down. Hard to get ahead of the chains when you’re in 2nd and 3rd and long and the defense can pin their ears back and blitz the hell out of JG. when a defense knows you’re gonna run the ball on every first down, you have already lost. Helton is a terrible hire at OC. If this is the best he can do, he can GTFO.

 

[keckjm]

I don’t think it’s just a Helton issue. This is what Pruitt wants. He doesn’t want to air it out, even if it’s just 4-7 yard passes, because he doesn’t trust our QBs. He wants to hand it off and pray we get 5-7 yards combined on 1st and 2nd down run plays.

 

[Hacksaw]

Not necessarily. I know it's frustrating to watch as a fan, but there are actually good reasons for doing this. It forces the OL to learn to be more physical and rep the correct technique, both of which seem to be sorely needed. Also, this is a tried and true game-planning strategy to wear down the defense as the game goes on. You see good, physical teams do this all the time. We used to do it with great success. And the only way we'll ever get back to doing it is to grind away until we learn how.

This is one aspect of our progress that I think is understandable from a coaching perspective. Some of the other things I've seen have me concerned, but not this.

 

[VinylVols]

I don’t think it’s just a Helton issue. This is what Pruitt wants. He doesn’t want to air it out, even if it’s just 4-7 yard passes, because he doesn’t trust our QBs. He wants to hand it off and pray we get 5-7 yards combined on 1st and 2nd down run plays.

I mean I can see why you'd say this, but if you listen to his press conferences, that's clearly not the case.

 

[VolsLady-in-FL]

I don’t think it’s just a Helton issue. This is what Pruitt wants. He doesn’t want to air it out, even if it’s just 4-7 yard passes, because he doesn’t trust our QBs. He wants to hand it off and pray we get 5-7 yards combined on 1st and 2nd down run plays.

But that doesn't make any sense when you have an o line that literally can't/won't block. The RBs (and Callaway, Jennings, JG) are the only bright spot on offense.

None of them can do anything behind this line.

 

[keckjm]

I mean I can see why you'd say this, but if you listen to his press conferences, that's clearly not the case.

Go watch the Pruitt show from this morning. We’d throw a pass and Pruitt would say, “probably should have run it there”. Pruitt wants to run the ball. We don’t pass on 1st down 75% of the time, if not more. What we are seeing is what Pruitt envisioned. We just don’t have the OL to do it.

 

[keckjm]

But that doesn't make any sense when you have an o line that literally can't/won't block. The RBs (and Callaway, Jennings, JG) are the only bright spot on offense.

None of them can do anything behind this line.

Look, I don’t like it anymore than you. I’m all for spreading it out and throwing short, quick passs. I’d also use WRs in motion more, and possibly even in the run game on some sweeps, etc. In the end, our OL is so badthat it really limits your offense.

 

[Offset Eye]

The O-line can't pass block. Period. Taking that into account, apply the old saying:
"Only three things can happen when you throw the ball, and two of them are bad."