Montana Offense vs. Cincinnati Offense

#1
Il Principo

Il Principo

Proud, Merry Dolphin
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#1
Obviously I'm not referring to talent level or efficacy, but the general schemes and trying to think about how well our first opponent prepared us for our second. I think there are definitely some similarities.

FORMATIONS: Cincy was really vanilla (playing Austin Peay, who wouldn't be) but their basic formation reminds me a lot of Montana's. Three WRs, one TE, and QB in the shotgun with a RB next to him. Other formations they showed included a four WR set with no back (or RB split out wide) and four WR set with no TE. Again, really basic. There was also this wonky three TE set that they tried in a short yardage formation that did not work at all.

RUNNING GAME: This is the biggest similarity to Montana in my opinion. The vast majority of their running plays that I've seen are that zone read option like we saw last week (albeit with better athletes) and like Oregon runs. The D seemed to do pretty well with their assignments against the Grizzlies and I would hope can do the same this week. We will probably see more creative blitzing from Wilcox which could help us get into the backfield, a vital part of disrupting this style of rushing attack. Also worth noting, they did go with some Oregon-style up-tempo play calling, signs and all.

PASSING GAME: Here is where Cincinnati becomes more dangerous (schematically) than Montana. They show an ability and willingness to take shots downfield, which in turn opens up that running game and the short passes that are the staple of many modern spread offenses. Their weapons outside (Kenbrell Thompkins, D.J. Woods) will give our secondary something to worry about and make it difficult to load the box against Pead. I saw a lot of post routes that they were able to burn Austin Peay with, it will be interesting to see if our secondary does better (they should).

Thoughts? Comments? Go Vols.
 
#2
#2
I think it's gonna be a better game then last week vs Montana.While they do run a similar offense as to Oregon they do not run it with the same tempo.They have the ability to do so,but they don't do it alot.That's how Oregon opperates they wear you out and don't let you sub.They are more relxed then what you would see with an Oregon team.Montana runs a little faster paced then Cinncinatti.Yes Cincy has weapons and should be a test.We will have to play well and play assignment football,but I think we are better for it this year.

UT 35- 21
 
#3
#3
Il Principo said:
Obviously I'm not referring to talent level or efficacy, but the general schemes and trying to think about how well our first opponent prepared us for our second. I think there are definitely some similarities.

FORMATIONS: Cincy was really vanilla (playing Austin Peay, who wouldn't be) but their basic formation reminds me a lot of Montana's. Three WRs, one TE, and QB in the shotgun with a RB next to him. Other formations they showed included a four WR set with no back (or RB split out wide) and four WR set with no TE. Again, really basic. There was also this wonky three TE set that they tried in a short yardage formation that did not work at all.

RUNNING GAME: This is the biggest similarity to Montana in my opinion. The vast majority of their running plays that I've seen are that zone read option like we saw last week (albeit with better athletes) and like Oregon runs. The D seemed to do pretty well with their assignments against the Grizzlies and I would hope can do the same this week. We will probably see more creative blitzing from Wilcox which could help us get into the backfield, a vital part of disrupting this style of rushing attack. Also worth noting, they did go with some Oregon-style up-tempo play calling, signs and all.

PASSING GAME: Here is where Cincinnati becomes more dangerous (schematically) than Montana. They show an ability and willingness to take shots downfield, which in turn opens up that running game and the short passes that are the staple of many modern spread offenses. Their weapons outside (Kenbrell Thompkins, D.J. Woods) will give our secondary something to worry about and make it difficult to load the box against Pead. I saw a lot of post routes that they were able to burn Austin Peay with, it will be interesting to see if our secondary does better (they should).

Thoughts? Comments? Go Vols.
Click to expand...

my thoughts: stop their run
my comments: score more than them
my outcome: Vol victory!
 
#4
#4
BigALWiLson said:
I think it's gonna be a better game then last week vs Montana.While they do run a similar offense as to Oregon they do not run it with the same tempo.They have the ability to do so,but they don't do it alot.That's how Oregon opperates they wear you out and don't let you sub.They are more relxed then what you would see with an Oregon team.Montana runs a little faster paced then Cinncinatti.Yes Cincy has weapons and should be a test.We will have to play well and play assignment football,but I think we are better for it this year.

UT 35- 21
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You will see a faster pace than you saw last week against Austin Peay. We are not in Oregon's class for pace (who is?) but they will be faster than Montana was against you last week.
 
#5
#5
Class of 85 said:
You will see a faster pace than you saw last week against Austin Peay. We are not in Oregon's class for pace (who is?) but they will be faster than Montana was against you last week.
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ARE YOU SURE ? LOL I expect it to be a good game and I think you have a good football team.Are you coming to the game by chance? :loco: Oh and for the record Montana was pretty quick last week.
 
#6
#6
BigALWiLson said:
ARE YOU SURE ? LOL I expect it to be a good game and I think you have a good football team.Are you coming to the game by chance? :loco: Oh and for the record Montana was pretty quick last week.
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I saw the game last week. I know the pace Montana used. I am in fact coming to Knoxville from Chicago. Looking forward to seeing Neyland from the inside and visiting with the Neyland Navy.

Knoxville has always impressed me with waht I have seen of its game-day atmosphere. And any game with 90k+ fans is going to be interesting.

Looking forward to it.
 
#7
#7
Class of 85 said:
I saw the game last week. I know the pace Montana used. I am in fact coming to Knoxville from Chicago. Looking forward to seeing Neyland from the inside and visiting with the Neyland Navy.

Knoxville has always impressed me with waht I have seen of its game-day atmosphere. And any game with 90k+ fans is going to be interesting.

Looking forward to it.
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Hopefully for this one it will be 100k+!!!

Go Vols!
 
#8
#8
Class of 85 said:
I saw the game last week. I know the pace Montana used. I am in fact coming to Knoxville from Chicago. Looking forward to seeing Neyland from the inside and visiting with the Neyland Navy.

Knoxville has always impressed me with waht I have seen of its game-day atmosphere. And any game with 90k+ fans is going to be interesting.

Looking forward to it.
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Neyland Stadium.

Vol Navy.
 
#9
#9
montana had the biggest offensive line the Vols will play this year- avg 6-7/6-8 335/ Montana aint no cupcake.
Cincy WILL BE.
 
#12
#12
supersmo18 said:
Come on man, don't be one.
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If he goes up to a Vol fan (pregaming with JD) and asks where the Neyland Navy is... he'll get ragged on.


Said Vol Navy is one of the things that sets UT apart in regards to pre-game. I don't normally partake in pedantry, but I'll correct that.
 
#13
#13
Since we are not players or coaches, I don't see that it matters whether we look ahead. If you guys want to keep your heads down and focus on Cincy that's up to you:

How much do you guys think playing Montana and Cincy prepares us for Florida as far as style of play goes? Is Florida's offense similar to theirs?
 
#14
#14
DC Vol said:
If he goes up to a Vol fan (pregaming with JD) and asks where the Neyland Navy is... he'll get ragged on.


Said Vol Navy is one of the things that sets UT apart in regards to pre-game. I don't normally partake in pedantry, but I'll correct that.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the correction. I appreciate it. No one wants to offend anybody or look like an idiot.
 
#16
#16
"Cincy was really vanilla (playing Austin Peay, who wouldn't be)”

Spread option teams are vanilla. Oregon is the best in the country at it and they run about 6 plays albeit out of different formations and to both sides of the field you end up with maybe 80 looks. The idea is to “spread” the defense out and create natural cut back lanes and then as the play develops “option” off what the defensive end or tackle does. It is a very simple offense conceptually. Then the Ducks go no huddle and go fast and make the defenses big guys run a lot with minimum substitutions and they try to create mismatches through exhausting the defense.

That’s why every other down looked like a subway stop when the Vols played Montana. Dooley was preparing for fast substitutions against a fast paced spread option team. Namely Cincy.

The game will come down to this – our defense has to play assignment football and keep containment on the outside. They did not do that very well against Montana and the Vols got burned a few times as a result – 80 yard TD being the biggest. Their QB broke contain to his right and by the time UT caught up he had time to find open receiver for the big Grizz TD.

If Vols don’t turn it over they score plenty enough on Cincy to win. Test is can they hold Cincy to 21 or less.
 
#17
#17
WesternKyVol said:
Since we are not players or coaches, I don't see that it matters whether we look ahead. If you guys want to keep your heads down and focus on Cincy that's up to you:

How much do you guys think playing Montana and Cincy prepares us for Florida as far as style of play goes? Is Florida's offense similar to theirs?
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No not anymore. Wiess is a pro style drop back passer kind of guy. Florida ran a version of spread option under Meyer but new gators will be all pro-style attack. So to answer your question Montana and Cincy will be nothing like Gators.
 
#18
#18
1974Vol said:
"Cincy was really vanilla (playing Austin Peay, who wouldn't be)”

Spread option teams are vanilla. Oregon is the best in the country at it and they run about 6 plays albeit out of different formations and to both sides of the field you end up with maybe 80 looks. The idea is to “spread” the defense out and create natural cut back lanes and then as the play develops “option” off what the defensive end or tackle does. It is a very simple offense conceptually. Then the Ducks go no huddle and go fast and make the defenses big guys run a lot with minimum substitutions and they try to create mismatches through exhausting the defense.

That’s why every other down looked like a subway stop when the Vols played Montana. Dooley was preparing for fast substitutions against a fast paced spread option team. Namely Cincy.

The game will come down to this – our defense has to play assignment football and keep containment on the outside. They did not do that very well against Montana and the Vols got burned a few times as a result – 80 yard TD being the biggest. Their QB broke contain to his right and by the time UT caught up he had time to find open receiver for the big Grizz TD.

If Vols don’t turn it over they score plenty enough on Cincy to win. Test is can they hold Cincy to 21 or less.
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1974 is correct about the simplicity of the spread attach against the run. For the most part, the spread running attack is about the zone option read. Make the DE make a decision early and do the other thing.

The difference you will see in UC's offense from Montana's is in the passing game. UC's pass offense is more variable, with multiple route options for each receiver depending on the defense. UC will also throw down the field more than Montana did.

UC will also limit substitutions more by going more no-huddle. The theory is that they will take the matchups of their 11 versus the defense's 11 down the field, because eventually the defense will have trouble keeping up if they cannot sub.
 
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#19
#19
Class of 85 said:
1974 is correct about the simplicity of the spread attach against the run. For the most part, the spread running attack is about the zone option read. Make the DE make a decision early and do the other thing.

The difference you will see in UC's offense from Montana's is in the passing game. UC's pass offense is more variable, with multiple route options for each receiver depending on the defense. UC will also throw down the field more than Montana did.

UC will also limit substitutions more by going more no-huddle. The theory is that they will take the matchups of their 11 versus the defense's 11 down the field, because eventually the defense will have trouble keeping up if they cannot sub.
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Despite obvious exceptions thought Vols pass coverage was pretty good against Montana - key to Cincy is QB pressure and keeping their QB contained. I could be wrong but I think Vols do OK if they can keep UC QB from getting on the corners and having time and an unobstructed view down field.
 
#20
#20
1974Vol said:
Despite obvious exceptions thought Vols pass coverage was pretty good against Montana - key to Cincy is QB pressure and keeping their QB contained. I could be wrong but I think Vols do OK if they can keep UC QB from getting on the corners and having time and an unobstructed view down field.
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Totally agree. I think our front seven (or six as it may be) will be able to deal with their rushing attack by playing assignments while getting in the backfield. Austin Peay was able to do this, they just didn't make many tackles.

You referenced earlier that all of these kinds of offenses are fairly vanilla, do you think they'll be sticking to essentially the same offense as last week? That would seem to help us a lot.
 
#21
#21
1974Vol said:
Despite obvious exceptions thought Vols pass coverage was pretty good against Montana - key to Cincy is QB pressure and keeping their QB contained. I could be wrong but I think Vols do OK if they can keep UC QB from getting on the corners and having time and an unobstructed view down field.
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The opposite is true. UC has to get pressure on Bray without having to resort to blitzes. If their fron four can get pressure, then when the zone blitz comes it will be much more effective.

Even though most pass rush comes from off the edge, the most effective pass rush is up the middle, because it prevents a QB from stepping up and throwing. That kind of push can create a lot of turnovers. It also blows up running plays.

UC's interior D-linemen had good nights last week. Can they replicate that against UT's better athletes? We'll have to see. If they do, UC will have a good chance.
 
#22
#22
WesternKyVol said:
Since we are not players or coaches, I don't see that it matters whether we look ahead. If you guys want to keep your heads down and focus on Cincy that's up to you:

How much do you guys think playing Montana and Cincy prepares us for Florida as far as style of play goes? Is Florida's offense similar to theirs?
Click to expand...

Not sure. Bearcat roster on both sides of ball is kind of light. I think Fla. has more heft and certainly more speed. So i think UT and UF will likely spend 1st QT feeling each other out, deciding what areas of weaknesses are best exploited.

It might even be that our defense can push UC's OL around and our OL open lands due to just being bigger and possibly stronger. Cincinnati Bearcats 2011 Team Player Roster - College Football - ESPN
 
#23
#23
They don't seem to look very big from there chart. Matter of fact when you look at some of there linemen they almost look like Tyler Bray in height and weight lol.
 
#24
#24
VolFan37323 said:
They don't seem to look very big from there chart. Matter of fact when you look at some of there linemen they almost look like Tyler Bray in height and weight lol.
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don't laugh, man. Our Vols weren't exactly titans last year, looked real small especially against the UNC team.
We've been there and know it's no laughing matter. What goes around, comes around, remember?
 
#25
#25
I don't think cincy is as good as everyone is giving them credit for. QB could be a hassle, but other than that I think UT could deal them a good thrashing.
 
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