One Bright spot, maybe?

#26
#26
vavolfan6 said:
I think too much is being made of Nico missing the deep ball last year. The reality is that defenses were much better prepared to contain our wide spread passing game. I think I remember some analysis of how teams were playing us differently by playing an extra DB and running a 3-2-6 defense. Teams realized it was better to be prepared for the big chunk plays in the passing game and force Tennessee to have to methodically work their way down the field. But with out false starts, holding calls, or a negative play on 1st down, once we were behind the sticks it was harder to make up for it.

In addition to that, I think some tendencies of ours were picked up such as running the ball on 1st down right after picking up a 1st down.

So yeah, Nico missed some open plays down the field, but let's not brush over the fact the offense scheme and playcalling were less effective.
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When u miss downfield throws it makes the scheme less effective. Teams can make all the adjustments they want it's still a matchup game on the outside. U still saw guys running wide open. If you connect on them when it's there the entire offense opens up.
 
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#28
#28
temptn said:
Tennessee's offense will change. Maybe a little maybe a lot. We don't know, and neither do any of our opponents. It may change week to week. It appeared that many defenses had figured out how to defeat / rattle Nico.

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Only so much two freshmen and a guy that just got here can absorb. Probably see Heupel bring whoever along week by week adding some more stuff. Running game will be heavily relied on early.
 
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#30
#30
vavolfan6 said:
I think too much is being made of Nico missing the deep ball last year. The reality is that defenses were much better prepared to contain our wide spread passing game. I think I remember some analysis of how teams were playing us differently by playing an extra DB and running a 3-2-6 defense. Teams realized it was better to be prepared for the big chunk plays in the passing game and force Tennessee to have to methodically work their way down the field. But with out false starts, holding calls, or a negative play on 1st down, once we were behind the sticks it was harder to make up for it.

In addition to that, I think some tendencies of ours were picked up such as running the ball on 1st down right after picking up a 1st down.

So yeah, Nico missed some open plays down the field, but let's not brush over the fact the offense scheme and playcalling were less effective.
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The things that you mentioned should have reduced the number of wide receivers that would get completely wide open behind the defensive backs. That's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about when guys did get wide open behind the defensive backs, Nico couldn't throw a decent pass to save his life. People are NOT making too much of that fact.
 
#31
#31
Vol423 said:
The things that you mentioned should have reduced the number of wide receivers that would get completely wide open behind the defensive backs. That's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about when guys did get wide open behind the defensive backs, Nico couldn't throw a decent pass to save his life. People are NOT making too much of that fac
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Nico wasn't the only problem. There was a ton of drops. I'm not sorry at all that Mr. Jump in the air to catch a pass white is gone.
 
#32
#32
901 Orange said:
When u miss downfield throws it makes the scheme less effective. Teams can make all the adjustments they want it's still a matchup game on the outside. U still saw guys running wide open. If you connect on them when it's there the entire offense opens up.
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I understand what you are saying, and there is some truth to it, but I think it is being overstated. I thought there were many matchups where we were unable to scheme open receivers. Maybe a play or two here and there, but nothing like when Golesh was OC. The offense used to feel like we had teams on their heels as we just moved down the field at warped speed. We used to incorporate more of the middle of the field and have inside slants. Now it feels like it WR screens and occasionally a deep ball.
 
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#33
#33
Vol423 said:
The things that you mentioned should have reduced the number of wide receivers that would get completely wide open behind the defensive backs. That's not what we're talking about here. We're talking about when guys did get wide open behind the defensive backs, Nico couldn't throw a decent pass to save his life. People are NOT making too much of that fact.
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My point is that people are blaming Nico for the offense being less effective, when the truth is the scheme was also less effective and even moreso responsible for a lackluster passing game. Sure if Nico hit every deep ball the offense would have looked better. But even then, in such a magical world, the offense has taken steps behind in its effectiveness.

At the end of the day, I am in support of Heupel and think he has done an amazing job. I'm just noting the trend that is taking place and hope we are able to reverse it.
 
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#34
#34
vavolfan6 said:
I understand what you are saying, and there is some truth to it, but I think it is being overstated. I thought there were many matchups where we were unable to scheme open receivers. Maybe a play or two here and there, but nothing like when Golesh was OC. The offense used to feel like we had teams on their heels as we just moved down the field at warped speed. We used to incorporate more of the middle of the field and have inside slants. Now it feels like it WR screens and occasionally a deep ball.
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Nah fam, dudes are always running open in our offense. That's why people were so hard on Milton. He was missing guys by 5 yards who were open by 10 yards. You're saying maybe once or twice a game is simply not true, we can all watch the film. The problem has been accuracy from the QB and drops from the WR's. Golesh was great but we all know CJH is the real OC. The plays haven't changed the execution has. We take 5-6 shots a game. Hooker was hitting half of those. Milton and Nico only hit 1 or 2 of those a game. That's a big difference in yards and points bro.
 
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#35
#35
vavolfan6 said:
I think too much is being made of Nico missing the deep ball last year. The reality is that defenses were much better prepared to contain our wide spread passing game. I think I remember some analysis of how teams were playing us differently by playing an extra DB and running a 3-2-6 defense. Teams realized it was better to be prepared for the big chunk plays in the passing game and force Tennessee to have to methodically work their way down the field. But with out false starts, holding calls, or a negative play on 1st down, once we were behind the sticks it was harder to make up for it.

In addition to that, I think some tendencies of ours were picked up such as running the ball on 1st down right after picking up a 1st down.

So yeah, Nico missed some open plays down the field, but let's not brush over the fact the offense scheme and playcalling were less effective.
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#38
#38
Agree with the posters who think this new situation may cause Hype to change up the O some for this season because it needs it. Has it been figured out or just bad play by several O players last season. We will find out soon.
 
#39
#39
temptn said:
Tennessee's offense will change. Maybe a little maybe a lot. We don't know, and neither do any of our opponents. It may change week to week. It appeared that many defenses had figured out how to defeat / rattle Nico.

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Very possible. Nico's processing was more aligned with JG and Milton versus Hendon's. If this guy from Appy State can read/process what he's supposed to, we may go back to a quicker pace. We did vs. Miss. State when Gas Pipe came in to play.
 
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#40
#40
VOLociraptorr said:
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Thank you for sharing this. It proves my point exactly. It was one or two games where Nico missed more than one deepball. Sure he could have had a better game against Bama and Florida. But those games were in the middle of the season. By then teams had already shown the 3-2-6 defense was effective against us. You didn't see wide open guys against Oklahoma or Arkansas. Even NC State in the first half until we tired them out showed some resistance.

By the Bama and Florida games it felt like a lot of pressure was on Nico to hit those throws, becuase they seemed few and far between, which in turn contributed to him missing them. Alot of people were already critical of the offense leading up to those games and fans were tense. It's odd how everyone just forgets that the moment Nico leaves.

It wasn't just Nico either. Even when Nico was on, it felt like we would get a dropped ball, have a fumble or get a holding call etc..So yes, if everyone was perfect, the offense would have performed better. But that is also the issue. It felt like there was no room for error. Wheras in the past, there was.
 
#41
#41
vavolfan6 said:
I think too much is being made of Nico missing the deep ball last year. The reality is that defenses were much better prepared to contain our wide spread passing game. I think I remember some analysis of how teams were playing us differently by playing an extra DB and running a 3-2-6 defense. Teams realized it was better to be prepared for the big chunk plays in the passing game and force Tennessee to have to methodically work their way down the field. But with out false starts, holding calls, or a negative play on 1st down, once we were behind the sticks it was harder to make up for it.

In addition to that, I think some tendencies of ours were picked up such as running the ball on 1st down right after picking up a 1st down.

So yeah, Nico missed some open plays down the field, but let's not brush over the fact the offense scheme and playcalling were less effective.
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I agree, to a point, that defenses have a better understanding of our offensive scheme, but there were still many times we had a deep receiver wide open, and the ball was overthrown. We still have the scheme to get those receivers open, but we have not been near as good as connecting when they are open.
 
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#42
#42
VOLociraptorr said:
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This is exactly what I was saying to vavolfan6. I didn't even need the cut ups to know there was at least 4-5 plays with a guy running wide open every game. This cut up shows at least 6 TD's missed in just the Bama & Fla games. Neither one of those teams are rolling out scrubs in the secondary. Those 2 games were way closer than they should have been.
 
#44
#44
vavolfan6 said:
I think too much is being made of Nico missing the deep ball last year. The reality is that defenses were much better prepared to contain our wide spread passing game. I think I remember some analysis of how teams were playing us differently by playing an extra DB and running a 3-2-6 defense. Teams realized it was better to be prepared for the big chunk plays in the passing game and force Tennessee to have to methodically work their way down the field. But with out false starts, holding calls, or a negative play on 1st down, once we were behind the sticks it was harder to make up for it.

In addition to that, I think some tendencies of ours were picked up such as running the ball on 1st down right after picking up a 1st down.

So yeah, Nico missed some open plays down the field, but let's not brush over the fact the offense scheme and playcalling were less effective.
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I believe the coaches have somewhat contributed that to whats being said, i.e. lack of long balls, Nico not reading Defenses well. I don't think coaches were able to run the plays they truly wanted to on a lot of occasions. I do hope however we work on the apparent "tips" we were showing on some of our defensive schemes. Ohio state revealed that. I wonder if they also possibly got ahold of the scouting from the michigan coach previously caught taping teams in Michigans future ( or possible opponents)
 
#45
#45
vavolfan6 said:
I think too much is being made of Nico missing the deep ball last year. The reality is that defenses were much better prepared to contain our wide spread passing game. I think I remember some analysis of how teams were playing us differently by playing an extra DB and running a 3-2-6 defense. Teams realized it was better to be prepared for the big chunk plays in the passing game and force Tennessee to have to methodically work their way down the field. But with out false starts, holding calls, or a negative play on 1st down, once we were behind the sticks it was harder to make up for it.

In addition to that, I think some tendencies of ours were picked up such as running the ball on 1st down right after picking up a 1st down.

So yeah, Nico missed some open plays down the field, but let's not brush over the fact the offense scheme and playcalling were less effective.
Click to expand...
Play calling may have been less effective based upon the QB running the offense. Our offense did not resemble the 2022 version. I am sure there were other reasons, such as a having a better running game and better defense, but the QB play also played into the decision to run the O differently.
 
#46
#46
I'm of the opinion that we dodged a bullet with Nico. I believe he was JG 2.0 in the making, and he would have been a 5th year senior with us waiting for things to finally click. I'm glad the band aid got ripped off now instead of seeing more of the same for the next few seasons.
 
#47
#47
LadyVolette said:
Well, when you run the same plays over and over, people do tend to kind if figure it out 😂 Some games were hella creative but some were pretty repetitive and the Defense saved the day lol… I’d love to know what the difference maker was.. It was like we had two completely different offensive coordinators, one creative and one boring and too safe.. it’s just how it looked imo 😂.. blast away
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Yep. You were viewing through the same lens as most of us. Very bi polar offensive schemes over the past few years.
 
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#48
#48
I do think it's odd that each of the last two quarterbacks were poor fits for Heupel's offense. The success of his offense is largely predicated on threat of the deep ball and mobility of the qb. These were both huge strengths of HH and weaknesses of Milton and Nico. Milton and Nico both looked the part, but the execution was definitely lacking.
 
#49
#49
I was hoping he would come out of it... but he had a little JG in him. Talent made up for a lot but his timing wasn't great and his reads weren't good much of the time. He missed wide open guys because he couldn't "see" anything except what was right in his eyes. He couldn't see that if you have loaded coverage where you're looking... someone else is open. And yes. Opponents very quickly learned how to confuse him.
 
#50
#50
StickMan said:
I do think it's odd that each of the last two quarterbacks were poor fits for Heupel's offense. The success of his offense is largely predicated on threat of the deep ball and mobility of the qb. These were both huge strengths of HH and weaknesses of Milton and Nico. Milton and Nico both looked the part, but the execution was definitely lacking.
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Got to know where to throw it. HH did. Milton did sometimes. Nico struggled. Lots of times he just locked in and flat out missed guys streaking wide open. IMO that was a bigger problem than being off target though he missed deep throws a lot too. He took a lot of abuse and made the OL look worse than they were when teams baited him into a bad pre-snap read then took away his first option.
 
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