Question about formation with empty backfield

[volmark]

Will someone explain why Crompton was under center with an empty backfield?

When the o-line is struggling to protect the qb during pass plays, why is the QB not in the shotgun when the backfielf is empty?

I am not questioning that this is right or wrong. I'm not bashing Kiffin because Fulmer had JC doing the same thing last year.

It seemed to me that we were not disguising our plays well with formations. We did throw to our tailbacks a few times that I remember and I thought we would be doing more of that but then we didn't. I was confused about that.

When we struggle to pass, why let the other team know that is exactly what we are about to do?

Is Kiffin afraid of a bad snap?

 

[Baulder]

Well we are fumbling the ball at least once a game with a botched snap from under center.

About the only play that I saw that I really liked the way it worked was when we has both Brown and Hardesty in the game and Crompton faked to Hardesty and threw out to Brown on the flat.

 

[volmark]

So would the shotgun be safer than being under center exchange-wise or riskier?


there were a couple more short gains like 3-4 yards throwing to BB or Hardesty.

Nothing spectacular but I thought it provided a little balance.

 

[Baulder]

Thats a tough question cause both have their downsides, if you fumble it under center then the defense is right there and has a chance to recover it, but if you mis-handle a snap out of shotgun all of a sudden the ball is loose 5+ yards in the backfield.

I'd say it depends on where the glitch is on these bumbled snaps. If its the center that is having the problem then I would leave him under center. I would hate to have the center send a snap 20 yards over the QB's head.

 

[volmark]

Kiffin just said that they had to shoot up Sullins hand so he could snap the ball?

hmm

 

[Baulder]

I think I did read somewhere that he hurt his hand so bad last week that he couldn't even shake hands with anyone after the game.

We obviously have some problems on this side of the line that need addressing in this upcoming class. The QB needs time to throw, and the backs need a hole to run through.