Something really important to consider that may ease your minds a bit

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

It’s very important everyone understands BGSU’s game plan last night. They committed HEAVILY to dropping 7 or 8 and only rushing 3. That strategy isn’t going to win them any games, but its certainly a stat killer for QB’s. When that happens, the following happens:

-QB has a ton of time to sit there and read through his progressions.

-Although he can stand there forever, it’s hard to find an open target. There are way more defenders than targets.

-The run game is smooth as butter. Chunk rush plays are easy to come by.

My guess is they looked at our roster and thought “They lost their two stud RB’s, let’s make them run the ball.” It’s very worth mentioning that Heupel did something we haven’t seen in a long time… he adjusted at halftime. I think he wanted to get more passes out of Milton, but the defense was set up too well for easy runs and difficult passes.

Let’s reserve judgement until Milton goes up against a more typical defensive scheme. He’s not always going to be throwing against 7 or 8 defenders downfield.

 

[VolZen]

Interesting perspective, makes me feel a little better.

Milton was efficient passing on the first 2 drives. I haven't rewatched, but did BG change coverage strategies to dropping 7-8 after those first 2 drives?

 

[ArmchairQB]

The commentators said something to the same effect during the game, too, that Bowling Green were content to drop back in coverage and let us run. And we did - to the tune of 64 run plays versus 24 passing plays. And Coach Heupel said:
"[Going to the run game] was what [Bowling Green] was doing. We felt like we had an opportunity because of their drop-8 coverages. There were a couple of times that I didn’t like his decision making. There were some things that were open; a couple of guys running open down the middle of the football field that he didn’t recognize or see. There are some things that he has to clean up. Offensively, we will have to clean up a bunch of things, too. At the same time, there were some positives that came out of it as well.”

Milton passing for 140 yards isn't a flattering stat line, but it's pretty par for the course for a Bowling Green game. Their opponents averaged 165 yards a game passing against them last year, which was good for 4th in the nation against the pass. Except it was only like that because no one bothered to pass against them because they had the *worst* rushing defense in the country last year and gave up 300+ yards a game on the ground. So, we had a Bowling Green game against Bowling Green. The <50% completion percentage is concerning. But other teams are going to give us a completely different defensive look. I don't know that there are a ton of takeaways from a warm-up game like this, where you can legitimately say "okay this is what we are for the year".

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

I’ll add too that it’s worth mentioning this means Milton probably isn’t near as bad as his stats looked last night, but on the flip side, our run game probably isn’t quite as good as it looked last night either. They were just begging us to run, so Heupel obliged.

 

[Mose Phillip's Watch]

You can bring up every reason in the world why he looker good or bad...but the bottom line is he played like he always has...inconsistent & he isn't all the sudden going to be the second coming of Mick Vick. He just is at very best a below average qb. I've never seen a qb get drastically better other than Johnathan Crompton at UT. You either got it or you don't

Ohio State first game starting qb threw for like 350 on a good team. We threw for 100 on the worst team & lucky at that

We shall see & hope I'm wrong

 

[MadWorld]

Milton passing for 140 yards isn't a flattering stat line, but it's pretty par for the course for a Bowling Green game..

A couple of 30+ yard drops by Hyatt didn't help either.

 

[TnVol!]

I'm staying on board with Coach Heupels' decisions.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

Interesting perspective, makes me feel a little better.

Milton was efficient passing on the first 2 drives. I haven't rewatched, but did BG change coverage strategies to dropping 7-8 after those first 2 drives?

I think on the first couple of drives they were in a more typical formation. I’ll have to go back and look.

Also note you can’t “drop” defenders in red zone situations, probably explains why we scored so easily when we got in the red zone.

 

[ProudVOLfan]

I wasn't impressed at all but you have valid points. That said I don't like his reads considering he missed some wide open receivers and was way off on deep balls. I'm no coach and I been wrong before so we will see how it goes and hope I am wrong

 

[90 Vol]

I think folks are just in denial. We've seen this movie many times and know how it's going to end.

 

[ButchPlz]

I think folks are just in denial. We've seen this movie many times and know how it's going to end.

Yep, including all the side bits about "hiding the playbook". Same old same old.

 

[66volfan]

I’m as optimistic as they come when it comes to UT football. Having said that, Milton wasn’t even close to accurate on the long ball, overlooked wide open receivers, and looked flat footed all night. His second touchdown run was a missed read that would have been a tackle for loss against SEC athletes.

I trust coach that this is our best option, I just hope he gets him coached up quick.

 

[Raebo]

I think Heupel wants a QB that can run some in his system. Bailey might be the best passer of the 3 but he is the worse runner in the limited action I have seen him. As long as Milton/Hooker are somewhat adequate passing, I don't think Bailey will get much playing time. In a different system, Bailey might clearly be the best.
This is just guess work based on my limited observation.

 

[2k15]

Good post, but at the end of the day, Bowling Green's scheme doesn't diminish the fact that Milton consistently either overthrew or did not throw to wide open targets over and over. The passing windows were there last night, and they're only going to get smaller as the secondaries that UT faces improve.

 

[MiramarVol]

I wasn't impressed at all but you have valid points. That said I don't like his reads considering he missed some wide open receivers and was way off on deep balls. I'm no coach and I been wrong before so we will see how it goes and hope I am wrong

There was a reason he "stood there like a statue" as some have been saying. That's because they dropped 7-8 guys and rushed 3. Passing lanes get clogged up and tuck and run or handing the ball off resulted in such large gains. He was off on some deep throws, but that's fixable throw live reps. Remember he missed Spring and started with the team in June. So there is some chemistry work there too.

 

[TheVolsFrog]

There was a reason he "stood there like a statue" as some have been saying. That's because they dropped 7-8 guys and rushed 3. Passing lanes get clogged up and tuck and run or handing the ball off resulted in such large gains. He was off on some deep throws, but that's fixable throw live reps. Remember he missed Spring and started with the team in June. So there is some chemistry work there too.

I think playing against a D that doesn't drop back and sends defenders at him may actually help him. Instead of standing back there looking to make the hero long throw, he'll take the underneath and get what he can and get the team back for the next play. He stood back there way too many times, flat footed pointing down the field looking for the homerun. That's my theory anyway.
Still was good to see CJH pretty much call him out on what he did wrong. Some of those passes the WR needed to pull in. Look at Jennings.. He was a 50/50 beast and wanted it. That last dropped pass was on the numbers and no excuse not to be caught.
Now there is game film, lets see what happens. If nothing improves after game 3, we may be seeing someone else given the reins.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

It’s very important everyone understands BGSU’s game plan last night. They committed HEAVILY to dropping 7 or 8 and only rushing 3. That strategy isn’t going to win them any games, but its certainly a stat killer for QB’s. When that happens, the following happens:

-QB has a ton of time to sit there and read through his progressions.

-Although he can stand there forever, it’s hard to find an open target. There are way more defenders than targets.

-The run game is smooth as butter. Chunk rush plays are easy to come by.

My guess is they looked at our roster and thought “They lost their two stud RB’s, let’s make them run the ball.” It’s very worth mentioning that Heupel did something we haven’t seen in a long time… he adjusted at halftime. I think he wanted to get more passes out of Milton, but the defense was set up too well for easy runs and difficult passes.

Let’s reserve judgement until Milton goes up against a more typical defensive scheme. He’s not always going to be throwing against 7 or 8 defenders downfield.

They were saying the same thing on the sec network after the game. Bowling Green dropped back 7-8 all night long, the running game was there for the taking. They weren't going to allow alot of passing. Still I agree, Milton missed a few open running recievers and he has got to get out of the flat footed and stiff legged look. I haven't given up on him but he needs to improve on last weeks game big time next week. Hyatt has to catch the ones your supposed to catch. The O-Line and running game performed well. GBO!!!!

 

[SaintLouisVol]

I think Heupel wants a QB that can run some in his system. Bailey might be the best passer of the 3 but he is the worse runner in the limited action I have seen him. As long as Milton/Hooker are somewhat adequate passing, I don't think Bailey will get much playing time. In a different system, Bailey might clearly be the best.
This is just guess work based on my limited observation.

Last night, if Bailey would have made all the same decisions to keep it on the ZR or break the pocket and run on pass plays, he would have faired very similarly, IMO. I did not think that JM demonstrated any impressive speed or elusiveness as a runner.

A college QB doesn't have to run well to create issues for the defense with his legs. He just has to recognize what the D is giving him and take the rushing yardage when it is there.

 

[wmcovol]

Last night, if Bailey would have made all the same decisions to keep it on the ZR or break the pocket and run on pass plays, he would have faired very similarly, IMO. I did not think that JM demonstrated any impressive speed or elusiveness as a runner.

A college QB doesn't have to run well to create issues for the defense with his legs. He just has to recognize what the D is giving him and take the rushing yardage when it is there.

Despite the lackluster running of Milton, he is a better runner than Bailey. Not even close.

 

[TNnative]

It’s very important everyone understands BGSU’s game plan last night. They committed HEAVILY to dropping 7 or 8 and only rushing 3. That strategy isn’t going to win them any games, but its certainly a stat killer for QB’s. When that happens, the following happens:

-QB has a ton of time to sit there and read through his progressions.

-Although he can stand there forever, it’s hard to find an open target. There are way more defenders than targets.

-The run game is smooth as butter. Chunk rush plays are easy to come by.

My guess is they looked at our roster and thought “They lost their two stud RB’s, let’s make them run the ball.” It’s very worth mentioning that Heupel did something we haven’t seen in a long time… he adjusted at halftime. I think he wanted to get more passes out of Milton, but the defense was set up too well for easy runs and difficult passes.

Let’s reserve judgement until Milton goes up against a more typical defensive scheme. He’s not always going to be throwing against 7 or 8 defenders downfield.

Then again, he might. If so, get the TE's to lead block on half the runs, and be a decoy for the rest. Show pass just enough to keep them doing that. By the half? Twenty to thirty point lead. I could live with that.

 

[OrangeTsar]

-Although he can stand there forever, it’s hard to find an open target. There are way more defenders than targets.

with I agree with most of what you are saying. One thing I would tweak though is to point out that in today’s game, that ball has to be in the air already as the target opens. The odds of a target coming open decrease rapidly after a couple of additional seconds. Secondaries are just too good nowadays. Defenders recover so quickly

 

[Experiment626]

Even with 8 in coverage you should be able to throw someone open if you have 10 seconds in the pocket.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

Even with 8 in coverage you should be able to throw someone open if you have 10 seconds in the pocket.

That is just not true. That would be the equivalent of saying a running back should be able to run through a stacked box if he’s good enough.

 

[Hunerwadel]

Excellent perspective. Something else to ease your mind. IMO this offense is far from installed. No way does a new staff install a complicated system in one spring and one fall. This offense will evolve and grow over time. We didn't show much versatility last night but we really didn't need to.

 

[Impossible Girl]

It’s very important everyone understands BGSU’s game plan last night. They committed HEAVILY to dropping 7 or 8 and only rushing 3. That strategy isn’t going to win them any games, but its certainly a stat killer for QB’s. When that happens, the following happens:

-QB has a ton of time to sit there and read through his progressions.

-Although he can stand there forever, it’s hard to find an open target. There are way more defenders than targets.

-The run game is smooth as butter. Chunk rush plays are easy to come by.

My guess is they looked at our roster and thought “They lost their two stud RB’s, let’s make them run the ball.” It’s very worth mentioning that Heupel did something we haven’t seen in a long time… he adjusted at halftime. I think he wanted to get more passes out of Milton, but the defense was set up too well for easy runs and difficult passes.

Let’s reserve judgement until Milton goes up against a more typical defensive scheme. He’s not always going to be throwing against 7 or 8 defenders downfield.

Screen passes and play action are good ways to counter. I didn’t see any.