The Long Ball - question for you football gurus

#1
Stevorino

Stevorino

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#1
Before this season, I generally considered throwing the ball vertically to be a toss up/gamble. Really just a way to make the safeties play back 5 more yards, just in case. Almost like a fake punt/kick - probably not going to happen, but have to be prepared just in case.

Suddenly, this offense looks poised to actually be able to make this a legitimate weapon instead of just tossing it up for grabs. Every bomb Bray has thrown thus far has been immaculately placed and of course our WRs have the height/speed to create separation.

So question for the gurus out there:

Is it possible to lineup against teams like Florida, UGA, Bama, and USCe and realistically grab multiple TD's over the top and expect to do so consistently without interceptions? Or are we still 'gambling' with the long ball , just with better odds because of our talent?
 
#2
#2
You didn't think the deep ball was a weapon last year? Was this when Worley was playing?
 
#3
#3
Stevorino said:
Before this season, I generally considered throwing the ball vertically to be a toss up/gamble. Really just a way to make the safeties play back 5 more yards, just in case. Almost like a fake punt/kick - probably not going to happen, but have to be prepared just in case.

Suddenly, this offense looks poised to actually be able to make this a legitimate weapon instead of just tossing it up for grabs. Every bomb Bray has thrown thus far has been immaculately placed and of course our WRs have the height/speed to create separation.

So question for the gurus out there:

Is it possible to lineup against teams like Florida, UGA, Bama, and USCe and realistically grab multiple TD's over the top and expect to do so consistently without interceptions? Or are we still 'gambling' with the long ball , just with better odds because of our talent?
Click to expand...

The SEC has the best athletes in the secondary, in any league in the NCAA. DC's in the SEC know we are going to try to go deep, so they will play 20-30 yards back against us. Winning in the SEC is about winning the intermediate passing game (10-15 yards), and most of all winning the battle at the LOS in the rushing game. If we can't win the battle at the LOS, they will sit on our passing routes all day, and it will make for a long and difficult day for Bray and his WR. The only way for us to win the long ball competition, is to win the LOS, rush the ball well, and keep those safeties closer to that LOS.
 
#4
#4
Depends on whether Bray gets the time he needs. Those teams will play more bump and run. Hold, grab, do anything to slow the receivers down so the line can get to Bray. There won't be as many opportunities against these teams, so the ones you get you need to make them count. There is always a counter to what teams are trying to take away. Double both receivers and you leave the middle of the field open. Backs, TE , slot guy get a lot of balls when they play that way. The maturity of Bray means he's going to find someone. These teams know they have too get to him or they're going to get beat.
 
#5
#5
Better competition in the SEC. You can can't just wing it down the field on every play an have it work. There are spots though, and that's what you have to capitalize on.
 
#6
#6
It's a little harder to throw the long ball against florida, because dragging their defenders , who are holding on for dear life slows our receivers down.
:)
 
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#8
#8
Gotta run the ball IMO. If we can't run the ball in SEC play, it will be hard to keep chucking it deep. We don't have to run for 200 yds per game, but we do need to be able to consistently run when we want to. But I must warn you, I'm no "guru" so TIFWIW. More like an armchair QB.
 
#9
#9
They will play us deep. Forcing our short yardage game to beat them. We will have to have some early success in the screen game and run game to have a chance with the long ball in the second half. Rivera will be key if they try to pressure Bray, because the safeties will be deep and the linebackers will leave the middle open. Lets hope CP and Pig can burn them for some nice yards after the catch.

GBO!!!
 
#10
#10
Stevorino said:
Before this season, I generally considered throwing the ball vertically to be a toss up/gamble. Really just a way to make the safeties play back 5 more yards, just in case. Almost like a fake punt/kick - probably not going to happen, but have to be prepared just in case.

Suddenly, this offense looks poised to actually be able to make this a legitimate weapon instead of just tossing it up for grabs. Every bomb Bray has thrown thus far has been immaculately placed and of course our WRs have the height/speed to create separation.

So question for the gurus out there:

Is it possible to lineup against teams like Florida, UGA, Bama, and USCe and realistically grab multiple TD's over the top and expect to do so consistently without interceptions? Or are we still 'gambling' with the long ball , just with better odds because of our talent?
Click to expand...

Your not gonna consistently throw over the top of the best defenses without making their safeties and corners account for something else.

For instance, If Bama's safeties never give the RB a second thought because you either don't run it much or don't run it well they are not gonna get beat deep very many times. Thats not to say you won't catch them asleep on occasion, but you will not beat them that way.
 
#11
#11
Totally agree with all the above.

Intermediate passing game is gonna be the key to this win.

But leave no doubt, Dooley and Co have some tricks up their sleeves.

Just getting the ball into the hands of the playmakers!!!
 
#12
#12
I would come out in I formation to keep Florida from having an extra DB in the game. Then i would run hunter and cp on deep routes opening the underneathe routes for rivera, bartholmeu, and neil against line backers. When they try to sneak their safeties up to assist, then i would beat them deep with hunter and cp. Mix in a run every once in awhile to keep them honest. The key is the line. We have to give Bray time to throw and gain 3 to 4 yards per carry against a 4 man front.
 
#14
#14
Cartervol said:
Depends on whether Bray gets the time he needs. Those teams will play more bump and run. Hold, grab, do anything to slow the receivers down so the line can get to Bray. There won't be as many opportunities against these teams, so the ones you get you need to make them count. There is always a counter to what teams are trying to take away. Double both receivers and you leave the middle of the field open. Backs, TE , slot guy get a lot of balls when they play that way. The maturity of Bray means he's going to find someone. These teams know they have too get to him or they're going to get beat.
Click to expand...

If Rivera has a big day in the flats then no the long ball is way less gamble.
 
#15
#15
Looks like we have a lot of offensive gurus on this board.

You guys getting your gameplans to the staff?
 
#17
#17
Stevorino said:
Before this season, I generally considered throwing the ball vertically to be a toss up/gamble. Really just a way to make the safeties play back 5 more yards, just in case. Almost like a fake punt/kick - probably not going to happen, but have to be prepared just in case.

Suddenly, this offense looks poised to actually be able to make this a legitimate weapon instead of just tossing it up for grabs. Every bomb Bray has thrown thus far has been immaculately placed and of course our WRs have the height/speed to create separation.

So question for the gurus out there:

Is it possible to lineup against teams like Florida, UGA, Bama, and USCe and realistically grab multiple TD's over the top and expect to do so consistently without interceptions? Or are we still 'gambling' with the long ball , just with better odds because of our talent?
Click to expand...

Nobody has ever run an offense through 20+ yard passes because it's to easy to defend on a consistent basis.

The key is setting things up for the long ball. Either by running the ball consistently (the best way), or dominating the ten yard in passing game. You can also use a good screen game to do deep.

In terms of how to exploit a defense, there is a few things:

1) You must have the same amount of pass blockers as the defense sending pass rushers. If you don't have time, you can't do it.

2) You must read the safeties correctly. You can't throw deep successfully most of the time with two safeties.

3) How far off the corners are the WR at the LOS, plus how quick they get out of their stance.

To answer your question, yes. UT can continue to make big plays deep. But they have to pass block well and have something work short to bring the defense in and keep them honest.
 
#18
#18
If you pay close attention, our big plays in the passing game against NC State came off Play Actions, which with a very good secondary (yes NC State has a good secondary) is how you increase chances and numbers of openings on deep balls in the SEC. If you just flat try to out run them, very rarely going to work, but the play action causes a small hesitation in the DBs, seen in Amerson twice, which is all our All-World WRs need.
 
#19
#19
Given what we know about this offense so far. If we can get the TEs, RBs and Slot guys involved in the passing game (specifically the middle and edges), and can run it well enough that the safety has to respect that, we will be very difficult to stop.

At that point its all up to Tyler to read what the D is giving him and take it. Pick your poison.
 
#20
#20
DD4ME said:
If Rivera has a big day in the flats then no the long ball is way less gamble.
Click to expand...
Well if you read what i said there, not sure you did. You can't take something away without leaving something else open. Bray will find it if he has time. That's the whole key TIME.
 
#22
#22
For those worried about Florida getting to Bray...you don't have to. We are not a ground and pound team. Haven't been since Chaney got here. But we do protect the QB. Expect several quick scores and big plays by us. All coaches talk about execution, we execute the big play/deep ball.
 
#23
#23
goldenvol said:
I would come out in I formation to keep Florida from having an extra DB in the game. Then i would run hunter and cp on deep routes opening the underneathe routes for rivera, bartholmeu, and neil against line backers. When they try to sneak their safeties up to assist, then i would beat them deep with hunter and cp. Mix in a run every once in awhile to keep them honest. The key is the line. We have to give Bray time to throw and gain 3 to 4 yards per carry against a 4 man front.
Click to expand...
Spot on!
 
#24
#24
Stevorino said:
Before this season, I generally considered throwing the ball vertically to be a toss up/gamble. Really just a way to make the safeties play back 5 more yards, just in case. Almost like a fake punt/kick - probably not going to happen, but have to be prepared just in case.

Suddenly, this offense looks poised to actually be able to make this a legitimate weapon instead of just tossing it up for grabs. Every bomb Bray has thrown thus far has been immaculately placed and of course our WRs have the height/speed to create separation.

So question for the gurus out there:

Is it possible to lineup against teams like Florida, UGA, Bama, and USCe and realistically grab multiple TD's over the top and expect to do so consistently without interceptions? Or are we still 'gambling' with the long ball , just with better odds because of our talent?
Click to expand...

If they are in a man defense and the safety isn't deep then yes.
 
#25
#25
I haven't seen anybody discussing this, but Rajion Neal was a full time receiver last year. To me, it's only a matter of time until Chaney motions him out to receiver and suddenly we can threaten every part of the field with 3 guys that run sub 4.4 (possibly 4 - Rogers looks pretty fast). We could do this out of our base personnel in the no huddle and get Neal matched up 1-on-1 on a LB, too.
 
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