[CTcard]

1. I agree with simplifying the playbook, but to go with that we should run no-huddle and use our depth at TE to our advantage. ... Anecdotally, we seem to be at our best when Costello is running the show on the fly.

I see some potential advantages to this approach, but I wonder if it is too much of a departure from our current approach to be able to do so well when introduced midseason. Shaw's general approach is to create optimal personnel for particular plays, a very-NFL idea. It also gets defenses out of their base packages, which is a common goal for an offense (there is a reason why it's the defense's base package). But since the current approach isn't working, this is something that both has some advantages and the benefit of not being crazy.

When we have run no-huddle, it's generally been at the end of half and it's been basically all-pass, save the clock. We've had mixed results. Managed a TD against Utah (though the offense generally had not trouble moving the ball vs Utah, just had trouble avoiding the critically stupid mistake). Was a disaster vs und. Eventually got to a TD vs SDSU - after a miracle save on an interception.

2. Practice the heck out of WR or TE screens and RPOs. WR screens when run effectively can be an easy way for an offense to consistently gain 5-7 yards and spread out the OLBs.  For whatever reason, we have never been able to execute them well, likely because they've never been a priority as part of our offense.  If they play press coverage on Smith/JJAW/Parkinson to take that away, then go right at that matchup. Likewise RPOs force the LBs to stay home and open up running lanes, or conversely allow for easy throws.

We don't have an RPO, because we don't have a run option for the QB. There have been zero intentional runs plays (or QB keep reads) this season.
We've had successful WR quick-out screens when we've had good personnel for the play. McCAffrey and Montgomery got a ton of yards on the play. Rector some. Since the defense essentially always has a number advantage on the play it relies upon either catching them backing off or the receiver beating at least one man. It doesn't seem the coaches think we have the personnel for the play right now - I remember just a few.

We've also had some success in the past with the TE slip-screen. I don't know why that has disappeared. I tend to like the play as a change up.

3. Increase use of misdirection. When you freeze the Dline/LBs for a split second with jet sweep motion or counter action you make the OLs job much easier and often improve their angles as the defense may take a step in the wrong direction

We've done a lot of jet sweep and jet sweep motion in the past. I am guessing it's disappearance is connected to not having anyone to do it well. I remember one jet sweep to Wilson who promptly took dead-aim at the one defender in the area and ran right into him for a loss. Haven't seen the play reappear after that. This could be an option killed by Weddington's injury.

Very few things schematically can dramatically cover for poor O line play.

This is the crux of the matter. Fantasizing about a few clever individual plays can be fun for us on a message board, but that doesn't really address the problem that the offense is having at the moment.

[CTcard]

1. I agree with simplifying the playbook, but to go with that we should run no-huddle and use our depth at TE to our advantage. ... Anecdotally, we seem to be at our best when Costello is running the show on the fly.

I see some potential advantages to this approach, but I wonder if it is too much of a departure from our current approach to be able to do so well when introduced midseason. Shaw's general approach is to create optimal personnel for particular plays, a very-NFL idea. It also gets defenses out of their base packages, which is a common goal for an offense (there is a reason why it's the defense's base package). But since the current approach isn't working, this is something that both has some advantages and the benefit of not being crazy.

When we have run no-huddle, it's generally been at the end of half and it's been basically all-pass, save the clock. We've had mixed results. Managed a TD against Utah (though the offense generally had not trouble moving the ball vs Utah, just had trouble avoiding the critically stupid mistake). Was a disaster vs und. Eventually got to a TD vs SDSU - after a miracle save on an interception.

2. Practice the heck out of WR or TE screens and RPOs. WR screens when run effectively can be an easy way for an offense to consistently gain 5-7 yards and spread out the OLBs.  For whatever reason, we have never been able to execute them well, likely because they've never been a priority as part of our offense.  If they play press coverage on Smith/JJAW/Parkinson to take that away, then go right at that matchup. Likewise RPOs force the LBs to stay home and open up running lanes, or conversely allow for easy throws.

We don't have an RPO, because we don't have a run option for the QB. There have been zero intentional runs plays (or QB keep reads) this season.
We've had successful WR quick-out screens when we've had good personnel for the play. McCAffrey and Montgomery got a ton of yards on the play. Rector some. Since the defense essentially always has a number advantage on the play it relies upon either catching them backing off or the receiver beating at least one man. It doesn't seem the coaches think we have the personnel for the play right now - I remember just a few.

We've also had some success in the past with the TE slip-screen. I don't know why that has disappeared. I tend to like the play as a change up.

3. Increase use of misdirection. When you freeze the Dline/LBs for a split second with jet sweep motion or counter action you make the OLs job much easier and often improve their angles as the defense may take a step in the wrong direction

We've done a lot of jet sweep and jet sweep motion in the past. I am guessing it's disappearance is connected to not having anyone to do it well. I remember one jet sweep to Wilson who promptly took dead-aim at the one defender in the area and ran right into him for a loss. Haven't seen the play reappear after that. This could be an option killed by Weddington's injury.

Very few things schematically can dramatically cover for poor O line play.

This is the crux of the matter. Fantasizing about a few clever individual plays can be fun for us on a message board, but that doesn't really address the problem that the offense is having at the moment.