It's not the coach

[Gator2222]

I have heard a lot of people criticize the offensive play calling. However, I think that maybe some people simply look at a play that didn't work and think it was a bad play call.

If a pass play is called and the receiver is open but the QB doesn't get him the ball, is that a bad play call?
There's a difference between poor play calling and poor execution.

I've made a few gifs to help point out the difference.

For example, this is a pass play from the first drive of the FSU game.

The Gators line up in a tight formation with two tight ends both on the left side of the line. Goolsby runs a quick route across the middle and takes a linebacker with him. Lewis runs straight downfield and takes the safety with him. Right guard Fred Johnson gets beaten badly and the FSU rush gets to Appleby pretty quickly. Somehow Appleby manages to get off a perfect pass and hits Perine in stride. The linebacker has to come back across the field to push Perine out of bounds after a big gain.

That was a beautifully drawn up play and it was executed perfectly. The misdirection made FSU think run, the routes cleared out room for Perine, the blocks held just long enough and the QB delivered a perfect pass.

Everyone can agree that was a great play call.

Then we have a play that didn't work.

Here's the same play from a different angle

This is the 4th down play that failed to get a TD. Goolsby lines up on the line of scrimmage split out on the right side. The two receivers lined up behind him both run short routes and pull the defense up towards the line of scrimmage. This gives Goolsby a one on one matchup. Goolsby gets by the defender and is open if the ball is thrown in front of him. However, Scarlett's assignment was to block in pass protection. He gives up on his assignment too soon and runs out as a receiver. Scarlett never notices the blitzing DB. Appleby has to get rid of the ball under pressure and throws a bad pass.

If Scarlett carries out his assignment and blocks the blitzing DB then that play is a touchdown and a great play call. However, Scarlett missing his assignment doesn't make it a bad play call. It was just poorly executed.

That's what happens when you are forced to play freshmen and sophomores. They sometimes miss assignments due to lack of experience. Earlier in the season lots of people were griping that we should be playing Scarlett more. This is exactly why the coaches were giving the other guys opportunities. Scarlett has not been a good pass blocker. I'm sure watching this play in the film room will help him grow and mature as a player, but it comes at the expense of a TD in the FSU game. That is the price of youth and inexperience.

 

[Gator2222]

This is another play that some might characterize as a bad play call.

This play has five wide receivers and an empty back field. Most of the wide receivers run out of the frame so you can't see it, but there are receivers open downfield. The four receivers running downfield pull the defense with them and Powell is left all alone on a short route. There is literally no one anywhere near Powell. The offensive line does a good job of protecting the pocket. Appleby has a lot of time to find a receiver and deliver the ball. Appleby holds the ball way too long and gets happy feet. The result is a fumble that leads to points for FSU.

The play was drawn up well and it worked at getting a speedy receiver open in space. That play probably would have picked up a good chunk of yardage if the quarterback sees the open receiver and completes the pass. Once again, it wasn't poor play calling, it was poor execution.

When Mac gets a QB this offense will definitely put up points.

 

[Gator2222]

This is a third and nine play from our own 9 yard line.

Powell is lined up near the left tackle. The receiver closest to Powell runs a pick to clear out space. The receiver closest to the sidelines runs downfield and takes the DB with him. Powell runs directly into the space that has been cleared out. Appleby rolls out and the line does a good job of protecting him. However, Appleby throws the ball low and short. It takes an arm to throw that pass while rolling out. If he hits Powell in stride we get that first down easily.

It's not the play call, it's the execution. Mac just needs a QB.

 

[Gator2222]

This one is a running play. The play calls for Scarlett to run around the left end. The offensive line does a beautiful job blocking. Scarlett may have to beat one defender at the line of scrimmage, but there is a lot of open space after that. Ahmad Fullwood has made his way downfield and is doing a good job blocking the safety. If Scarlett can just beat one defender on the edge this is a potential TD.

Except, the sophomore offensive lineman Ivey blocks the wrong man. He goes for the double team and leaves a gaping hole for the middle linebacker to come through and blow up the play. If Ivey accounts for his gap this is a big play.

This is the type of play a lot of fans look at and think "horrible play call". However, if Ivey blocks #18 that play potentially goes for big yards.

It's not the play calling. It's being forced to start 13 underclassmen.

 

[GR8 2B]

I have heard a lot of people criticize the offensive play calling. However, I think that maybe some people simply look at a play that didn't work and think it was a bad play call.

If a pass play is called and the receiver is open but the QB doesn't get him the ball, is that a bad play call?
There's a difference between poor play calling and poor execution.

I've made a few gifs to help point out the difference.

For example, this is a pass play from the first drive of the FSU game.

The Gators line up in a tight formation with two tight ends both on the left side of the line. Goolsby runs a quick route across the middle and takes a linebacker with him. Lewis runs straight downfield and takes the safety with him. Right guard Fred Johnson gets beaten badly and the FSU rush gets to Appleby pretty quickly. Somehow Appleby manages to get off a perfect pass and hits Perine in stride. The linebacker has to come back across the field to push Perine out of bounds after a big gain.

That was a beautifully drawn up play and it was executed perfectly. The misdirection made FSU think run, the routes cleared out room for Perine, the blocks held just long enough and the QB delivered a perfect pass.

Everyone can agree that was a great play call.

Then we have a play that didn't work.

Here's the same play from a different angle

This is the 4th down play that failed to get a TD. Goolsby lines up on the line of scrimmage split out on the right side. The two receivers lined up behind him both run short routes and pull the defense up towards the line of scrimmage. This gives Goolsby a one on one matchup. Goolsby gets by the defender and is open if the ball is thrown in front of him. However, Scarlett's assignment was to block in pass protection. He gives up on his assignment too soon and runs out as a receiver. Scarlett never notices the blitzing DB. Appleby has to get rid of the ball under pressure and throws a bad pass.

If Scarlett carries out his assignment and blocks the blitzing DB then that play is a touchdown and a great play call. However, Scarlett missing his assignment doesn't make it a bad play call. It was just poorly executed.

That's what happens when you are forced to play freshmen and sophomores. They sometimes miss assignments due to lack of experience. Earlier in the season lots of people were griping that we should be playing Scarlett more. This is exactly why the coaches were giving the other guys opportunities. Scarlett has not been a good pass blocker. I'm sure watching this play in the film room will help him grow and mature as a player, but it comes at the expense of a TD in the FSU game. That is the price of youth and inexperience.

That's some good stuff! Give us some more, please.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

I'll bite, let's just say everything you just posted is 100% correct.

Do you think this staff is going to fix all this crap and have they put a kid on the roster that will make all those throws? Are they fixing the talent and depth issue by recruiting good players?

I have no faith in this staffs ability to develop and none in their ability to bring in quality talent. NONE.

 

[LagoonGator68]

It's either Butters or Nuss.....

 

[Tunaboat]

So we're looking at a bunch of failed plays and playing the "what if" game. If my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

[t-gator]

Lol the execution is shcitty. Not on the coaches at all

 

[soflagator]

Lol the execution is shcitty. Not on the coaches at all

I think speaking in any form of absolutes here is off base. To his credit, the OP didn't just rattle off an opinion. There's obviously some support to his premise. Good analysis, imo. That said, the obvious counter is that as a coaching staff, is it not their job to coach these guys up and get them to make plays? Doesn't remove any blame from the players who missed assignments, but the better coaches teach and instill those things, and find ways to get their players to play above their ability.

There is blame to go around. But I will say the "execution" talk tends to surround programs whose coaches aren't getting it done.

 

[GatorTAG]

All that is true and thanks for putting in the work to post it all. It's good to see the plays like that.

The problem is execution is perfected in practice. Practice which is led by our coaches and they are paid big bucks because they are supposedly better at preparing our guys to win than everybody else.

In our case we have very poor execution all over the field on just about every play which leads you to believe that our coaches are doing something wrong because lots of teams are able to execute at a higher level than us.

So you can blames the players but it's the coaches that are supposed to be preparing them to be successful and they're not. To be able to execute the plays properly. Which they don't.

Bottom line is we have some bad coaches.

 

[t-gator]

I think speaking in any form of absolutes here is off base. To his credit, the OP didn't just rattle off an opinion. There's obviously some support to his premise. Good analysis, imo.

Ok, I'm sorry for being a dick.

 

[Gator Fever]

Obviously a good QB makes a difference but I can find you plenty of tape of good QBs missing open guys running down the field resulting in bad plays. A QB can elevate you some and a select few can really change things but I think we have a lot of other issues also.

 

[GatorStud]

Maybe one little caveat to this discussion... lack of talented depth pushing for starting can field less due diligence for excellence.

 

[gators4224]

I have a feeling this thread is going to make for some heated debate

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

I've been trying to say this very thing for a while now, but I never had the gifs to back it up. All through last year and several times this year, it's clear there are plays to be made, but they just aren't being made. So kudos to you and a nice job putting it all together.

A coach is only as good as his players, and vice versa. I will still say that the players who are the ones messing up either need to be developed more or benched. I know in the case of the OL, we barely have anyone in the cupboard after the starting 5, but skill position wise, we have enough bodies to put out there.

It's been a frustrating stretch of years, far too many instances of "yeah, but if only he had......." The great teams are the ones who don't have an 18 wheeler full of "what ifs" at the end of the season. It's the coaching staff's job to limit those before they happen. Put the guys in the best possible position to succeed and they'll succeed more. Don't have Scarlett trying to pass block when he's clearly terrible at it. Don't have Brandon Powell catching short routes and relying on YAC when he's clearly terrible at it (other than the play against Ole Miss last year). Don't EVER put Mark Herndon in on meaningful offensive snaps. Don't have long developing routes in an empty set when our OL can't protect longer than two seconds. Call screens, draws, and misdirections to keep the defense honest. And the list goes on.

 

[GatorInKnox]

I have zero issues with McElwain from an Xs and Os standpoint. This is honestly the style of offense that I want (provided that it actually works). I will puke if we go back to smurfball.

It's his staff and his recruiting that worries me (and maybe his "motivational abilities" but I really can't speak to that since I'm not in the locker room). Just looking at the depth chart on offense leaves a lot of reason for optimism next year (not a (good) senior in sight and only a couple of juniors) but if one of the freshman QBs doesn't produce we're doomed. Recruits certainly aren't going to sign up to play for him if he has three years of no offense but I'm worried the damage is already done.

 

[gators4224]

Agree, but for treon for example shouldn't we have designed specific plays to suit his skillset instead of let him run around like a chicken with its head cut off? Also, the players might be young true and the QB not up to snuff, but when we had the ball right before halftime wouldn't it have made sense to at least try one deep throw to see if anything happens? at least give your team a shot at making points instead of just trying to get to halftime? what did we have to lose? Also, What about utilizing a fullback? When Meyer was here he utilized Latsko very effectively and he was a big help and a weapon at times. That play you pointed out about scarlett and IVey, wouldn't the middle linebacker that got past Ivey have been blocked if we used a fullback there? Also, tempo why don't we try to speed things up sometimes? You make some good points, I just think we haven't had any dynamic play calling really regardless of execution. Also, Appleyby is big and can run why not try to utilize him in the run game?

 

[GatorInKnox]

Also, too many people equate coaching to play calling. They aren't the same. It's easy to say we had the right play called but one player effed things up. It's ultimately the coaches job to make sure that doesn't happen.

 

[Jbossgator8]

Gotta execute plain and simple