- Sep 8, 2014
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Good write up on our lack of creativity on offense last year:
https://www.seccountry.com/florida/florida-gators-football-needs-improve-offensive-creativity-2017
When an offense struggles, fans criticize the offensive coordinator. Because the Florida Gators offense has been awful the last two seasons, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has come under scrutiny.
But is that fair? The most common reasons (or excuses, depending on your perspective) given for the sputtering offense have been that former coach Will Muschamp didn’t recruit well on that side of the ball and that the team has had to cycle through quarterbacks due to injury and suspension.
While those are legitimate reasons for the struggles, I did come across one interesting statistic that caught my eye. In 2016, Florida’s offense was terrible to start games and even worse coming out for the third quarter.
Florida Gators scoring points and ranking by quarter for 2016. (Will Miles/SEC Country)
This statistic points directly toward coaching. More specifically, I think it points toward play-calling and a predictable offense following adjustments made by the opposition.
The most egregious example of third-quarter offense during the season came against Tennessee. The Gators scored zero points, suffered through four three-and-outs, and lost 2 yards total in those four drives.
Drive 1: Pinned on own 10 after Tennessee Punt (21-3 Florida)
Looking at the film in later games, Nussmeier made more of an effort to get the ball to Callaway, but the predictability was still there. Below is the play-calling for the first three offensive plays of the third quarter in the last three games of the season.
Florida State
Perhaps the best evidence of my argument is actually the one time that Nussmeier broke tendency. Against LSU, Florida started the first drive of the second half backed up at its own 2.
LSU defensive end Arden Key (49) drops into coverage toward Callaway, anticipating a screen pass or at least something quick to Callaway. Instead, Appleby delivers the ball deep to Tyrie Cleveland, who breaks a tackle and gives Florida the lead.
Certainly trust in the offensive line and quarterback play a role in the play-calling. But when the SEC East was on the line at LSU, Nussmeier let loose and was able to exploit the Tigers’ aggressiveness.
So what does more creativity look like?
The offense needs to be more unpredictable and more creative in 2017. If it isn’t, it will continue to struggle. And Gators fans aren’t going to accept another year of offensive incompetence.
https://www.seccountry.com/florida/florida-gators-football-needs-improve-offensive-creativity-2017
When an offense struggles, fans criticize the offensive coordinator. Because the Florida Gators offense has been awful the last two seasons, offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has come under scrutiny.
But is that fair? The most common reasons (or excuses, depending on your perspective) given for the sputtering offense have been that former coach Will Muschamp didn’t recruit well on that side of the ball and that the team has had to cycle through quarterbacks due to injury and suspension.
While those are legitimate reasons for the struggles, I did come across one interesting statistic that caught my eye. In 2016, Florida’s offense was terrible to start games and even worse coming out for the third quarter.
Florida Gators scoring points and ranking by quarter for 2016. (Will Miles/SEC Country)
This statistic points directly toward coaching. More specifically, I think it points toward play-calling and a predictable offense following adjustments made by the opposition.
The most egregious example of third-quarter offense during the season came against Tennessee. The Gators scored zero points, suffered through four three-and-outs, and lost 2 yards total in those four drives.
Drive 1: Pinned on own 10 after Tennessee Punt (21-3 Florida)
- Jordan Scarlett run for 2 yards
- Jordan Scarlett run for 7 yards
- Jordan Scarlett run for 0 yards
- Punt
- Jordan Cronkrite split wide, drops a 4-yard curl
- Lamical Perine run for 1 yard
- Screen pass to Lamical Perine for minus-4 yards
- Punt
- Mark Thompson run for 1 yard
- Mark Thompson run for minus-2 yards
- Austin Appleby sacked (so fast we cannot determine who the play was designed for)
- Punt
- Jordan Scarlett run for minus-2 yards
- Play-action throw to DeAndre Goolsby in flat for 6 yards
- Austin Appleby sacked (so fast we cannot determine who the play was designed for)
- Punt
Looking at the film in later games, Nussmeier made more of an effort to get the ball to Callaway, but the predictability was still there. Below is the play-calling for the first three offensive plays of the third quarter in the last three games of the season.
Florida State
- Screen to Antonio Callaway for 4 yards
- Jordan Scarlett run for 1 yard
- Incompletion to Brandon Powell on a 5-yard crossing pattern
- Screen to Joshua Hammond for 4 yards
- Jordan Scarlett run for 0 yards
- Incompletion to Brandon Powell on a 5-yard crossing pattern — pass interference gives a first down
- Screen to Antonio Callaway for 1 yard
- Mark Thompson run for 7 yards
- Jordan Scarlett run for 2 yards — first down
Perhaps the best evidence of my argument is actually the one time that Nussmeier broke tendency. Against LSU, Florida started the first drive of the second half backed up at its own 2.
LSU defensive end Arden Key (49) drops into coverage toward Callaway, anticipating a screen pass or at least something quick to Callaway. Instead, Appleby delivers the ball deep to Tyrie Cleveland, who breaks a tackle and gives Florida the lead.
Certainly trust in the offensive line and quarterback play a role in the play-calling. But when the SEC East was on the line at LSU, Nussmeier let loose and was able to exploit the Tigers’ aggressiveness.
So what does more creativity look like?
- Double up on passes to open drives. Notice how every drive has a run called on second down, regardless of whether first down is successful or not.
- Fake the WR screen and run a draw. With the defensive players bailing to defend the screen, there is an opportunity to pop a run up the middle. I can’t remember the last time the Gators ran a draw.
- Fake the WR screen and slip either a tight end or another wide receiver from the same side of the formation behind the linebackers on a crossing route. This is the same concept as the draw but exploits that the fake screen will make the linebackers flow towards the fake.
The offense needs to be more unpredictable and more creative in 2017. If it isn’t, it will continue to struggle. And Gators fans aren’t going to accept another year of offensive incompetence.