how UT can learn from JoePa

by longhornJ on Jan 2, 2008 12:20 PM CST Comment 4 comments

Since it was only a short year ago that we found ourselves in the same bowl situation as the Fightin' Farmers did this year, I thought it worth checking out this game.

What I saw on the Aggie end was disappointing, which in turn made me slightly more depressed about our loss on Turkey Day+1, but at the same time I saw something very interesting on the offensive side from Penn State. I couldn't help but think about it in terms of 'what if Texas were to do the something similar?'

If you saw the game you may recall that Penn State has 2 good QB's: one is more of a passer, the other more of a pure athlete/running QB. What they did quite effectively was run a half dozen or more plays in which the starter (we'll call him Quaker Colt) brought in the play and then split out at WR while the other QB (Quaker Chiles) took the snap from center.

The formation alone messed with the Aggies D big time, and I was impressed that old school Joe Paterno adapted to the talent he had on hand. Now if we could only do the same in the Burnt Orange Nation. Comments?

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Didn't we do that

at the beginning of the year?

Unless Chiles is lining up at WR, I still don't see the point at having them both on the field at the same time. Colt is just not enough of a threat as a wide out.

I did like the use of Chiles in the Holiday bowl and hope that he will get about 1/3 of the snaps next year, coming in when we want to run the ball or in the red zone. But I think we need to get more complex with the amount of plays we run with him at QB, mixing in some play action to keep Ds honest.

by Wells on Jan 2, 2008 12:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

agreed...

on more use of Chiles, but I was trying to spark a dialog on more creative use other than just spitting out the 'fast QB' with no real intent of throwing his direction.

I don't recall that we ran plays splitting Colt out, like Penn did, if so we certainly didn't do it more than once or twice. If for no other reason than that formation demands two db's 'stay home' to account for a possible flea flicker, I like it. But I'd love to see something even more innovative like Chiles as the lone back on the Zone Read, so that either Colt or he could (in theory) step back and throw it whlile rolling out. Of course we need to see Chiles actually throw a few passes or else ultimately his presence will be read as 100% run.

Mostly I thought it was interesting that a geezer (meant w/out malice Joe Pa!) like Paterno is that open to mixing it up at this late stage of his career and my mindset was 'why not us?' more than a specific formation...

by longhornJ on Jan 2, 2008 12:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We did run it

and it was more than once or twice, so I guess Joe Pa is stealing from GD.

I think splitting Chiles out makes more sense, as he can also throw the flea flicker, but is also a valid running and receiving threat.

by Wells on Jan 2, 2008 1:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

I can remember about 6-8 times that Chiles took the snap w/ Colt lined up at WR. The ball was never thrown in the direction of Colt. Only 1-2 of those were pass plays, the rest were a QB run.

In summary, we tried it. Penn State also ran it. It may be creative enough for JP, but we expect more creativity to use Chiles from GD.

I advised my adopted son to declare for the NFL draft, mostly because he owes me money.

by Shake on Jan 4, 2008 12:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs