Greg Davis Interview
by rchorns on Feb 23, 2010 5:42 PM CST
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This is a quote from the Greg Davis interview on ESPN's Big 12 Blog:
"We’re going to go back under center with the quarterback some more. We played the last two years almost exclusively out of the shotgun. We will continue to play a lot of the game from the shotgun, but we’re going to go back under center to try and help the backs run more downhill. With the zone read dropping off the radar, we’re going to play with the running backs’ alignment in the gun. When we are running the ball out of the gun, they can run more downhill. We can be tighter on our zones with the offensive line because of the landmarks with the backs. I think that is a big emphasis this spring -- to try and take the pressure off the quarterback and run the ball better."
What do ya'll think this means in terms of x's and o's? Do you think we are thinking about employing the pistol?
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That's what I got from it...
As I posted in BDR (and is posted here, and in the fanshots).
But I think this is one of the things that Davis will test in spring practice. It will probably work in practice (just like the Wildhorn did) and will likely see the field a lot (since it’s not as much of a completely different concept as the Wildhorn was).
depends
Hopefully Davis won’t be predictable with it (Run it up the middle on 1st down and play action pass on 3rd and long). It will work if its used right.
We'll likely run out of the shotgun on third and long
much like the pro teams do. But it will make first down, second down and third and short more interesting. The backs should love it, I know I do.
"If worms carried pistols, birds wouldn't eat 'em"- Darrell Royal
by SpiritOfTheFedora on Feb 23, 2010 6:20 PM CST up reply actions
I love this.
I’m not a Greg Davis basher like most folks. I think he’s done a great job for a decade and maximized the talent given to him. Colt was tremendous in the gun. I love it that GG will be doing both. It also makes us more attractive to future QB recruits who want to be adept at pro under-center play and not be a ‘system-product’. UT obviously has had some trouble running since Jamaal left and now the coaches are gettin’ serious about doing something about it.
Not a Davis Hater Either
But I think of him as being very competent rather than a differencemaker like Coach Boom. I think his strength and weakness are one in the same. He is very analytical – and it leads to alot of “me too” kind of offensive schemes. He is going under center because he has analyzed every OL and each RB on every damn snap and thinks that is the best way to fix the running game. So he will do a competent job on fixing that problem – but if other weaknesses come up during the season – it will be a slow grind to fix.
You're probably right.
Isn’t it funny that ALL good OCoordinators are “analytical” types and NEARLY all good DCoordinators are fire & brimstone, lay-the-wood, guys? That’s certainly true with UT’s 2 right now. I’m comfortable with GDavis and the way he is – I just wish we could have Muschamp coach the O-line for a few days each season. That would light a fire under ’em, for sure.
I'd say show me the money
Mack has been talking rushing game for years, more under-center, more focus . . . blah-blah-blah. Then McCoy takes 90-plus percent of the snaps in the gun.
Maybe Chris Hall could not execute the QB-under-center snap . . .
I do agree that the zone read has about run its course in terms of it being something defenses can’t handle. DCs are seeing so much of it, and new personnel are evolving through everybody’s system with a lot more capability and experience at defending the zone read and the four- and five-wide sets, that the swing to more balanced attacks is inevitable.
Please say you’re reading this, Malcolm Brown.
Somewhat Contrarian Opinion
FWIW I think Tre Newton is a premier back. He can be “JC” good. What he lacks in elite speed he makes up with off the charts vision and a feel for the running lane. (I did not want to say a “feel for the hole” – sounded somewhat disgusting)
really?
I think Tre Newton is a fine back but to say he can be as good as Jamaal Charles is a bit much. It’s not like Charles was blind but just really fast, he developed a pretty good feel for how to run with the blocking he had.
It May Be a Stretch
But to me he seems ahead of Jamal in so many areas, like ball security, blocking, pass receiving, and football IQ (at the relative stage of their careers) that I think he has a chance. I do recognize that he will never provide that 70 yard threat that Jamal has – and will prolly never be feared as much as Jamal.
Newton is not in the same class of RB as Charles.
Not even close. He was great at using blockers and his speed was as good as any NFLer at the time he was at UT. But as long as GG is the QB, they won’t need a premier back. They only need one to block, catch, run to daylight, & get 1st downs – not carry the team. And Newton is perfectly suited for that. But let’s not also throw out Fozzy, Cody, & Vondrell just yet. IMO, they’re all 4 at the same level. And if all 4 of those guys can hang onto the ball, they’ll already all be ahead of Jamaal. Dude had a real fumblin’ problem that he now seems to have taken care of in the NFL.
I think if Newton can withstand the punishment
He is a back that wears down the defense. While he is not overwhelmingly big or fast he reads the field well and finds ways to make positive yards. More first downs and clock control will take any defense out of the game.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
Chris Whaley
He was redshirted last yr but I thought I saw somewhere that Mack expects big things from him in the spring, I have no problem with Tre hes a quality guy but I dont know if he can really punish a d enough to make those safetys & lbs cheat up, of course we dont know if any back on the Texas offense can do that, but id like to see something out of him.
I really hope Whaley turns out
At this point I hope any RB we recruit turns out. I am a run first type guy, though I like a balanced offense. The biggest disappointment about the Texas ground game is lack of consistency. Its not that any of the guys Texas recruited aren’t immensely talented, they have just yet to consistently perform
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
but letting go of the zone read out of shotgun
which is more of a drive killer in my opinion than just zone blocking by O-Linemen. 1998 Denver Broncos perhaps?
I hope they serve beer in hell.
I was hoping that GD was going to install a more pro-style offense for GG
I think that if we keep the pass-first offense, while operating primarily from under center, then our runs won’t be nearly as projected, especially if we have a competent pass-catching TE. Gilbert isn’t mobile enough to run any kind of read-option, but he is certainly mobile enough for GD to make a concerted effort to roll him out of the pocket and force the opposing secondary to play some contain. I wouldn’t mind if the ’gun was used only for passing downs, the 2 minute offense, and drives where GG is doing a great job reading the coverage, which would give us some great draw opportunities, especially with Fozzy and Monroe, who would make great backs that come in only for shotgun formations, while Tre and CJ can be Ace- and I-backs.
If you're so sure of what it ain't, how about telling us what it am!
Finally
I just hope this transfers over to the season. I think this would help the running game tremendously. I’ve mentioned my affinity for the Pistol on her numerous times already so I can only hope at this point.
"I want to be remembered as the guy who gave his all whenever he was on the field."
-Walter Payton
This is to protect Gilbert
Like Davis tried to protect Colt in 06. The more we can run the ball the less pressure Gilbert will have on him.
Your tongue can't repel flavor of that magnitude!!
by UT2001 on Feb 24, 2010 9:18 AM CST via mobile reply actions
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