Gandalf
The Orange/White Wizard
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2012
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So reading through other fan boards to get a different read on our strengths and weaknesses I had something of an epiphany. To whit:
What if our weakness in the secondary is part of the overall strategy?
FOLLY! you say, but hear me out. Yes, I am aware that our secondary was not the strongest (sucked) even before we lost a number of starters there and I am not saying that the weakness was intended nor that it wont be gladly fixed once we have the talent to fill it.
But WHAT IF CJH has used the expected weakness of our secondary as part of the game plan by offering a soft underbelly for our opponents to target with passing attacks?
Everyone in CFB knows how explosive our Offense is and so key is for opposing defenses to keep our O off of the field as much as possible. The plan for that generally is to run run run and run some more, eating up clock and wearing down our defense. The problem for them is that we have a fantastic defensive line and are tough against the run (#8). Our secondary is very soft though and much more vulnerable.
So what if CJH essentially dares them to largely abandon plans to run (slow clock) and focus on the passing game, making it more of a shootout? Meanwhile, our Dline pass rushes probably 40% of the time, seeking sacks, TFLs and TOs. Our offense, on the other hand has a stout Oline and HH and the WRs are spreading the field to move the ball virtually at will with very few mistakes. Our Dline is good enough to hurt their offense FAR more often than theirs Dline can hurt us and even though they can score back, it takes them longer. Meanwhile, a single TO or 3 and out is met with another score by us and they are even further behind the 8 ball, so they have to rely even MORE on the passing game while we focus on that pass rush.
The point is, Huepel is using our known weakness to lure teams into a shooting war with us, because they are going to lose that - rather than sticking with the time of possession battle to keep it our of our hands. Sure they try it at first - everyone does - but then just one mistake and they get behind and they are forced to abandon it go pass heavy, playing into his main strategy. Alabama got behind and only because they have a fantastic QB, more slippery than a greased eel, were they able to catch back up.
Once teams decide to go to a shootout with us, their fate is likely sealed. Granted, there is a danger that we might make more mistakes on our O (and indeed several times we did and it allowed the other team to get back in the game) but most of the time, Huepel is depending upon other teams simply not being able to match our offensive production.
Our weak secondary:
What if our weakness in the secondary is part of the overall strategy?
FOLLY! you say, but hear me out. Yes, I am aware that our secondary was not the strongest (sucked) even before we lost a number of starters there and I am not saying that the weakness was intended nor that it wont be gladly fixed once we have the talent to fill it.
But WHAT IF CJH has used the expected weakness of our secondary as part of the game plan by offering a soft underbelly for our opponents to target with passing attacks?
Everyone in CFB knows how explosive our Offense is and so key is for opposing defenses to keep our O off of the field as much as possible. The plan for that generally is to run run run and run some more, eating up clock and wearing down our defense. The problem for them is that we have a fantastic defensive line and are tough against the run (#8). Our secondary is very soft though and much more vulnerable.
So what if CJH essentially dares them to largely abandon plans to run (slow clock) and focus on the passing game, making it more of a shootout? Meanwhile, our Dline pass rushes probably 40% of the time, seeking sacks, TFLs and TOs. Our offense, on the other hand has a stout Oline and HH and the WRs are spreading the field to move the ball virtually at will with very few mistakes. Our Dline is good enough to hurt their offense FAR more often than theirs Dline can hurt us and even though they can score back, it takes them longer. Meanwhile, a single TO or 3 and out is met with another score by us and they are even further behind the 8 ball, so they have to rely even MORE on the passing game while we focus on that pass rush.
The point is, Huepel is using our known weakness to lure teams into a shooting war with us, because they are going to lose that - rather than sticking with the time of possession battle to keep it our of our hands. Sure they try it at first - everyone does - but then just one mistake and they get behind and they are forced to abandon it go pass heavy, playing into his main strategy. Alabama got behind and only because they have a fantastic QB, more slippery than a greased eel, were they able to catch back up.
Once teams decide to go to a shootout with us, their fate is likely sealed. Granted, there is a danger that we might make more mistakes on our O (and indeed several times we did and it allowed the other team to get back in the game) but most of the time, Huepel is depending upon other teams simply not being able to match our offensive production.
Our weak secondary:
