Quite well, you figure. This couldn't have worked out better for Texas (as Baylor fans are all too aware) since they are now running the Briles offense and get to plug in some of the best new pieces that Baylor planned to plug into that system in Waco in Austin instead.
Read my more detailed scouting reports and fits here.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Don Brown, Jabrill Peppers, and the Michigan D
One of the many reasons I'm really high on Michigan in 2016 is that they hired Don Brown, who crafted a brilliant defense at Boston College, to run their D this year with Greg Mattison.
I wrote up a piece for Athlon on how Brown's approach to defense fits perfectly with this Michigan roster and how he'll use Jabrill Peppers as a rover to muck up the works for opponents. Check it out here.
I wrote up a piece for Athlon on how Brown's approach to defense fits perfectly with this Michigan roster and how he'll use Jabrill Peppers as a rover to muck up the works for opponents. Check it out here.
The seven route, everyone's favorite way to attack cover 4
Over at Football Study Hall I broke down how offenses use slot WRs and the seven route to attack cover 4 and the ramifications of this for the position and the college game.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Dakota Prukop, another one that got away
Over at Football Study Hall I wrote on the prospective Oregon starting QB, Dakota Prukop, a kid from Vandegrift HS (Austin, TX) that chose the Big Sky conference over competing FCS offers from in-state programs.
It's hilarious now when I see Sam Ehlinger struggle to break into the top rated circle of 2016 Texas recruits despite his prodigious skill but for whatever reason the rankings frequently seem to miss central Texas QBs.
Prukop would be lethal in a veer and shoot offense and now might prove to translate into a spread option attack so it's also amusing to see him play his football elsewhere. There's a strong case to be made for non-blueblood staffs waiting around to see what QBs develop as seniors because there always seems to be some hidden treasure that gets missed.
It's hilarious now when I see Sam Ehlinger struggle to break into the top rated circle of 2016 Texas recruits despite his prodigious skill but for whatever reason the rankings frequently seem to miss central Texas QBs.
Prukop would be lethal in a veer and shoot offense and now might prove to translate into a spread option attack so it's also amusing to see him play his football elsewhere. There's a strong case to be made for non-blueblood staffs waiting around to see what QBs develop as seniors because there always seems to be some hidden treasure that gets missed.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Josh Rosen and the OODA loop
UCLA is looking to get all up in their opponents' OODA loop next year by giving sophomore QB Josh Rosen tremendous autonomy to run the offense from the field next season.
I recall that when Peyton Manning first started running the no-huddle offense at Indianapolis a common take from commentators was that Manning wasn't going to be able to out smart a DC sitting up in the booth who'd spent years in the game and hours in film study. Then Manning won five MVPs and you stopped hearing that take as much.
The reason they were wrong is that a player who can adjust and call plays from the field is at a major advantage against a coach stuck watching from a booth because he can cycle through the OODA loop much more quickly.
The OODA loop is to Observe, Orient, Decide, Act and is a concept devised by military strategist Col. John Boyd. A re-occurring principle from warfare and competition's long history is that the side which can adjust on the fly to avoid disasters and seize opportunities is generally going to win, even if at a deficit in other areas. Peyton Manning allowed the Colts to have that advantage and generally dominated the league unless he was facing opponents that could stop him from cycling through the OODA loop, like the Patriots who always had crafty defensive players that could match his adjustments, or the Steelers who had a player in Troy Polamalu who was nearly impossible to accurately observe.
If Rosen can handle all of this, and I suspect he can, then UCLA could have a big season this year or the next before he departs for the NFL.
I recall that when Peyton Manning first started running the no-huddle offense at Indianapolis a common take from commentators was that Manning wasn't going to be able to out smart a DC sitting up in the booth who'd spent years in the game and hours in film study. Then Manning won five MVPs and you stopped hearing that take as much.
The reason they were wrong is that a player who can adjust and call plays from the field is at a major advantage against a coach stuck watching from a booth because he can cycle through the OODA loop much more quickly.
The OODA loop is to Observe, Orient, Decide, Act and is a concept devised by military strategist Col. John Boyd. A re-occurring principle from warfare and competition's long history is that the side which can adjust on the fly to avoid disasters and seize opportunities is generally going to win, even if at a deficit in other areas. Peyton Manning allowed the Colts to have that advantage and generally dominated the league unless he was facing opponents that could stop him from cycling through the OODA loop, like the Patriots who always had crafty defensive players that could match his adjustments, or the Steelers who had a player in Troy Polamalu who was nearly impossible to accurately observe.
If Rosen can handle all of this, and I suspect he can, then UCLA could have a big season this year or the next before he departs for the NFL.
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Texas' other QB problem
One of the less examined problems over the last several years at Texas has been the lack of effective quarterbacking on defense.
Safety is a pretty cerebral position these days and the young men who play it need a similar skill set to that of the quarterback in terms of directing teammates, understanding leverage and space, and playing tendencies. Texas has struggled to get that from their safeties, which is why a walk-on, converted cornerback is about to be a three-year starter for the Longhorn defense.
Follow the link above to read more about Texas' struggle to get this position right and where things currently stand for Charlie Strong's defense.
Safety is a pretty cerebral position these days and the young men who play it need a similar skill set to that of the quarterback in terms of directing teammates, understanding leverage and space, and playing tendencies. Texas has struggled to get that from their safeties, which is why a walk-on, converted cornerback is about to be a three-year starter for the Longhorn defense.
Follow the link above to read more about Texas' struggle to get this position right and where things currently stand for Charlie Strong's defense.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Lamar Jackson and Lousville's upside in the ACC
Whatever Louisville's upside is as an ACC team, I think we're going to find it at some point in the next three years while Lamar Jackson is their QB.
Imagine if Jerrod Heard had a lightning release and strong arm and you're approaching what Lamar Jackson brings to the table. If Petrino can continue to adjust his offense to Lamar's skill set, much like how Mack Brown and Greg Davis had to adjust to Vince Young, I think we'll see Louisville do some amazing things over the next few years.
Imagine if Jerrod Heard had a lightning release and strong arm and you're approaching what Lamar Jackson brings to the table. If Petrino can continue to adjust his offense to Lamar's skill set, much like how Mack Brown and Greg Davis had to adjust to Vince Young, I think we'll see Louisville do some amazing things over the next few years.
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