There was a request on the message board so the intent is to deliver. I just got done watching this film and I will admit, this is the first time I watched Alabama's offense with any kind of break down intent. But I just want to parallel some of the comments I made earlier from the week when "From the Perch" Duke was written.
"I instantly gravitate on film to over pursuit or sell out mentality. When a defense "sells out" they typically leave "something behind." If Miami can incorporate a slant RPO with the #2 WR (It would require riding the QB fake a little longer) it would have been a touchdown. The safeties over aggressive down hill nature left a gaping hole behind him. Sure you can play action off this look, but a post snap RPO look on this would be devastating vs. a defense who defends it this way." (FTP DUKE)
That is exactly what Alabama does here. 3x1 Set and this is a "POST SNAP" RPO in which TUA holds the play fake a little longer. By riding the HB down the line of scrimmage it allows the QB the ability to see if a defense is over committed. This was Greedy William's first touchdown given up on the season.
"Diversify your screen game. Add tunnel screens. H back screens. Double screens. I do not care. But at this point Miami's screen game consists of ONE HB slip screen. Switching the RB on either side of the QB to run it doesn't count." (FTP DUKE)
That is what I asked Miami's offense to do earlier in the week. And here you will see a brilliant screen design by Alabama. They Motion the HB into the field and go empty 3x1 from 11 set personnel. (1 HB, 1 TE) This is a heavy screen alert down for the defense. Defensive coordinators are typically LIVID that a third and long screen pops for a first.
But this was a screen design set up to perfection by Bama. Obviously you cannot use the same HB empty motion in the future on similar situations vs. future defenses (It will tip off any good DC) but the same simple slip screen Miami displays week to week in this situation fools no one at this point.
"The Rpo % is down from a year ago. It needs to go back up. But once again, post snap ones are just important in today"s game. Lining up and doing IZ/Bubbles off pre snap looks 90% of the time won't help either." (FTP DUKE)
This is exactly a cog that is making Alabama so deadly in this game. This is a post snap RPO. (could be anyway) Tua does have a good sense where this ball is going pre-snap. It will be a counter action with two pulling lineman and a counter from the HB.
The twins receivers in Tua's point of view are running a flat/slant combo. Jerry Jeudy ability takes care of the rest but this is SCHEMED open. The linebackers bite HARD on the counter action and pulling lineman and Tua throws into a wide open window. Yes. It is a slant. Yes. Miami runs slants and have run RPO slants. But this counter RPO is not in the Miami repertoire and a dangerous LB bait variety.
"In my opinion, part of the third down woes these past three weeks is based on the fact of over reliance on similar reoccurring plays. If you have been following "From the Perch" you know that trips to the field on short yardage third down situations will tip this combo: Z go with the #2 and #3 receivers running outs. No surprise. You will see it twice again this week. Duke runs man coverage and this is simply relying on execution to win. Wide receivers do not separate and it is punt time." (FTP DUKE)
Now I have no idea if Bama runs this 3 x 1 set to the field a ton but what I do know vs. Cover 1 man (The same look Duke gave us vs same trips formation) I tend to like this combo better. The double move by the #1 and #2 receiver's Z outs are more adept at creating space and the #1 TE corner is a mismatch.
This is a brilliant throw by Tua. True. Very Clean pocket as well. That is where Alabama talent is clear for the world to see. But I just do not want to ignore the fact that Bama created a mismatch with its tight end here and had a double move underlay.
In closing, I just want to say it is pretty clear that Alabama has superior talent and the offensive line is much better than Miami's. But it is also pretty clear that the play design and schematic advantage offensive coordinator Michael Locksley is creating is equally superior to ours. Their is no doubt in my mind that after watching Miami operate the past three weeks, Miami's offense could use a schematic infusion.
If you have been following "From the Perch" week to week I am pretty positive you will see these plays and realize Miami under coach Mark Richt are a straight forward bunch. But we need to get serious on this side of the ball in a hurry because that team in maroon is not going away any time soon. And eventually if Miami were to ever be serious contenders again, it would need to be constructed in a way that could beat a team that is practically unbeatable.
No pro style team has beaten Alabama in 8 years. (LSU was the last to do so) And News flash, Alabama is no longer a pro style offense in premise either. They have dominated the SEC as a result. The only offense capable of scoring on Alabama? Alabama's. Mark Richt might want to take notice because let's be honest, Saban has been one step ahead of Mark Richt his whole career.
"I instantly gravitate on film to over pursuit or sell out mentality. When a defense "sells out" they typically leave "something behind." If Miami can incorporate a slant RPO with the #2 WR (It would require riding the QB fake a little longer) it would have been a touchdown. The safeties over aggressive down hill nature left a gaping hole behind him. Sure you can play action off this look, but a post snap RPO look on this would be devastating vs. a defense who defends it this way." (FTP DUKE)
That is exactly what Alabama does here. 3x1 Set and this is a "POST SNAP" RPO in which TUA holds the play fake a little longer. By riding the HB down the line of scrimmage it allows the QB the ability to see if a defense is over committed. This was Greedy William's first touchdown given up on the season.
"Diversify your screen game. Add tunnel screens. H back screens. Double screens. I do not care. But at this point Miami's screen game consists of ONE HB slip screen. Switching the RB on either side of the QB to run it doesn't count." (FTP DUKE)
That is what I asked Miami's offense to do earlier in the week. And here you will see a brilliant screen design by Alabama. They Motion the HB into the field and go empty 3x1 from 11 set personnel. (1 HB, 1 TE) This is a heavy screen alert down for the defense. Defensive coordinators are typically LIVID that a third and long screen pops for a first.
But this was a screen design set up to perfection by Bama. Obviously you cannot use the same HB empty motion in the future on similar situations vs. future defenses (It will tip off any good DC) but the same simple slip screen Miami displays week to week in this situation fools no one at this point.
"The Rpo % is down from a year ago. It needs to go back up. But once again, post snap ones are just important in today"s game. Lining up and doing IZ/Bubbles off pre snap looks 90% of the time won't help either." (FTP DUKE)
This is exactly a cog that is making Alabama so deadly in this game. This is a post snap RPO. (could be anyway) Tua does have a good sense where this ball is going pre-snap. It will be a counter action with two pulling lineman and a counter from the HB.
The twins receivers in Tua's point of view are running a flat/slant combo. Jerry Jeudy ability takes care of the rest but this is SCHEMED open. The linebackers bite HARD on the counter action and pulling lineman and Tua throws into a wide open window. Yes. It is a slant. Yes. Miami runs slants and have run RPO slants. But this counter RPO is not in the Miami repertoire and a dangerous LB bait variety.
"In my opinion, part of the third down woes these past three weeks is based on the fact of over reliance on similar reoccurring plays. If you have been following "From the Perch" you know that trips to the field on short yardage third down situations will tip this combo: Z go with the #2 and #3 receivers running outs. No surprise. You will see it twice again this week. Duke runs man coverage and this is simply relying on execution to win. Wide receivers do not separate and it is punt time." (FTP DUKE)
Now I have no idea if Bama runs this 3 x 1 set to the field a ton but what I do know vs. Cover 1 man (The same look Duke gave us vs same trips formation) I tend to like this combo better. The double move by the #1 and #2 receiver's Z outs are more adept at creating space and the #1 TE corner is a mismatch.
This is a brilliant throw by Tua. True. Very Clean pocket as well. That is where Alabama talent is clear for the world to see. But I just do not want to ignore the fact that Bama created a mismatch with its tight end here and had a double move underlay.
In closing, I just want to say it is pretty clear that Alabama has superior talent and the offensive line is much better than Miami's. But it is also pretty clear that the play design and schematic advantage offensive coordinator Michael Locksley is creating is equally superior to ours. Their is no doubt in my mind that after watching Miami operate the past three weeks, Miami's offense could use a schematic infusion.
If you have been following "From the Perch" week to week I am pretty positive you will see these plays and realize Miami under coach Mark Richt are a straight forward bunch. But we need to get serious on this side of the ball in a hurry because that team in maroon is not going away any time soon. And eventually if Miami were to ever be serious contenders again, it would need to be constructed in a way that could beat a team that is practically unbeatable.
No pro style team has beaten Alabama in 8 years. (LSU was the last to do so) And News flash, Alabama is no longer a pro style offense in premise either. They have dominated the SEC as a result. The only offense capable of scoring on Alabama? Alabama's. Mark Richt might want to take notice because let's be honest, Saban has been one step ahead of Mark Richt his whole career.
It happens by default when I do a weekly podcast with a comedian radio personality, a guy who sits when he pees, and after doing a film review series on the most vanilla offense in the ACC.
