2 things about the offense

[terdferguson]

1. Last year and this year our offense was and is Duke Johnson. Probably much more so than most people realize. As he goes, our offense goes.
This year:
- Duke goes off against GT, the offense puts up big points.
- Duke gaining big yards in the first quarter against UF, we put up 14 points. He's shut down after that and the offense does zero the rest of the game.
- Duke goes out against UNC and Steve Morris turns into Jacory Harris.
Last year:
- Duke has big games against BC, GT, VT, UVA and we put up 41, 42, 30, and 41 points.
- Duke gets shut down against UNC, KSU, ND, and FSU and our offense stinks.

The only game that I can think of where Morris performed without Duke going off was against NCState last year. NCState was a 7-6 team that lost of Vandy in their bowl, big deal. Where's the game that Morris shouldered the load against a good team? Which leads me to...

2. Our offense the past two years has been all or nothing. Scoring points in bunches or 3 and outs. Big plays or going backwards. There's no consistency. There's no ability to sustain drives. Why? It's Morris. We've had two coordinators and the offense remains the same. Consistently inconsistent. And it's going to remain the same. Light bulbs don't come on halfway through your senior year. This is it, it's who he is. He's a guy that can't shoulder the load by himself against good teams. Perhaps he just can't handle the pressure and when Duke's having a nice game he's relaxed knowing that he doesn't have to be the man.

What do we do about it? Coley needs to gameplan and call plays accordingly. Get the run game going. Look at what we did in the fourth quarter tonight. We had huge success running north and south. The stretch play was getting obliterated. It shouldn't take until we're down by two scores in the fourth quarter to figure it out. This should have been the game plan from the opening kickoff. Line up and kick their ***. It's not a freaking race, we don't need an 80 yard bomb with 13 minutes left in the first quarter. Come out, establish the run, give morris some easy throws, then hit them with some play action after we've loosened them up. Get first downs, sustain a drive, wear out the d. Also, when Duke comes back, get him the ball more. Get him the ball creatively. Do whatever it takes to get him going.

 

[fincane]

Pretty sure the stretch play(zone play) was effective 3 out of every 5 times it was called.

 

[poncho0091]

I agree we are inconsistent, but I would like to point something out that has been an issue here ever since we have been bad. When was the last time we had an OC here for more than 2 years? Every QB we've had here (I believe since Wright) has had to learn a new offense at minimum every 2 years. Wright, JH, and now Morris have had 3 different OC's. All 3 had a new OC in their senior year as well.

People can say it doesn't matter, but I guarantee you it hurts their development, because they are learning new schemes, new tendencies, new plays etc every time at a time when they should have the playbook down and they should be developing their skills.

Wright got hurt by it. He had a solid freshman year and it all went downhill from there. JH actually improved from it when Fisch came (because he had Patrick Nix first who had no business as an OC and Whipple who really wanted Morris in the whole time so he could throw bombs that JH could not throw). Morris seemed on the right track with Fisch, but he appears to be on the decline with his reads right now.

 

[Nickkcin]

I agree we are inconsistent, but I would like to point something out that has been an issue here ever since we have been bad. When was the last time we had an OC here for more than 2 years? Every QB we've had here (I believe since Wright) has had to learn a new offense at minimum every 2 years. Wright, JH, and now Morris have had 3 different OC's. All 3 had a new OC in their senior year as well.

People can say it doesn't matter, but I guarantee you it hurts their development, because they are learning new schemes, new tendencies, new plays etc every time at a time when they should have the playbook down and they should be developing their skills.

Wright got hurt by it. He had a solid freshman year and it all went downhill from there. JH actually improved from it when Fisch came (because he had Patrick Nix first who had no business as an OC and Whipple who really wanted Morris in the whole time so he could throw bombs that JH could not throw). Morris seemed on the right track with Fisch, but he appears to be on the decline with his reads right now.

Yeah but Coley kept the same playbook supposedly and learned the language Fisch used. Morris isn't the brightest, he's ****y and trusts his arm a lot, but it get's him in a lot of trouble. It showed at the end with Crawford and Clements, Morris could lean on the run game and then boo yah fire one out with the defense cheating up.

 

[nope44]

The stretch play kills me in the redzone. We left two TDs on the field because of that.


He also needs to start working the fade to Clive into his redzone playbook.

 

[Clipse]

The key to this offense from here on out is run run run. More carries for Crawford. Less throws for Morris. Run it down teams throats with Duke and Crawford and force them to stop it. Let Morris kill defenses doing what he does best. Beating them over the top on play action. Then go right back to ground and pound.

This will definitely need to happen vs FSU. BC were able to run the ball at will and Rettig was able to play well off the run.

 

[poncho0091]

I agree we are inconsistent, but I would like to point something out that has been an issue here ever since we have been bad. When was the last time we had an OC here for more than 2 years? Every QB we've had here (I believe since Wright) has had to learn a new offense at minimum every 2 years. Wright, JH, and now Morris have had 3 different OC's. All 3 had a new OC in their senior year as well.

People can say it doesn't matter, but I guarantee you it hurts their development, because they are learning new schemes, new tendencies, new plays etc every time at a time when they should have the playbook down and they should be developing their skills.

Wright got hurt by it. He had a solid freshman year and it all went downhill from there. JH actually improved from it when Fisch came (because he had Patrick Nix first who had no business as an OC and Whipple who really wanted Morris in the whole time so he could throw bombs that JH could not throw). Morris seemed on the right track with Fisch, but he appears to be on the decline with his reads right now.

Yeah but Coley kept the same playbook supposedly and learned the language Fisch used. Morris isn't the brightest, he's ****y and trusts his arm a lot, but it get's him in a lot of trouble. It showed at the end with Crawford and Clements, Morris could lean on the run game and then boo yah fire one out with the defense cheating up.

Even with that, I'm sure Coley has put his own twist on this playbook and incorporated a lot of his own plays. Either way, I really think Morris needs to sit until his ankle is healthy. He is becoming a liability now.

 

[DeadPoets]

When we went hurry up the stretch play wasn't working at all. I sure wish we'd use more time.
I think UNC ran over 80 plays tonight or some **** (I know GT did).

We aren't going to last all season with those numbers. Oh & I can't stand mass substituting on defense. How do you get into any rhythm?

 

[terdferguson]

When we went hurry up the stretch play wasn't working at all. I sure wish we'd use more time.
I think UNC ran over 80 plays tonight or some **** (I know GT did).

We aren't going to last all season with those numbers. Oh & I can't stand mass substituting on defense. How do you get into any rhythm?

Yeah. Another plus for pounding the rock is ball control. Eat up some clock, keep the opposing offense off the field. Could be real important against FSU, especially if Winston is on.

 

[OrlandoCane]

Good points in the OP.

I always thought Morris was streaky... when the heat is on, he tends to get the jitters.

But didn't correlate that to Duke. Good observation.

 

[DiegoCane]

IMO part of the inconsistency comes with the shuffling of the OL. It drives me nuts, our 1st 5 drives we had 5 different OL groupings. OLs need to trust each other, build continuity. When you are shuffling guys every drive that becomes difficult.

 

[bweegee]

Morris has made some bonehead decisions. You can tell it's going to be an interception as soon as he releases the ball, especially on the run and under pressure. His other picks and incompletions this season seem to be a lack of communication between his receivers. But when 7 different players are on another page one can only assume it's his fault. What's more discerning is coley's lack of faith in him in tonight's game. Crawford had 33 carries!

 

[SmokeyRone]

MORRIS! Had all day to throw often, missed recievers by 10, even 15 yards. ANY pass rush at all, and he was The Mummy, just frozen

He took our playmakers out of the game.

Looked like UNC was playing 10 yards off the ball, defending only deep passes, and Morris still couldn't find ANYONE underneath.

 

[fincane]

The stretch play kills me in the redzone. We left two TDs on the field because of that.


He also needs to start working the fade to Clive into his redzone playbook.

The winning TD was a "stretch play". Its either inside zone or outside zone. When Duke sees it he can go the distance but I think Crawford's patience might be better suited for it. Probably around half of our goalline running TDs are from that play. The clincher against Florida comes to mind.

 

[CanesAreAble]

Morris is good when:

1. He has a clean pocket
2. He has time to set his feet
3. His first read is open

He's a one-read guy who doesn't throw accurately from different platforms. If any of those 3 things aren't in his favor, he's wild-***.

 

[DeadPoets]

Morris is good when:

1. He has a clean pocket
2. He has time to set his feet
3. His first read is open

He's a one-read guy who doesn't throw accurately from different platforms. If any of those 3 things aren't in his favor, he's wild-***.

That's the majority of college QBs today.

 

[canesupremacy]

Why doesnt he run for yards. He runs ap
4.60.

 

[TXCane]

Morris had terrible footwork throughout the game. That alone is causing half his throws to be wild.

 

[poncho0091]

Why doesnt he run for yards. He runs ap
4.60.

I've never understood why Morris does not take off and run more. I can't stand pure running QB's like Terrell Pryor, vince young types, but Morris plays the pocket and can run well. He should be willing to run more often.

 

[Consigliere]

Why doesnt he run for yards. He runs ap
4.60.

I've never understood why Morris does not take off and run more. I can't stand pure running QB's like Terrell Pryor, vince young types, but Morris plays the pocket and can run well. He should be willing to run more often.

Not sure about this either but he is not 100% out there (he may not be 100% this season) so he probably lacks some confidence with his feet.