No there has not been a lot of spread sets.
Great responses ya'll thanks.
So I saw someone mention on twitter our tight O Line splits and how Coach gradually went that direction his first few years here because he saw us having trouble when our Line was more spread apart. I do remember hearing (more recently, like last year) how we have had success running the ball when we are in spread formations, having wider splits. For the football minds out there, have we done this much this year? If not, why and would doing that help out the O Line at all?
At least not ones that take advantage of the read option or outside zone plays.
Takes quickness and a little more foot speed to have wider splits at the tackle spot, pulling guards for traps or two back sets out of shot gun or four wide. Also takes tight ends and fullbacks that can seal and you know block the right people.
We have had a lot of rotation in the line due to injury and the tight end spots. A lot of inexperience at tight end and H back, something this offense is not used to. Would be nice to get the same five that started the game to be able to play most of it, that would change a lot of things as then when there is mistakes at least they start to get a feel for taking on only there assignments and not trying to block down or do someone else's assignment. Mitch could help a little here by audible or changing out of plays that look like they will not work due to what the defense is showing at the line. I don't know why they don't expect Mitch to do more of this, change the plays, I trust him, he has seen enough football, can throw enough, that he can read what the defense is doing at the line out of shot gun, a few more audibles would be nice. Like I said Mitch can do more. IF anything they should be putting more responsibility on him not less. He can handle it he just needs to tune everything else out and just play football. Kid is not a tight end he is a quarterback and all of these he is not a D1 quarterback threads are ridiculous. To the naysayers, forget about it, you have already formed your opinions.
The running backs could do a better job of staying patient and letting the holes develop, everyone is antsy and jumping the gun because of struggles, those guys let the game come to them and pick there spots with a little more patience and they will hit more on their cutbacks and creases they are getting. These guys need to relax a little bit, to much pent up anxiety and overkill on wanting to do more and everyone's minds racing a little bit. The biggest thing the guys need to do is focus on what they are supposed to be doing assignment wise and worry less about what other guys are doing. Do what you can control and be where you are supposed to be. If you make a mistake especially the QB you need to flush it and move on quickly and not dwell on it. Nugget needs to get in there and run over a few linebackers, and show them what is up, because that kid has always had talent, he just needs to play the game as hard as he always does and stay with it. Nugget Williams is still going to make some special plays for this Gophers team.
With the size of some of our receivers and some speed in the smaller guy's the only thing I have not seen that I have been hoping to see is some more missle screens and quick dig routes to the inside zone. Takes time for those plays to work something we have been short on.
One thing they have done in the past that has totally caught people off guard are the wheel routes or backside screens to the fullback or tight ends off counter action and play action, think we can get some of that on Saturday if the right guys are in place to run it. Some of the things they did with Williams out of those Maryland I and triple back sets, they might be able to do with some other guys like Gibson at least if they try it in practice. Have to find a way to get Strevlars speed on the field, he may fit in some of those Max Williams types of roles too.
The biggest thing is getting five guys that can stay on the field together and get a feel for how each other is playing style wise and then getting some consistency. Having a lot of rotation in the O-line is not ideal because those guys have a lot of responsibility in working together that other units do not have, almost like reading each others minds, and speaking another language.
