Redzone Issues

Sep 6, 2023, 2:10 PM

I know it's only been one game (and I guess you can lump in the Tennessee bowl game). But I wonder how much of our redzone issues have been scheme related? Against duke we only saw runs out of the split back formation near the goal line. Granted it worked to get us down the field, but was duke keying on the fact that they knew we were going to run the ball? Could you argue that the goal line fumbles were a result of Duke getting into the backfield almost instantly?

Just saying, where were the fade routes or the quick slants? Where was the TE post to Brinningstool? Even with DJ last year we saw some of that and it even worked sometimes.

I guess 1st and goal near the goal line it makes sense just to run it 4 times, but my point is that Duke didn't have to respect the pass threat in the endzone. Even our lone TD was a behind the line-of-scrimmage pass to Shipley who willed his way in.

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https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/stat/red-zone-scoring-pct?date=2023-01-10

Spread Offenses have always been susceptible to issues as the field gets shorter, because they rely on space.

There are 13 defenders at all times, a 14th inside the RZ, which only looms larger in the spread as you get inside the 10, then 5...

Spread offenses are not by design adept at bellying up, hat on hat, playing tight or going Jumbo, it's the why Dabo and many spread teams emphasize or spend a lot of time in goal line or short yardage situationals.

It's also why QBs are so valuable in those situations as they have to be accounted for and why even Fat Boy Boyd was very good in those situations.

Note: TCU was 36th in 2022, with a 1st Team, All-Big12 kicker, Griffin Kell.