I do believe a lot of people are missing that when you change one thing, other things change too. And the scariest part of our offense are the multitude of great runners behind our line. Some would argue, however, that with a more effective passer, other skill players would emerge and contribute in a bigger way. I can see both sides of the argument. The thing that's always speculation is when you assume the "other QB" will be more effective. Right now, for all the Haack backers... TB is simply not ineffective enough to warrant a change. If anything, I think TB would be much better if our OC would roll him out more often. On passing downs, I think TB can "run someone open" better than he can sit in the pocket and find open receivers. Most of our deep ball catches in the past few games have been well defended miracle catches. And we are almost never open on intermediate routes.
USA's deep route runners had space yesterday. Their QBs simply overshot them. It was the difference in the game.
If we started Haack, who is less a run threat than TB, you're right, teams would stack 8+ in the box. Defenses would run a press man coverage and force our wideouts to get open with a combo of accurate passing.I do know this, a successful passing game (no matter what you call it ) effectively kills 8 in the box and would actually free up room for Eli to run.
This would have to occur while Haack faces zone blitzes, corner blitzes, fake blitzes, double A gap blitzes, and so forth. Ends and linebackers would set an edge and force us to run between the tackles. It would change our whole scheme, one we have practiced basically year round since January 2011.
Eli would have to get a bulk of his yards between the tackles. While he could do that, it's not optimal. The body takes a beating. (look at Alonzo, barely played this week b/c he's beat up from Arkansas State and his 120 yards then)
Think Marshall Faulk and Reggie Bush- Eli is the third coming.
Expect the same offensive approach with Jalen Nixon in 2015. I can live with that.
The part that resonates with me is that this is the offense they have practiced. Don't upset the apple cart. I get it.
However to imply that Eli would not be effective with a pro style QB does not hold water. To imply that defenses could afford to stack 8 against a QB that sees the whole field is not reality. Not unless they like getting torched.
Three years ago, when defenses respected the UL passing game, the Ragin' Cajuns led the country in 50+ yard touchdowns.
Being erratic was the South Al's MO. Next level arm that has not grown up yet. To state it was the difference is correct but also predictable.
Everyone has to realize that TWO playmakers (Zo and Jamal) weren't play last night and for ANY team that's a big deal. It changes everything and yet they found a way to win THAT game. They are playing as a team...picking up the slack for others who may be having a bad game. They are finding a way to win....and that fact is what I came away with from the game last night. The guys were in a dog fight and as much as some would like to think differently Broadway was a huge part of it. He is a leader on the team and has the ability to manage the team. To me, that is much more important than hitting a receiver on a go route. He is the same guy that took over for gauthier to lead the team to a bowl win, the same guy, the same guy who played with plates in his arm and lead the team to another bowl win and the same guy who is #3 in the books in completions.
The same guy the doesn't deserve fickle fans, who do not know the dynamic of the team, to point out every single mistake that he makes like.
There are always going to be fan critics... deserved or not. If you think of these fans as pro-Haack, another person that chose to play at UL, you don't despise them as much for seeming like they're anti-Broadway. Regardless, I don't see anything but working to Terrance's strengths, and not even thinking about the backup. We're taking care of business. No one gets criticized like the starting QB... but no one gets as much protection either. No one seems to mind if we sit a lineman or a LB for another player. No one comes to their defense as ferociously as the starting QB.
I think you're view holds water if we have wide-outs that can separate more. Right now, minus Jamal, we have possession receivers that don't GO that fast. We are relying on play action to suck linebackers up.
Also keep in mind that with 8+ in the box it's harder to provide protection for deep balls=takes more time.
If we had Jake Delhomme hitting um deep, short, and in the middle McGuire would be running for over a hundred almost as a matter of fact every week. Instead we have TB who is an average passer and very good runner who has had outstanding receivers his whole career and now does not.
I think we all recall how we played with him out for a couple of games with better receivers.
Broadway was getting a lot more time to throw last night than any game this season and yet..........
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