Foote: UL's Issues on Third Down may be more alarming than you think

[Scott Malkinson]

Yes, and when we needed it the running game was there. But we have had a change in staff at OL, injuries and a young stable of RBs that will improve as the season moves forward. They are very talented, but they lack game experience and that takes time.

I think a bigger issue we have not been winning the 4th quarter.
that was a staple of a Napier coached team and we have done it once in the last 6 games.

[Rainman66]

Yes, and when we needed it the running game was there. But we have had a change in staff at OL, injuries and a young stable of RBs that will improve as the season moves forward. They are very talented, but they lack game experience and that takes time.

Not as much last year. Ragas was stuffed on a few short yardage situations. 2019 was decent, and I think tendencies started being exploited quite a bit last season.

[CajunT]

Not as much last year. Ragas was stuffed on a few short yardage situations. 2019 was decent, and I think tendencies started being exploited quite a bit last season.

Agree, the difference is last season UL had no spring and limited summer workouts. There was plenty of time to fix it this past spring and during summer sessions.

[CrazyCajun]

Napier also said he could be a better play caller, sounds like he is saying everyone can do better..starting with him.

[JMV JustMyView]

Play calling also would be easier if he was more efficient on 1st and 2nd, IF he could complete the ummm easy throws.

[Hardcore]

Play calling also would be easier if he was more efficient on 1st and 2nd, IF he could complete the ummm easy throws.

It would also help if receivers would not drop easy passes and if the linemen would block better.

The point of this is everyone has to do better including BN.

[zephyr]

Well we are sitting at 33% right now. 18 for 53.

This is alarming. However, what is more alarming is our 3rd down percentage defense which ranks us near the very bottom in the country (ranking of 122) at 49%. What is also interesting is that South Alabama ranks tops in the country in 3rd down percentage defense which could make this a defensive contest.

[ULGrad@HOU]

Without a doubt, Napier calls out our QB. He says that we have guys open. That means we are not passing to them, who does the passing? The offense is struggling because we cannot pass the ball effectively. It wasn't great last year, but this year it's worse. A long pass here and there is great, but if you can't sustain drives, you won't win many games.

[zephyr]

Turbine, why would you delete the thread about Foote's article?

[Turbine]

Turbine, why would you delete the thread about Foote's article?

Because it ceased to be a thread about Foote's article, I took a whole 2 minutes to clean it up.

Patience.

[zephyr]

Without a doubt, Napier calls out our QB. He says that we have guys open. That means we are not passing to them, who does the passing? The offense is struggling because we cannot pass the ball effectively. It wasn't great last year, but this year it's worse. A long pass here and there is great, but if you can't sustain drives, you won't win many games.

There are plays every game that LL can make better. I don't think anybody on this board disagrees about that. First of all, Napier was speaking more specifically about the GaSouthern game rather than every game. I'm Ok with a QB missing some plays because NOBODY makes every play in a game and he didn't hurt us with turnovers or really poor plays.

Second, I'm sorry but you are plain wrong about the passing game in general. The offense is struggling because we cannot blend the run game into some form of consistent success to help balance us out on offense and sustain drives. Again, I have argued with you enough on this board over the past year or so to know this won't change your mind but I am pointing out that I believe you have it backwards. In the times in the games where we have gone pass heavy and up tempo, the offense has scored almost every drive and often been almost too efficient taking little time off the clock while going perfect on the drive with no incompletions. The times where we have tried to go more balanced or get the run going is where we've been bogged down. We're averaging barely 4 yards per carry on runs where we were nearly double that a couple years ago. Also, of the 93 3rd down conversions, 53 of them this year have come via the passing game and only 34 from the run game or 37%. I don't really know how you can say the passing game has been the inconsistent part of the offense without looking at the running game especially since that's been our identity for so long.

[ULGrad@HOU]

There are plays every game that LL can make better. I don't think anybody on this board disagrees about that. First of all, Napier was speaking more specifically about the GaSouthern game rather than every game. I'm Ok with a QB missing some plays because NOBODY makes every play in a game and he didn't hurt us with turnovers or really poor plays.

Second, I'm sorry but you are plain wrong about the passing game in general. The offense is struggling because we cannot blend the run game into some form of consistent success to help balance us out on offense and sustain drives. Again, I have argued with you enough on this board over the past year or so to know this won't change your mind but I am pointing out that I believe you have it backwards. In the times in the games where we have gone pass heavy and up tempo, the offense has scored almost every drive and often been almost too efficient taking little time off the clock while going perfect on the drive with no incompletions. The times where we have tried to go more balanced or get the run going is where we've been bogged down. We're averaging barely 4 yards per carry on runs where we were nearly double that a couple years ago. Also, of the 93 3rd down conversions, 53 of them this year have come via the passing game and only 34 from the run game or 37%. I don't really know how you can say the passing game has been the inconsistent part of the offense without looking at the running game especially since that's been our identity for so long.

I will agree with the fact that our running game is not what it was, and needs improvement. I just didn't speak to that because of Napier's comment on passing.
Continuing on the running game thought, a change needs to be made as the starting RB. I have said it many times before, I like Chris Smith, he has many positives, but I don't think he should be getting the bulk of the carries. At the moment, M. Johnson looks the best to me. He can break tackles and won't go down easily.