Does Meyer want a QB or a RB who can play QB?
by mlmintampa on Apr 6, 2010 12:54 PM EDT
in Florida Football
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PrintThe fuss over Urban Meyer considering two quarterbacks should only be a fuss if Meyer decides Trey Burton or Jordan Reed should throw the ball over John Brantley, stunting the growth of a player that has been groomed for this moment. Meyer did decide to come out of his self imposed media blackout to infer that Brantley can't run the ball on 3rd and 3 (most QBs can't), and Burton or the QB/TE Reed is much better for that. Because using a running back, who is trained to get 3 yards, would make too much sense. Remember, relying on a QB to always get you three yards can sometimes turn into this.
If Meyer wants to use Reed like a running back for special situations (Wildcat), wouldn't he be telegraphing the play? Football strategy is dependent on, "here's what we're doing, now stop it," but UF does not have the bodies to do that. At least not this season. What they do have are at least three and possibly four good running backs. Jeff Demps is a world class sprinter, Chris Rainey isn't scared to run through the line, Emmanuel Moody is a bulldozer (when healthy), and Mike Gillislee might be the MVP of spring football. Adding Burton or Reed into the options of short yardage adds another option, but are they more qualified than the backs I named? If you add Burton or Reed to throw the ball, doesn't that take away from Brantley?
The only other thing I can think of is that Meyer has misspoke. But stack these quotes up and it is clear that he thinks Brantley is missing something in his game and Burton or Reed has to cover that.
"We’re going to try and play two quarterbacks this year," Meyer said. "We have to. On third-and-3, we know what we want to do, and John probably is not going to do it because he’s not that kind of player."
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"Everyone says we ran Tim because he’s a great player. That’s partially true. The other part is single-wing offense gives you plus one in the run game," Meyer said. "Jordan Reed has proven he can do it, and Trey Burton can run well, too. This is the year I think we actually will play two like we played Tim and Chris Leak."
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"[Brantley is] doing fine. He’s having a good spring," Meyer said. "He can really throw the football, but he’s a guy who has to do a lot better in other things."
This brings up the only concern with Brantley as quarterback; if Meyer is so set on a mobile QB, why make Brantley the starter? If Meyer can't or won't build an offense around a traditional quarterback with an arm that makes grown men cry tears of joy, what will the next two seasons look like? If Meyer is sacrificing playing time for Brantley to feed his appetite for a substandard but mobile quarterback, he better hope it works, because Meyer will be under much more scrutiny without No. 15 back there to be his all-everything back. It would be nice for Meyer to stick with one QB, two RBs and not yank everyone else's chain.
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Oh man
So much for next season being awesome. Running Tebow on 3rd and 3 barely worked last season. People have figured it out ALREADY! If they sit Brantley I’m gonna be very upset with Meyer.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
Take what the game gives you… If Brantley is the QB who can make quick short throws (and the WR can get open quick) why must you have the qb run in an option scenario? Brantley seems like enough of an athlete to scoot pretty quickly for a first if the middle opens up…
And, hell,
The short throws on third and three would open up the draw play. You know, unlike the completely defunct but tediously attempted draw play of last year.
"In case you're wondering what the offense should look like, that wasn't it." - Urban Meyer
What?
You didn’t enjoy knowing the impending doomed play coming on 3rd and short, only to be surprised when it actually worked? Or seeing the smallest of our 3 running backs dive into the middle, when they could easily out run everyone to the side, only to get swallowed up for a measely 2 yards?
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
My best hope is
That Meyer is just throwing smoke again like he did last year when everyone saw Joe Haden running the wildcat in spring ball.
Anything else is beyond my comprehension and it better work or it will just look asanine.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
Everyone knew Tebow was running in ‘06 and it still worked fine. In fact, it opened up things later in the season once he started throwing it more often. If Burton or Reed go in and only run it as a specialist against the cupcakes, Tennessee’s defense is more likely to be flummoxed by a third and short pass than if Brantley’s back there.
Besides, it’s better to have Burton or Reed running inside for the first down instead of Demps or Rainey. As long as running up the middle is the primary plan for third and short (and it’s been that way since DeShawn Wynn was getting stuffed 65% of the time in ’05), you might as well have the big guys who can throw doing it.
Team Speed Kills
SBNation's SEC Blog
But it's not like Johnny can't run
We’ve seen Johnny break off runs of 15+ yards last year, there’s no reason to believe that Brantley won’t be doing his share of 3rd and short up the gut runs as well. If you truly want to keep a defense honest, don’t give them a clue as to what is coming.
It’s smokes and mirrors. If it happens it’ll happen against the Miami (OH)‘s and Applachian State’s before the Tennesse’s and Alabama’s.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
He can run, yes, but he’s not a bruising between-the-tackles runner by any stretch. He’s more like Colt McCoy or Chase Daniel as a runner than Tim Tebow. Plus, the options behind Brantley should he get hurt are A) a true freshman, B) a redshirt freshman who spent half of last year and all of this year so far as a tight end, and C) the punter. Brantley is the player the team can least afford to do without.
Asking JB to do some speed option and read option where he can reasonably avoid getting hit most of the time is one thing. Running him between the tackles and praying he doesn’t get dinged up is insanity.
Team Speed Kills
SBNation's SEC Blog
Ah Insanity
Replacing Tim Tebow … now that’s insanity. Filling in for Tebow … a possibility.
And Florida has another freshman quaterback to add to that list coming in the fall. I agree Brantley is more valuable to this team perhaps than Tebow was last season. At least when Tebow went down you knew you had rifle general coming to play, behind Brantley … well you said it.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
Ah Insanity
Replacing Tim Tebow … now that’s insanity. Filling in for Tebow … a possibility.
And Florida has another freshman quaterback to add to that list coming in the fall. I agree Brantley is more valuable to this team perhaps than Tebow was last season. At least when Tebow went down you knew you had rifle general coming to play, behind Brantley … well you said it.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
I just don’t understand why Urban seems so reluctant to move to a more pro-style offense with a semi-mobile QB (Bradford\McCoy at OU\UT type offenses come to mind.) 3rd and 3 means we QB power up the middle? We have stellar, quick RBs. We have a QB who should be able to complete quick slants on 3 step drops from under center. It just worries me hearing these kind of comments… I guess I just don’t get it…
Because when the quarterback is a threat to run, it’s like having an extra blocker. If the QB is not a threat to run then you’ve got nine blockers, one ball carrier, and one guy getting out of the way. If he is a threat to run, you’ve basically got ten blockers and one ball carrier because even if the QB doesn’t take it himself, at least one defender must be assigned to him. That’s what Meyer’s talking about when he talks about being “plus one in the run game” when operating from a single wing.
If you’ve got a big dude hitting the line at full speed or close to it, he’s going to pick up at least a yard or two provided no one hits him unblocked. As long as the blockers do their jobs, that’s not a problem 90% of the time. As it so happens, the biggest dudes among all the backs are Reed (6’3", 240) and Burton (6’2", 219). Moody is the biggest RB (5’11", 212), but he’s not known for hitting the line hard and has had a fumbling problem.
Hence, either Reed or Burton will draw short yardage duty.
Team Speed Kills
SBNation's SEC Blog
Leak/Tebow
Tebow represented roughly 20% of our total offensive plays in 2006, and he was a far greater prospect than either Trey Burton or Jordan Reed, so I’m not sure that we need to be concerned by these comments from Meyer. This would still allow Brantley to get 25+ passing attempts per game and 25+ rushing attempts for the remainder of our rushers, which should be plenty…
MileHighReport.com member since 02/06/07, promoted to "Position Coach" (i.e. new staff writer) on 02/16/10!
Remember the Hyperbole
I think Meyer likes to say things sometimes that don’t necessarily end up happening. I’m not sure if he says it because he thinks that it might really happen or if it’s gamesmanship and he wants to get things in opponents heads to keep them on their toes.
Remember at one point last year that Brantley was gonna get significant PT in undecided games.
The sky is falling!!!
There’s also reports that we have been running plays out of the I formation. But you should know by now that the I isn’t happening in games. It’s shotgun all the time at UF.
I’m also not sure why you are surprised since Addazio only knows about 4 plays and one of them is that option play where the ball it shoveled to the tight end going back toward the middle. Brantley cannot run the option because if he gets hit, we’ll end up like Texas in the championship game, with a freshman QB taking his first meaningful snaps!!
Meyer does not change the spread offense just because he has a traditional drop back passer at QB. Did yall miss the ‘06 season when Chris Leak was running the spread in slow motion all season. Unfortunately, our defense isn’t going to be as good as the ’06 version to keep us in games…..now in 2011 the defense might be better than ’06!
Dang it!!!
I am still dreaming of the I-formation and running sweeps and counters with that stable of runningbacks. Don’t go stealing my sweet nothings in the middle of the night.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
This isnt a big deal.
You had to have seen this coming guys, come on. Theres a vdieo on youtube of one of their practices that shows them using Reed in a wildcat running the ball up the middle. We know Urban isnt over his break up with Timmy yet, hes on the rebound. And Urby doesnt have the trust in his runners to bruise inside like he should (although i kinda mistrust them as well, all of them have yet to show real consistent power, but Mooooooooooooo is the best thing we have to a power back). Urban needs to run this play for his own sanity, if he doesnt have the QB running up the middle he might melt. And it also doesnt necessarily mean its going to be a run play everytime they use this package, for example… remember the Jump Pass??? Tim also did play action roll outs and option play action passes in this package in his freshman year. We’re talking about one of the most ingenius offensive minds in college ball here boys, Urban is going to put this team in a position to win, so lets not worry about it.
Let's not forget
The Mack truck (Mack Brown) is coming to town in the Fall as well. I’ve heard he’s a solid runner with loads of speed, but can run over some defenders.
Boom-shocka-locka!!!
But hes small.
Thats why Urban doesnt going to trust him with short yardage, all of our running backs are relatively small. Thats why Urban is going to the QB/TE hybrid to make up for that size. Thats why we did it with Tim, thats why were doin it without Tim. I actually think having a smaller back is better on short yardage cuz he can just hide behind the big bulldozers up front and wait for a seam. And if he doesnt get a seam, he can make one by squeezing into one. But obviously this is why im only a coach wannabe and Urban is a coaching genius.
by gatorempire127 on Apr 7, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
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