Why the pitiful passing attack?

[jonS]

..Rutgers would be more than competitive if not very good if they had even average quarterback play. But is it also the passing scheme or poor routes that cause the wide receivers to lack separation? or is it their lack of speed ? What is the issue?

For my money, Ash is working wonders when you consider how bad the passing game has been.

 

[TMCB]

Boy is that the truth, we better hope Lewis is a good one.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Our OL is still very, very weak, unfortunately.

 

[knightfan7]

Boy is that the truth, we better hope Lewis is a good one.

Still need someone to get open catch the ball. Name someone other than Washington and Blackshear who can do that right now.

 

[koleszar]

IMO the play calling was beyond atrocious. Force feeding the run into an 8 man box all day isn't a great idea. The wheel route was there all day because they were so tight. The 1st one was wide open but Gio tripped over the 20 yd. line, the second one went for a touchdown. Yet that's all we ran it? Their LB's were a liability in coverage, we should have continually attacked them.

They finally found something through the air on the right side. When Washington caught passes and Blackshear the TD. They never attacked that side again. You lulled them to sleep with your 2 yd. and a cloud of dust offense, yet no play action passes? One jet sweep and that's it? The offense they ran simply is too predictable and lacks any imagination at all. Plays aren't run to set up other plays. Play calling is a big problem.

 

[newwavedave1]

One catch by a wide receiver is pitiful. That has to change!

 

[theRU]

i'm not as good with the scheming to understand what the ultimate failure is. I assume its the Oline, i try to time how much time our QB has to make his first decision, and with us its usually nearly as soon as they drop back. Thats just not enough time to make any read, much less multiple. The few times we have enough time, we can usually make some plays. Gio with his legs is the difference maker in getting some time. I know everyone here is focused on the skill positions but I on the other hand really hope that guys like Vretman and Clark pan out. We need to have a good oline to have a chance.

Case in point everyone is drooling over Hampton and Taylor, but if you watch those guys play, how many times are they not even touched? Alot! Our guys are getting hit as soon as they get the ball.

 

[fbc1866]

The game plan force the line to block 8 on five. This is a tough tash for any line. When we do pass the other team knows it. Passing on first down has been successful but we stop doing it. The wheel routes were open all day but we only ran it three times. Playing not to lose is difficult for the line.

 

[bitnez]

None of our QBs look off the safety. We also threw into double coverage today when we had open WRs on the other side of the field.

 

[RUBOB72]

For the most part our pass protection was good all game... it is in the run game where we are very inconsistent... We still try to run too many runs up the middle ... just put 8 in the box and we are screwed... “ Where have you gone Gary Nova Rutgers offense turns it lonely eyes to you”

 

[Mr_Twister]

Is any QB development going on? Do they read defenses? Are they allowed to change the play at the line of scrimmage? How often can you run a play into the teeth of the defense?

 

[RUsince52]

There were plays available many times, but we didn't take advantage. Martin was open a few times in the left flat, but Gio never looked once. One time he threw all the way across the field to Grant for 8 yards. There is no reason that we can't run a sweep like Purdue either with blocking or the back making it to the edge on his own. We have speed, but not the plays to compliment it. Our handoffs take forever and there are too many defensive bodies to navigate thru. Most of the time everything is bottled up.
Regardless of the OL, need more imagination with play calling. At least twice today we had 2nd and 16 and 20 and run some sort of delay up the middle. Might just as well pass short and make a few yards. We don't seem to have any buttonhook type plays, always trying to hit a moving target.

 

[RUnTime]

..Rutgers would be more than competitive if not very good if they had even average quarterback play. But is it also the passing scheme or poor routes that cause the wide receivers to lack separation? or is it their lack of speed ? What is the issue?

For my money, Ash is working wonders when you consider how bad the passing game has been.

OL is not good. That second half performance was pathetic

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

..... TALENT???

 

[AreYouNUTS]

It’s amazing that some of you still don’t understand the difference in Gio’s play - and what we do/don’t do on O - when he is hurt, or hurting, and when he is not. Watch the Minnesota game last year, and watch the Illinois game before he got hurt, and see how different our offense looks in each.

 

[Rutgerscc]

Our quarterbacks suck.

/Thread

 

[Abro1975]

Below average passing QBs, way below average WRS, and average at best O line = poor passing attack

 

[ashokan]

Our OL is still very, very weak, unfortunately.

It's funny how many people don't get that.

OL is an afterthought for just about everybody it seems

 

[jonS]

There are very few crossing plays over the middle ; no effort at 10-15 yard downfield passing; bubble screens never seem to work due to poor wr blocking.....but wheel routes were open...brutal

 

[RUSJ73]

I think the biggest problem is the WR's, can not get open. Next problem O-line all QB's need protection.Next, Gio's not Tom Brady but if you get the two top problems solved you will see more receptions.And lastly the play calling could be better.

 

[hiwater]

There were plays available many times, but we didn't take advantage. Martin was open a few times in the left flat, but Gio never looked once. One time he threw all the way across the field to Grant for 8 yards. There is no reason that we can't run a sweep like Purdue either with blocking or the back making it to the edge on his own. We have speed, but not the plays to compliment it. Our handoffs take forever and there are too many defensive bodies to navigate thru. Most of the time everything is bottled up.
Regardless of the OL, need more imagination with play cal'll ing. At least twice today we had 2nd and 16 and 20 and run some sort of delay up the middle. Might just as well pass short and make a few yards. We don't seem to have any buttonhook type plays, always trying to hit a moving target.

Agreed! Moving target is fine. Gio hit some moving targets today, but every time that we tried to throw the ball longer, we had 3 guys running to the same level and they brought 5 guys with them. What happened to having one Receiver putting a foot in the ground and breaking across the middle underneath the safety drop or having a receiver doing the button hook as you called it.

When we dragged a receiver across the middle, non of the outside receiver would climb past that same level so nobody is being stretched or pulled out of the middle.

After Grant went down, Hayek came in for him in the slot. Gio was forced to scramble toward the sidelines on 2 different occasions. Both times Hayek was running toward the sideline about 5 yards past the LOS with LB next to him. The defender made the play both times on Gio for short games because Hayek's running parallel to Gio allowed 1 defender to track them both. He brought the lineback right to Gio. If Hayek stops or slows down, it opens up a passing lane to throw to him behind the LB (Grant did this perfectly on Gio's first completion against Illinois). If the defender stops, Gio is wide open for the run. If Hayek is lacking football instincts to see this, the coaches should have pointed it out so it does not happen twice.

 

[hiwater]

Still need someone to get open catch the ball. Name someone other than Washington and Blackshear who can do that right now.

It's hard to get open on 5 yard stop routes or when you just run straight down the field when there is over the top Safety help. If they did more of a combination or different routes at varying levels, you would see guys getting open. Kill's O is sterile. He has zero imagination.

 

[WhoRU?]

It's hard to get open on 5 yard stop routes or when you just run straight down the field when there is over the top Safety help. If they did more of a combination or different routes at varying levels, you would see guys getting open. Kill's O is sterile. He has zero imagination.

We won the turnover battle (+2). We didn't turn the ball over, ate up clock, and kept the defense off the field long enough to hold Purdue to 12 points. That's imaginative enough for this week.

 

[hiwater]

We won the turnover battle (+2). We didn't turn the ball over, ate up clock, and kept the defense off the fielding longing enough to hold Purdue to 12 points. That's imaginative enough for this week.

Purdue kept themselves off the field with all of those drops. I've never seen a team drop so many passes in my life. Happy to take it though

 

[hinson32]

Below average passing QBs, way below average WRS, and average at best O line = poor passing attack

Abro nailed it.

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

IMO the play calling was beyond atrocious. Force feeding the run into an 8 man box all day isn't a great idea. The wheel route was there all day because they were so tight. The 1st one was wide open but Gio tripped over the 20 yd. line, the second one went for a touchdown. Yet that's all we ran it?

They finally found something through the air on the right side. When Washington caught passes and Blackshear the TD. They never attacked that side again. You lulled them to sleep with your 2 yd. and a cloud of dust offense, yet no play action passes? One jet seep and that's it? The offense they ran simply is too predictable and lacks any imagination at all. Plays aren't run to set up other plays. Play calling is a big problem.

agree, the I agree, the problem is definitely not the quarterback but the play-calling and the scheme and the lack of aggressive attack. Our coaches really are awful

 

[ddsmugs]

Watching Penn State McSorely throwing balls up to tall WR's who out jump defenders for catches. Washington dropped a good ball from Gio on a deep throw. We need more length at the wr position.

 

[koleszar]

Watching Penn State McSorely throwing balls up to tall WR's who out jump defenders for catches. Washington dropped a good ball from Gio on a deep throw. We need more length at the wr position.

I'm watching as well and came to the same observation. He just chucks it up. Sometimes it falls perfectly, most times it just really a jump ball that they win do to superior height at the WR position.

 

[TheHandOfChaos]

agree, the I agree, the problem is definitely not the quarterback but the play-calling and the scheme and the lack of aggressive attack. Our coaches really are awful

The play calling is a result of the coaches having no confidence in our QBs passing ability(and rightfully so) and the OLs ability to minimize pressure

 

[brookdale-soda]

Its the Jimmys and the Joes. I think the O line is improving so thats a positive. Now we need a QB that can stretch the field. I like Gio but if hes gonna leave so much air under his throws, he needs to lead the WR. Those sideline throws make me nervous.

 

[MADHAT1]

Its the Jimmys and the Joes. I think the O line is improving so thats a positive. Now we need a QB that can stretch the field. I like Gio but if hes gonna leave so much air under his throws, he needs to lead the WR. Those sideline throws make me nervous.

He might be the best available right now and has the type of attitude that makes the team better.
Rutgers and Purdue might be close in talent, I don't know, but RU won and with Gio at QB it was 2 B1G games in a row.
His mobility might make him the best option this year with the type of talent the RU O has. So until RU loses, Gio is a winning QB ( even with some faults).

 

[satnom]

Stop with the RU oline sucks bullshit. Our rushing numbers for the first seven games have been the following:

131
128
326
68
117
274
130

Those rush numbers overall are quite respectable. Five linemen in to block eight defensive guys that know you’re going to run. Good luck with that. The greater offensive problems in my opinion are the playcalling, qb play and wrs. Quite frankly the oline went into a hole to damn early in this game even with the understanding of Kill’s gameplan to milk the play clock. Purdue dropped an enormous amount of passes and our defense came up with big plays to make up for the shortsighted plays called. RU needed to score one more time not to risk losing this game in the final seconds or overtime.

Glad as hell we got the W.

GO RU

 

[DJ Spanky]

Play calling is piss poor for the drawbacks we have in terms of talent.

 

[RUReady76]

We won the turnover battle (+2). We didn't turn the ball over, ate up clock, and kept the defense off the field long enough to hold Purdue to 12 points. That's imaginative enough for this week.

As much as I want to disagree with you on how we won this game, that's all recruits care about. We won!

 

[RUChoppin]

Stop with the RU oline sucks bullshit. Our rushing numbers for the first seven games have been the following:

131
128
326
68
117
274
130

Those rush numbers overall are quite respectable. Five linemen in to block eight defensive guys that know you’re going to run. Good luck with that. The greater offensive problems in my opinion are the playcalling, qb play and wrs. Quite frankly the oline went into a hole to damn early in this game even with the understanding of Kill’s gameplan to milk the play clock. Purdue dropped an enormous amount of passes and our defense came up with big plays to make up for the shortsighted plays called. RU needed to score one more time not to risk losing this game in the final seconds or overtime.

Glad as hell we got the W.

GO RU

First off, rush blocking and pass protection are two different things.

Second, we've had two strong rushing performances... one was against an FCS team, and the other was against the worst rushing defense in the conference (100th nationally). Outside of those two games, we've rushed for 2.8 ypc this year. Even today, where we rushed for 3.8 ypc.... if you take out Edwards 74-yard breakaway, we rushed for 1.56 ypc as a team (56 yards on 36 attempts).

The OLine is not where it needs to be, and is a far cry from the lines we've had in the past. Blazek will continue to develop them, but we need more talent to build depth and competition.

Aside from that, though, our QBs have not shown a great deal of ability delivering the ball and our WRs have not shown a great deal of ability running precise routes to get open.

 

[jonS]

Our QB play has been below average and our receivers have problems with separation. However , ever since the Ohio State game , the offensive play calling has become very conservative and I do believe it's Kill and Ash's way to control the clock , minimize turnovers , and keep scores from getting out of hand. It wasn't so long ago that Rutgers marched down the Nebraska field for a TD on its first possession that was a very effective combination of passes and runs. Since then , the play calling has been three yards and a cloud of dust. But we've won both of the post tOSU games so what does that say?

 

[WhiteBus]

Since then we've won both of the post tOSU games so what does that say?

What it says is the Ash haters should shut up. The idea of the game is to win. It isn't trying to appease people's need for fantasy football stats.
Ash and company have figured out the team's strengths and weakness. They have come up with a game plan to win back to back Big Ten wins for the first time and the lowest points given up to a Big Ten opponent.
Leave the coaching up to Ash.

 

[newwavedave1]

Below average passing QBs, way below average WRS, and average at best O line = poor passing attack

Spot on. Once again, great minds think alike.

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

Stop with the RU oline sucks bullshit. Our rushing numbers for the first seven games have been the following:

131
128
326
68
117
274
130

Those rush numbers overall are quite respectable. Five linemen in to block eight defensive guys that know you’re going to run. Good luck with that. The greater offensive problems in my opinion are the playcalling, qb play and wrs. Quite frankly the oline went into a hole to damn early in this game even with the understanding of Kill’s gameplan to milk the play clock. Purdue dropped an enormous amount of passes and our defense came up with big plays to make up for the shortsighted plays called. RU needed to score one more time not to risk losing this game in the final seconds or overtime.

Glad as hell we got the W.

GO RU

Exactly!!!! its the coaches, not the kids

 

[MYHATINTHERING]

U guys are too funny. watched the game with 2 former RU playets, one a qb. the playcalling and scheme holds us back... we won despite our coaches