Opening Up the Playbook

Re. Trick plays: He’s ran reverses (and double reverses) to Ross all season long. It seems to me that Cignetti runs a true trick play maybe once a game. I can recall the fleaflicker against UCLA, the WR pass against OSU and the hook and ladder against the furd. We probably didn’t run one against WSU because of the blowout and against Oregon because of the rain and against USC because they’re really good and wouldn’t get fooled?

So I don’t think that lack of trick plays is really an issue. They seemed to be called enough that they have a very high success percentage without getting predictable in any way.

As for your O-line criticism, I couldn’t disagree more. We’ve had two 1,000 yard rushers the last two years despite tons of injuries. I think any offensive struggles in 07 would be blamed on poor injured Longshore, and in ’08 there have been plenty of other issues such as QB switcheroos and WR inexperience. Cal always seems to have an o line guy or two drafted each year.

Because, you know, bringing in our fifth offensive coordinator in in five years would make all the difference.

Ever heard of something called continuity?

His play-calling for the Oregon State game next year should look like this:

1) Line up in Spread formation…
2) Watch OSU fall flat on its face
3) Repeat

I think the problem with our O-line was that it lacked experienced depth. When at full strength, it was punishing (Michigan St. game). And, the inexperienced players definitely started to improve. Thiswill be good for the next 2 years of linemen, I’m thinking.

think the play calls were all that different. Sure there were 3 or 4 trick plays. But everything else Cignitti’s called all year (end arounds, reverses, screens, running backs out to the slot or wide out position) – have been run all year. We just executed much better. (and even then, do you really think 1 complete pass to a wide out is “opening up the playbook”? really?)

I don’t know that this year’s stumbling offense is the fault of the OC as much as it is a patchwork OL, new receivers-QB, and growing pains. Plus, this is the first year of the Cignetti system. I doubt the offense would have performed any better regardless of who was calling plays.

At some point the responsibility has to fall on the players to execute on the field. The OL not opening holes for the running backs; the receivers running the wrong routes; the running backs choosing the wrong holes; the QB overthrowing passes; the receivers dropping passes; the OL unable to stop a rush; the QB throwing too early or in coverage, etc etc etc is not the coaches fault.

But the most important factor for me is that Cignetti seems to have the same sort of offensive philosophy as JT. Give the coaches and the kids a couple of years to get used to the system before pulling the plug.

out of the spread, traditional, and speed varieties. Not several times a game…but once or twice just to throw a new wrinkle at the D and to probe their capabilities. If the option works (like the spread did for Oregon) then keep running it.

The Maryland I formation might be interesting given our running backs that will have over the next few years. Cal’s O is all about throwing new wrinkles to the D.

Oregon and Georgia Tech won big yesterday on the road against higher ranked teams…

We tried running Wild Best against USC and we ran a WR double-pass against OSU… I’m not sure how many more tick plays we can run…