Talking points: Big Orange Big Boy Touchdowns
Going in reverse order today, because . . .
NCAA football
- . . . the link of the week for me (yes, I know it's only Tuesday, but . . . you know) is Holly's Fat Guy Touchdowns. She's right, you know: Fat Guy Touchdowns are "one of the purer joys in college football." But Holly, how can you neglect your own Antonio Reynolds, who made sure UL-Laf in 2007?
And that's not even the best big boy TD in orange. No, that distinction belongs to Shaun Ellis, 1998 against Auburn. Somebody find that video and Fanshot it. Please. For now, though, John Ward's call alone will summon the gooseflesh:
It's picked up by Tennessee, and the Volunteers have Shaun Ellis running with the football down the left side looking for blocking. This'll be Shaun Ellis still running, struggling, to the 25, to the 20, to the 15, to the 10, to the 5 . . . he made it. He made it.
- Memes! Riding on the 3SiB meme of yesterday, Gate 21 has its own new features in NCAA Football '09.
- Not shirtless fit, but fit. Our very own Lane Kiffin gets honorable mention in a list of the most physically fit coaches in college football.
- Strategy. Smart Football takes a look at the Triple Shoot, a hybrid of the "fly sweep offense" and the run and shoot.
- Sounds like morning in the spring. FanBlogs has a list of all of the Twittering college football coaches. By the way, you can follow Rocky Top Talk's Twitter feed, too.
- Shiny! Bruins Nation on the $185M facelift to Pauley Pavillion.
SEC basketball
- John Adams says that Calipari at Kentucky brings a much-needed jolt of . . . something . . . to the SEC. Patrick Patterson has already announced that he'll return, and Bruce Pearl says that if Meeks returns to the Wildcats, they're already the favorite to win the SEC and a potential Final Four team to boot.
SEC football
- Risky! Urban Meyer is fiddling with unprecedented success ($) at Florida, moving Tebow from shotgun to under center, preparing to run the ball using actual running backs, and teaching a defense that returns all 11 (that number again!) starters a new 3-3-5 alignment. It's all very risky and at the end of the season will be labeled either genuis or idiocy. Let's hope for the latter.
Tennessee football
- The Orlando Sentinel ranks Tennessee 7th in the SEC and predicts an 8-4 (4-4 in the SEC) season.
- Inside Tennessee profiles two new Volunteer players: Arthur Jeffery ($) and Eric Gordon ($). If you don't have a ticket, don't fret. RTT will be profiling all of the incoming players later this summer.
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30 comments
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Comments
11 of 11 starters returning
and 21 of the 22 two-deep rotation from last year. Solid.
by rblakeh on May 12, 2009 8:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
At least there's this:
if the Gator’s new schtick turns into EPIC FAIL, that probably won’t be noticed and corrected before the UT game. If it works, it’s not like it’d be any different than last year’s team strength, so it seems to be all upside for UT and basically no downside.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe everybody's missed this "EA game feature":
Realistic UT student section.
The heart of the student section vacates at halftime, regardless of the game action. Also, at random points in the game, a series of shrill female screeches can be heard – the “Jumbotron” effect.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 9:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The students will stay if we are winning / the game is close
The UF and LSU games 2 years ago were packed until the very end. The team just can’t win or lose by too much, that’s all :).
by rblakeh on May 12, 2009 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
3/4 of the student body has graduated since that year. I just don't trust BON that much.
I would agree if the statement read:
The students will stay if we are winning AND the game is close.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In honor of your fine post, sir...
I just posted an audio clip of the Ellis runback:
Yet another Meme: Shaun Ellis, "He made it! He made it!" | Gate 21
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lawvol: Gate 21 - Life, the Universe, & the Bounce of the Ball
by lawvol98 on May 12, 2009 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hijacking here...
Jose Jose has committed to the VOLS!
Rivals seems to have a much more current profile. He is an OG/C with offers from UF and UM, among a couple others.
by rblakeh on May 12, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Cmon Coach O, save some recruits for the rest of the coaches.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on May 12, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know you are kidding around
but I think credit for this one goes to Eddie Gran. Just speculating, but he is a recruiting force in southern Florida, so I’m guessing he was recruiting Jose Jose.
by rblakeh on May 12, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is the awesomest name right there.
There’s gotta be a song in that.
Or at least this.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One of my favorites
was Billy Williams, WR circa 1994, because Ward always called him “William Williams!” when he made a big catch.
But I’m not sure you can beat Jose Jose.
Will - Rocky Top Talk
by Will on May 12, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jose Jose
The man was so nice, they named him twice.
now with less meyton panning.
by Pride of the Southland on May 12, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep an eye on Lynden Trail and Eduardo Clements, too
They go to the same school and are visiting the Vols this summer.
Lyndren Trail (Profile) is the 11th ranked DE by Rivals, and in the top 250 over all.
Eduardo Clements is the 9th ranked running back (who we might like to use at receiver, as well) (Profile) by Rivals, and is also in the top 250.
by rblakeh on May 12, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think somebody's going to have to copy in the Ellis TD off a VHS or DVD.
My last resort is to start using the Chinese search engines. There’s no way I’m going to do that while at work.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
DEATH TO THE TRIPLE SHOOT!!!1!
I had to watch endure that thing at Wyoming when Dana Dimel (then Vic Koening) coached the team. In 2 years, they took a brilliant offense created by Tiller (and, in part, our own Chaney!) and promptly placed Wyoming around the bottom of total NCAA offensive production with that thing.
Let me step back a bit; I actually saw a football game live at Emporia State (don’t ask) once when they ran that monstrosity. The first quarter score was 28-0 against ESU, and they never crossed the 50-yard line all game. They had a fatal flaw in the offense that was obvious to even me at the time, and that same flaw existed at Wyoming. (BTW, Koening was head coach at ESU then.)
The problem is this: the feature plays in a triple shoot all begin with a wide receiver in motion. Usually, the ball is snapped just as the WR gets to the QB, so the QB has the option of keeping, handing to the receiver, or handing to a running back who’s headed up the middle. It’s supposed to slow the defense down because they have to figure out where the ball is.
Unfortunately, all you have to do is tell the D-end on the side that the motion man is running toward to push straight upfield into the backfield. He doesn’t even turn toward the QB as he rushes – it’s like he goes straight toward the end zone in an effort to contain the motion man. The rest of the line goes for the running back first and the quarterback second. The motion man is too committed in his run to be effective once the D-end has the corner sealed. The running back is too committed to an interior run for anything else to be effective. The quarterback has to simulate a handoff to both the WR and the running back, which causes him to delay too long behind the center. All three are sitting ducks so long as the D-end does his job.
I have never seen an offense fail so consistently and spectacularly as that thing did. And yes, I watched every single UT game last year. I would take the Clawfense over that.
/seppuku
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is this the same as the triple option?
Seems like it would work on occasion… but not as your bread and butter.
This was really funny, btw.
by rblakeh on May 12, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know it's not the same, but I can't explain the differences very well.
They are in many regards very similar. Both try to generate confusion immediately after the snap of the ball to slow down the defense. I think the triple option has more of the classic “option” in it, where the quarterback actually runs on a sweep while the triple shoot tries to use more of a spread formation and fewer option sweep plays. Here’s an easy summary:
A) The triple option allowed Air Force to be highly competitive in the MWC for years despite a talent gap – particularly at the offensive line – due to being a service academy.
B) The triple shoot allowed Wyoming to be highly noncompetitive in the MWC for years despite a talent gap in their favor against many teams.
And Wyoming has the ball first and 10 on their own 20-yard line. The receiver is set in motion, the ball is snapped, and the quarterback [hands it off to the motion man, who is tackled by the defensive end for a 5-yard loss; hands it off to the halfback, who is gang-tackled for a two-yard loss; keeps it under heavy pressure and goes down at the 12 yard line for an 8-yard sack].
Seriously, that radio call could have been recorded on a tape. It was like a Chooe Your Own Adventure book, only without that one happy ending. Add in a few interceptions and fumbles, and viola!: the triple-shoot.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know enough about the Triple Shoot to make a call on this, but...
The way I understand it, the triple option can be set up so that the defense is always wrong. This can be done via …well, the things that the triple option does. Basically, ti’s reliant on the QB being able to read one or two defenders such that the opponent is always wrong. I can only imagine the Triple Shoot operates the same way.
That being said, I suspect the inherent weakness in the Triple Shoot can be summed up in that it relies in someone winning a one-on-one matchup. The triple option is designed that in such a way that the offense just has to win a two-on-one matchup; if the Triple Shoot is ever in a position where it’s dependent on a lineman winning a one-on-one matchup it’s going to be in trouble in a hurry, simply because that’s not something you can always depend on.
The other thing that’ll factor into that is while it’s easy enough to shift the blocking schemes to create a two-on-one opportunity, it’s also easy enough for the defense to adjust to get the line to pursue the RB / QB (since they’re already doing that) and shade the nickel or dime back(s) to the motion side. They’ll then beat the blocking on the strong side. In the meantime, the defensive line is likely going 3-on-3 (or 3-on-4, with the RB staying in to block) which isn’t bad odds.
Of course, I’ll reserve judgment until the series finishes, but those are my first thoughts.
by Graysnail on May 12, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's basically the same concept like you say.
Let the offense choose their matchups. The guy claims it’s very easy for everybody to make the same on-the-fly adjustments, even without verbal audibles from the QB. I have extreme doubts about that.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the plus side, I never knew that guy got his stinkin' PhD for this.
As I’ve always been told: PhD = “Piled Higher and Deeper”
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know, I think I had actually blocked that out of my memory.
Until now. [sniff]
I hadn’t thought about that full-liplock, deep-throated, tongue-tangoing, sharing-yesterday’s-regurgitated-dinner kiss of death of an offense in years.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Man, you were bringing the hate today.
I’m so proud of you. ;)
by Graysnail on May 12, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh.
You know, I actually felt a little giddy when writing all of that. It was … er … um … exhilarating…
But yeah. I saw that offense get its lunch handed to itself when visiting some people at Emporia State (‘96, IIRC). Then in ’98 onward, I saw it absolutely destroy a Wyoming team that was actually very, very good for a mid-major. I’ll never claim to be a football expert, but I saw it coming from day one, and there was nothing to do but watch.
by Hooper on May 12, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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