VTTW Board Index

In discussions about the defense he was saying he believed they will have "packages" for situations such as a 2nd down package, third down, nickel and dime. While the defense is filling out, they are still young which lends itself to developing specialty players for situations.

I have no problems with that as long as the massive substitutions go well with the young players and we have seen past problems there! I do believe this is a good appraoch with what we have, but I certainly will be watching to see how many time-outs we waste getting the correct kids in there. The substitutions go smooth and our D will flow and disrupt. Call a time-out and the other team will watch and adjust.

G   :powert:

And if I am the coach of the other team....... I get you in a package I like and go no huddle. 

Yep, that plus the fact that the other team sees who is coming on to the field, as well.  It won't take them long to figure out who is on the field and what "package" is on the field and adjust accordingly. 

There are no gimmicks that are consistently successful in the SEC.  The players are too good and the coaches are too smart to fall for that more than once. 

I really don't see it as a gimmick as much as just a necessity. Other teams will adjust, but if you play freshmen all game long, they'll keep pounding on you until they make mistakes and the end result is the same. I think our coaches have to try to be creative on defense to create mismatches. Wilcox did that at Boise and I'd hope he could at least be flexible enough to change things up as other teams learn the tendencies. In the words of our former battle captain, you have to be multiple.

designing enough flexibility into each package that when the keys are read we have personnel capable of adapting and responding effectively.

Adjusting to the package is one thing, adjusting to the play called by the D is another.  You could have the same personnel execute a blitz or drop back in coverage.  You might even try to associate a package with a particular play early in the game only to change it late. 

It seems to me that coaching will determine how successful or not the package approach is.  I would not call it a "gimmick".  The NFL does it that way all the time.

An example of how NOT to do it....put Leake in at QB and the whole WORLD, let alone stadium, knows he is going to run it.   :frown: :rolleyes:

or put Bartly in the game on 3rd and long when you know he is going to throw it, like last year ...