8 Games and no offensive identity

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- 10/28/2023 at 7:58 PM #202938
  
  Charlie Foxtrot
  Ute Fan
  
  @charliefoxtrot
  
  Ok, obviously injuries are an issue, but at what point does Ludwig start designing an offense with the players that we do have that are healthy? JJ is going to be hit and miss each week with his high ankle sprain. What could we change to better support Glover’s running style? Should Vaki be dedicated 100% to offense so that we can install new plays for him each week? Is there any way to give Barnes a few easy completions to get him in some kind of rhythm early in the game?
  
  If Barnes is supposed to have command of a majority of the playbook, but he is also supposed to be “taking care of the ball” his interceptions over the past two games have got to indicate that we are far too predictable in the plays we are running each week. If we are going to turn the ball over multiple times a game playing it safe, we might as well take some risks as it couldn’t get much worse.
  
  The defense isn’t going to be able to keep us in many games if the offense consistently goes three and out.
- 10/28/2023 at 8:16 PM #202940
  2 1
  
  Anfernee
  Ute Fan
  
  @anfernee
  
  The Lud prevent offense. The antithesis of “Carpe diem.”
- 10/28/2023 at 8:43 PM #202952
  6
  
  Utah
  Ute Fan
  
  @utah
  
  Look at injuries:
  
  QB1 and QB2
  RB2 and RB3
  TE1 and TE2
  WR2
  
  That’s every single skill position. Oh, and RB1? When he’s healthy, we beat USC. When he’s hurt, we lost to OSU and Oregon and almost lost to Baylor.
  
  We have no TE’s, which is our #1 threat on offense throwing the ball.
  
  When Jackson goes down, we have no legit RB’s.
  
  We have no legit QB.
  
  I’m not sure what you want Ludwig to do. He’s done great so far. Barnes isn’t a QB who can throw. Johnson isn’t a QB who can throw. Johnson turns the ball over too much. Barnes is ok when the defense has to respect the run, because he can look where Ludwig tells him to and make a throw.
  
  Outside of that, he’s not able to do more.
  
  For example, against Oregon we had a big play to Vele. Had the ball been thrown better, it may have been a TD. The very next play, Oregon lined up with one on one matchup with Vele. As soon as Utah snapped the ball Oregon blitzed the CB who was covering Vele, leaving Vele wide open with no one within 10 yards of him.
  
  Barnes snapped the ball, didn’t even look at Vele, was sacked for loss of 8.
  
  Barnes doesn’t even have the ability to look presnap , recognize the matchup with Vele and look to Vele.
  
  Had Rising been in, that’s at least a 15 yard gain, if not a 30+ and Oregon can’t blitz like that again. Against Barnes, the defensive play worked and they didn’t have to adjust.
  
  It is what it is.
  
  We need to desperately hope Jackson gets healthy or Rose suddenly becomes QB1.
- 10/28/2023 at 8:46 PM #202953
  3
  
  Utah
  Ute Fan
  
  @utah
  
  Yes, the plays were too predictable.
  
  No, that’s not what Ludwig wants to call. But when Jackson is hurt, we can’t do anything.
  
  And Barnes can’t make the throws/reads to run more plays. To insinuate that Barnes can run a ton of plays and Ludwig isn’t calling them…give Ludwig more credit.
  
  The biggest issue this year was headed into fall camp without a transfer QB. That’s clear now.
  
  The other biggest issue is horrible luck. All these injuries are insane.
- 10/28/2023 at 8:50 PM #202955
  1
  
  2008 National Champ
  Ute Fan
  
  @cptmrgn05
  
  The first pick was 100% on Vaki. The second one was a great play by the defender.
  
  The problem is the routes, not the passer. It doesn’t appear as if any of the calls have option routes because they run the same tree no matter the defense. If you want to run a stick route, you need to either have a route over the top to draw to put the defender in conflict or the receiver has to drive him past the line and comeback. Instead, the play designs typical put multiple receivers in the same area running the same route so all the DB’s have to do is sit at the marker. That’s why the pick-6 happened last week.
  
  Oregon had receivers open all day because their OC understands leveling in his play designs. And Nix was able to read Utah pre-snap and get the ball out immediately to the correct receiver. At this point in his career, Barnes can’t do that.
  - 10/28/2023 at 10:04 PM #202981
    
    UtMtBiker
    Ute Fan
    
    @utmtbiker
    
    The first int that you say was all on Vaki was an option rout. Vaki sat as he should in zone coverage. Barnes saw it as man and threw to the inside. Second int was a horrific throw..off his back foot falling away, low and inside. The second was as bad as it gets from a qb at any level beyond peewee.
    - 10/28/2023 at 11:51 PM #203003
      
      2008 National Champ
      Ute Fan
      
      @cptmrgn05
      
      The option route you speak of was for Vaki to either continue his route across the middle like he did against SC for the TD or settle in the open area. Once he turned in he committed the QB, not the other way around. If he wanted to settle against his coverage read, he should have stayed at the apex of turn. Vele has a habit of doing that also.
      
      The second one we’ll agree to disagree. Even if everything else you said was true, the defender had to make a great play to come up with it. Since nothing happens in a vacuum, I’ll say the defense won that one and be more than happy to let you emphasize the QB portion over everything else.
- 10/28/2023 at 11:01 PM #202992
  
  123punt
  Ute Fan
  
  @123punt
  
  We have an identity. It just takes NFL caliber skill players to out execute the other team.
  
  Otherwise, it’s predictable and ineffective.
  
  Also-I don’t believe we’d be any better with a transfer QB. I think Utah is a tough place for a QB to develop and thrive.