If we want to get to 8-2 we need to focus on Idaho. They do have a very good offense, can lit up a scoreboard and if I remember from last year they are pretty big offensively.
We've won by controlling the game with our running game and now it's suspect with 2 key linemen gone. Do our coaches gameplan any differently this week? After the beating we took in the 2nd half I would be worried about all remaining games.

I am actually very concerned about our ability to stop their offense if we can't keep our offense on the field.

If all three remaining teams don't go very up tempo I will be stunned. We are going to have to put some wrinkles in so that our offense can stay on the field. We can't let Taylor get in a position of continuously rolling right out of the pocket. I still, for life of me, can't understand why we don't run any slant patterns or short possession type passes. I love the long ball but with our line issues there simply isn't time to let long plays develop. Jones and Meadors need to be the over the middle possession guys that can extend drives. Those 30 yard sideline plays are low percentage drive killers.

Idaho has a good offense, but I don't think any of the remaining teams has nearly the defensive talent of either Troy or stAte. They are also not as balanced as stAte is (relying heavily on the pass). Any of the remaining games could go badly if we continue to make mistakes, but it's not quite time to abandon hope. Teams that don't use the "hurry up" offense regularly can't just suddenly do it. I'm really not sure if any of the remaining teams has it in their arsenal, but I also think Woody is working on a package to address that weakness.

I agree with bigdaddyg. We use to use the slant quite often especially in the 3-6 yard 3rd down situations. I watched us constantly go deep against Clemson, Troy and Arkansas State in those situations and our results were more often the same. And were it not for Neal calling for the fake FG against Troy, we could have been a 3 loss team at this point . We have the receivers to do it the OC's just need to dial up. Be nice to see the TE'S being usesd a little more in 3rd down also.

Finally others have noticed we don't have a 6-7 yard pass play! Bombs are low percentage. When throwing long, we need to have an outlet for Lamb if under pressure. Cross, slant, pick or TE over the middle whatever to get their defense confused.

ASUfan6971 wrote:Finally others have noticed we don't have a 6-7 yard pass play! Bombs are low percentage. When throwing long, we need to have an outlet for Lamb if under pressure. Cross, slant, pick or TE over the middle whatever to get their defense confused.

We get chewed up by other teams who run these plays. They are quick hitters that keep the defense off balance. Some of the quick shots get the same results as running plays. By all means take some shots but we seem to dial them up too often with no real safety valve available. I recall a Panther game last season when Cam was out. The game plan for Anderson at QB was short, quick passes that were very effective. I know that longer passes are used to loosen up the defense but (and I have pointed this out before) we seem to throw more long balls in short 3rd down situations then are needed. I had brought up on another thread the ranking of our offense in certain categories. We are a run first team but rank high in yards per attempt. We seem to have the receivers to run these routes but seem hesitant to implement them.

Ok, Ok, I think everyone realizes we don't have a 6-8 yard pass play. I would say it is because we do not have a Tony Washington, Matt Cline, Andrew Peacock, Coco Hillary type player. But, oh wait, we do or at leas that is what i would classify Sims and Bobo as. Maybe not as reliable and willing to take the big hit, but i would say they are dependable. This one still baffles me.........

I mean when we have utilized the middle this season, it seems to work out for us (see Bobo at ODU). I think the issue might be that Taylor doesn't have confidence in that throw quite yet. Yes, he has great touch passes, but sometimes lacks that power to get through the middle. After Clemson, teams have pressed 6-7 players and then dropped back into coverage taking away the inside slot. After Taylor's pick(s) early on from these passes, I'm sure he shy's away from them. Our short yardage passes are swing passes to the outside (basically an outside run play). I think if Taylor could develop his pass to the middle of the field, we could take the offense up another level.....

Would like to see us throw these and the slants more often. It is on film no that TL cannot handle pressure and cannot roll to the right. Only way to combat is getting the ball out quick.

Idaho's leading WR, Dezmon Epps, who was suspended after a domestic dispute, won't be back this week.

EDIT: Epps is officially dismissed from the program. He led the Sun Belt in several receiving categories.

Idaho has still put up big numbers the last two weeks, but that was against NMSU and South Alabama.

ASUfan6971 wrote:Finally others have noticed we don't have a 6-7 yard pass play! Bombs are low percentage. When throwing long, we need to have an outlet for Lamb if under pressure. Cross, slant, pick or TE over the middle whatever to get their defense confused.

Malachi scored on a slant on Thursday.

We do slants and 7-8 yard plays, but many of them turn into longer gains. Bobo scored a 50+ yard TD at ULM on a simple 5-yard crossing route. That doesn't show up in the stat sheet.

Satt has said he's fine with the deep balls and sacrificing completion percentage.