The Passing Game

[apaladin]

Where has it gone? The first 2 games we were 30-45 66.7%. Now our overall percentage is down to 51.9%. We have not had 10 completions in a game since the Georgia State game. The last 3 games we are an abysmal 17-48 35.4%. In just SoCon games we are next to last in passing. 27-68 39.7 percent. Only Wofford has completed fewer passes. The Citadel has completed more passes than FU in conference play. Every team in the league is 53% or higher except FU(39.7). I know we have had a couple of conference game where we did not need to throw much but when we had to throw more it is even worse. I think it is several things and not just all on DG. I think a lot of it has to do with schemes and/or play calling. Think about it. Do we ever throw passes that are easy completions? Seems like we never throw short over the middle which is usually an easy throw/completion. Seems like whenever we throw the ball is in the air a long time, a lot of time for minimal gain. Just seems like we are putting DG in a bad position most of the time with all the tough throws we are saddling him with. I probably have no idea what I am talking about so if any of you can shed some light it would be appreciated. I do know one thing, this is very un-Furman like and we are going to have to pass the ball much better to move forward.

[bigpurple75]

After watching most of the game on Saturday, I will merely state the obvious. If DG has lost almost all of his confidence, we must make a change or accept this kind of performance the remainder of this year. Nothing against him, but one must feel as if he can drive this team every series. This is a difficult decision, but some of his passes were not even close - again, confidence.
I hope the situation plays out in our favor, but, if not, we will be fortunate to win two or three more. One final point, on the first drive we should have run it until they stopped us. Should not have settled for three. I am not a coach, but why change things up when we were averaging a bunch per carry?
Just my thoughts.

[gofurman]

Where has it gone? The first 2 games we were 30-45 66.7%. Now our overall percentage is down to 51.9%. We have not had 10 completions in a game since the Georgia State game. The last 3 games we are an abysmal 17-48 35.4%. In just SoCon games we are next to last in passing. 27-68 39.7 percent. Only Wofford has completed fewer passes. The Citadel has completed more passes than FU in conference play. Every team in the league is 53% or higher except FU(39.7). I know we have had a couple of conference game where we did not need to throw much but when we had to throw more it is even worse. I think it is several things and not just all on DG. I think a lot of it has to do with schemes and/or play calling. Think about it. Do we ever throw passes that are easy completions? Seems like we never throw short over the middle which is usually an easy throw/completion. Seems like whenever we throw the ball is in the air a long time, a lot of time for minimal gain. Just seems like we are putting DG in a bad position most of the time with all the tough throws we are saddling him with. I probably have no idea what I am talking about so if any of you can shed some light it would be appreciated. I do know one thing, this is very un-Furman like and we are going to have to pass the ball much better to move forward.

One thing has i saw was that two of maybe our first Five passes hit the Citadel LB right in his hands and we were lucky not to be picked off once or twice to start the game . At that point there was no pressure on DG in terms of the scoreboard or anything. It was 0-0 or something. Also, it's almost like when the run game is working DG is super confident but when it is not I am not so sure

"The last 3 games we are an abysmal 17-48 35.4%. In just SoCon games we are next to last in passing. 27-68 39.7 percent. Only Wofford has completed fewer passes. The Citadel has completed more passes than FU in conference play. Every team in the league is 53% or higher except FU(39.7). " Wow - that's a good pickup AP. I hadn't caught that. every team in SoCon is 53% or higher and we are 40%??? I admit the winning had apparently kept me from picking that up.

Also, I think this is why we ran so well on that first drive and then did not run like that again. The Citadel saw the errant passes and said "hey, let's take our chances w the Furman pass game" and they put tons of guys up vs our run and OL.

The coaches said DG and Sisson were neck and neck so we need DG to perform or put Sisson out there - that's what he is here for. And I am not a "backup QB is favorite player" guy but if we see yesterday again you have to get Sisson out there

[Jasper]

Where has it gone? The first 2 games we were 30-45 66.7%. Now our overall percentage is down to 51.9%. We have not had 10 completions in a game since the Georgia State game. The last 3 games we are an abysmal 17-48 35.4%. In just SoCon games we are next to last in passing. 27-68 39.7 percent. Only Wofford has completed fewer passes. The Citadel has completed more passes than FU in conference play. Every team in the league is 53% or higher except FU(39.7). I know we have had a couple of conference game where we did not need to throw much but when we had to throw more it is even worse. I think it is several things and not just all on DG. I think a lot of it has to do with schemes and/or play calling. Think about it. Do we ever throw passes that are easy completions? Seems like we never throw short over the middle which is usually an easy throw/completion. Seems like whenever we throw the ball is in the air a long time, a lot of time for minimal gain. Just seems like we are putting DG in a bad position most of the time with all the tough throws we are saddling him with. I probably have no idea what I am talking about so if any of you can shed some light it would be appreciated. I do know one thing, this is very un-Furman like and we are going to have to pass the ball much better to move forward.

I agree. Some of the problem may be the play calling but I certainly don't want to go back to the days of throwing 4 yard passes when we need 7. DG did have several tough passes in that he rolled to his left and had to throw downfield across his body while on the run but he also missed some easy, wide open throws by a lot. Once again, what I do not understand is why we don't at least try our backup QB when it counts. We were told that the competition for starter was heated and down to the wire. Why not give Hamp Sisson a shot at running the team then -when DG is obviously struggling? It wasn't just the passing either. He seemed uncertain and confused much of the day in many aspects of play and if you watched the young man when our D was in, he appeared to be very upset on the bench while sitting alone at the very end. It looks like his confidence is shot and that may be what the coaches are concerned about. Your analysis of the past 3 games is spot on as well. We passed very poorly against ETSU and Samford was a running display mostly. Citadel took great advantage of our passing ineffectiveness by scheming to stop the run and making us pass. Lots of credit must be given to their coaching staff. As you accurately point out, this is more than a one game problem though. Some changes are called for if we are to make the playoffs and they should be implemented this week and I am not referring to DG only. On what I recall as our first failed try for a critical first down on 4th and 1, we came out in a shotgun formation with one back beside the QB. A female friend sitting next to me asked why we were starting 7 yards back when we only needed one yard? I still don't have an answer. Why not line up with the QB under center in a power I with our 240 lb. fullback running behind a lead blocker? That failed play set a very bad tone. I think we failed 3 times during the game in similar situations. That is not on the QB.

[apaladin]

Totally agree Jasper. Drives me crazy when we are in the shotgun on 3rd and one. IIRC we have not done that much this year. Why the change? Other teams do this a lot and never have understood it. The handoffs 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage drives me crazy. If I am on defense this is what I want as it gives the D time to penetrate and react. Straight ahead dive is hard to stop for less than a yard. IIRC on the 3 missed short yardage plays in the first half, we never made it to the LOS. I have pointed out several times this year that we often have killed drives when we were running almost at will by passing on first down which we never seem to complete. One other thing is we never throw to the TE. TE's have caught a total of 7 passes all year. Miller has 6.

[gofurman]

Totally agree Jasper. Drives me crazy when we are in the shotgun on 3rd and one. IIRC we have not done that much this year. Why the change? Other teams do this a lot and never have understood it. The handoffs 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage drives me crazy. If I am on defense this is what I want as it gives the D time to penetrate and react. Straight ahead dive is hard to stop for less than a yard. IIRC on the 3 missed short yardage plays in the first half, we never made it to the LOS. I have pointed out several times this year that we often have killed drives when we were running almost at will by passing on first down which we never seem to complete. One other thing is we never throw to the TE. TE's have caught a total of 7 passes all year. Miller has 6.

THIS. First passing game then this. Its one thing if a player has a bad day but lining up and running this play on third or fourth and one is on coaching. Baffling really. We killed some teams last year when they did this as we (us on D) would penetrate and get the RB before he could get to the LOS. Why would we then make the same mistake??? That's football 101