Question for War Eagle Football fans about Auburns Offense
by Shankdiddy on Apr 7, 2011 12:29 PM CDT
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PrintCan any football Savvy Fans here make a post or responds that can outline Auburn footballs offensive philosophy, with a major emphsis on explaining the passing game? This really question really speaks to those that may have insight on the football team and what concepts are taught in the passing game.
The root of me asking this question is to try and determine what the term "one read offence" means. This really seems to be a important distinction between the talking heads in the main stream media. Case in point Cameron Newton playing in a system that relies on him reading one reciever and then taking off and running. I found this to be a simple theory that didn't hold up against the stats. Considering that he only ran 43 times during designed pass plays...and only 15 times in the last 6 games from designed pass plays. It leads me to wonder how this is possible to excute a one read and run system and yet maintain such a high comp% and quarterback rating.
Also from a recruit stand point would it not deter some prospects from wanting to follow in Newtons foot steps if they will be framed as playing in a "one read system"? To me something just doesn't add up. I am a Michigan fan and i note this is the pattern with a Denard Robinson. Yet to a degree Newton ran the same offence ...how is Auburns one read passing system different that Michigans? Is it just skill level or is there more to it than one read and take off running?
Comments/ advice/ another detailed fan post please :)?
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smartfootball.com has a few good explanations of Malzahn's offense, and here
is the smartfootball guy talking about it in context of the NC game (scroll down to get to the section exclusively about AU).
interesting post....however it doesn't explain any of the passing concepts
That was really my question..this link explores the offence in generally from the running game perspective.
Detroit Lions Mock Draft
1. Aldon Smith DE Mizz
2. Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia
3. John Moffitt OG Wisconsin
4. Nate Irvin LB NC State
5. Stevan Ridley, RB LSU
I think the problem is with your question....
Malzahn doesn’t coach a “one read and run” pass offense….and Cam made multiple reads when he needed to…the problem is that alot of the time Cam had a lane to run in that was huge considering his running ability.
I don't troll so I reserve the right to berate trolls as I see fit.
Just so you know I won't forget.....LSU Jonno predicted we would finish 5th in the west in '11.
@Todd92 :)
Fair enough let me try again :). Why do people say that Auburns passing scheme is a “one read offence”? And if it isn’t a one read offence is there anyone that can offer a counter point to this notion?
From a stats perspective i note Newton only scrambled 43 times in 2010….and only 15 times in the last 169 passes (last 6 games…or about 2 or 3 times during that stretch). It seems impossible to maintain such a high compltion % while only looking at one option and then running. This is what i am trying to figure out….in short “how does Auburns passing scheme work from a quarterback perspective?”
Detroit Lions Mock Draft
1. Aldon Smith DE Mizz
2. Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia
3. John Moffitt OG Wisconsin
4. Nate Irvin LB NC State
5. Stevan Ridley, RB LSU
I beleve this referrs to many plays
where only one side of the field or one defender is read. For instance a play call might have a zone friendly route tree to one side and a man friendly tree to the other side. The QB’s job is to identify the coverage scheme pre-snap, and essentially once he identifies the coverage, he will only be reading one side of the field because he knows the routes on the other side are not well designed to beat the coverage. Their will also be plays where he will read one player at the snap (usually a safety), and this will determine where the ball needs to go. While things like this are brought up every year as a negative evaluating QB’s before the draft, it is not a knock on the offense, as it is quite common on every level below the NFL, and most schools incorporate at least some of these principles.
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 7, 2011 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Here is an article illustrating some of what I mean.
Auburn’s offensive mostly utilizes the second, or “coverage” concept. This is what is often meant by one read. Keep in mind that many writers use this term because they heard someone else say it and have no idea what it means and end up attributing things to it that are incorrect as well.
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 7, 2011 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions
You may have alreadys seen this
this is the best breakdown I can find in balancing quality analysis and simplicity.
http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2010/7/21/1555582/auburn-a-primer-on-the-gus-malzahn
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 7, 2011 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions
We now run essentially a copy of Auburn's offense with Morris
At STS we’re going to be writing several articles about the passing game soon, but running game is all right there. Its not more complicated than that, it just looks that way.
by DrB on Apr 8, 2011 7:07 AM CDT up reply actions
There were several sites I saw that really went
deep breaking down the run game, but only one that touched on the passing game, and it was kind of short. I will look forward to it. When are you shooting for, next month?
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 8, 2011 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Because the QB reads only one defender.
For example, say you have 4 wides with 2 on each side…a doubles spread formation as I call it.
Each slot receiver is covered by either a LB walked out, or a DB coming up in coverage. The defender will probably be using inside leverage on the slot receiver. One of them inevitably will have less leverage on his man. Its usually the LB who cannot walk out far enough because he also has a run gap to watch.
QB looks for the one with the least leverage, and thats the WR he’ll hit with the quick pass.
by DrB on Apr 8, 2011 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Way off the mark!
Gus Malzhan certainly doesn’t run a one read offense. Cam went through several reads before he acted on a play. He wouldn’t run on a pass designed play until he checked off every reciever. I think Denard Robinson is as explosive as a runner as Cam(just a different style) but I don’t see him ever being as good of as a passer as Cam. Good luck with the upcoming season though! Al Borges is a good coach.
They actually did run a one read
pass offense mostly. Unfortunately, a lot of the “knowledgeable” media has no idea what this means, so they go around saying it because it makes them look knowledgeable, and twist it into things it does not mean. You can be a good sportswriter and not know a ton of x’ and o’s, but you do need the self awareness to recognize what you don’t know.
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 8, 2011 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
You don't understand the term they mean
It does not mean the QB makes only one read in a play, he goes through a deep-to-short progression on deeper patterns like any other system if the primary is covered. He also reads the front on every play for the protection calls.
One read means he’s taught to read only one defender pre-snap and post-snap on the primary receiver side. It doesnt necessarily mean its the same defender pre and post snap either. That is just to make it simple to learn and execute
by DrB on Apr 8, 2011 7:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I am not the technical guy here...
I certainly couldn’t give a clinic on this style of offense, but if you will check out the video at this link…
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6297019&categoryid=2564308, and listen to Chip Kelly talk with Urban Meyer, then you will see where the term single read offense comes from. One read at the snap, and one read at the apex of the play. The run game sets up the passing play, in most of these offenses. When you establish the run, the passing game gets a little easier.
Come and join me at http://trackemtigers.com
The number of QB reads...
….actually depended on what the defense was doing. They could change it on the fly.Lots of pressure, and you’d see Auburn go with a power run game, or quick passes to the flat. Drop 8, and You’d see Cam start checking down. The first TD in the SEC Title game went hitch left, fade right, inside dig, then Cam finally hit the running back McCalebb on a delayed wheel route for the score.
……Usually, Auburn executes at least one ball fake on pass plays, unless it’s really long yardage. Sometimes multiple ball fakes. And yes, sometimes the fake on the end around actually was a give. The fakes are designed to lure pass defenders in. I think most of the time the Auburn QB knows where he’d like to go with the ball before the snap. As the season wore on, I think Cam had basically one check-down route, then he’d go.
......Drowning in cool elixir.
Ok the very SPIRIT of what i am asking (saying )...
The main stream media often say that Cam Newton used a “one read system”. And i think that people get the sense that what they mean is he looked at one reciever and then took off and ran. And to a degree i believed him….however after looking at how many times he acturally took off and ran during designed pass plays i noted that he only ran 43 times. This was a shocking low number of scrambles considering they way the media spins it. Then I thought well he must have average at best passing numbers if this is the case. But his comp% is very good (66%) and quarterback rating was highest in NCAA history going into the BCS game….then no incomplete passes during the first drives of any game….no interceptions in the 4th quarter… comp% going up to 70% vs the blitz……….these facts don’t match the perception.
1. why is it that people want to spin it that Newton looked at one reciever or took off and ran?
2. Is it a way to degrade his draft value or the schools football program?
3. Should the Auburn be concerned that future quarterback prospects may defer a chance to go to Auburn because of the system’s perception?
So many people think that “one read system” means you look at one reciever and thats it.
Detroit Lions Mock Draft
1. Aldon Smith DE Mizz
2. Ras-I Dowling CB Virginia
3. John Moffitt OG Wisconsin
4. Nate Irvin LB NC State
5. Stevan Ridley, RB LSU
I think the best answer is:
a lot of sportswriters know almost nothing about X’s and O’s, nothing more or less. And I would think for every recruit that gets cold feet over it, another will see the Heisman and MNC and warm up to it. I think it all balances out in the end.
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 10, 2011 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions
otisnixon...
….is right, to a point.
…..Honestly, if a QB is having to make a ton of reads and check-downs, it means that you’re out-manned by the defense. If you’ve done your homework and schemed well, you’ve mismatched the D, and execution is the main worry. Checkdowns and reads only really happen when something unexpected happens.
…..Seriously, when you fake a handoff, then a pitch to the flanker coming around in the backfield, then look down field… How many reads are left?
…..A prepared QB knows where all of his receivers will be. He also has the opponent’s tendencies down. It’s much more a case of timing and execution, than reads in the Malzhan offense.
......Drowning in cool elixir.
Every defense has a weakness, and making multiple reads makes it easier to find them, normally.
I don’t think checkdowns and reads are a sign of weakness. Defense can work and can take away a play. The ability to check out of a play, or to make reads in the midst of one, is a valuable skill and becomes increasingly necessary at higher levels of play. A QB that can dissect a defense on the fly is far more lethal than a QB who cannot.
But Gus has designed an offense that achieves insane results without relying upon a QB actually making all the reads. There is nothing inherently good about making reads if there is no reason to make them. Auburn’s plays let Newton read one pre-snap defender and one post-snap defender and pass with a high degree of accuracy. Put another way, Newton’s accuracy in the offense is significatly better than his accuracy as a pure passer. It’s genius, and the SEC better get it figured out.
by first and thom on Apr 11, 2011 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly
I see Auburn fans sometimes get mad when people say that Gus’s offense at its core is very simple, or that it is not pro style. If it works, and especially if it works very well, that is the point. Score points and win games by whatever means work best for you.
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 11, 2011 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
It is simple Otis - at its core. I think the different looks and shift confound
defenses – that’s what makes it look more difficult.
Exactly that is where the true genius is.
Run a relatively small number of plays out of multiple formations and personnel groupings, make them look as similar as possible at the snap, run a scheme that gives defenders multiple things to have to keep an eye on, and run it at a speed that causes mental fatigue, where defenders make mistakes and boom big play.
"Be polite to everyone you meet, but be prepared to kill anyone"-tc16cav
by otisnixon'sparty on Apr 12, 2011 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
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