In their 21-14 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Missouri Tigers ran one of the best 2 point conversion plays of the season. The play involved all sorts of trickeration, as there was a direct snap to the running back, reverse to the slot receiver, then a throw back to the split end for the score. So how did Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Henson dream up this play? Continue reading “Missouri Tricks Arkansas, Scores 2”
In their 29-21 loss to the Missouri Tigers, the Tennessee Vols, a run first offense, had some difficulty running the ball. Sacks and tackles for loss heavily contributed to poor rushing stats. However, Tennessee had a large amount of success on one run concept: the power read/inverted veer. Continue reading “Vols Pick Missouri Apart with Power Read”
During the Tennessee Vols 29-21 loss to the Missouri Tigers, Tennessee struggled to put points on the board for most of the game. Until their too-little-too-late touchdown on their final possession, the Vols offense was limited to two field goals and a touchdown on a fake field goal. So what was the problem for the Vols? Ultimately, Tennessee didn’t play terrible on offense. Many times they moved the ball into scoring position. However, almost every drive was killed by a critical tackle for a loss. Continue reading “Lost Yardage Results in Tennessee Loss”
The Philadelphia Eagles special teams unit may be the best in the NFL this year. They have been racking up touchdowns and dominating the league. Rookie receiver Josh Huff recorded his first score this past Sunday when he took a kickoff back 107 yards (an Eagles record). Huff was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the NFL for his big return. So let’s look at how the Eagles unit made it possible for Huff to earn this accolade. Continue reading “Huff Goes All the Way: Eagles Score on Special Teams Again”
One of the biggest surprises of the college football season has been the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Head coach Jerry Kill has turned around the program over the past four years, and they are now one win away from a division title. That would give them an opportunity to play for their first conference title since 1967.
Minnesota’s revival has been sparked by a run heavy attack on offense. Last Saturday, the Golden Gophers defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers 28-24 in a game critical to the division race. As I watched the game, I was very impressed by the gameplan of Kill and his offensive coordinator, Matt Limegrover. Continue reading “Minnesota Beats Nebraska with Power and Misdirection”
Perhaps the most exciting play in the Tennessee Vols 29-21 loss to the Missouri Tigers came on a fake field goal touchdown for the Vols early in the second quarter. The score came when walk-on quarterback/holder Patrick Ashford completed his first career pass to a wide open walk-on tight end Alex Ellis for his first career touchdown reception. So let’s take a look at how the Vols scheme attacked the Tigers defense and resulted in the easy score. Continue reading “Vols Score on Fake Field Goal”
Ever since Josh Dobbs has been inserted into the lineup, the Tennessee Vols running game has exploded. Tennessee went from averaging 94 rushing yards per game without Dobbs, to averaging 246 yards per game with him. While a big part for this success with the ability of Dobbs and running back Jalen Hurd, the Vol scheme has had a lot to do with the change. Offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian has shifted to more option plays and more gap runs, his favorite being counter. So let’s look at a few of the different ways the Vols ran counter in their win over the Kentucky Wildcats. Continue reading “Vols Run Over Wildcats With Counter”
Tennessee’s first touchdown in their 50-16 win over the Kentucky Wildcats came on a new play for the Vols. Offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian dialed up an unconventional form of the triple option to get the ball in the hands of slot receiver Von Pearson, and the play resulted in a Vols score. Continue reading “Pearson Scores on Triple Option”
One of the more interesting plays the Vols have run this season is a play action pass off a power read action. This play has not been run but a handful of times, but every time offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian has dialed this play up, a receiver has been wide open. So what is this play and why has it been so effective? Continue reading “Vols Scheme Receivers Open on Play Action”
One of the biggest differences in the Tennessee Volunteer offense from 2013 to 2014 is the use of the tight end position in the passing game. In 2013, the Vols tight ends combined for 15 catches and 98 yards. In 2014, the Vols tight ends have combined for 32 catches and 337 yards through 10 games.
As a group, Tennessee’s tight ends probably had their best game of the season against Kentucky. Ethan Wolf, Daniel Helm, and Alex Ellis all made plays in the passing game, and also added some key blocks, in the Vols 50-16 win. Continue reading “Vols Tight Ends Excel vs. Kentucky”
