Will the Bronco offense look different in 2011 with the departure of Bryan Harsin?
by Drew Roberts on Feb 18, 2011 8:01 AM PST
in Boise State football
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Shawn Raecke | Idaho Statesman
Since everyone missed Kevan's and my LOI day leg wrestling match...I thought I'd let you all witness us fight like Craig James and Desmond Howard on your computer screens in the next installment of our OBNUG roundtable. The question of the day is "Will the Bronco offense look different in 2011 with the departure of Bryan Harsin?" Join us after the jump to see just how long it took Kevan to play the "Kirk Cameron card".
Will the Bronco offense look different in 2011 with the departure of Bryan Harsin?
Will the Bronco offense look any different? No way, Jose Roberts. Bryan Harsin is gone, but look at all the brilliant people left behind: Chris Petersen, Kellen Moore, Brent Pease, Chris Strausser, Kirk Cameron. These people founded the Bronco offense, honed it to perfection, tailored an entire roster to fit, and rode it to championship after championship after Vegas Bowl after championship. You don't mess with a good thing.
Perhaps I'm taking things too literally, but I have a hard time seeing how the Boise State offense will be much different this year apart from the normal ebbs and flows. Regale me with more Coach K anecdotes, Drew.
Kevan's response:
I see your measurables and raise you some nitpicks:
RE: Run-pass ratio: I'm going to assume you think this will skew more heavily in favor of the run since Austin Pettis is now Tyler Shoemaker and Titus Young is now parts of Geraldo Hiwat and Mitch Burroughs. In the past three years of Bronco offense, the run-pass ratio has been 486 runs to 424 passes (2010), 508:458 (2009), and 449:438 (2008). For there to be a noticeable change in the run-pass in 2011, Boise State would have to run the ball 550 times or so, which would be 70 more carries than last year, which would be insane for my fantasy team Doug-Hour Martinizing.
RE: Backfield utilization: I'm not sure how many backfield permutations remain that the Bronco offense doesn't already feature. The three-backs-at-once Stable, maybe? And I'm not even sure that one counts since it was in the playbook last year but never saw the light of day.
RE: Red zone efficiency: Ah ha! I've found the crux. What is one way to improve your red zone efficiency? Well, actually, execution would be the main way. But what's the second? Playcalling. Exactly. Nice work, IBM's Watson computer. Here's some compressed air. Go nuts.
What we're really arguing, er, debating about here is playcalling, right? Will the playcalling change with Brent Pease in charge? I say no - at least not demonstrably. Coach Pete won't let it, Kellen Moore won't stand for it, and Brent Pease will realize in spring and fall camp that the way the offense has worked for years is pretty stinking great. As George Bluth Sr. would say, "The money's in the banana stand," or something like that.great. As George Bluth Sr. would say, "The money's in the banana stand," or something like that.
A veritable cash cow.
Drew's response:
Actually the question was "Will the Bronco offense look different in 2011 with Harsin's departure?" Now that I read it again, I realize that I set myself up to win this roundtable because I feared another draw like we had in the "Pettis or Young" argument. The reason this argument can't really be lost is that any demonstrable difference in statistics or frequency of plays is by definition a "different look". These frequencies and stats change from year to year whether there is a loss in the coordinator's box or not. I suppose the crux of my argument (nice word, thanks for making it so I didn't have to think of it first) is that Bronco Nation shouldn't expect the status quo that we've enjoyed since 2006 on offense. I really think Pease will be a different kind of coordinator for us because he didn't come up under Coach Pete's tutelage. He'd be a fool to drastically shift the playcalling or install a new offensive scheme, but I think he'll do things much differently than we've become accustomed to...and I think that will be a good thing. Besides, Chris Petersen's still the head coach, how bad could one really screw things up? Don't answer that, by the way...I'm sure I could screw things up plenty with my "everyone go deep, even you Joe Kellogg" offensive philosophy.
You are right to say that the offense will change this year inasmuch as Brent Pease and Bryan Harsin are not the same person and will respond differently to challenges and Jake Broyles's request for playing time. But to say that the offense will undergo a seismic shift away from the status quo is a stretch for me. I just don't think Pease will have that type of freedom. And for the offense to change significantly, I think it would have to come from a shift in playcalling or offensive scheme - both of which you said you don't expect to happen.
I'm afraid we may have drawn again. Happy trees to you, Drew.
Your turn
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You boys better start cleaning up that grammar/syntax.
Since everyone missed Kevan(‘s) andI’smy LOI day leg wrestling match…
Don’t make me come back there and start editing!
/slings off to pedants anonymous
Too lazy to check, so I'll assume you're right
Kevan’s the english major, here…I’m just a pixel pusher.
by Drew Roberts on Feb 18, 2011 9:20 AM PST up reply actions
Pease will be all about business,
much like Bob Loblaw.
Obviously you're not a golfer...
by ty_ol on Feb 18, 2011 9:24 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I can't wait to read the latest Bob Loblaw Law Blog!
I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany
by OBNUG Intern on Feb 21, 2011 6:47 AM PST up reply actions
Pease will be more aggressive in blowouts, hopefully
When BSU was blowing out an opponent, under Harsin, the backups would come in and run basic plays for very little gain (although I loved the Jarvis Hodge show). Sure they gained experience but it was a bit boring. I hope that Pease will allow Southwick or Hedrick to still air it out or make it all-Ajayi-all-the-time to maintain some excitement for the players and the fans. I’m sure we don’t want an 80 point outing but let the backups get some points.
"Gandhi didn't take a knee, Martin Luther King didn't take a knee, Thomas Edison didn't take a knee, and I sure as hell am not going to take a knee." -- Dan Hawkins
Yeah I don't understand...
…putting in the backups to get experience and then calling plays that I could run (and I never played football). Ok, I know it’s more complicated than it looks…but still. Let them actually do something while getting that experience.
by Future_Demagogue on Feb 18, 2011 8:38 PM PST up reply actions
Different Look Offense in 2011?
What a difficult debate here; like asking can we imagine a more perfect god. I’m also not sure Boise has an offense per se. They run plays and do motion stuff and try to create mismatches with their players against defensive players. I don’t think that will change.
What will change are the opponents in 2011 and there will be a whole new color scheme trying to tackle Doug Martin and sack Kellen Moore. There is a whole new conference of teams to evaluate to find a weakness to exploit. It will be fun to see new helmet logos hanging in shame. Not sure if we will ever be able to determine if Harsin would do it differently; but I do expect similar results in 2011.
What I do know is Kevan’s fantasy team Doug-Hour Martinizing, is a better name than my fantasy team of Kellen Me Softly- so Kevan wins this debate.
by flyfishferg on Feb 18, 2011 9:34 AM PST reply actions 4 recs
Blue Blur Offense
The only thing I see that will probably be different is running the hurry-up more this season. Kellen moving quickly with ample targets (maybe not Young/Pettis caliber, but still targets) on top of BSUs dynamic offense would probably give Gary Patterson a heart attack. Coach Pete was also at Oregon’s NCG practices picking the mind of Chip Kelly. I’m willing to bet he learned a thing or two about that ‘blur’ offense while he was there. What better qb than our beloved #11 to run it?
by BoyCeeState on Feb 18, 2011 9:45 AM PST via mobile reply actions
I guess ...
… a complete no-huddle offense would be a significant change. That’s an interesting point. Kind of like a Jim Kelly and the K-Gun? Hmmmm…
"I did not send you to go-kart camp." - Maury Garner
I hope not
I’ve been a major critic of Oregon’s scheme for a couple years now. It’s great for 90% of your season when you’re up against teams that are athletically inferior to yours but becomes a liability the stiffer the competition gets…especially defensively.
I wouldn’t mind Kellen getting everyone in place in a hurry up style, thus forcing the defense to not risk substitution, and then call a play at the line based on what he reads. But I would want them to use the play clock and I would want them to continue power running up the middle to wear the defense down and break the other team’s resolve and heart.
Oregon’s entire scheme breaks down as soon as they can’t run the ball. That entire offense hinges on sucking the defense closer and closer to the line of scrimmage, resulting in huge gaps in the secondary that a QB and WR can just play pitch and catch in. Once a defense can control the run game with their front seven Oregon is pretty much finished and that’s when that Blur Offense starts becoming their entire team’s worst enemy as fatigue sets in and the opposing offense gets many many more shots at a successfull TD drive due to the short possession times for Oregon.
I Wall of Text like it's the in thing to do
"...and just things really starting to unravel now for Utah..." Herbie, BSU vs. Utah, 22 Dec 2010
Yeah
I wasn’t advocating hurry-up all the time. Just a little more. We were very good with it last year
by BoyCeeState on Feb 18, 2011 3:59 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
They do seem to be very good at it
I always wonder why they did not run it more often.
"Every Damn Day."- Coach Pete
by Broncograd96 on Feb 18, 2011 4:01 PM PST up reply actions
In that case I think I'd be all for it
Especially in 2 minute drill scenarios or if Pease noticed a serious mismatch that could be exploited over and over. I think Kellen is so dang football smart he could be trusted to run the college version of what Peyton runs with Indy.
I Wall of Text like it's the in thing to do
"...and just things really starting to unravel now for Utah..." Herbie, BSU vs. Utah, 22 Dec 2010
I honestly don't see it changing much at all.
Petersen is still the brains behind the operation, and if Pease starts to become a little too cavalier in some of the changes he would like to implement Pete will put a stop to it, he’s not just going to give him free reign to do whatever he wants. It goes back to “if it aint broke don’t fix it”
RE: PICTURE-THAT'S NOT A RAIN CHECK IS IT? (I'd know; have had to take many!)
ha ha: ha ha aha; ha ha ha
tvmunson
My 2 cents, adjusted for inflation. "Take it to the middle"-theme for '11
I agree no major change, but perhaps one of emphasis. I predicate my remarks on the idea that we have more “slot”-ish style receivers, and #11 hasn’t worked with them much. I therefore think the intuitive go-routes for Titus and multi-break-ones for Austin wont be used as much. We’ll toss in the box Moore, and run somewhat Moore (God willing our RBs are all healthy incl perhaps Ajayi). End Zone: we’ve had a jump-ball guy for years; Legadu “Easy Goin’ ‘Less I’m Drunk” Nannee, Pettis. That will go to TE now, like Efaw’s late season tosses. We can’t rely on a Titus to stretch the secondary and pull LBs wwith them, so it will be more confusing type “look in” (60s phrase-not sure what its callled now, skinny post breakoff route)with crossing on the deeper ones. Pease will need to look long and hard at the O-line (2 words my wife has never said). I hope they can be a straight ahead attack type O-line. All of them have several years now of Coach S’s weight room. We will have to have a step-up to make that happen IMO, and if it does we’ll be great. If not, we’ll be very good; our D will have to be better.
tvmunson
It's an interesting queston
I was living in LA and paying a lot of attention to USC and UCLA, when the Norm Chow/Pete Carroll thing happened. There was also a quarterback change and personally, I think some of the losses that the Trjoans had that following fall, had to do with some punches being pulled by the new OCs (one of them being Sarkasian who is now at UW). Pete Carroll was still the coach but the offense was definitely different. I would agree that you could say this was an instance where the change may have been desired by the head coach, versus the situation at BSU, but even at schools with coordinator turnover where there was no bad blood, some changes happened.
I think it will be in emphasis and then only in certain respects (because of Kellen being back). If it ended up being a red zone change, that would be ideal. i think in 2012, assuming no other coordinator changes, with a new quarterback under center, is where you will see the most difference.
I'd rather be surfing.
by Pac 10 Alum on Feb 18, 2011 12:08 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I think you're both right.
I think we will see modest change this year and that Drew is correct in assuming the playbook will be the same for the most part but the guy calling the plays will be different. Due to people being unique individuals I think that alone leads to some different trends…run vs. short pass to the TE on 3rd and short for instance…or playaction pass to the flats from the 5 yd line vs. playaction to a dragging TE or even an OT run. Philosophy and tendencies will alter slightly.
I also think PAC 10 is dead on in that we will see much more drastic change come 2012. Now, that would happen regardless who was OC, but I also think that with Pete and Pease going to the drawing board to change the offense to fit the QB, that’s when we will see a lot of what Pease brings to the table.
I Wall of Text like it's the in thing to do
"...and just things really starting to unravel now for Utah..." Herbie, BSU vs. Utah, 22 Dec 2010
by pjohn56 on Feb 18, 2011 12:18 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Pease Mr. Pease!
I’m just thrilled that for everyone: “…all we are saying is Give Pease a Chance!”
by DuckCountryBSUFan on Feb 18, 2011 11:42 AM PST reply actions
Pease sir, may I have some Moore?
I can’t get enough of the offensive explosion. I hope we have a bunch more 50+ point games in 2011.
"Gandhi didn't take a knee, Martin Luther King didn't take a knee, Thomas Edison didn't take a knee, and I sure as hell am not going to take a knee." -- Dan Hawkins
by smurfturfer on Feb 18, 2011 12:57 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
The offensive play calling will change
some but probably out of necessity. While waiting for 2 new WR to get in the grove opposing defenses may blitz allot and then some more. Why not? Austin could find holes to sit down in & catch a pass. Blitz Kellen & don’t give the new WR time to gain any experience in finding those holes: this could translate into more RB screens like in the Brock Forsey era and a little bit more of the hurry up offense. The fly sweep will be used minimal as I just can’t see anyone getting great yardage out of it. But I could see the Wild-Cat used outside the red zone like starting at the 35 or 40 yard line. I think you will see more long fade routes to Hiwate down the sideline and to his outside shoulder – use his strengths deceptive speed and height. Pease may put his stamp on it but it may be out of necessity to keep Kellen getting killed until the WR’s get in their grove and get open & find the sure hands.
1st Thing Pease Needs To Do...
Get rid of the BAD WORDS option with Moore. I’ve watched that play gain a net of approx -87 yards over the past 3 years.
Its my opinion that the offense will change, for the better. I know at first glance that is hard to imagine given where we usually rank in scoring, yards, etc… I feel that Pease is going to come in with a chip on his shoulder. I liked Harsin, but sometimes he left me scratching my head with some of his calls. Namely: 1. Poinsettia Bowl- last possession before halftime, on or own 20 with about 2 minutes to go & the lead, we come out throwing. TCU had no time outs. This awful decision directly led to their TD right before the half & changed the whole game. 2. 3rd & 2 vs Nevada & we run a pitch/sweep play. I still am haunted by this call.
I really think Pease is going to be much more aggressive. Hopefully we won’t have too see these situations plau out like that again.
by MooreWalksOnWater on Feb 19, 2011 7:09 AM PST via mobile reply actions
You're definitely entitled to your opinion there
but I have to say that is pretty dang nit-picky. No offensive coordinator is going to make the right call every time but the fact is most of the time, Harsin did make the right call. Boise’s whole offensive philosophy is pretty aggressive. That’s what makes them so fun to watch. So of course, once that’s going to backfire. I have plenty of other “I love Harsin” thoughts, but you get my point.
by 4EverBleedBlue on Feb 20, 2011 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
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@ Michigan State  |
Fri 08/31 | 6:00 p.m. MT |
| Miami (OH) | Sat 09/15 | 2:00 p.m. MT |
| BYU |
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| @ New Mexico | Sat 09/29 | TBA |
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| @ Hawaii | Sat 11/10 | 5:00 p.m. MT |
| Colorado St. | Sat 11/17 | 1:30 p.m. MT |
| @ Nevada | Sat 12/1 | TBA |
