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Offseason Topic : Thoughts on philosophical changes to the offense from 2018 to 2019?
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:03 am
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:03 am
We went all in on the RPO scheme last year, as it became the bedrock, base play of our offense. Both Saban and the offensive lineman commented multiple times how that has it's advantages (putting defenses in tough spots across the field and getting more 1-on-1 matchups because of it) and disadvantages (offensive linemen aren't able to truly run block, you can lose some of that nasty straight forward pound you identity, less route tree options, red zone troubles at times, etc).
Sark has a history of RPO (his offenses with Locker at Washington implented a lot of read run option and run/pass option), but he also has a long history of pro-style, single back and shotgun traditional run, pass, play-action football, both with his time at USC with Kiffin, time at USC as head coach and time in Atlanta.
What are everyone's thoughts on how the 2019 offense will look compared to 2018 in terms of scheme and style? I'm guessing, just from reading between the lines, that we see the RPO go from being the staple play of the offense to being a play in the offense (more like the Kiffin era), and get back to running a lot more shotgun/single back football with defined runs/passes and play action shots, with the RPO still being a key part in certain situations and against certain defenses.
Thoughts?
Sark has a history of RPO (his offenses with Locker at Washington implented a lot of read run option and run/pass option), but he also has a long history of pro-style, single back and shotgun traditional run, pass, play-action football, both with his time at USC with Kiffin, time at USC as head coach and time in Atlanta.
What are everyone's thoughts on how the 2019 offense will look compared to 2018 in terms of scheme and style? I'm guessing, just from reading between the lines, that we see the RPO go from being the staple play of the offense to being a play in the offense (more like the Kiffin era), and get back to running a lot more shotgun/single back football with defined runs/passes and play action shots, with the RPO still being a key part in certain situations and against certain defenses.
Thoughts?
This post was edited on 6/5/19 at 9:08 am
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Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:12 am to SummerOfGeorge
We ran some of single back play action stuff last year as well. RPOs basically give you 3 routes( slants, fades or quick swing passes) so it was a good mixture last year and I think it will be the same. We used Jacobs and Harris in traditional roles last year along with Jeudy and co. in various traditional routes
This post was edited on 6/5/19 at 9:15 am
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:16 am to SummerOfGeorge
Just a guess, but I'm thinking we go a little more pro-style but keep some of the RPO elements...we're gonna need to be flexible. Looking forward to see how we come out this season...I'm guessing we'll be pretty vanilla till the SC or A&M game...
This post was edited on 6/5/19 at 9:19 am
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:22 am to OldPete
It almost feels like, with our incredible group of wide receivers, that we almost underuse them by having such basic route concepts. On the one hand, the RPO system gets a lot of 1-on-1s. However, the opportunities to scheme guys open with a more advanced, 1,2,3 read system feels like it would really take advantage of having to make the defense think about the power run AND defending 3 NFL receivers running routes that all play off eachother.
I approach this topic carefully because it would be a massive overreaction to say the RPO-centric system was some sort of failure (look at the results for goodness sake), but it is clear from hearing Saban that he wants a little more mix.
I approach this topic carefully because it would be a massive overreaction to say the RPO-centric system was some sort of failure (look at the results for goodness sake), but it is clear from hearing Saban that he wants a little more mix.
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:32 am to SummerOfGeorge
I'd really like to participate in this thread, but I swear football has changed so much, that I don't even know what to think anymore 
I don't know what the hell is going on, but thank God, it isn't the Gene Stallings offense
I don't know what the hell is going on, but thank God, it isn't the Gene Stallings offense
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:33 am to Cobrasize
quote:
I'd really like to participate in this thread, but I swear football has changed so much, that I don't even know what to think anymore
I don't know what the hell is going on, but thank God, it isn't the Gene Stallings offense
Don't worry, prevatt will be here soon to tell us all why we are dumb and absurd and some other things of the sort.
prevattPosted on 6/5/19 at 9:43 am to SummerOfGeorge
I will say that the route combinations were very different in the spring game and Tua and the timing were a little off but that is to be expected . We ran some NFL type routes like corner routes, comebacks and dig routes which are high reward type plays but take precise timing . Saban has always stressed being multiple on offense and defense and we will continue to do so IMO. Locks just brought some spread concepts to the offense but we weren’t strictly an RPO offense
This post was edited on 6/5/19 at 9:47 am
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:46 am to SummerOfGeorge
I will say that I'm not sure how many RPO's we will run just because Tua seems to take unnecessary hits.
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:47 am to Bear88
Agree Bear. I certainly don't expect widespread change (nor do I want it), but I'd think we'd see more of the type of breakout that we saw with Kiffin probably.
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:48 am to Cobrasize
quote:
I will say that I'm not sure how many RPO's we will run just because Tua seems to take unnecessary hits.
Excellent point
This post was edited on 6/5/19 at 9:48 am
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:49 am to SummerOfGeorge
Yep gotta keep Tua upright this year
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:51 am to Cobrasize
quote:
I don't know what the hell is going on, but thank God, it isn't the Gene Stallings offense
Yeah, but his defenses were pretty stout...that '92 defense was the best I've ever seen...
I don't pretend to know offensive schemes that well, but I'd like to see our offense go back to more of a hybrid like we had with Kiffin, particularly the 2015 offense. We should be able to wreck sh*t running the ball as we have some road graders on the OL. That should set up play-action very well and let us attack downfield. Then if the D starts stacking the box, throw some RPO at 'em to keep 'em off balance. That's where Kiffin was so good...
Posted on 6/5/19 at 9:56 am to OldPete
quote:
I don't pretend to know offensive schemes that well, but I'd like to see our offense go back to more of a hybrid like we had with Kiffin, particularly the 2015 offense. We should be able to wreck sh*t running the ball as we have some road graders on the OL. That should set up play-action very well and let us attack downfield. Then if the D starts stacking the box, throw some RPO at 'em to keep 'em off balance. That's where Kiffin was so good...
Agree, that is my ideal template. Allows the offensive linemen to maintain that road grading mentality instead of running 90% pass blocking (which is basically what they are forced to do on RPO's) but still has flexibility and diversity.
Easier said than done, but for a roster with the players we have it feels like the ideal setup.
Posted on 6/5/19 at 10:02 am to Bear88
quote:
Yep gotta keep Tua upright this year
Yea, last year we could take more chances with Tua because we had a heck of a backup. It was a pretty nice luxury
Posted on 6/5/19 at 10:25 am to Cobrasize
quote:
I don't know what the hell is going on, but thank God, it isn't the Gene Stallings offense
or Riddle up the middle
Posted on 6/5/19 at 10:30 am to PCRammer
quote:
or Riddle up the middle
3 and 8 from our own 40? Jumbo package time.
Posted on 6/5/19 at 11:01 am to SummerOfGeorge
I think we see more traditional running game, more play action, and more multiple progressions for Tua.
Like Kiffin, Sark seems to get the ball to one receiver a lot when he likes him, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jeudy be even more featured than last year.
I don’t think the pass tags (RPOs) will go away, but I don’t think it’ll be the feature of the offense. I also don’t think Tua running will be included much at all. The RPOs will be either a hand off or a pass usually reading the other teams star corner.
Last year I called our offense “Power RPO”
This year I predict I’ll call it “Multiple Spread”
Like Kiffin, Sark seems to get the ball to one receiver a lot when he likes him, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jeudy be even more featured than last year.
I don’t think the pass tags (RPOs) will go away, but I don’t think it’ll be the feature of the offense. I also don’t think Tua running will be included much at all. The RPOs will be either a hand off or a pass usually reading the other teams star corner.
Last year I called our offense “Power RPO”
This year I predict I’ll call it “Multiple Spread”
Posted on 6/5/19 at 11:54 am to TomRollTideRitter
We could not run the ball a yard or 2 in short yardage situations last year. Saban has said more than once he wants to get back to playing a more physical style of football , so I think you are right.
Posted on 6/5/19 at 12:25 pm to IB4bama
Bama just had the wrong RB running the ball in short yardage situations. D Harris was not a short yardage back. Josh Jacobs would convert just about every time. Did it several times in the wildcat package.
Posted on 6/5/19 at 4:55 pm to OldPete
That 2015 offense was so underrated. We had a 3,000-yard QB, a 1,000-yard receiver, and a running back who ran for over 2,000 yards.
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