I know that the rain and wind didn't help either team last night. But the difference was that Duquesne was the better team in the 2nd half.
One thing I did like that the offense changed was after some runs being shut down with Owens lined up to the side of the Barr in the shotgun, they shifted Barr to the pistol and had Owens line up between the QB. This has our RBs going North/South when getting the ball vs. East/West. Minor adjustment but a big one but after that, I didn't see too much.
The offense could only mustard up 74 second half yards and we saw again more Cole Blake than Owens. Banny said in the pre-game interview that Owens is healthy and they are going to ride the young RB. Not sure if something changed or the success of Blake in the rain forced the staff's hand with giving more touches to Blake.
The biggest thing hurting this team right now is no identity for this offense. It seems that they feel that they can place any WR out on the field and call any play. The offense does not focus on getting current players enough targets.
Kyle Buss - 26 catches in 7 games
Nic Lamica - 12 catches in 7 game.
After those two, no one else has double digit catches.
And where the hell is Jamison Williams? I saw him on the sideline dressed? Is he in the same mystery doghouse as Derik Abbott?
The offense tried several slants last night and couldn't connect on them but where are the deep comebacks? The 8 yard stops? Bubble Screens? RB screens?
With the current strategy of just spread out the ball on who is on the field takes pressure away from the opponent's defense. They can just play vanilla defensive gameplan with no major adjustments. There is no real threat through the air that RMU's offense targets.
RMU sits at 1-2 in the NEC. And based on their potential, they should be sitting at the top at 3-0. They lost to a bad SHU team. They barely beat a bad Wagner team and they are better than the Dukes.
But this offense is holding his team back. And let me make one thing crystal clear. I'm not pointing the finger at the players. Those 11 on offense are busting their ass out there. They are playing hard and doing the best they can do with the plays being called.
RMU has 4 games remaining. 3 NEC games against 3 tough opponents. They also have a non-conference home game against East Tennessee State.
If RMU wants to continue building this program backup, here are some things I believe would help the offense.
1. Cole Blake is your starting RB the rest of the season.
2. More individual targets for Kyle Buss and Nic Lamica. At least 10 targets per game for Buss and 8 for Lamica. Plays designed to get the players in space with the ball in their hands.
3. Bring Jamison Williams back into the offense.
4. Get Ben Line involved. He is just an OL out there. Place that young man in the back field and give him the ball or give him a screen pass.
5. Give Barr the freedom to audible out of plays. There were many times when you can clearly see that the Dukes were loading up the box to stop the run and go man-to-man or Zero coverage. Barr should be able to see this and audible out without looking over to the sideline.
Sure I might be just venting but after 18 games with this new offense, I'm seeing the same struggles again and again.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
One thing I did like that the offense changed was after some runs being shut down with Owens lined up to the side of the Barr in the shotgun, they shifted Barr to the pistol and had Owens line up between the QB. This has our RBs going North/South when getting the ball vs. East/West. Minor adjustment but a big one but after that, I didn't see too much.
The offense could only mustard up 74 second half yards and we saw again more Cole Blake than Owens. Banny said in the pre-game interview that Owens is healthy and they are going to ride the young RB. Not sure if something changed or the success of Blake in the rain forced the staff's hand with giving more touches to Blake.
The biggest thing hurting this team right now is no identity for this offense. It seems that they feel that they can place any WR out on the field and call any play. The offense does not focus on getting current players enough targets.
Kyle Buss - 26 catches in 7 games
Nic Lamica - 12 catches in 7 game.
After those two, no one else has double digit catches.
And where the hell is Jamison Williams? I saw him on the sideline dressed? Is he in the same mystery doghouse as Derik Abbott?
The offense tried several slants last night and couldn't connect on them but where are the deep comebacks? The 8 yard stops? Bubble Screens? RB screens?
With the current strategy of just spread out the ball on who is on the field takes pressure away from the opponent's defense. They can just play vanilla defensive gameplan with no major adjustments. There is no real threat through the air that RMU's offense targets.
RMU sits at 1-2 in the NEC. And based on their potential, they should be sitting at the top at 3-0. They lost to a bad SHU team. They barely beat a bad Wagner team and they are better than the Dukes.
But this offense is holding his team back. And let me make one thing crystal clear. I'm not pointing the finger at the players. Those 11 on offense are busting their ass out there. They are playing hard and doing the best they can do with the plays being called.
RMU has 4 games remaining. 3 NEC games against 3 tough opponents. They also have a non-conference home game against East Tennessee State.
If RMU wants to continue building this program backup, here are some things I believe would help the offense.
1. Cole Blake is your starting RB the rest of the season.
2. More individual targets for Kyle Buss and Nic Lamica. At least 10 targets per game for Buss and 8 for Lamica. Plays designed to get the players in space with the ball in their hands.
3. Bring Jamison Williams back into the offense.
4. Get Ben Line involved. He is just an OL out there. Place that young man in the back field and give him the ball or give him a screen pass.
5. Give Barr the freedom to audible out of plays. There were many times when you can clearly see that the Dukes were loading up the box to stop the run and go man-to-man or Zero coverage. Barr should be able to see this and audible out without looking over to the sideline.
Sure I might be just venting but after 18 games with this new offense, I'm seeing the same struggles again and again.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."