Is offensive identity important to you?

[GtFllsGriz]

I am prompted to ask this question after reading about GSU's possible change in offensive style.

To me, GSU is the "option" team. They have always been identified that way. I loved it when the Griz were the "passing" team. Now we are more of a balanced offense and others are the "passing" teams. I agree that balance is better but I sure miss the days when everyone feared our offense because we were specialists at it and ran it to perfection. Now, many teams do it better than us.

My point, and question; does your team have a specific offensive identity and is it important to you that they do?

PS, I am saddened to hear that GSU may be changing offenses. They ran the option to perfection and they will always be known for that.

[UNH 40]

I am prompted to ask this question after reading about GSU's possible change in offensive style.

To me, GSU is the "option" team. They have always been identified that way. I loved it when the Griz were the "passing" team. Now we are more of a balanced offense and others are the "passing" teams. I agree that balance is better but I sure miss the days when everyone feared our offense because we were specialists at it and ran it to perfection. Now, many teams do it better than us.

My point, and question; does your team have a specific offensive identity and is it important to you that they do?

PS, I am saddened to hear that GSU may be changing offenses. They ran the option to perfection and they will always be known for that.

Great post, GSU should never change their offense from being an option team and a dominant one at that. It is such a leathal attack that they have had in the past. It will take years to change them into a legit threat in a different offensive scheme. A perfect example of this is the struggles that Army has endured through the past 5 to 10 years changing from a great option team to a wide open offensive team. It will take many years to change for the reason that 1) it will take several years to get and prepare offensive lineman that are between 6' and 6'4" and 285 and 300 pounds that are needed to have an OL that can protect a QB. 2) it will take years to get a good throwing QB and groom him to fit into a system. 3) It will take the coaching staff a while to come up with a offensive playbook that will compliment the talent that they have.

If they do change offenses completely it will be several years before they have another winning season.

[Blue Hen Nation]

I am prompted to ask this question after reading about GSU's possible change in offensive style.

To me, GSU is the "option" team. They have always been identified that way. I loved it when the Griz were the "passing" team. Now we are more of a balanced offense and others are the "passing" teams. I agree that balance is better but I sure miss the days when everyone feared our offense because we were specialists at it and ran it to perfection. Now, many teams do it better than us.

My point, and question; does your team have a specific offensive identity and is it important to you that they do?

PS, I am saddened to hear that GSU may be changing offenses. They ran the option to perfection and they will always be known for that.

Honestly speaking, I would have to say no. IMO, Delaware's shift from the Wing T to the Spread offense was a welcome change. I felt the option offense was played out and boring.

[PapaBear]

Delaware is a great example of a team switching offensive identities quickly and effectively. It took Keeler, what, two years to recruit out of the wing-t (not that Tubby was running it in original form) and win a national championship.

Granted, last year wasn't a great one for the hens. But that wasn't a system-related problem.

I think the whole "offensive identity" thing is overblown. True, teams like GSA can earn a well-deserved reputation for running a particular system to perfection. But you can pigeonhole yourself that way, too. Running the (veer, triple) option to perfection requires devoting enormous practice time and reps to that play and only that play, because of the various reads vs various fronts and stunts. Result: You have little time to practice plays that can bail you OUT of a game if you fall behind by too much.

With good coaching and good recruiting, you can change identities in two years, tops. Even one, depending on the nature and degree of the change.

Remember ... I said, "with good coaching and good recruiting." Absent those ingredients, you'll have much more difficulty switch o-ids.

[youwouldno]

Furman runs a fairly vanilla offense (multiple I with some shotgun) that is modified on a personnel basis (i.e. more passing when Martin transferred in or lots of FB carries for Felton). The advantage to that approach is that the coaches can recruit the most talented players they can, and then figure out how to use them later.

[ngineer]

The nature of offense run will attract or detract some from some recruits. Ever since Lehigh went to a multiple offense we've had a string of strong quarterbacks going back 35 years which has attracted good QB candidates. At the same time, we haven't had too many 'stud' running backs during the same timeframe. Probably a half dozen . We've migrated to small, quick backs.
With the change in coaches at Lehigh coming, it will be interesting to see what the new 'philosophy' will be..

[MACHIAVELLI]

When ICON/Grambling runs the Wing-T offense it is a thing of beauty to watch.


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ICON/Grambling is a passing team but had a back to rush for almost 1,000 yards. I like other teams knowing that we are a passing team and can't do anything to stop it.

[DinoDex200]

You can't compare GSU to Army because GSU is not a military school. Many schools that run the trip. option run it because the misdirection and sleight of hand evens the playing field against more talented opponents.

One thing GSU will be able to recruit (and already has) is speed...and they will be able to recruit from a rich talent base...they are the only I-AA team in the entire state of GA. I give them two years, and they'll be back in the playoffs. I think they'll just miss next year.

As for my school...I kind of like being known for our offensive attack now, since it used to be considered a detriment in the past.

[UNH 40]

The difference between GSU and Delaware is the offensive lines are completely different, GSU has smaller and fast lineman than delaware did and will have a much harder time making the transition. You also must remember that Delaware also received two key transfers. QB Andy Hall a experienced passer from Georgia Tech and Shaun Johnson a former All-ACC first team defensive end from Duke. These two players were the key to winning a national championship. GSU will not see transfers of this caliber therefore they will struggle.

[Stang Fever]

I would say yes...for a recent example take a look at Nebraska....Years and Years of great teams running an option style power game.....You knew what you were going to get when nebraska played...They were a national tv team...You could always catch them on tv...Known for there Black swarm defense...I cant tell you the last time i have seen them play on tv....

[JaxSinfonian]

One thing GSU will be able to recruit (and already has) is speed...and they will be able to recruit from a rich talent base...they are the only I-AA team in the entire state of GA.

Unless you count Savannah State. But why would you?

My preference for an offensive identity is simple: just be the team that scores more points than the other team. I don't care how you do it, just win.

[dirtbag]

My preference for an offensive identity is simple: just be the team that scores more points than the other team. I don't care how you do it, just win.

For the team I'm rooting for, yes. But as a fan, homogenization (is that a word?) is the enemy. Along with the endless commercials, it's why the NFL bores me. I love seeing teams doing things differently. I particularly love seeing teams run the option.

And if *ANY* team decides to bring back the single wing, I'm donating $$$ to their booster club.

[colgate13]

Colgate certainly has an offensive identity. It's not important to me in terms of personal worth but rather I think it's the best receipe for success here.

We are a ball control offense that is run heavy. We have no problem giving one back 35-40 (or more) carries a game. We want to run right at you in the I formation but also pass enough to move the ball when we need to and not be one dimensional. But if you take away our running game, we have a hard time winning. Lucky for us, we've been blessed with outstanding running backs. That is the key piece of our offense: the tailback. The QB is probably the 7th most important player on our team in an ideal situation. Tailback and five lineman and we can go along way...

So, that identity is important because we've made it into a successful one! If it stopped being successful, I'd have no problem abandoning it.