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Griz Scoring Points, But....

C

Chucknduck

Well-known member
I've been following this for a few games now and I'm starting to see a pattern. Yes, the Griz are scoring points lately, but I have noticed a trend that has been happening throughout the first 5 games. The Griz have scored once on an opening drive this season, and have not scored on an opening drive post half time.

-Game 1 Vs MSU: Griz opening drive, Punt (7 plays); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 2 Vs. UND: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 3 Vs. MSU: Griz opening Drive, TD (6 plays 33 yards); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 4 Vs. WCU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Turnover on Downs (4 plays)
-Game 5 Vs. EWU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (6 plays)

For what its worth, the one time we scored points to open a drive was against Morehead.

Throughout the season, the Grizzlies are averaging 4.4 plays on their opening drives, and 3.8 plays on opening drives to start the second half.

Question: Is the offense running basic crap to see what the defense is going to give them to open up the game? Or, is it just piss poor game planning due to the fact you had a week to rehearse your opening drive? Or, is it due to a "bad culture" due to a half empty stadium to start the second half? Kidding on that one. Sample size too small??

What is more worrisome to me is the opening drives to start a second half. This is where you can flat out bury teams and make it extremely difficult for teams to recover. For example, against EWU, the Griz put on a clinic to close out the first half with a TD, and if we didn't punt on our first drive in the second half and scored a TD/Field Goal, we could have possibly been up 45/41-21 going into the 4th quarter. I'm pretty sure the only two times we punted that game was to start both halves.

Curious what you all think.
 
Chucknduck said:
I've been following this for a few games now and I'm starting to see a pattern. Yes, the Griz are scoring points lately, but I have noticed a trend that has been happening throughout the first 5 games. The Griz have scored once on an opening drive this season, and have not scored on an opening drive post half time.

-Game 1 Vs MSU: Griz opening drive, Punt (7 plays); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 2 Vs. UND: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 3 Vs. MSU: Griz opening Drive, TD (6 plays 33 yards); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 4 Vs. WCU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Turnover on Downs (4 plays)
-Game 5 Vs. EWU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (6 plays)

For what its worth, the one time we scored points to open a drive was against Morehead.

Throughout the season, the Grizzlies are averaging 4.4 plays on their opening drives, and 3.8 plays on opening drives to start the second half.

Question: Is the offense running basic crap to see what the defense is going to give them to open up the game? Or, is it just piss poor game planning due to the fact you had a week to rehearse your opening drive? Or, is it due to a "bad culture" due to a half empty stadium to start the second half? Kidding on that one. Sample size too small??

What is more worrisome to me is the opening drives to start a second half. This is where you can flat out bury teams and make it extremely difficult for teams to recover. For example, against EWU, the Griz put on a clinic to close out the first half with a TD, and if we didn't punt on our first drive in the second half and scored a TD/Field Goal, we could have possibly been up 45/41-21 going into the 4th quarter. I'm pretty sure the only two times we punted that game was to start both halves.

Curious what you all think.
Click to expand...
I personally think it's a work in progress and the lack of adjustments-whether they're halftime or in game (the same problem a lot of teams have. The talent is with this team. I agree with your analysis, but I do think they'll get it worked out.
 
Chucknduck said:
I've been following this for a few games now and I'm starting to see a pattern. Yes, the Griz are scoring points lately, but I have noticed a trend that has been happening throughout the first 5 games. The Griz have scored once on an opening drive this season, and have not scored on an opening drive post half time.

-Game 1 Vs MSU: Griz opening drive, Punt (7 plays); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 2 Vs. UND: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 3 Vs. MSU: Griz opening Drive, TD (6 plays 33 yards); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 4 Vs. WCU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Turnover on Downs (4 plays)
-Game 5 Vs. EWU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (6 plays)

For what its worth, the one time we scored points to open a drive was against Morehead.

Throughout the season, the Grizzlies are averaging 4.4 plays on their opening drives, and 3.8 plays on opening drives to start the second half.

Question: Is the offense running basic crap to see what the defense is going to give them to open up the game? Or, is it just piss poor game planning due to the fact you had a week to rehearse your opening drive? Or, is it due to a "bad culture" due to a half empty stadium to start the second half? Kidding on that one. Sample size too small??

What is more worrisome to me is the opening drives to start a second half. This is where you can flat out bury teams and make it extremely difficult for teams to recover. For example, against EWU, the Griz put on a clinic to close out the first half with a TD, and if we didn't punt on our first drive in the second half and scored a TD/Field Goal, we could have possibly been up 45/41-21 going into the 4th quarter. I'm pretty sure the only two times we punted that game was to start both halves.

Curious what you all think.
Click to expand...
Without doing any research, I would posit that teams that score on their final drive of the first half & game, win more games compared to teams that score on their initial drives. Playing a dominant 2nd half is typically better than playing a dominant first half (ie. UND). That said, starting slow is becoming a trend, and the team needs to address the issue.

To answer your specific question, a lot of factors are at play, with the most influential being play calls. Some teams prefer to have scripted, explosive, opening drives, but our staff prefers to play simple (throw a jab) and adjust throughout the contest.

Playing simple is not bad. Basic technique and fundamentals win games in every sport, at every level. Execution is the determining factor. Go Griz!
 
Chucknduck said:
I've been following this for a few games now and I'm starting to see a pattern. Yes, the Griz are scoring points lately, but I have noticed a trend that has been happening throughout the first 5 games. The Griz have scored once on an opening drive this season, and have not scored on an opening drive post half time.

-Game 1 Vs MSU: Griz opening drive, Punt (7 plays); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 2 Vs. UND: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 3 Vs. MSU: Griz opening Drive, TD (6 plays 33 yards); First drive after halftime, Punt (3 and out)
-Game 4 Vs. WCU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Turnover on Downs (4 plays)
-Game 5 Vs. EWU: Griz opening drive, Punt (3 and out); First drive after halftime, Punt (6 plays)

For what its worth, the one time we scored points to open a drive was against Morehead.

Throughout the season, the Grizzlies are averaging 4.4 plays on their opening drives, and 3.8 plays on opening drives to start the second half.

Question: Is the offense running basic crap to see what the defense is going to give them to open up the game? Or, is it just piss poor game planning due to the fact you had a week to rehearse your opening drive? Or, is it due to a "bad culture" due to a half empty stadium to start the second half? Kidding on that one. Sample size too small??

What is more worrisome to me is the opening drives to start a second half. This is where you can flat out bury teams and make it extremely difficult for teams to recover. For example, against EWU, the Griz put on a clinic to close out the first half with a TD, and if we didn't punt on our first drive in the second half and scored a TD/Field Goal, we could have possibly been up 45/41-21 going into the 4th quarter. I'm pretty sure the only two times we punted that game was to start both halves.

Curious what you all think.
Click to expand...

Interesting stuff..

The first series are usually "scripted" and designed to attack what the opposing team has shown on film. The fact that every scripted series in the competitive games opened with mostly 3 and outs and a 7 play/punt drive is concerning. I'd say that it could be bc we have a young QB... but then why was EWU also a 3 and out?

The 2nd half... yeah. Could be worrisome I suppose. The Griz are scoring almost 17 ppg in the 2nd half this season - and if you take out the UND goose egg they're actually scoring 21 per game in the 2nd half in their 4 wins. Conversely they're scoring 25.4 per game in the first half (average stays about the same with our without the UND game in). The trick here could be the lopsided Morehead state game though (39 points in the first half).

Feels like if this defense is going to continue to allow a lot of points, the 2nd half offense does need to account for more points. Currently they're allowing just about 16 ppg in the 2nd half. Take out Morehead and that number moves to 19.25 per game - so in both cases the 2nd half offense is barely outscoring what the 2nd half defense is allowing.
 
One element we haven’t discussed. How much of the voodoo of our voodoo defense gets exposed in game by teams having the ability to rewatch film on the sidelines and not just diagnose realtime like they had to before? I would argue that’s why we start to see the offense get going too after a drive or 2 to begin the halves.
 
BWahlberg said:
Interesting stuff..

The first series are usually "scripted" and designed to attack what the opposing team has shown on film. The fact that every scripted series in the competitive games opened with mostly 3 and outs and a 7 play/punt drive is concerning. I'd say that it could be bc we have a young QB... but then why was EWU also a 3 and out?

The 2nd half... yeah. Could be worrisome I suppose. The Griz are scoring almost 17 ppg in the 2nd half this season - and if you take out the UND goose egg they're actually scoring 21 per game in the 2nd half in their 4 wins. Conversely they're scoring 25.4 per game in the first half (average stays about the same with our without the UND game in). The trick here could be the lopsided Morehead state game though (39 points in the first half).

Feels like if this defense is going to continue to allow a lot of points, the 2nd half offense does need to account for more points. Currently they're allowing just about 16 ppg in the 2nd half. Take out Morehead and that number moves to 19.25 per game - so in both cases the 2nd half offense is barely outscoring what the 2nd half defense is allowing.
Click to expand...
Good reply. The EWU opening drive was baffling to me in regards to the other opening drives throughout the season. Other opening drives, excluding the EWU game, had a mix of passing with running/RPO. Maybe its because EWU was the start of conference play and they wanted to size up EWU's D somewhat like boxers do when they "feel each other out" in the first round. The EWU game it seemed deliberate that we were going to run off the tackles and see if EWU would sell out in stopping Gillman and they did. Then we opened up the floodgates with passing and then killed them with the run later (except on 4th downs). Hats off to the staff if this was the plan.

I think they will eventually come out and be successful on opening drives, but I just want to see them come out in both halves and smack an opponent in the face for once, especially in the second half. We need to quit handing opposing offenses momentum with the state that the defense is in. Hearing Meyer and Klucewich will more than likely be back which will be huge.

We shall see what happens against Weber.
 
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