#TeamClark

[Bootsy]

Sunday morning ramblings below...

App's success running their offense keys on having dominant O-Line personnel. When the OL is dealing with injuries, has less talented players, etc., well, y'all know the deal.

Along that line of thought...when Ponce called novel plays (TE targets, designed QB keepers, etc.) they were frequently successful. Is it coincidence that opponents this season have shown very App different looks on game day than what our defense prepared for during the week? Coastal immediately comes to mind here.

Here's my point: instead of sticking with the same offense, why not tailor it to App's personnel? Some of the most successful offensive schemes like the West Coast Offense and Air Raid were designed purely out of necessity (see notes below).

If Scott Sloan (architect of a defense that has been adopted by other teams in the SBC) was willing to make some major scheme changes last night, can we admit we need to make some changes on offense that work to the strengths/mitigate the weaknesses of our personnel?

I'm not saying Sloan's tweaks worked. A lot of it didn't, until the last three drives where it the kids played lights out. But it was a statement that he's trying to place our kids in positions to win games. Ponce needs the freedom to do the same.

Note:
"The Score Takes Care of Itself" is Bill Walsh's autobiography and he speaks at length about the development of the WCO.
"Untold stories of football's Air Raid revolution" is an excellent article that outlines why Mumme and Leach created the system. https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... d-football

[AppStFan1]

Here is a stat for you….no team in our division has a losing overall record

This league is very strong. I don't think anyone is doubting that by now. We have some teams who are up and down at times like USA but just about every team in this league can win at any given time.

[appdaze]

I've never much cared about comparing team stats across all conferences. If we played an SEC schedule would we be ranked #18? Nope. It's a hollow ranking. It's like in basketball how if you compare across all divisions it's always those little DIII programs that run gimmick offenses that lead the ranks. Does that mean they are better? Nope.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-m ... t/team/145

The national champs were in the 30's. Cross conference comparisons aren't worth much. The only stats I care about are us compared to our conference peers and the one or two comparable conferences out there. We are not the 18th best offense in the nation. How many insane stat lines would Ohio State have if they had our schedule?
Our league has gotten stronger, but don't bother comparing our stats to the P3.



So on a good note. If Clark is kept after this year and he went balls to the walls recruiting the trenches on both sides in the portal and HS, we would actually be a pretty good G5 team.

[AppStFan1]

I've never much cared about comparing team stats across all conferences. If we played an SEC schedule would we be ranked #18? Nope. It's a hollow ranking. It's like in basketball how if you compare across all divisions it's always those little DIII programs that run gimmick offenses that lead the ranks. Does that mean they are better? Nope.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-m ... t/team/145

The national champs were in the 30's. Cross conference comparisons aren't worth much. The only stats I care about are us compared to our conference peers and the one or two comparable conferences out there. We are not the 18th best offense in the nation. How many insane stat lines would Ohio State have if they had our schedule?
Our league has gotten stronger, but don't bother comparing our stats to the P3.



So on a good note. If Clark is kept after this year and he went balls to the walls recruiting the trenches on both sides in the portal and HS, we would actually be a pretty good G5 team.

Agreed. If you play in the worst conference and have a little talent you can put up monster stats but does not mean you are a better offense than someone in the SEC. You have to consider level of competition.

[appvette]

Here is a stat for you….no team in our division has a losing overall record

Lucky for us that those happened to be the two teams we got from the West this year.

[Stonewall]

Yes and we’ll lose three interior lineman next year.

The lack or recruiting and development at the Oline is surprising given the circumstances.

I have pointed this out for a couple of years now .We have been beaten upfront again and again , on the field and in recruiting.When we brought in the transfers someone on here said it was part of the "plan".We need a better "plan".

[DenverOfTheEast]

I've never much cared about comparing team stats across all conferences. If we played an SEC schedule would we be ranked #18? Nope. It's a hollow ranking. It's like in basketball how if you compare across all divisions it's always those little DIII programs that run gimmick offenses that lead the ranks. Does that mean they are better? Nope.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-m ... t/team/145

The national champs were in the 30's. Cross conference comparisons aren't worth much. The only stats I care about are us compared to our conference peers and the one or two comparable conferences out there. We are not the 18th best offense in the nation. How many insane stat lines would Ohio State have if they had our schedule?
Our league has gotten stronger, but don't bother comparing our stats to the P3.



So on a good note. If Clark is kept after this year and he went balls to the walls recruiting the trenches on both sides in the portal and HS, we would actually be a pretty good G5 team.

Agreed. If you play in the worst conference and have a little talent you can put up monster stats but does not mean you are a better offense than someone in the SEC. You have to consider level of competition.

It's all relative of course.... but it's a parameter or indicator of what needs to be improved.

APP STATE OFFENSE HASN'T BEEN THE PROBLEM, OBVIUOSLY BY THE STATS IT'S THE DEFENSE.

you keep score for a reason.
you keep stats for a reason.

The Air Raid group that made their mark in coaching had to start someplace, Hal Mumme, Mike Leach, Lincoln Riley.

I could say the triple option is a gimmick, that Navy, Army, Air Force and even Ga Southern use to run was a gimmick, but I am not a hater on the creativity and the winning that offense produced. Is the Princeton Offense a gimmick?

Don't hate on the creativity of coaching. The 4 corners was the biggest gimmick of all time - but it produced many a wins.

[appgrad95&97]

Here is a stat for you….no team in our division has a losing overall record

This league is very strong. I don't think anyone is doubting that by now. We have some teams who are up and down at times like USA but just about every team in this league can win at any given time.

Relative to Air Force, JMU isn't getting as much respect in the AP poll as I might have suspected. That says something about how the Sun Belt is viewed compared to the Mt. West.

[Stonewall]

Air Force , and the academies in general , have national followings , rightly so .When they are winning the pollsters reward them.In other news, Wyoming really got spanked last night.

[DenverOfTheEast]

Here is a stat for you….no team in our division has a losing overall record

This league is very strong. I don't think anyone is doubting that by now. We have some teams who are up and down at times like USA but just about every team in this league can win at any given time.

Relative to Air Force, JMU isn't getting as much respect in the AP poll as I might have suspected. That says something about how the Sun Belt is viewed compared to the Mt. West.

Of course not..... it's all geared for the P5's. that's why I said last week App State went 13-1 and was NOT getting in a NY6 Bowl.

Oklahoma loses to Kansas,,,,, freaking Kansas and is still in the top 10!!!!

Liberty is undefeated and they got less votes this week than they got last week, after winning on the road.

Washington is a top 3 team, but look how they treat the PAC12 -- they will have more ranked wins than anyone if they go undefeated.

JMU needs to win by 21 each game to move up, SBC teams that want ranked high, need to cover spreads by wide margins.

[Yosefus]

So I just watched Clark post game press conference. Been very down on him myself but I will say that was probably the most honest and open press conference he has given to date. Hopefully he and the team will take some confidence and belief in themselves that they can finish out strong. I'm not expecting them to win out but I like our chances vs a Marshall team Stat has been struggling just like we have. Our offense is clicking pretty good and Joey California is learning more every game. He will definitely give us an edge. Also, fortunately for us Marshall is struggling on offense. They put their 2nd string QB in last night but still didn't make much headway. Hope the coaches spend a lot of time on game films so the team is prepared and fired up for Marshall. No need to even think about another game until the next one is over. Prayers were answered last night. Keep praying and pulling for the Mountaineers!

[appgrad95&97]

Here is a stat for you….no team in our division has a losing overall record

This league is very strong. I don't think anyone is doubting that by now. We have some teams who are up and down at times like USA but just about every team in this league can win at any given time.

Relative to Air Force, JMU isn't getting as much respect in the AP poll as I might have suspected. That says something about how the Sun Belt is viewed compared to the Mt. West.

Of course not..... it's all geared for the P5's. that's why I said last week App State went 13-1 and was NOT getting in a NY6 Bowl.

Oklahoma loses to Kansas,,,,, freaking Kansas and is still in the top 10!!!!

Liberty is undefeated and they got less votes this week than they got last week, after winning on the road.

Washington is a top 3 team, but look how they treat the PAC12 -- they will have more ranked wins than anyone if they go undefeated.

JMU needs to win by 21 each game to move up, SBC teams that want ranked high, need to cover spreads by wide margins.

JMU beat ODU by 3 at home and moved up two places. My point was about Air Force at 17 without a P5 win (I think).

[MrCraig]

Wasn’t sure what thread to put this in, but for the folks weeks ago saying “ULM is sneaky good” because they beat Army… Army lost to UMass yesterday.

[Stonewall]

Maybe UMass is sneaky good ?

[RaleighApp27609]

So I just watched Clark post game press conference. Been very down on him myself but I will say that was probably the most honest and open press conference he has given to date. Hopefully he and the team will take some confidence and belief in themselves that they can finish out strong. I'm not expecting them to win out but I like our chances vs a Marshall team Stat has been struggling just like we have. Our offense is clicking pretty good and Joey California is learning more every game. He will definitely give us an edge. Also, fortunately for us Marshall is struggling on offense. They put their 2nd string QB in last night but still didn't make much headway. Hope the coaches spend a lot of time on game films so the team is prepared and fired up for Marshall. No need to even think about another game until the next one is over. Prayers were answered last night. Keep praying and pulling for the Mountaineers!

Obviously I want App to win out but if I could pick only two must wins, it would be Georgia Southern and Marshall.

[proasu89]

Never lost to Ga. State. Would love to keep that streak going. And really want to beat Southern on Armanti appreciation day.

[AppStFan1]

Yes and we’ll lose three interior lineman next year.

The lack or recruiting and development at the Oline is surprising given the circumstances.

I have pointed this out for a couple of years now .We have been beaten upfront again and again , on the field and in recruiting.When we brought in the transfers someone on here said it was part of the "plan".We need a better "plan".

The struggles on the OL and DL especially are frustrating. We have had classes where we did not end up with a single OL to pan out and that is just not going to win games. I feel like you have to average 2 quality OL and DL from each class to have enough depth.

[AppStFan1]

Here is a stat for you….no team in our division has a losing overall record

This league is very strong. I don't think anyone is doubting that by now. We have some teams who are up and down at times like USA but just about every team in this league can win at any given time.

Relative to Air Force, JMU isn't getting as much respect in the AP poll as I might have suspected. That says something about how the Sun Belt is viewed compared to the Mt. West.

I expected Air Force to get a lot of love because they are a name but to see voters not have JMU in the top 20 by now is a little surprising. One thing that I think has hurt the Sun Belt with voters is the fact JMU just moved up and passed a lot of our teams. If voters look at the results I think the SBC is the best G5 league for sure. I will be interesting to see who the CFP poll ranks in that 15-25 range.

[AppStFan1]

Here is a stat for you….no team in our division has a losing overall record

This league is very strong. I don't think anyone is doubting that by now. We have some teams who are up and down at times like USA but just about every team in this league can win at any given time.

Relative to Air Force, JMU isn't getting as much respect in the AP poll as I might have suspected. That says something about how the Sun Belt is viewed compared to the Mt. West.

Of course not..... it's all geared for the P5's. that's why I said last week App State went 13-1 and was NOT getting in a NY6 Bowl.

Oklahoma loses to Kansas,,,,, freaking Kansas and is still in the top 10!!!!

Liberty is undefeated and they got less votes this week than they got last week, after winning on the road.

Washington is a top 3 team, but look how they treat the PAC12 -- they will have more ranked wins than anyone if they go undefeated.

JMU needs to win by 21 each game to move up, SBC teams that want ranked high, need to cover spreads by wide margins.

JMU beat ODU by 3 at home and moved up two places. My point was about Air Force at 17 without a P5 win (I think).

They don't have a P5 win but they blew out San Diego State, beat Wyoming, and are undefeated. I expected them to be ranked but I think the polls have them higher than they should be right now.

[AppStFan1]

Maybe UMass is sneaky good ?

Neither Army or UMASS is sneaky good. UMASS is pretty bad. Like the old saying goes though. Even a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in a while.