Red Zone and 3rd Down Efficiency

[usfgrad84]

We were 2 of 12 on 3rd downs yesterday. 3rd down and Red zone problems have been a recurring theme for two years. With the overall stats we put together we seem to have the talent. Toughness and situational play calling are the issues in my opinion.

I don't ever recall a coaching staff making so many excuses and publicly defending why they do things. Maybe once or twice a season, but these guys do it every week.

I question the toughness of our receivers and I think its another part of the problems on offense. We don't have anyone willing or able to make the tough catch over the middle or in traffic. We rely too much on the short pass and hope that a guy makes some YAC. In every game there are situations where you need someone to go over the middle or run a slant, make a play when he knows he is going to get creamed. Other than Miller a couple of times I don't recall any of our receivers making tough catches in traffic or over the middle. Do we have a TE on the team? Do we have a slot receiver that runs routes or do they just line up like decoys?

On 3rd down or in the redzone, when yards are tough to come by we need some toughness.

[BullAdrian]

I expect WR Dunkley and TE Pean will make much difference next season..

If we play on 3rd down short or long, USF is the one we would love to play against.

[El_Toro_86]

Were we even in the red zone yesterday?

[usfgrad84]

Nope. Closest we got was the 23 on Bonani's fg.

[snarling Bull]

Is this a record? I do not remember us having a game where we didn't get inside the opponents 20.

[Bullshiznitz]

We were 2 of 12 on 3rd downs yesterday. 3rd down and Red zone problems have been a recurring theme for two years. With the overall stats we put together we seem to have the talent. Toughness and situational play calling are the issues in my opinion.

I don't ever recall a coaching staff making so many excuses and publicly defending why they do things. Maybe once or twice a season, but these guys do it every week.

I question the toughness of our receivers and I think its another part of the problems on offense. We don't have anyone willing or able to make the tough catch over the middle or in traffic. We rely too much on the short pass and hope that a guy makes some YAC. In every game there are situations where you need someone to go over the middle or run a slant, make a play when he knows he is going to get creamed. Other than Miller a couple of times I don't recall any of our receivers making tough catches in traffic or over the middle. Do we have a TE on the team? Do we have a slot receiver that runs routes or do they just line up like decoys?

On 3rd down or in the redzone, when yards are tough to come by we need some toughness.

I think thats a great point. We don't have a "hester"-like receiver on this team right now. And to compound that problem, we don't seem to know how to use or TE's. We don't have that bread and butter play that most teams have that they can rely on key situations. Our play calling seems to be pulling 1 of 12 plays out of hat and going with it.

[snarling Bull]

This is in no way a defense of Holtz, but this team has always struggled in the Red Zone. I can' tell you how many times we relied on Grothe to make something happen on his own inside the 20. For whatever reason, OC's become retarded when they come to USF.

Anyone remember Rod Smith's double reverse inside the UConn 5 yard line?

How could we forget. But we WERE in the red zone.

[smazza]

I expect WR Dunkley and TE Pean will make much difference next season..

If we play on 3rd down short or long, USF is the one we would love to play against.

usf needs to recruit better players

they need a NEW qb

[usfbullrider]

Shields or Landi would be willing to make any short yardage pass IF their number is called.

[SANJAY]

Is this a record? I do not remember us having a game where we didn't get inside the opponents 20.

I am thinking the meineke car care bowl against nc state. Also maybe the2005 game against Miami.