Am I the only one that would like to see at least a little full house backfield and triple option action with this group? Man are we loaded in the backfield. Marcus at fullback with Cardon and Trai at halfbacks. Wow!

(07-27-2018 04:27 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Am I the only one that would like to see at least a little full house backfield and triple option action with this group? Man are we loaded in the backfield. Marcus at fullback with Cardon and Trai at halfbacks. Wow!

Whoa! Marcus came to JMU to get away from that stuff.

(j/k...well, sort of)



I know what you mean though. Let's hope they can stay healthy - especially rooting for Cardon. Would love to see him get a full season in.

(07-27-2018 04:27 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Am I the only one that would like to see at least a little full house backfield and triple option action with this group? Man are we loaded in the backfield. Marcus at fullback with Cardon and Trai at halfbacks. Wow!

Honestly, I'd rather see Trai in the slot.

(07-27-2018 06:14 PM)olderduke Wrote:  

(07-27-2018 04:27 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Am I the only one that would like to see at least a little full house backfield and triple option action with this group? Man are we loaded in the backfield. Marcus at fullback with Cardon and Trai at halfbacks. Wow!

Honestly, I'd rather see Trai in the slot.

Yep, this. My problem with the triple option is it can feel a little predictable if overused, sort of like Mickey ball. You don't want the defense to go "ok, thats a run play, everyone play up"

Could see the triple option used as an unexpected changeup to throw defenses for a loop on a rare occasion, but making other teams defend both the run and pass against these guys would be even better.

If things are disguised right, they would never know what to expect, and we could have weapons all over the place on every play.

I know we've covered it before multiple times in the past here, but one of the very few things I don't like about our offense is lack of power packages when inside the 3 or 4 yard line (1st or 2nd and goal). And, more specifically, snapping the ball in the gun back 5-6 yards.

Was it the Weber State game when Schor last year walked up to take a snap from center and sneaked it in for a TD (or was it a first down) inside the 3 yard line??? Not advocating for the triple option per se, but would love to see us mix it up a bit when inside the 3-5 yard line 1st and goal.

(note, I'd love to see us throw more screen passes to these backs too...of course, if/when you have superior offensive line play like we did in '15 and '16, you can do pretty much whatever you want to do and it will be successful more often than not)

I’ve always felt the success of the triple option hinged on the QB not the RB’s and I’m not sure either QB is quick enough to run the option other than on a surprise play. Houston will find a way to get the RB’s touches and he mentioned going back to a ground heavy game during media day. Maybe a couple of them become a RB/WR position that goes in motion pre snap and can take a sweep handoff/shuffle pass at any time.

Over the course of his career John Miller had some nice versatility mixing RB duties with WR duties.

Has a 3rd receiver stepped up yet to compliment Eldridge and stapleton?

(07-27-2018 07:26 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I’ve always felt the success of the triple option hinged on the QB not the RB’s and I’m not sure either QB is quick enough to run the option other than on a surprise play. Houston will find a way to get the RB’s touches and he mentioned going back to a ground heavy game during media day. Maybe a couple of them become a RB/WR position that goes in motion pre snap and can take a sweep handoff/shuffle pass at any time.

Over the course of his career John Miller had some nice versatility mixing RB duties with WR duties.

Has a 3rd receiver stepped up yet to compliment Eldridge and stapleton?

We aren't running the triple option with this team no matter what. You have to practice it over and over and over and we don't have a QB to run it anyway. But yeah, you're right the QB making the right reads are a big key. Also the other skill players being willing to block matters a lot.

Dukes have depth at RB- not looking for Triple option but look for a return to the power running game of 2 years ago. I don't think we can count on Cardon Johnson to be more than an 8-10 carry a game back. It's a long season (especially for JMU) so having 5 capable backs (3 splitting carries per game) is a great thing.

Houston also seems very high on the O-Line. A recent article cited the running yards vs. North Dakota in Fargo when the Dukes punched them in the mouth vs. last year's championship game. Look for JMU to use their Running game to control the pace offensively (like two years ago). Sets up one on one coverage with Stapleton and Cheatham for big plays in the passing game.

(07-28-2018 09:36 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Dukes have depth at RB- not looking for Triple option but look for a return to the power running game of 2 years ago. I don't think we can count on Cardon Johnson to be more than an 8-10 carry a game back. It's a long season (especially for JMU) so having 5 capable backs (3 splitting carries per game) is a great thing.

Houston also seems very high on the O-Line. A recent article cited the running yards vs. North Dakota in Fargo when the Dukes punched them in the mouth vs. last year's championship game. Look for JMU to use their Running game to control the pace offensively (like two years ago). Sets up one on one coverage with Stapleton and Cheatham for big plays in the passing game.

If you’re dividing the load among 4 guys you might not need to count on anyone being a more than 8-10 carry a game back, at least until if/when someone gets injured..

A good situation to be in. Fenner, Banks, Hines & Bolton all carried the load (100 yd games) at some point during our '04 championship season.

Please no with this.

(07-27-2018 09:15 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(07-27-2018 07:26 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I’ve always felt the success of the triple option hinged on the QB not the RB’s and I’m not sure either QB is quick enough to run the option other than on a surprise play. Houston will find a way to get the RB’s touches and he mentioned going back to a ground heavy game during media day. Maybe a couple of them become a RB/WR position that goes in motion pre snap and can take a sweep handoff/shuffle pass at any time.

Over the course of his career John Miller had some nice versatility mixing RB duties with WR duties.

Has a 3rd receiver stepped up yet to compliment Eldridge and stapleton?

We aren't running the triple option with this team no matter what. You have to practice it over and over and over and we don't have a QB to run it anyway. But yeah, you're right the QB making the right reads are a big key. Also the other skill players being willing to block matters a lot.

I would not be surprised to see some short yardage/goal line sets with the QB under center in a Power I or Single Back. But triple option, nope. That is not something you just 'toy' with to be effective. That is an offense that takes a lot of practice and different blocking style. With the triple option you are either in (for a large % of plays) or not doing it.

(07-30-2018 10:23 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(07-27-2018 09:15 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(07-27-2018 07:26 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I’ve always felt the success of the triple option hinged on the QB not the RB’s and I’m not sure either QB is quick enough to run the option other than on a surprise play. Houston will find a way to get the RB’s touches and he mentioned going back to a ground heavy game during media day. Maybe a couple of them become a RB/WR position that goes in motion pre snap and can take a sweep handoff/shuffle pass at any time.

Over the course of his career John Miller had some nice versatility mixing RB duties with WR duties.

Has a 3rd receiver stepped up yet to compliment Eldridge and stapleton?

We aren't running the triple option with this team no matter what. You have to practice it over and over and over and we don't have a QB to run it anyway. But yeah, you're right the QB making the right reads are a big key. Also the other skill players being willing to block matters a lot.

I would not be surprised to see some short yardage/goal line sets with the QB under center in a Power I or Single Back. But triple option, nope. That is not something you just 'toy' with to be effective. That is an offense that takes a lot of practice and different blocking style. With the triple option you are either in (for a large % of plays) or not doing it.

I agree with every word. I'd love to see a set with a handful of plays under center for short yardage. Sneak, dive, off tackle, couple quick throws, bootleg, pitch. 3rd & goal from the one is a place where the shotgun and RPO drive me nuts.

(08-03-2018 10:26 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  

(07-30-2018 10:23 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(07-27-2018 09:15 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(07-27-2018 07:26 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  I’ve always felt the success of the triple option hinged on the QB not the RB’s and I’m not sure either QB is quick enough to run the option other than on a surprise play. Houston will find a way to get the RB’s touches and he mentioned going back to a ground heavy game during media day. Maybe a couple of them become a RB/WR position that goes in motion pre snap and can take a sweep handoff/shuffle pass at any time.

Over the course of his career John Miller had some nice versatility mixing RB duties with WR duties.

Has a 3rd receiver stepped up yet to compliment Eldridge and stapleton?

We aren't running the triple option with this team no matter what. You have to practice it over and over and over and we don't have a QB to run it anyway. But yeah, you're right the QB making the right reads are a big key. Also the other skill players being willing to block matters a lot.

I would not be surprised to see some short yardage/goal line sets with the QB under center in a Power I or Single Back. But triple option, nope. That is not something you just 'toy' with to be effective. That is an offense that takes a lot of practice and different blocking style. With the triple option you are either in (for a large % of plays) or not doing it.

I agree with every word. I'd love to see a set with a handful of plays under center for short yardage. Sneak, dive, off tackle, couple quick throws, bootleg, pitch. 3rd & goal from the one is a place where the shotgun and RPO drive me nuts.

Yup

(07-27-2018 04:27 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Am I the only one that would like to see at least a little full house backfield and triple option action with this group?

I love triple option football! However, I do not believe that would be in JMU’s best interests this season.

Can an offense switch back and forth between triple option and not triple option?

4-6 plays a game with the triple option would be fun to watch. This may be a clown idea ????

(08-05-2018 07:49 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  Can an offense switch back and forth between triple option and not triple option?

4-6 plays a game with the triple option would be fun to watch. This may be a clown idea ????

I think it was pointed out earlier, to have a successful triple option it needs much practice to develop reads. Lot's of reps in that one area may take away from the success we have been enjoying with our offense. Still, having three horses in the backfield every so often would put some fear in the defense.

(08-05-2018 07:49 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  Can an offense switch back and forth between triple option and not triple option?

4-6 plays a game with the triple option would be fun to watch. This may be a clown idea ????

Not effectively because you need to practice it a lot. And we don't have a triple option QB anyway.

The triple option has been awesome for JMU. Its given us Vad Lee and Marcus Marshall.

(08-05-2018 08:11 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I think it was pointed out earlier, to have a successful triple option it needs much practice to develop reads. Lot's of reps in that one area may take away from the success we have been enjoying with our offense. Still, having three horses in the backfield every so often would put some fear in the defense.

I think we ran a three-back set a few times throughout the year last year.

I agree with others that we will see RBs line up in the slot. I think that gives us some versatility to run the jet sweep/inside zone looks that FAU ran last year.