OTF Video: Predicting the Starting Offense

[Bobby Burton]

Rod, CJ and I spent some time discussing who we think the starters will be on offense in 2024 and why. Some of the answers revolve around exactly what Steve Sarkisian wants to be in 2024.

 

 

View full news

[Viper]

Good conversation. WR will be interesting and I think tip Sark's hand a little about how he wants to run the offense. You almost can't go wrong with OL, just an embarrassment of riches compared to just a few years ago.

[codaxx]

The offense is the fun one. I don’t really see a hole on the offense. The defense is the one that gets interesting. Does Texas have a 1 technique ready to play? Can one of the 3 techs slide over and play at a high level? Can both Hill and Gbenda step up and be a solid unit?

[HookemTexas]

Question for me is - does Sark start the games with the "explosive" grouping to try to score fast and early and then pound out the time of possession after that, or does he start more "generic" and march down the field trying to wear out the defense first.  I'm thinking the former.

[Bobby Burton]

59 minutes ago, HookemTexas said:

Question for me is - does Sark start the games with the "explosive" grouping to try to score fast and early and then pound out the time of possession after that, or does he start more "generic" and march down the field trying to wear out the defense first.  I'm thinking the former.

Now that is an interesting take.

[Viper]

1 hour ago, HookemTexas said:

Question for me is - does Sark start the games with the "explosive" grouping to try to score fast and early and then pound out the time of possession after that, or does he start more "generic" and march down the field trying to wear out the defense first.  I'm thinking the former.

I think you start with explosive if the opposing defense allows it, but the talent on offense allows you to take whatever the defense is giving you. 

[gus fleener]

Spring will tell. Sadly, I believe we are looking at some significant portal outs. I expect to see one or more player portal out at running back, wide receiver and offensive line after spring ball.

I say sadly because I like all these players. It's a great problem to have though.

[HookemTexas]

54 minutes ago, gus fleener said:

Spring will tell. Sadly, I believe we are looking at some significant portal outs. I expect to see one or more player portal out at running back, wide receiver and offensive line after spring ball.

I say sadly because I like all these players. It's a great problem to have though.

You're probably right, in today's world the portal is practically free agency like the NFL.  Rosters can be completely overhauled in a season or two.  It's hard to keep recruited talent if they aren't seeing the field quickly.  It's one of the qualities that made Brooks special, he could have entered the portal but waited his turn and is now one of, if not the top RB in the draft.

[uthorn1374]

Really hoping Neto earns the LG spot with Cam at RT.  Would like to see a dominant run game for the first time in short yardage and red zone scenarios.

[Viper]

2 hours ago, gus fleener said:

Spring will tell. Sadly, I believe we are looking at some significant portal outs. I expect to see one or more player portal out at running back, wide receiver and offensive line after spring ball.

I say sadly because I like all these players. It's a great problem to have though.

We'll have to have some just to get to 85, but I'm not so sure we'll lose a lot that we really wanted to keep thanks to some great NIL work.

[OTF12024]

Managing who goes versus stays during open portal windows will have a significant influence on the success of every college team. Obviously, if done correctly, you keep the top players and those with the greatest potential. You 'lose' the players that contribute or will contribute the least. The portal is a 2 edge sword. It can be good and/or bad. I think Sark will be as good as any head coach in managing it.

[codaxx]

3 hours ago, HookemTexas said:

Question for me is - does Sark start the games with the "explosive" grouping to try to score fast and early and then pound out the time of possession after that, or does he start more "generic" and march down the field trying to wear out the defense first.  I'm thinking the former.

I think Sark is going to be Sark.. I think last year is a good blueprint. He wants to come out throwing the ball. If he sees the defense playing 2 safeties deep and taking away the explosives, he will run the ball. I think the run game is generally his counter punch and finishing move. Maybe someone like @Rod Babers has the run/pass split for the 1st few series of each game, but I will bet it is something like 80/20 pass/run.. 

[Bobby Burton]

1 hour ago, OTF12024 said:

Managing who goes versus stays during open portal windows will have a significant influence on the success of every college team. Obviously, if done correctly, you keep the top players and those with the greatest potential. You 'lose' the players that contribute or will contribute the least. The portal is a 2 edge sword. It can be good and/or bad. I think Sark will be as good as any head coach in managing it.

I agree 100-percent with this. I really think Sark and Billy Glasscock have done a whale of a job in this regard.

[ryantnelson02]

If Neto can't beat out Hayden Conner in his 3rd year on campus, then we were too high on Neto. He will have 30+ Months on campus and he still can't beat out a liability at Guard. 

[Robert Gilbert]

My following statements are based on Sark’s offensive players playing up to their previous standard or living up to potential. 
 

I think the best aspect of the 2024 offense will be its versatility. Sark can basically do anything he wants. He can go 10, 11, 12, 13 personal. Or he can go 20, 21, 22, 23 personal. He can anywhere between 0-5 WRs on the field (depending on how many RBs or WRs he wants on the field). Of course any coach can do that…but can they do so with the talent level that Sark will have at his disposal? I cannot think of any grouping that is potentially “bad”.
 

I will not mention players names to go with each and every possible grouping, I will leave that to individual reader’s imagination. However, one example is a 23 group. Not used often except in goal line or short yardage plays. With our talent two RBs and three TEs could be used very effectively. CB and Blue as the backs. Helm, Niblack, and Agbo at TE. Can we run out it? Definitely. Can we pass out of it? Yes, maybe not as an every down formation but in a third or fourth and one situation…it will work. For example, play action to Helm in the flat. Bootleg with Niblack dragging across the middle. 
 

JMO, any thoughts. 

[David Edwards]

Might make it CB and Red in the backfield and push or lead with Red with CB carrying 

[Bobby Burton]

18 hours ago, ryantnelson02 said:

If Neto can't beat out Hayden Conner in his 3rd year on campus, then we were too high on Neto. He will have 30+ Months on campus and he still can't beat out a liability at Guard. 

I don’t see Hayden as a liability. I see him as a pretty good guard.

The question is, can he be improved upon?

I also don’t think an offensive lineman really starts peaking until their 4th or 5th year in college (and that includes Kelvin Banks). We’d be giving up early on Neto with that beginning of year three assessment and maybe on Hayden, too 

 

[Bobby Burton]

17 hours ago, Robert Gilbert said:

My following statements are based on Sark’s offensive players playing up to their previous standard or living up to potential. 
 

I think the best aspect of the 2024 offense will be its versatility. Sark can basically do anything he wants. He can go 10, 11, 12, 13 personal. Or he can go 20, 21, 22, 23 personal. He can anywhere between 0-5 WRs on the field (depending on how many RBs or WRs he wants on the field). Of course any coach can do that…but can they do so with the talent level that Sark will have at his disposal? I cannot think of any grouping that is potentially “bad”.
 

I will not mention players names to go with each and every possible grouping, I will leave that to individual reader’s imagination. However, one example is a 23 group. Not used often except in goal line or short yardage plays. With our talent two RBs and three TEs could be used very effectively. CB and Blue as the backs. Helm, Niblack, and Agbo at TE. Can we run out it? Definitely. Can we pass out of it? Yes, maybe not as an every down formation but in a third or fourth and one situation…it will work. For example, play action to Helm in the flat. Bootleg with Niblack dragging across the middle. 
 

JMO, any thoughts. 

Versatility is absolutely what it is.

Couple of thoughts:

- A question I have though is what is their big personnel? They have to insert Agbo because I don’t think Niblack is that sort of in-line presence. That is somewhat limiting even with Helm returning. Not anything major but something to consider.

- SEC teams are notoriously better in their front seven than other leagues. How does that affect what Sark can do, especially from the two-back look? Even with a more experienced OL, it’s a different convo trying to run on those teams.

[Robert Gilbert]

1 hour ago, Bobby Burton said:

Versatility is absolutely what it is.

Couple of thoughts:

- A question I have though is what is their big personnel? They have to insert Agbo because I don’t think Niblack is that sort of in-line presence. That is somewhat limiting even with Helm returning. Not anything major but something to consider.

- SEC teams are notoriously better in their front seven than other leagues. How does that affect what Sark can do, especially from the two-back look? Even with a more experienced OL, it’s a different convo trying to run on those teams.

Thanks for your thoughts. Personally I think Niblack has to be in any big package because (I believe I heard this on Coffee and Football) that while Niblack is not a great blocker he is a willing blocker. While he probably cannot handle a 260+ pound DE he should be more than capable of taking on a Sam or Will or a Safety, especially if he is at the H-back. In addition, he would be necessary in any bootleg or play action look. 
 

I am sure Rod B might be able to answer how effective is a two back set vs good teams. For example, did we use the two back set effectively against Alabama or any other good to great run defenses we played last year? I do not know that answer. To be honest, that is why I come to onetexasfootball.com and watch OTF videos every day in order to be as well informed as possible. 
 

I like many here are members of other sites and ocassionally watch their videos. However, I strongly believe the OTF YouTube channel is the best in the business and I am loving the direction this website is going. 

[Bobby Burton]

2 hours ago, Robert Gilbert said:

Thanks for your thoughts. Personally I think Niblack has to be in any big package because (I believe I heard this on Coffee and Football) that while Niblack is not a great blocker he is a willing blocker. While he probably cannot handle a 260+ pound DE he should be more than capable of taking on a Sam or Will or a Safety, especially if he is at the H-back. In addition, he would be necessary in any bootleg or play action look. 
 

I am sure Rod B might be able to answer how effective is a two back set vs good teams. For example, did we use the two back set effectively against Alabama or any other good to great run defenses we played last year? I do not know that answer. To be honest, that is why I come to onetexasfootball.com and watch OTF videos every day in order to be as well informed as possible. 
 

I like many here are members of other sites and ocassionally watch their videos. However, I strongly believe the OTF YouTube channel is the best in the business and I am loving the direction this website is going. 

All good questions. We'll see what Rod has to say.

My overarching take is more about run offense generally, not just in two back sets.

Run defense and run offense are the two biggest changes in moving to the SEC IMO.

[codaxx]

3 hours ago, Bobby Burton said:

Versatility is absolutely what it is.

Couple of thoughts:

- A question I have though is what is their big personnel? They have to insert Agbo because I don’t think Niblack is that sort of in-line presence. That is somewhat limiting even with Helm returning. Not anything major but something to consider.

- SEC teams are notoriously better in their front seven than other leagues. How does that affect what Sark can do, especially from the two-back look? Even with a more experienced OL, it’s a different convo trying to run on those teams.

Big Personnel- I think the one thing overlooked in big personnel was how successful Texas threw out of it. They threw the ball better, then they ran the ball. If Sark is looking to get big to throw the ball (hunt match-ups), he will probably need to include NiBlack. Sanders was a mismatch vs LBs and Safeties in 12 personnel last year. I am not sure Helm can offer that. It’s been awhile, but I believe Sark ran a decent amount of that vs Bama and Sanders had a big game. 

This is probably a game by game discussion, but I agree. High level, what is going to be the strength of the offense? It’s likely Quinn, pass blocking, and speed at the skill positions.. The run game struggled last year in short yardage situations. That is probably a better indicator of an offenses ability to impose their will, than total rush yards.  The Run game usually got going by opposing defensive schemes (playing deep) or late in the game after the offense had been successful and tired a defense out (Bama).