Offensive Balance

[chitwnhog]

Previously there has been discussion re:  Bielema and offensive balance or lack there of. Some feel that he is Nutt 2.0 and others believe he is just as he portrays himself.

Offensive Balance at Wisconsin

2006: 2,749 passing, 2,102 rushing
2007: 2,704 passing, 2,610 rushing
2008: 2,745 rushing, 2,445 passing
2009: 2,770 passing, 2,650 rushing
2010: 3,194 rushing, 2,593 passing
2011: 3,298 rushing, 3,280 passing (18 yards difference)
2012: 3,091 rushing, 2,114 passing


It seems the numbers bear out that Bielema does indeed seek Offensive Balance. Some will discount this but in my opinion the numbers don't lie.

[Hoggish1]

Offensive Balance at Wisconsin

2006: 2,749 passing, 2,102 rushing
2007: 2,704 passing, 2,610 rushing
2008: 2,745 rushing, 2,445 passing
2009: 2,770 passing, 2,650 rushing
2010: 3,194 rushing, 2,593 passing
2011: 3,298 rushing, 3,280 passing (18 yards difference)
2012: 3,091 rushing, 2,114 passing


It seems the numbers bear out that Bielema does indeed seek Offensive Balance. Some will discount this but in my opinion the numbers don't lie.

Enos was brought in to solidify offensive balance.  This hire will finally make BA what everybody hoped he'd be some day.

[chitwnhog]

Enos was brought in to solidify offensive balance.  This hire will finally make BA what everybody hoped he'd be some day.

Agreed.

[Kevin]

Balance in yards not plays

[chitwnhog]

Balance in yards not plays

Duh...that is a given. Some are so thick that they just don't get this concept

[ATLHog]

Whatever it takes to win- period. CBB has proven that over his coaching career.

[bigbadhog]

Duh...that is a given. Some are so thick that they just don't get this concept

Offensive balance is play calling.  90% running and 10% passing plays is not balance regardless of the yardage...  Balance is being able to do do equally well and being fully committed to both.  Bb does not qualify...

[Atlhogfan1]

It isn't about statistics or the number of passes or runs.  It is about affecting the defense to be able to do what you want to do offensively to have consistent success throughout the game.  In our case, we need the passing game to keep the number of defenders needed to block to run the ball to a reasonable number. 

[chitwnhog]

Offensive balance is play calling.  90% running and 10% passing plays is not balance regardless of the yardage...  Balance is being able to do do equally well and being fully committed to both.  Bb does not qualify...

And my point is proven. Please show where Bielema has ever had a 90/10 Run/Pass ratio. I'll be waitin...I'll be waitin.

[bigbadhog]

And my point is proven. Please show where Bielema has ever had a 90/10 Run/Pass ratio. I'll be waitin...I'll be waitin.

Didn't say he did - you might want to reread the post.  Balance is being equally committed to both run and pass and bb clearly is not.  Keeep onnn waitin'

[Jon Ham]

Balance isn't # of plays. It isn't # of yards. It's having an offense where the opposing defense must respect both the pass and run. Even if you run it 90% of the time and get 80% of your yards through the run, if your play action game is good enough that opposing defenses can't just key in on the run, then you have balance.

[Atlhogfan1]

Hopefully we'll see more balance soon.  Chaney had to at times try Hatcher in the run game to try and get defenses to at least spread out and soften a little in the middle or try Henry vertically.  Those are tough ways to try and get SEC defenses out of the box.  Enos should have better options to bring "balance". 

[chitwnhog]

Didn't say he did - you might want to reread the post.  Balance is being equally committed to both run and pass and bb clearly is not.  Keeep onnn waitin'

Oh I read your post just fine. You used hyperbole and I called you on it. Offensive Balance as defined by Bielema is by yardage and has been defined in that way by him from day one in his first press conference. People like you want to put their own spin on it and redefine it in your own terms. Bielema has never defined himself as a pass first coach. He seeks balance and his definition of balance is defined by yardage. Bielema said in his opening press conference his goal was 250yrds rushing and 250yrds passing.

[redeye]

Previously there has been discussion re:  Bielema and offensive balance or lack there of. Some feel that he is Nutt 2.0 and others believe he is just as he portrays himself.

Not even close.  That may be the dumbest comparison ever seen on Hogville.

[opineonswine]

Oh I read your post just fine. You used hyperbole and I called you on it. Offensive Balance as defined by Bielema is by yardage and has been defined that in that way by him from day one in his first press conference. People like you want to put their own spin on it and redefine it in your own terms. Bielema has never defined himself as a pass first coach. He seeks balance and his definition of balance is defined by yardage. Bielema said in his opening press conference his goal was 250yrds rushing and 250yrds passing.

You're absolutely right of course but wasting your time. Blind, deaf and ignorant is a bad combo.

[The_Hog_Father]

Previously there has been discussion re:  Bielema and offensive balance or lack there of. Some feel that he is Nutt 2.0 and others believe he is just as he portrays himself.

Offensive Balance at Wisconsin

2006: 2,749 passing, 2,102 rushing
2007: 2,704 passing, 2,610 rushing
2008: 2,745 rushing, 2,445 passing
2009: 2,770 passing, 2,650 rushing
2010: 3,194 rushing, 2,593 passing
2011: 3,298 rushing, 3,280 passing (18 yards difference)
2012: 3,091 rushing, 2,114 passing


It seems the numbers bear out that Bielema does indeed seek Offensive Balance. Some will discount this but in my opinion the numbers don't lie.

Great to see you posting again DTH.  :razorback:

[chitwnhog]

You're absolutely right of course but wasting your time. Blind, deaf and ignorant is a bad combo.

Yes...sadly I know. I have put him back on ignore.

[chitwnhog]

Great to see you posting again DTH.  :razorback:

I was given a vacation because I called an idiot an idiot but with more colorful language which someone didn't like. Enjoyed my time away.

[urkillnmesmalls]

Didn't say he did - you might want to reread the post.  Balance is being equally committed to both run and pass and bb clearly is not.  Keeep onnn waitin'

Butch Davis was on the radio earlier in the week on Bo's show, and he said he was present at both the Bama vs OSU, and Oregon vs. OSU games, and that in BOTH games OSU was the CLEARLY more dominant team PHYSICALLY.  Saying that about Oregon...not shocked.  Saying that about Bama is definitely surprising. 

You have beaten this drum to a pulp, and it's clearly because you like to get a rise out of the board.  It's your thing.  You couldn't wait to see the OC hire so you could get your drum back out.  Imminently predictable. 

In a nutshell, when your two RB's are as good as ours are, and we don't possess the weapons at WR to even make effective throws against man coverage, then you're going to see limited offensive chances being taken.  It's methodical, and calculated.  ALL OF THAT can change instantly if you start getting WR's that can get separation on the outside against man coverage. 

If Enos can find a way to make teams play honest and pull some guys away from the box and the LOS with just a moderately better passing game, then we can achieve balance.  Do we have the weapons for that?  Are they being under utilized and not coached to their potential?  Will Enos make a difference there?  I guess we'll see. 

Why was OSU successful late this season?  They could run it for over 250 yds a game by pounding it right off tackle, and throw it vertically.  We don't have a vertical threat currently, so your attempts to assess what CBB's long term philosophy is nothing more than a guess.  What we do have, by most accounts, is a team that is striving to be physical and win in the trenches.  I'll always be a fan of that philosophy, and OSU proved why that's important against Oregon.     

[chitwnhog]

Not even close.  That may be the dumbest comparison ever seen on Hogville.

I completely agree.

[Chief Mac]

Offensive balance is play calling.  90% running and 10% passing plays is not balance regardless of the yardage...  Balance is being able to do do equally well and being fully committed to both.  Bb does not qualify...

offensive balance can be either play calling or yardage.  It depends on the coach. 

[Atlhogfan1]

Butch Davis was on the radio earlier in the week on Bo's show, and he said he was present at both the Bama vs OSU, and Oregon vs. OSU games, and that in BOTH games OSU was the CLEARLY more dominant team PHYSICALLY.  Saying that about Oregon...not shocked.  Saying that about Bama is definitely surprising. 

You have beaten this drum to a pulp, and it's clearly because you like to get a rise out of the board.  It's your thing.  You couldn't wait to see the OC hire so you could get your drum back out.  Imminently predictable. 

In a nutshell, when your two RB's are as good as ours are, and we don't possess the weapons at WR to even make effective throws against man coverage, then you're going to see limited offensive chances being taken.  It's methodical, and calculated.  ALL OF THAT can change instantly if you start getting WR's that can get separation on the outside against man coverage. 

If Enos can find a way to make teams play honest and pull some guys away from the box and the LOS with just a moderately better passing game, then we can achieve balance.  Do we have the weapons for that?  Are they being under utilized and not coached to their potential?  Will Enos make a difference there?  I guess we'll see. 

Why was OSU successful late this season?  They could run it for over 250 yds a game by pounding it right off tackle, and throw it vertically.  We don't have a vertical threat currently, so your attempts to assess what CBB's long term philosophy is nothing more than a guess.  What we do have, by most accounts, is a team that is striving to be physical and win in the trenches.  I'll always be a fan of that philosophy, and OSU proved why that's important against Oregon.     

And OSU could run their qb's and say "next" when one went down.  Huge advantage and effect on defenses when called runs for the qb are a part of the offense.  OSU's qb's didn't even have to be accurate passing.  Get it downfield in the area. 

Bama was doing some rebuilding in the oline thanks in part to losing Kouandjio early to the draft and LK's change in emphasizing Cooper and less downhill running.  Bama wasn't Bama. 

[Chief Mac]

Not even close.  That may be the dumbest comparison ever seen on Hogville.

ask bigbadhog about this.....there are people that compare Bielema to Nutt just because he is a run first coach

[bigbadhog]

Butch Davis was on the radio earlier in the week on Bo's show, and he said he was present at both the Bama vs OSU, and Oregon vs. OSU games, and that in BOTH games OSU was the CLEARLY more dominant team PHYSICALLY.  Saying that about Oregon...not shocked.  Saying that about Bama is definitely surprising. 

You have beaten this drum to a pulp, and it's clearly because you like to get a rise out of the board.  It's your thing.  You couldn't wait to see the OC hire so you could get your drum back out.  Imminently predictable. 

In a nutshell, when your two RB's are as good as ours are, and we don't possess the weapons at WR to even make effective throws against man coverage, then you're going to see limited offensive chances being taken.  It's methodical, and calculated.  ALL OF THAT can change instantly if you start getting WR's that can get separation on the outside against man coverage. 

If Enos can find a way to make teams play honest and pull some guys away from the box and the LOS with just a moderately better passing game, then we can achieve balance.  Do we have the weapons for that?  Are they being under utilized and not coached to their potential?  Will Enos make a difference there?  I guess we'll see. 

Why was OSU successful late this season?  They could run it for over 250 yds a game by pounding it right off tackle, and throw it vertically.  We don't have a vertical threat currently, so your attempts to assess what CBB's long term philosophy is nothing more than a guess.  What we do have, by most accounts, is a team that is striving to be physical and win in the trenches.  I'll always be a fan of that philosophy, and OSU proved why that's important against Oregon.     

First of all, I have not complained about the hire.  I said it was probably a good hire for BB.  Whether BB runs a balanced offense is something I will not give in on.  He is not as committed to recruiting players for the passing game as he is for the running game which is the story of Arkansas Football since 1984 except for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  These frustrations are from being a 40+ year fan but keep trying to minimize my opinion...

[chitwnhog]

ask bigbadhog about this.....there are people that compare Bielema to Nutt just because he is a run first coach

Russell Wilson...was looking to enter the MLB draft and was on very few peoples board as a potential draft pick as a QB while at NC State. Wilson goes to Wisc. for one year with Bielema and next thing ya know he's going to back to back Super Bowls.

I'm not taking a thing away from Russell Wilson his talent or his work ethic. However, the reality is that he very likely would not be playing for another Super Bowl if he had not gone to Wisc. and played for Bielema.

Look at the 2011 stats above. Balance.

[bigbadhog]

ask bigbadhog about this.....there are people that compare Bielema to Nutt just because he is a run first coach

Read Mike Irwin's quotes from earlier today regarding BB not being the run/pass balance coach he claims to be - The situation screams Nutt.  And if a coach truly has a balanced attack, they don't have to be defended.  The fans know they are equally committed to both...

[urkillnmesmalls]

First of all, I have not complained about the hire.  I said it was probably a good hire for BB.  Whether BB runs a balanced offense is something I will not give in on.  He is not as committed to recruiting players for the passing game as he is for the running game which is the story of Arkansas Football since 1984 except for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  These frustrations are from being a 40+ year fan but keep trying to minimize my opinion...

Again, that's your opinion.  I think he's going to get the ball to our best players.  If we're winning, then I don't care how much we run the ball, do you? 

I don't think there's enough sample size yet to know how much we will pass the ball moving forward.  We don't have all of the pieces in place yet to see that. 

Just for giggles, up until this year with Kiffin, how would you categorize Bama?  Run first, or pass first?  I bet you couldn't find a single person that would say Bama was pass first, and they MURDERED us in all but the 2010 game UNTIL our game this season. 

It's a philosophy.  BB wants to win the LOS, and build off that.  I can't wait to see how it looks when we have WR's that can get separation. 

[Atlhogfan1]

Read Mike Irwin's quotes from earlier today regarding BB not being the run/pass balance coach he claims to be - The situation screams Nutt.  And if a coach truly has a balanced attack, they don't have to be defended.  The fans know they are equally committed to both...

It doesn't scream Nutt because Nutt was an egomaniacal yet insecure moron who wanted to do nothing more than keep control and his job.  He destroyed qb's after Stoerner.  That is a ** comparison.  Find another run first coach even from another program for a better comparison.  These two are not the same.

I understand the view you have and can sympathize a little about our run first history and lack of qb and wr play so often over the years. 

[Inhogswetrust]

Balance in yards not plays

And that's no problem......................

[urkillnmesmalls]

Read Mike Irwin's quotes from earlier today regarding BB not being the run/pass balance coach he claims to be - The situation screams Nutt.  And if a coach truly has a balanced attack, they don't have to be defended.  The fans know they are equally committed to both...

Dude...whatever.  He clarified that already, and your attempts to misquote and misrepresent are pretty lame.  But carry on if that makes you feel better somehow.  I'm not arguing with you anymore about this.  Any responses will just get a  :razorback: from me.  You're just doing this to get under people's skin, and it's not going to work with me.  Troll someone else. 

[LAGNAF]

Didn't say he did - you might want to reread the post.  Balance is being equally committed to both run and pass and bb clearly is not.  Keeep onnn waitin'

Balance in no way means equally "committed" to run or pass. It means developing the ability to do both and doing so as the defense allows. A balanced offense will rush for 400 yards a game if you can't stop it and vice versa.

[chitwnhog]

Balance in no way means equally "committed" to run or pass. It means developing the ability to do both and doing so as the defense allows. A balanced offense will rush for 400 yards a game if you can't stop it and vice versa.

Exactly see Wisc. vs. Neb in 2012. Wisc 70  Neb 31. Bielema after said "We just kept running the ball because they couldn't stop us."

[ballz2thewall]

Butch Davis was on the radio earlier in the week on Bo's show, and he said he was present at both the Bama vs OSU, and Oregon vs. OSU games, and that in BOTH games OSU was the CLEARLY more dominant team PHYSICALLY.  Saying that about Oregon...not shocked.  Saying that about Bama is definitely surprising. 

You have beaten this drum to a pulp, and it's clearly because you like to get a rise out of the board.  It's your thing.  You couldn't wait to see the OC hire so you could get your drum back out.  Imminently predictable. 

In a nutshell, when your two RB's are as good as ours are, and we don't possess the weapons at WR to even make effective throws against man coverage, then you're going to see limited offensive chances being taken.  It's methodical, and calculated.  ALL OF THAT can change instantly if you start getting WR's that can get separation on the outside against man coverage. 

If Enos can find a way to make teams play honest and pull some guys away from the box and the LOS with just a moderately better passing game, then we can achieve balance.  Do we have the weapons for that?  Are they being under utilized and not coached to their potential?  Will Enos make a difference there?  I guess we'll see. 

Why was OSU successful late this season?  They could run it for over 250 yds a game by pounding it right off tackle, and throw it vertically.  We don't have a vertical threat currently, so your attempts to assess what CBB's long term philosophy is nothing more than a guess.  What we do have, by most accounts, is a team that is striving to be physical and win in the trenches.  I'll always be a fan of that philosophy, and OSU proved why that's important against Oregon.     

well said.

[bigbadhog]

It doesn't scream Nutt because Nutt was an egomaniacal yet insecure moron who wanted to do nothing more than keep control and his job.  He destroyed qb's after Stoerner.  That is a ** comparison.  Find another run first coach even from another program for a better comparison.  These two are not the same.

I understand the view you have and can sympathize a little about our run first history and lack of qb and wr play so often over the years. 

Thanks for the understanding.  I long ago grew tired of losing games because our one-dimensional attack back to Hatfield...

[Bubba's Bruisers]

I don't really define balance as being plays or yardage or commitment.  I define it as an offense being competent in both the running and passion game.  When we can successfully run it when we want to run it and successfully run it when we have to run it and successfully pass it when we want to pass it and successfully pass it when we have to pass it, then we're balanced.

[Josh Goforth]

Which would lead to a balance in stats and play calling. The fact is hitting that magical 200 rushing 200 passing number will take some playaction on 1st down along with.deep shot plays and if successful will even out the play calling closer to 50/50 run pass more than what it has been the last two years.

[Pig In The City]

From a competitive standpoint, I personally think it is more about being less predictable than worrying about offensive balance.  You don't always run on first down and you don't always throw on 3rd and long.  If your opponent cannot get a read on you...well that is almost as good as deflating footballs. 

[urkillnmesmalls]

From a competitive standpoint, I personally think it is more about being less predictable than worrying about offensive balance.  You don't always run on first down and you don't always throw on 3rd and long.  If your opponent cannot get a read on you...well that is almost as good as deflating footballs.

On this...I TOTALLY agree.  Keeping the opposition guessing is a huge part of it, and I think with a little more creativity and variety, we could have won 2-3 more games last season based on that alone. 

My theory on the deflated footballs is that Indy just sucked so bad that it pulled air from everything in the stadium, and the footballs were just a casualty. 

[jtw732]

Regardless of the past stats, I hope to see us passing more this season; partly because I think BA will be great for us and because it'll open up the run so much more. I think BA has a breakout year as a senior.

[Chief Mac]

Read Mike Irwin's quotes from earlier today regarding BB not being the run/pass balance coach he claims to be - The situation screams Nutt.  And if a coach truly has a balanced attack, they don't have to be defended.  The fans know they are equally committed to both...

Bielema has never "defended" his notion of balance.  He believes in equal yardage, you and others believe it has to be equal plays for it to be a balanced offense.  As a former player and coach on both sides of the ball, I tend to view "being balanced" as the ability pass/run efficiently enough to move the chains and score touchdowns. You, through the spectrum of enduring the Hatfield/Ford/Nutt offenses, are biased to think ANY offense that is run heavy is just as handicapped as those previous offenses.  Time and time again, myself and others have showed you that even in his worst years, Bielema's passing offense would have been light years ahead of what you witnessed under Hatfield/Ford/Nutt.  You're unwilling to view those facts and continue to beat the drum that Bielema is Nutt 2.0 though nothing could be further from the truth

In his post, Mike contradicted himself.  In the same post, he said that Bielema beleives balance to be equal yardage (which Bielema has stated over and over) but then speculated that he said something different in order to hire Chaney.  Sorry, but it doesn't pass the sniff test in terms of Bielema's persona. He is, to a fault up front and honest as well as says exactly what is on his mind.  You and others need to take note of that when comparing him to Nutt, who former players have compared to a used car salesman.

[solitons]

Balance isn't # of plays. It isn't # of yards. It's having an offense where the opposing defense must respect both the pass and run. Even if you run it 90% of the time and get 80% of your yards through the run, if your play action game is good enough that opposing defenses can't just key in on the run, then you have balance.

+1

[colbs]

Offensive balance is play calling.  90% running and 10% passing plays is not balance regardless of the yardage...  Balance is being able to do do equally well and being fully committed to both.  Bb does not qualify...

Not yet, but at Wisky he did and I fully expect him to do that here.

[colbs]

Read Mike Irwin's quotes from earlier today regarding BB not being the run/pass balance coach he claims to be - The situation screams Nutt.  And if a coach truly has a balanced attack, they don't have to be defended.  The fans know they are equally committed to both...

This year Arkansas was 60/40 run/pass ratio.  In comparison Auburn was 65/35 run/pass ratio and Bama was 55/45 run/pass ratio.  So, not sure where you get the 90/10 ratio.   

As far as the Nutt comparisons, besides BB likes to run more than pass what other comparisons do the two have?  Also, when did Nutt ever have a QB pass for over a 3k yards?  Almost every year at Wisky he had a QB pass for over 2500 yards.  I think Clint passed for the most yards under Nutt and was around 2600.  Besides that year I don't think there was another QB that went for over 2500.

[Jek Tono Porkins]

This year Arkansas was 60/40 run/pass ratio.  In comparison Auburn was 65/35 run/pass ratio and Bama was 55/45 run/pass ratio.  So, not sure where you get the 90/10 ratio.   

As far as the Nutt comparisons, besides BB likes to run more than pass what other comparisons do the two have?  Also, when did Nutt ever have a QB pass for over a 3k yards?  Almost every year at Wisky he had a QB pass for over 2500 yards.  I think Clint passed for the most yards under Nutt and was around 2600.  Besides that year I don't think there was another QB that went for over 2500.

I was just about to bring that point up. Actually, Clint Stoernor was almost the only Nutt QB to throw for 2000 yards. Matt passed for 2073 in his last season.

Bielema clearly believes that offensive balance is in respect to yards. He said that the goal for every game is 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing.

People on here don't get it. We have a defensive-minded coach. We don't need to score 40 points to win games anymore. We play defense now. Part of playing defense means keeping the ball on the ground so the defense can rest and make adjustments. This isn't rocket science. It's all a tradeoff. I'll happily take only 200 yards of total offense if the tradeoff is a shutout. I'd rather not have 500 yards of total offense if it means we lose 48-45.

[Peter Porker]

Offensive balance is play calling.  90% running and 10% passing plays is not balance regardless of the yardage...  Balance is being able to do do equally well and being fully committed to both.  Bb does not qualify...

Your opinion. Balance can be yardage or playcalling. Depends on what you like.

[Peter Porker]

Thanks for the understanding.  I long ago grew tired of losing games because our one-dimensional attack back to Hatfield...

Broken record.

[Ex-Trumpet]

Pretty sure on Hogville, offensive balance has more to do with opposing opinions.

[Been10Hog]

Offensive balance is play calling.  90% running and 10% passing plays is not balance regardless of the yardage...  Balance is being able to do do equally well and being fully committed to both.  Bb does not qualify...

No offense, but I prefer his balance to yours!

[Hogsmo Kramer]

Your balance needs more balance.

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[DeltaBoy]

If the young ones we already got and the incoming freshman WR get up to speed fast we should have even more balance cause no on will want to try and load the box anymore. 
Plus Enos is bringing some sick stuff run game.