I hope we vary our use of Holiday this game. Because of his size he is so easy to spot when he enters the game and so far we have given him the ball almost every time he is in the game. The opponent can see the reverses coming to him a mile away. We need to run a few wrinkles off of the reverse to him and if we do give the ball to him on any play, run it to the wide side of the field most of the time to utilize his speed. Variations could be a fake reverse, double reverse, double reverse flea flicker. The same series up the middle that the Saints run using Deuce and Reggie. The series Arkansas runs using their two backs, etc. If we don't throw a bubble screen to Holiday it will be such a waste. My point is we need a few wrinkles to keep the defense honest when he is playing and I am waiting to see them against VTech. We should also use him sparingly on a wet field because it will nullify his cutting ability. I am not familiar enough with Crowton to know what his tendencies are.
Re: Using Holday Ya think the coaches wanted VT to think the same thing? It was, maybe, a little too obvious.
Re: Using Holday Hell, I wonder why we don't go deep with him. I don't think many (if any) DBs could keep up with him. Just let him get a step on a guy and throw it out there so he can go get it. If he can't catch up to it, at least you know it won't be intercepted. Indeed, we were entirely too predictable with him vs Moo U. Hopefully, Crowton & Co were just decoying and we'll run different plays out of the same look vs VT. If VT thinks they know what we're going to do when he comes in, then we could catch them with their pants down.
Re: Using Holday Whether TH is used as a decoy or a real time playmaker is yet to be seen for this upcoming game. Only the coaches and playbook will tell come gametime. The VT defense is very good and will be looking for ALL so called trick plays utilizing TH. I expect less trickery and more POUNDING! Ala Williams,Hester and a couple TE's. Our offense has the power,I say lets use it. JMHO.
Re: Using Holday Well, what I do know first-hand of Crowton is that his gameplan for MSU, which some refer to as "vanilla", worked perfectly (didn't rack up a whole lot of yards, but it's kinda hard to do when our average starting field position was our own 44...but that's neither here nor there). And I also know that the gameplan for MSU WILL NOT be the same for VT. And the gameplan for VT will NOT be the same for MTSU and so on and so forth. So, you can bet that while certain formations/plays will be used in multiple games (coaches will begin to recognize trends with certain plays we run and how effective they are, and I'm sure if the same situations arise in another game down the road, they'll use a play perhaps run in a different game), but overall, it's safe to say that we'll do things differently. Part of coaching is doing things that future opponents will feel that you will try to do to them. In this case, all VT knows of how Crowton will use Holiday is from the gamefilm of this past game: and that was when Holiday was in the game, he got the ball. Advantage Crowton. You insert Holiday in the game, and automatically, VT will get caught up watching him, perhaps opening up one-on-one coverage with someone else. However, someone I DO know (and know quite well), played football for Crowton when Crowton was head coach at La Tech, has said that he's the real deal as an offensive coach and that he has multiple looks and formations and will seemingly use something different every week.
Re: Using Holday Part of coaching is doing things that future opponents will feel that you will try to do to them. In this case, all VT knows of how Crowton will use Holiday is from the gamefilm of this past game: and that was when Holiday was in the game, he got the ball. Advantage Crowton. You insert Holiday in the game, and automatically, VT will get caught up watching him, perhaps opening up one-on-one coverage with someone else. ____ Like I know what you know and you know what I know but you don't know what I'm gonna do on this play right now!!!!!!!!!!!! TH on the end around for a 60 yard score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cry: :cry: :cry: ______________
Re: Using Holday We need to get some yardage out of him. People like Slaton (WV) and that guy from Cal (name??) get their yards in a game so TH needs to also. However, Slaton and those guys get a lot of touches each game and when they are in the game they aren't guaranteed the ball. They need to put him in a few times and not go to him. Maybe fake a screen to him, pump fake, then hand off to Williams or Scott going the other way. To get him around the end like they were doing at MSU the blocking was terrible and MSU knew it was coming. Hopefully Crowton won't be as predictable in using him. I don't think he will. I think TH will be a decoy at times. Plus somebody needs to tell TH not to try and dance and fake anybody out. He needs to make one cut and that's it, he will run right by them.
Re: Using Holday I hope to see Holliday used mostly in the second half, especially late. When those defenses are tired and Holliday is fresh, he'll find those gaps to explode through.
Re: Using Holday They need to get him the ball in space. A wheel route would be a good one for him, especially if they can get him isolated on a linebacker or safety. The problem is, he draws so much attention that, right now, he might be best used as a decoy. I suspect we'll see a good bit of that Saturday night.
