Questions about "system" teams like Texas Tech and Hawaii

This is something that's never really been clear to me. Often, the quarterbacks/receivers from Texas Tech and Hawaii will put up HUGE stats. They are often discounted by people saying that they're just system players.

So my questions are:

1) What is the system, exactly, and why the hell don't teams that have better defenses run the same system to get so much offensive production?

2) OK, apparently I asked both questions in #1...

 

They do at times. More often than not you'll find a coach who centers more on one side of the ball than the other. The one recent example I can think of is the OU offense in the early part of this decade. It was Mangino's system...the same one you are seeing right now in Kansas.

One thing you have to consider as well is when these "systems" come up against quality defenses you don't see them working as well as you do when they are playing lesser opponents.

I'm not trying to bring Bama into this conversation on purpose but I'm also reminded of the writers in the TX area talking about how Tx Tech was going to hang 50 pts plus on Bama in the Cotton Bowl.

 

Not entirely sure if this is the correct answer, but it's my opinion to your questions:

At places like Texas Tech and Hawaii, where their offenses are pass, pass and then pass some more (Texas Tech's coach was once quoted as saying something like "running the ball is boring and a waste of time."....guess protecting the lead and clock management to secure victories is also a waste of Leach's time?), they look:

1.) Smaller, quicker O-linemen capable of getting out on screens, etc. and it's easier to pass block where you backpeddle and try to make the defender go around you whereas run blocking requires you to actually engauge and dominate your opponent.

2.) Smaller, quicker WR's more capable of screens and short-yardage passes (where your quicker O-Linemen can provide additional blocks downfield or within 5-10 yards from the LOS).

3.) Quick release QB's. QB's with more accuracy and quick releases as opposed to above average arm strength. The majority of their passes are inside 20 yards and occassionally a deep ball (Colt Brennan is probably the strongest armed QB in those TT and Hawaii "system" offenses).

Occassionally you get offensive players from schools that emply those "system" offenses. Wes Welker for the Patriots comes to mind, but that's a raritiy and you almost never see an O-lineman coming out of Texas Tech because frankly, NFL teams aren't going to spend a draft pick on a player that in 90% of the film they have is strictly of him pass blocking.

That's just my take on those offenses. They put up big points and big offensive numbers against average teams and occassionally against above average teams, but more so than not, Texas Tech can put up 70 on a team like Baylor, but then have major difficulties winning games against teams with lots of defensive speed like OU and Texas.

Those "system" teams can be beaten if you have:
1.) A fast defense capable of flying around to the ball on screens and 5-yard routes

2.) Have a dominant D-line capable of man-handling the over-matched O-line and getting to the QB before he can finish his drop or by throwing off his timing.

3.) Have a well balanced offense with a solid running game where you can score quickly if needed, but you can also play smash-mouth football to chew up the clock and keep those "system offenses" off the field and on the sideline. Also, even if teams like TT and Hawaii score quickly, they put their defenses back on the field with minimal rest. By the 4th quarter, those defenses are awfully tired.

 

GREAT analysis!!!

 

Thanks!

 

I like Atl's analysis as well.

I'll add that the problem with "system" players is that they often don't operate well outside of the system. They are only asked to do very limited things & don't develop into complete players.

 

Absolutely a great analysis.:thumb: I believe you are right on the mark about how to beat them as well. I think about the only thing I could add would be jamming the receivers at the line to throw off timing patterns. So that if you didn't get to the qb, he can't just throw to a spot because a receiver isn't there.


BHD

 

http://www.redraiders.com/b.football/2007/pre/090107preview_linemen.shtml

But if the Raiders don't have a wealth of experience on their side up front, they have impressive size. With three starters 6-foot-7 and one 6-6 - none a beanpole - Tech might have as massive an offensive line as any team in the country this season. The average of the first five is 6-6 and 331 pounds.
The right side is out-of-this-world huge, even in an era of increasingly big linemen. The Raiders will put 6-7, 356-pound tackle Jake Johnson next to 6-7, 353-pound guard Brandon Carter and stand by for the solar eclipse. Stationed on the left will be Reed at 6-7 and 315 and Vasquez at 6-6 and 325.

Probably more true about running backs. TTU would kill to have Holliday.

Not all of these receivers are midgets, and most are freshmen.

Michael Crabtree11 113 1707 155.2 15.1
6-3 222 (Also recruited by CRMK)
Danny Amendola11 94 1096 99.6 11.7
5-11 181
Eric Morris11 58 634 57.6 10.9
5-8 174
Edward Britton11 40 554 50.4 13.8
6-1 173
L.A. Reed6 16 189 31.5 11.8
6-2 201
Lyle Leong7 14 163 23.3 11.6
6-0 168
Detron Lewis4 8 101 25.2 12.6
6-0 198
Adrian Reese5 6 74 14.8 12.3
6-6 206
Brik Brinker2 2 20 10.0 10.0
6-1 177
Landon Hoefer1 1 15 15.0 15.0
6-0 195
Kelly Hildebrandt2 1 2 1.0 2.0
5-9 174
David Schaefer
6-3 222

"We don't have any receivers who run 2.8 40s," Leach said, "so we don't have any 70-yard patterns."

Guard Manny Ramirez was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle E.J. Whitley was chosen in the seventh round of the 2006 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, while center Dylan Gandy was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle Daniel Loper was picked in the fifth round in 2004 by the Tennessee Titans.

Given those team's overall records, most teams seem to suffer the same fate. If you can out-athlete a team in college, you can usually win most matchups.

Teams with D's like LSU can shut down anyone. Dorsey can disrupt a conventional offense as well as a "System" O.

I would guess that any team that can maintain long drives will have the effect of tiring out a defense. I will concede that if a team scores quickly the D has less time to rest. If the D does its job, however, it gets off the field and forces the other team to not play its game. Tech allowed a 10, 13, (2) 16, and a 17 play drive against UT. Can't really blamed that on the O. That led to a 20 minute to 40 minute TOP differential. In a 41-10 loss to Missouri TTU actually held the TOP advantage (32 to 28 minutes). In a loss to Colorado TTU held a TOP advantage of 34 minutes to 26 minutes. In a victory against tamu TTU held a TOP advantage of 34 minutes to 26 minutes.

Elite athletes usually go to the bigger programs. If you aren't an elite athlete, you aren't going to make it in the NFL. Schools like TTU get a few guys who can develop, but a handful of teams put a lot of players in the NFL. The majority of players, however, come from a variety of schools with only a few NFL contributors.

 

USC's WRs have dropped in the draft (albeit not very far, but some) due to the impression that their success is due to the system.

 

I bow down to your superior knowledge and phenominal ability to research! :thumb:

Damn that was impressive!!!! ....all of my input was based on a "hunch"...