When are we going to learn this doesn't work??????

Trumpanzee said:

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When are we going to learn this doesn't work??????

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Maybe game 10?

If we don't run up the middle, how else are we going to set up the pitch-to-the-outside + holding combo?

Trumpanzee said:

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When are we going to learn this doesn't work??????

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That's why we ran two straight runs up the middle for no yards - it's next level thinking!

Our OL is atrocious.

He's the fastest guy out there! I trust him more to break something outside rather trying to run through our OL, the only one who can blow through out OL is the defense......

Ott up the middle is the definition of insanity....

Bump

Who woulda thunk that running Ott would be our least productive play this season?

Im stupefied by this as well. If I've never watched Cal, I'd assume jaydn is the cannon fodder, change-of-pace-give-the-offense-a-breather-run- up-the-middle guy, and Jaivian is the star running back.

It's unbelievable. Cal needs to pass to Ott, crossing pattern in middle, wheel routes, etc. NOT in the flat !
He is an excellent receiver…and linebackers can not cover him.
Go Bears, so glad they finally won an ACC game. I'll be happy until they run him up the middle next week….

The problem is that Ott has vision and patience and will wait for the play to develop. Unfortunately, nothing ends up developing because our o-line is absolute trash. Jet on the other hand will simply hit any small hole rather than wait for something develop.

pingpong2 said:

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The problem is that Ott has vision and patience and will wait for the play to develop. Unfortunately, nothing ends up developing because our o-line is absolute trash. Jet on the other hand will simply hit any small hole rather than wait for something develop.

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This. And I doubt Ott's technique will translate well at the next level. Great college back in the right circumstances. No knock on him but NFL RB's are a dime a dozen.
His best position is likely slot for the next level.

He also had a sweep play where he lost 6 yards, it's just been a struggle all year

Trumpanzee said:

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Ott up the middle is the definition of insanity....

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Imagine if we'd have aired it out to one of our wr every time, instead. 20 bombs? We probably connect for 6 on three of them. What a waste of time and talent to smash him into the middle. Ott is so much more valuable doing anything but what they insist he do. Our line is serviceable, at best. We will never tire out an opponent and impose our will with the current line.

oskithepimp said:

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Im stupefied by this as well. If I've never watched Cal, I'd assume jaydn is the cannon fodder, change-of-pace-give-the-offense-a-breather-run- up-the-middle guy, and Jaivian is the star running back.

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We use Ott like he is a 230 lb bruiser back, but even if he was our calls are too predictable. Last year, despite a worse situation at QB, Spavital had a better balance in playcalling on early downs and Ott lead the PAC-12 in rushing and was touted as a Heisman candidate.

Joegeo said:

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He also had a sweep play where he lost 6 yards, it's just been a struggle all year

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A sweep is too old school and reliant on slow moving OL to get out in front. Ott and the Jet are speed backs, deadly in space.

He's still fast. We've seen that numerous times this year, especially on pass plays. But I think the injury has hampered his ability to make quick cuts. I remember him last two years hitting a hole however small, making one cut and taking off with a burst of speed. Perhaps he can get healthy after the season, regain that ability and return for one more year. Hopefully here.

JimSox said:

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He's still fast. We've seen that numerous times this year, especially on pass plays. But I think the injury has hampered his ability to make quick cuts. I remember him last two years hitting a hole however small, making one cut and taking off with a burst of speed. Perhaps he can get healthy after the season, regain that ability and return for one more year. Hopefully here.

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Not gonna happen. He won't be at Cal next year.

So the only run play Cal should have are pitch outs which will be impressive since I have never seen an offensive run game look like that

JimSox said:

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He's still fast. We've seen that numerous times this year, especially on pass plays. But I think the injury has hampered his ability to make quick cuts. I remember him last two years hitting a hole however small, making one cut and taking off with a burst of speed. Perhaps he can get healthy after the season, regain that ability and return for one more year. Hopefully here.

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This. I don't think he's been right since the first game. There was one play where Mendoza hit him on a swing pass alone in the flat with one defender to beat, and if he'd beaten him he'd be off to the races . . . but he couldn't do it. Got tackled in open space. Got a decent 6 yard gain but it should have been more. I don't think that happens last year.

O-T-T up the middle for zero! (Sing along!)

Trumpanzee said:

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When are we going to learn this doesn't work??????

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Maybe the OC should read the other teams scouting reports. The Wake Forest report said that Cal didn't have much of a running game because of poor performance by the OL.

Pawlawski also said the same things. He suggested that Cal stop trying to run up the middle and get the ball to Ott on the edges.

The thing is that the ONE pitchout play we tried was probably going to work, if not for the holding penalty. Maybe should have tried it at least once more?

Joegeo said:

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So the only run play Cal should have are pitch outs which will be impressive since I have never seen an offensive run game look like that

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Never the only. But you need to spread out the defense to open up cut back lanes. You need to regularly attack the edges to open up the middle. You need to regularly use play action to punish them for loading the box. You stick with it until the defense stops loading the box. You need misdirection, you need to use the pass to set up the run. In 2015 and 2016 we had nearly 2,000 yards rushing each season. We were terrible running the ball with Musgrave in 2022, Ott leads the PAC-12 in rushing with Spav's Air Raid in 2023 and now we are back to #120 or something in yards per carry?

When Mendoza has been killing them through the air downfield, Mendoza dropping back with Ott or the Jet looking like they are pass blocking then releasing for a short toss? Or Mendoza killing them throwing deep to the TEs off play action will open up the run up the middle when they stop biting on the play action.

I still think he is not fully healthy. The burst of speed I saw the last 2 years when he'd find a gap is just not quite the same

Then he shouldn't play, give the rock to other kids.....

The OL being that it is, even with the best intentions by the coaches and players themselves, just isn't pushing enough to create any room. Sure, some have suggested call plays that the OL can perform, but that doesn't seem to work other than pass blocking. Communication is key for the OL and with so many replacements and injuries, it is lacking. I believe the coaches are doing their best since I have also had to deal with my own OL problems while coaching. The running game is needed if we plan on building the current success.

Joegeo said:

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He also had a sweep play where he lost 6 yards, it's just been a struggle all year

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I think the point is that when it is a play action to Ott they think it is definitely going to him and they destroy all key on him. The rpo to Mendoza was a revelation because no one ever thought he would keep it. We need to do play action to Ott and throw it over the middle - which we do well. Line up in two TE sets and get it to Dorches or Endries. They were hitting Ott two yards deep in the backfield.

We should also be going with two backs on running plays - get a FB in there. Ott is best when he can make the LB miss and get to the next level. Instead he is hit behind the line each play.

72CalBear said:

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The OL being that it is, even with the best intentions by the coaches and players themselves, just isn't pushing enough to create any room. Sure, some have suggested call plays that the OL can perform, but that doesn't seem to work other than pass blocking. Communication is key for the OL and with so many replacements and injuries, it is lacking. I believe the coaches are doing their best since I have also had to deal with my own OL problems while coaching. The running game is needed if we plan on building the current success.

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I saw that they played Session for a number of plays at right guard. I wonder how that worked out. He's played RT since he arrived here.