OK.... the offense goes no huddle, then they all line up to start the play, when all of a sudden they all stand up and look to the sidelines for the play signal. Who/what determines that they are all to look to the sidelines? Does Maynard not like what he sees and verbally says something, or does something happen on the sideline to abort the no huddle? Thanks!

Initially, the O is supposed to line up long enough (several seconds) to make the opposing D line up with them, forcing them to show how they would defend our formation. We (our coaches) then have an idea of how to attack it and can 1) stick with the original play or 2) call a different one.

The entire offense then looks over to the sidelines to get the instructions, sometimes called a "check with me" move. Each Unit can get a separate set of instructions, if necessary, depending on the system.

It's highly efficient when all the parts are working and a LOT of teams are doing it.

I'm willing to give Cal a "pass" in this regard if they are still working out the kinks in a new signal-system. It appears there may be a lack of communication or "noise" going on.

Our Domicile;841939020 said:

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Initially, the O is supposed to line up long enough (several seconds) to make the opposing D line up with them, forcing them to show how they would defend our formation. We (our coaches) then have an idea of how to attack it and can 1) stick with the original play or 2) call a different one.

The entire offense then looks over to the sidelines to get the instructions, sometimes called a "check with me" move. Each Unit can get a separate set of instructions, if necessary, depending on the system.

It's highly efficient when all the parts are working and a LOT of teams are doing it.

I'm willing to give Cal a "pass" in this regard if they are still working out the kinks in a new signal-system. It appears there may be a lack of communication or "noise" going on.

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Not doing a bunch of Go Bears cheers while the team is looking to the sideline for the play call would probably help.

Even if the check with the sidelines slows things down somewhat, going 'no huddle' generally prevents defensive substitutions.

pingpong2;841939021 said:

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Not doing a bunch of Go Bears cheers while the team is looking to the sideline for the play call would probably help.

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Nah, I meant "signal noise", a telecommunication term, not "crowd noise". Sorry about that.

"Signal" is the info you want to convey from the sideline. "Noise" in this case can be considered "wrong signal" or "misinterpreted signal" from the sideline-to-the-field and not the crowd's fault at all.

I imagine this must be like learning Sign Language (ASL) on a different, bigger scale.

For a team to utilize a fast-pace scheme, but deliberately slow it by changing the play EVERY down is asinine. It completely eliminates the advantage of no-huddle. Talk about stupid coaching.

This is just one of many examples of Tedford's complete lack of coaching ability.

this no huddle thing is suicidal, we can't sustain drives and we then put the defense right back out on the field with no rest.

for a team that can sustain drives, leverage the fast play - like O or Nevada - sure. For a team with coaching and substitution issues that chronically 3 and outs like the Bears this is a forehead slapper for me. Look at the 10 minute diff in time of possession vs Nevada (Nev 36 min, Cal 25), and imagine how that is going to further skew in Columbus or vs SC.

The absolute best thing the Bears can do now is keep the other teams offense off the field - the opposition will have a harder time scoring, and our already overworked and thin defense gets a blow. the current madness that is no huddle in no way achieves that goal.

UrsaMajor;841939024 said:

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Even if the check with the sidelines slows things down somewhat, going 'no huddle' generally prevents defensive substitutions.

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Correct. That's definitely one of the main advantages of the uptempo system.

To further answer the OPs questions -- the "check with me" sideline look is by design, not a QB personal choice. It's built into the uptempo/hurry-up system.

Another note: Cal may be doing all the pre-snap stuff right (see Defense --> choose play --> attack Defense) in the uptempo, but something may be going wrong "post-snap" with the system:

1) the Booth -- we don't have enough eyes-in-sky (the booth) to record who was open on each play. Silly notion, but with Cal, you never ever know. Could be.

2) the Playbook -- if we have more than enough eyes-in-the-sky, there may be something too rigid/complex going on elsewhere in the system and the playbook (JT's?) may not be flexible enough to take advantage of a defensive weakness immediately or, simply put, how to get the ball to these wide open targets on the immediate play or later in the game in simple fashion.

Theder went to the run and shoot (an early version of the throwing type of spread offense) and when Gilbert blew out his knee in the second quarter of the first game the only thing the run and shoot did was lessen the time it took to punt the ball back to the other team. Well, it also lessened the time Teder had as a head coach. Maybe the no huddle will quicken Tedford's exit. As an aside, it is just amazing to me that Tedford thinks adding yet another 'wrinkle' or two to the offense is the way to solve his offensive problems. We never take a step or four backwards and simplify and work on execution. At least he never says that we will be doing this.

Agreed. I think this goes back to what several posters in many threads have stated as no identity. If we move the chains this type of system can work. It would be nice to try and move the chains by running the ball and not simply rely on a passing game of bubble screens.

murraymcleod;841939006 said:

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OK.... the offense goes no huddle, then they all line up to start the play, when all of a sudden they all stand up and look to the sidelines for the play signal. Who/what determines that they are all to look to the sidelines? Does Maynard not like what he sees and verbally says something, or does something happen on the sideline to abort the no huddle? Thanks!

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It seems to work a lot better when you have a field general like Petyon Manning who, just before the snap, goes up and down both sides of the line telling everyone what to do and then returns behind the center for the snap (and the sideline coaches are cut out of the equation completely).

82gradDLSdad;841939088 said:

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Well, it also lessened the time Teder had as a head coach. Maybe the no huddle will quicken Tedford's exit.

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such a conundrum as a negabear - want tedford gone. want team to play well. sophies choice of sorts... <sigh> in the end tedfords teams don't play well and, other than voting with my wallet to not support the administration while JT is here by not buying gear and not attending games, most of this is out of my control. it's just this prolonged agony of what seems to me to be a clear path to destruction before doing what is needed which will happen regardless in the end, it just becomes an exercise of when and not if. but the plane is on fire, both engines have exploded off the wings and the fuselage is nose down and screaming for implosion. no one can save this. feel bad for the kids, but once change happens something better can happen too, but won't until then.

Our Domicile;841939020 said:

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Initially, the O is supposed to line up long enough (several seconds) to make the opposing D line up with them, forcing them to show how they would defend our formation. We (our coaches) then have an idea of how to attack it and can 1) stick with the original play or 2) call a different one.

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Ok....so how does the offense know whether #1 or #2 is in effect? I don't see them looking to the sidelines until it seems to be decided that #2 is what is happening. What is the signal that causes them to get out of the set formation and all look simultaneously to the sideline?

And I've always had another question about this....why couldn't defensive linemen interpret this standing up business as illegal procedure movement and hit someone for an offensive penalty?

murraymcleod;841939111 said:

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And I've always had another question about this....why couldn't defensive linemen interpret this standing up business as illegal procedure movement and hit someone for an offensive penalty?

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OL never get set into 3 point

TandemBear;841939069 said:

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For a team to utilize a fast-pace scheme, but deliberately slow it by changing the play EVERY down is asinine. It completely eliminates the advantage of no-huddle. Talk about stupid coaching.

This is just one of many examples of Tedford's complete lack of coaching ability.

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Just ask Oregon.

Texas A&M snapped Gilbert like a twig and weeks later Mouse Davis quit the team. The game is changing and it appears that Tedford cant keep pace. He's lost sight of what made Cal more successful in his early tenure and these 'wrinkles' simply continue to cloud the team's offensive identity.

murraymcleod;841939111 said:

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Ok....so how does the offense know whether #1 or #2 is in effect? I don't see them looking to the sidelines until it seems to be decided that #2 is what is happening. What is the signal that causes them to get out of the set formation and all look simultaneously to the sideline?...

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When you are in this mode, it's automatic, you are expecting to get an audible during the "ritual" cadence from the QB to stand up and check with the sidelines. It's by design.

No, they are not looking at the sidelines to get a [U]different[/U] play all the time because #1 (same play) might be still in effect (OKed, greenlight) and the team is signaled to run it. You go through the same exact "check with me" motions whether #1 (same play) or #2 (different play) is in effect.

NOTE: there are many kind of uptempo systems and at least 3 kinds of speed. I'm describing the most typical mode. At "warp speed" (or whatever the proprietary term used in the system, ie. "turbo"), you're not looking at the sidelines at all. The QB gets the signal and runs around relaying it as fast as possible. In some modes, only the Specialists (the QB, WRs, TEs, and RBs) look at the sideline.

murraymcleod;841939111 said:

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....And I've always had another question about this....why couldn't defensive linemen interpret this standing up business as illegal procedure movement and hit someone for an offensive penalty?

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No, it's not illegal procedure because the OLM aren't going to 3-point stances, which would make them permanently "set". They aren't not set if they stay hands-on-hips (2-point stance) as you see happening....but the D has to be ready because the O can still run a play at this juncture.

Our Domicile;841939085 said:

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Correct. That's definitely one of the main advantages of the uptempo system.

To further answer the OPs questions -- the "check with me" sideline look is by design, not a QB personal choice. It's built into the uptempo/hurry-up system.
.

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Maybe it's my imagination, but it doesn't seem like the Oline does the 'check with me' on the sidelines every play....in that case (if true) how does the play get called? An audible from Zach...? Thanks for the info!

run2win;841939094 said:

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Agreed. I think this goes back to what several posters in many threads have stated as no identity. If we move the chains this type of system can work. It would be nice to try and move the chains by running the ball and not simply rely on a passing game of bubble screens.

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Agreed. I think the intent going into this year was 2 TEs and running a lot with the no-huddle. I still think that makes a lot of sense. At least we aren't getting delay of game penalties when down two TDs.

murraymcleod;841939182 said:

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Maybe it's my imagination, but it doesn't seem like the Oline does the 'check with me' on the sidelines every play....in that case (if true) how does the play get called? An audible from Zach...? Thanks for the info!

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See my above post.

If you don't see the OLM looking, then only the Specialists (the QB, WRs, TEs, and RBs) are looking at the sidelines and getting the signals for the playcall. The QB relays the playcall to the Center or quickly runs down to each end of the tackle-box to bark the call to the OLM. They translate the play-call into blocking assignments or it's already part of the terminology barked out.

In most cases, the Center has full authority to call the blocking assignments for his fellow OLM. They check with each other whether pass or run-blocking.

In Zone-blocking schemes (ZBS) they all point individually at their intended blocking-target for running plays. Coach Michalczik is a ZBS Guru.

In most pass-blocking schemes, it's simply block the man in front of you and Blitzers are usually the RB's assignment to pick up.

Long story short, when all is said and done, yes, in the uptempo the QB calls out the play (actually, relays it from the sideline). He is dictating the tempo and is the orchestra-leader in a way.

Our Domicile;841939226 said:

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In Zone-blocking schemes (ZBS) they all point individually at their intended blocking-target for running plays. Coach Michalczik is a ZBS Guru.

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Thanks for wealth of info....one more pointing question....what is being indicated when an RB or QB points downfield with two arms/index fingers raised before the snap? Seems Cal QB's have been doing this for years!

murraymcleod;841939325 said:

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Thanks for wealth of info....one more pointing question....what is being indicated when an RB or QB points downfield with two arms/index fingers raised before the snap? Seems Cal QB's have been doing this for years!

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It's usually Blitz Pickup during a pre-snap read. From the QB, it's like a "heads up!" to the OLM to protect the edges. Hot routes are being activated by WR and TE just in case they come. The RB (if he stays in the backfield and protects) is signalling "I got this area if it comes from that direction".

A lot blitzing turn out to be fake-blitzes so it's back and forth. The Offense says "we see you, don't do it, it's a waste of time" and could be bluffing them themselves (ie. RB points at a potential blocking assignment, but is prepared to go on a "dump off" route to help the QB).