McBrien on Offensive Play calling

[Todd-O]

I called the post game show and asked Scott McBrien - point blank - why the Fridge isn't calling any misdirection/option plays... especially since they had so much success with them in those first 3 years.

His response was interesting.

First off, he said that not every QB is capable of running that type of offense (which isn't earth shattering news), BUT he also said that the Fridge had to completely remove the dual option package that S. Hill ran once McBrien took over (McBrien only ran option packages with one guy to flip it to). That's news to me... I never realized that.

He admitted that he wasn't sure why they aren't running any options or misdirections but hinted that Turner/Steffy just aren't capable of handling that kind of offense so the plays aren't being called. He added tho... that he thinks the Fridge needs to spice up the playbook - he hinted that the offense is way to predictable and thinks that opposing defenses are probably having an easy time preparing for it.

McBrien also added that S. Hill was a master at holding the ball until the last possible second and then - in some cases - maintaining the ability to flip it to one of two options. He said it is very - very - difficult.

I wish we could McBrien back.

[glenn__davis]

I was always amazed at how well Shaun Hill ran that offense considering he wasn't exactly a "mobile" quarterback.

[OregonBird]

I wish we could have him back too. I'll settle for him being a QB coach though. The guy we have in that position right now is a former Defensive Back from Johns Hopkins and who was recently a running backs coach before this stint. He might be a bright guy but I'm wondering what this guy knows about being a QB at the division I level. Some of these guys had better QB coaching while in HS.

I think Turner could be solid for us so I'm not handing the job over to Portis next year. Portis might be athleticly gifted and would be better at the option, assuming Fridge would call those plays, but if we did that we'd be back at square one. Running scout team and running the actual offense at game speed are two very different things.

[Dr. FLK]

The Terps offense is an absolute joke. There is no creativity. There is no down-field passing. And, the thing that really gets me is the running game. Ball and Lattimore are a terrific combo. It doesn't seem like it would take too much thinkin' to use those 2 guys as a way to open up the passing game. But, since they never go down-field, teams can commit 8 guys in the box knowing we still won't pass over the top. Every game I sit in my upper deck seat watching the "total yards" on the scoreboard...and the visitors always end up with about 200 more than us. It's completely pathetic.

[JohnD]

Know what else is pathetic? Being down 3-4 touchdowns and calling for runs up the middle when you aren't moving the ball, at all. The playcalling on Saturday was abysmal. It's completely unrecognizeable from years past.

[ScottieBaseball]

Know what else is pathetic? Being down 3-4 touchdowns and calling for runs up the middle when you aren't moving the ball, at all. The playcalling on Saturday was abysmal. It's completely unrecognizeable from years past.

Who are we talking about here, the Ravens or the Terps? :D

[Dr. FLK]

Who are we talking about here, the Ravens or the Terps? :D

I turned to my wife during the game and told her that I just had a revelation...the Terps are the Ravens with a fatter coach and no defense.

[JohnD]

If you had told me this year that the Browns would be better than the Terps, I'd have had you arrested for possession of illegal substances.