Our community has levied various critiques about the offense after the debacle that occurred in Tempe. Among those critiques: the partisan debate as to why the passing game has suffered, OL causing Liufau to play poorly and misfire on throws against Liufau's inability to execute the offense and seize the presented opportunities, play calling and offensive scheme failure, inability to rush the ball due to depleted personnel, who should start at RT Lisella or Callahan. This breakdown will try to elucidate a clearer understanding to these topics and others but also fully acknowledges in some cases further analysis will be required to reach a more conclusive answer.
Without further ado
Drive 1
Drive: 1 Play: 1
Down: 1 Distance: 10
Formation: Shotgun twins to both sides Personnel: 11 grouping (1RB 1TE 3 WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5 / 4-2-5
The first thing to pay attention to through out this entire analysis is how the ASU defense lines up and matches up to the various offensive formations. Here ASU lines up pretty vanilla with slightly off coverage on the receivers in what appears to be a 3-3-5 package. The NB shifts to adjust to Linday's motion but in a way that indicates a zone defense. At that, the snap zone defense is confirmed. Notice that the LOLB rushes, the MLB settles into the middle zone a bit and the FS cheats up to look to fill the zone that would have been the responsibility of the LOLB.
The design of the play appears use Spruce as a decoy, though he is wide open as the CB has bailed into a deep zone. Liufau pump fakes his direction and then appears to read the safety and the MLB trailing Jay MacIntyre. He has enough time to make these two reads and then Lisella appears to surrender protection causing Liufau to have to move. Probably a fair assessment to say that Liufau could have easily taken the yardage to Spruce and could have thrown open MacIntyre as the MLB was in the process of getting beat and could not have run with Jay Mac. The safety that would have been deep already rushed to fill the LOLB zone. The other safety is clearly pre-occupied looking to pick up Keeney. Liufau also appears to glance at the left side of the play but also tucks the ball simultaneously. The left side was well covered though tucking the ball in such a way only elongates his ability to reload in case someone was open.
As we see, the play results in a sack.
Drive: 1 Play: 2
Down: 2 Distance: 13
Formation: Shotgun Twins Personnel: 11
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
Here we see ASU align showing blitz against the same offensive formation as the previous play. It appears ASU runs a off zone behind the blitz. If the field is bisected length wise, the ASU coverage outnumbers the CU receivers to the field side three defender to two receivers but is outnumbered to the boundary side two to three with Lindsay filtering into the flat.
At the snap Asu brings six defenders. The protection looks good reasonably good considering it's five on six. However, Lisella over zealous in his drop steps gets thrown to the ground. Liufau doesn't make the exact right read here because he fails to identify the number advantage to the other side of the formation but he throws in the rhythm to Spruce who is single covered. Hard to get mad at this execution. However, had Liufau looked left, he would have undoubtably seen Lee Walker wide open with a ton of room to get loose. Regardless, well executed and in rhythm, only Lisella with a demerit here but again the rhythm negates that mistake.
Drive: 1 Play: 3
Down: 3 Distance: 6
Formation: Shotgun Twins Personnel: 11
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
Again ASU showing that they will rush six. Offensive formation appears to dictate that ASU press the slot WR to both sides of the formation. MacIntyre motions into the slot with the defender following, indicating man to man. At the snap ASU brings six. This time Lindsay stays into to protect, so the protection is six vs six rushers and the coverage is five vs four.
This is an interesting play design. Spruce gets a great release and looks to run a deeper pattern, he angles the stem of his route at the ASU defender against . The ASU gets caught up and falls , which frees up MacIntyre. At the top of the screen Walker runs a shallow cross behind Keeney who runs a nice deep-in pattern. The protection looks pretty solid and Lindsay sticks his face in there to pick up the additional rusher. Lisella appears much more prepared this play and does not fall for fake up field.
Liufau throws with decent timing to the open MacIntyre. Please pay attention to this route combination and throw placement for later. While the pass is on time, it's a bit off the mark fortunately MacIntyre makes a nice adjustment here doing a 180 while catching the ball and getting upfield. This actually a fairly athletic manuever and should not be understated, the throw should have been over the other shoulder. Last week against Oregon, Liufau had a similar third down throw last that was incomplete as it ricocheted off of one of Ross's hands.
As a side note, watch Walker try to get into the play for a block, that guy can really turn them over. Think about the play before and how open he was. Have to imagine good things will happen if we are able to get him the ball with a running lane.
Drive: 1 Play: 4
Down: 1 Distance: 10
Formation: Shotgun 3WR Personnel: 20 (2RB 0TE 3WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
For the third consecutive play, CU aligns in a shotgun formation and again ASU counters by showing six rushers. This time CU has both Powell and Lindsay in the backfield together. Spruce appears to have solo coverage to the field side of the play. Notice the safety align to Bobo before the snap. Unless really cleverly disguised, this indicates man to man.
At the snap the coverage appears really is man to man with the LBs covering zones for any underneath check downs. The protection looks solid here. Watch Lindsay pop the rushing OLB while Powell escorts the DB upfield. Lisella does a reasonably good job here too. Liufau has a nice clean pocket to step up and throw.
Liufau makes the correct read to Spruce in single coverage. Give the ASU CB some credit for running step for step with Spruce. The throw is too far in front to allow for Spruce to make a play but given the coverage, it's definitely not the worse result. This throw was also in rhythm, which had there been a rush, it probably doesn't have a chance to really do much. Only a perfect throw would have made this play work.
Drive: 1 Play: 5
Down: 2 Distance: 10
Formation: Shotgun Twins Personnel: 10 (1RB 0TE 4WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
For the first time in three plays, ASU lays off the show blitz look despite CU staying in the gun. ASU shows off coverage with the CBs, who back off the line in unison before the snap. Hard to tell if it's man to man here or zone.
At the snap, this a screen which makes sense as a call given the last three plays ASU brought six. The screens are Lindsay in the flats and Bobo on a bubble screen. Notice how both sets of receivers to either side set up blocks for these two.
Bobo makes a nice catch with his hands and comes back to the ball after the initial stem of the route. He reads his blocks well and proceeds upfield. Kelley has a great block here that helps spring the play. Jay Mac also has his best block of the year. Huckins again just sees a little heavy footed to really do anything well in space.
Liufau again a little off of the mark with the throw but throws in rhythm, keeping the timing of the play in sync and allowing for a nice gain. When Liufau throws in rhythm, the offense can move the ball. We're good enough to do that now, our athletes can be trusted to beat at least one guy.
Drive: 1 Play: 6
Down: 3 Distance: 2
Formation: Shotgun Ace Personnel: 12 (1RB 2TE 2WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
Thus far CU has called six passing plays and if there was ever a down and distance to test ASU with the run, this might be it. The personnel group of two TEs indicates that it actually might be a run to the defense. Again, ASU sees the formation and shows six rushers. The motion by Walker and the press alignment on Bobo appear to indicate man to man coverage.
At the snap both Frazier and Irwin release into the pattern. This leaves six blockers to six rushers. As we see one comes free from outside of Lisella who picks up in inside man. All of the OL look good here in pass pro. Lindsay again stones the outer most rusher. Say what you will about his size but this guy delivers has no qualms about trying to punish all comers in all circumstances. Regardless of the free rusher, Liufau delivers the ball in rhythm and beats the rush.
For the second consecutive third down (see play three), CU runs a quick-out combination to the left side of the formation. The inside WR position, George Frazier runs a quick ou with the outside WR Bobo occupying the most direct path to cover that inside WR. This frees Frazier on the quick-out. To the other side of the formation, Walker explodes into a quick from motion while Irwin runs a quick in. Walker looks open after the initial bump.
For the third time this drive Liufau is slightly off the mark on this quick throw to the left side, (see the earlier third down throw to JMac and the pass to Bobo). This time big George Frazier cannot make the same adjustment MacIntyre made on the last third down. The ball careens off of Frazier's hands incomplete. Had the ball been deliver to his numbers instead of high and to the inside the play probably converts for a first down provided it's caught.
This is the end of the first drive. It appears Lisella had a couple struggles early but nothing fatal. Lindsay appeared to prove he can be trusted in pass protection. The rest of the OL looked strong. Liufau came out executing with a decent rhythm but was slightly off the mark, the last of which ended the drive. He also may have missed a pre-snap read the defense once or twice. It also appears that when the offense is executed in rhythm the blitz is not quite as formidable. ASU brought six rushers four out of six plays, each time against the shotgun formation. CU has also not tested the ASU run defense yet.
Without further ado
Drive 1
Drive: 1 Play: 1
Down: 1 Distance: 10
Formation: Shotgun twins to both sides Personnel: 11 grouping (1RB 1TE 3 WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5 / 4-2-5
The first thing to pay attention to through out this entire analysis is how the ASU defense lines up and matches up to the various offensive formations. Here ASU lines up pretty vanilla with slightly off coverage on the receivers in what appears to be a 3-3-5 package. The NB shifts to adjust to Linday's motion but in a way that indicates a zone defense. At that, the snap zone defense is confirmed. Notice that the LOLB rushes, the MLB settles into the middle zone a bit and the FS cheats up to look to fill the zone that would have been the responsibility of the LOLB.
The design of the play appears use Spruce as a decoy, though he is wide open as the CB has bailed into a deep zone. Liufau pump fakes his direction and then appears to read the safety and the MLB trailing Jay MacIntyre. He has enough time to make these two reads and then Lisella appears to surrender protection causing Liufau to have to move. Probably a fair assessment to say that Liufau could have easily taken the yardage to Spruce and could have thrown open MacIntyre as the MLB was in the process of getting beat and could not have run with Jay Mac. The safety that would have been deep already rushed to fill the LOLB zone. The other safety is clearly pre-occupied looking to pick up Keeney. Liufau also appears to glance at the left side of the play but also tucks the ball simultaneously. The left side was well covered though tucking the ball in such a way only elongates his ability to reload in case someone was open.
As we see, the play results in a sack.
Drive: 1 Play: 2
Down: 2 Distance: 13
Formation: Shotgun Twins Personnel: 11
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
Here we see ASU align showing blitz against the same offensive formation as the previous play. It appears ASU runs a off zone behind the blitz. If the field is bisected length wise, the ASU coverage outnumbers the CU receivers to the field side three defender to two receivers but is outnumbered to the boundary side two to three with Lindsay filtering into the flat.
At the snap Asu brings six defenders. The protection looks good reasonably good considering it's five on six. However, Lisella over zealous in his drop steps gets thrown to the ground. Liufau doesn't make the exact right read here because he fails to identify the number advantage to the other side of the formation but he throws in the rhythm to Spruce who is single covered. Hard to get mad at this execution. However, had Liufau looked left, he would have undoubtably seen Lee Walker wide open with a ton of room to get loose. Regardless, well executed and in rhythm, only Lisella with a demerit here but again the rhythm negates that mistake.
Drive: 1 Play: 3
Down: 3 Distance: 6
Formation: Shotgun Twins Personnel: 11
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
Again ASU showing that they will rush six. Offensive formation appears to dictate that ASU press the slot WR to both sides of the formation. MacIntyre motions into the slot with the defender following, indicating man to man. At the snap ASU brings six. This time Lindsay stays into to protect, so the protection is six vs six rushers and the coverage is five vs four.
This is an interesting play design. Spruce gets a great release and looks to run a deeper pattern, he angles the stem of his route at the ASU defender against . The ASU gets caught up and falls , which frees up MacIntyre. At the top of the screen Walker runs a shallow cross behind Keeney who runs a nice deep-in pattern. The protection looks pretty solid and Lindsay sticks his face in there to pick up the additional rusher. Lisella appears much more prepared this play and does not fall for fake up field.
Liufau throws with decent timing to the open MacIntyre. Please pay attention to this route combination and throw placement for later. While the pass is on time, it's a bit off the mark fortunately MacIntyre makes a nice adjustment here doing a 180 while catching the ball and getting upfield. This actually a fairly athletic manuever and should not be understated, the throw should have been over the other shoulder. Last week against Oregon, Liufau had a similar third down throw last that was incomplete as it ricocheted off of one of Ross's hands.
As a side note, watch Walker try to get into the play for a block, that guy can really turn them over. Think about the play before and how open he was. Have to imagine good things will happen if we are able to get him the ball with a running lane.
Drive: 1 Play: 4
Down: 1 Distance: 10
Formation: Shotgun 3WR Personnel: 20 (2RB 0TE 3WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
For the third consecutive play, CU aligns in a shotgun formation and again ASU counters by showing six rushers. This time CU has both Powell and Lindsay in the backfield together. Spruce appears to have solo coverage to the field side of the play. Notice the safety align to Bobo before the snap. Unless really cleverly disguised, this indicates man to man.
At the snap the coverage appears really is man to man with the LBs covering zones for any underneath check downs. The protection looks solid here. Watch Lindsay pop the rushing OLB while Powell escorts the DB upfield. Lisella does a reasonably good job here too. Liufau has a nice clean pocket to step up and throw.
Liufau makes the correct read to Spruce in single coverage. Give the ASU CB some credit for running step for step with Spruce. The throw is too far in front to allow for Spruce to make a play but given the coverage, it's definitely not the worse result. This throw was also in rhythm, which had there been a rush, it probably doesn't have a chance to really do much. Only a perfect throw would have made this play work.
Drive: 1 Play: 5
Down: 2 Distance: 10
Formation: Shotgun Twins Personnel: 10 (1RB 0TE 4WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
For the first time in three plays, ASU lays off the show blitz look despite CU staying in the gun. ASU shows off coverage with the CBs, who back off the line in unison before the snap. Hard to tell if it's man to man here or zone.
At the snap, this a screen which makes sense as a call given the last three plays ASU brought six. The screens are Lindsay in the flats and Bobo on a bubble screen. Notice how both sets of receivers to either side set up blocks for these two.
Bobo makes a nice catch with his hands and comes back to the ball after the initial stem of the route. He reads his blocks well and proceeds upfield. Kelley has a great block here that helps spring the play. Jay Mac also has his best block of the year. Huckins again just sees a little heavy footed to really do anything well in space.
Liufau again a little off of the mark with the throw but throws in rhythm, keeping the timing of the play in sync and allowing for a nice gain. When Liufau throws in rhythm, the offense can move the ball. We're good enough to do that now, our athletes can be trusted to beat at least one guy.
Drive: 1 Play: 6
Down: 3 Distance: 2
Formation: Shotgun Ace Personnel: 12 (1RB 2TE 2WR)
Defensive Package: 3-3-5
Thus far CU has called six passing plays and if there was ever a down and distance to test ASU with the run, this might be it. The personnel group of two TEs indicates that it actually might be a run to the defense. Again, ASU sees the formation and shows six rushers. The motion by Walker and the press alignment on Bobo appear to indicate man to man coverage.
At the snap both Frazier and Irwin release into the pattern. This leaves six blockers to six rushers. As we see one comes free from outside of Lisella who picks up in inside man. All of the OL look good here in pass pro. Lindsay again stones the outer most rusher. Say what you will about his size but this guy delivers has no qualms about trying to punish all comers in all circumstances. Regardless of the free rusher, Liufau delivers the ball in rhythm and beats the rush.
For the second consecutive third down (see play three), CU runs a quick-out combination to the left side of the formation. The inside WR position, George Frazier runs a quick ou with the outside WR Bobo occupying the most direct path to cover that inside WR. This frees Frazier on the quick-out. To the other side of the formation, Walker explodes into a quick from motion while Irwin runs a quick in. Walker looks open after the initial bump.
For the third time this drive Liufau is slightly off the mark on this quick throw to the left side, (see the earlier third down throw to JMac and the pass to Bobo). This time big George Frazier cannot make the same adjustment MacIntyre made on the last third down. The ball careens off of Frazier's hands incomplete. Had the ball been deliver to his numbers instead of high and to the inside the play probably converts for a first down provided it's caught.
This is the end of the first drive. It appears Lisella had a couple struggles early but nothing fatal. Lindsay appeared to prove he can be trusted in pass protection. The rest of the OL looked strong. Liufau came out executing with a decent rhythm but was slightly off the mark, the last of which ended the drive. He also may have missed a pre-snap read the defense once or twice. It also appears that when the offense is executed in rhythm the blitz is not quite as formidable. ASU brought six rushers four out of six plays, each time against the shotgun formation. CU has also not tested the ASU run defense yet.
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