re: If UGA flames out in their first game, does that sour a potential run-heavy offense?

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It seems that Denbrock is the guy for OC and he runs a very run-heavy offense.

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Yep, this entire post isn’t based on the media’s and Rant’s groupthink pick. Again.

As for running a balanced offense, “pass-first” or “run-first” is meaningless unless you are talking about Air Raid offenses on one side or Michigan and UCLA on the other. It’s being able to run or pass reliably and efficiently out of any formation that you run, on any down, and from any location on the field. Any offense reliant on doing one thing “first” is susceptible to predictability and to being shut down by a great defense with the right gameplan.

This is such a straw man argument in most respects. Most of the posters here would likely consider Ole Miss’ offense to be pass-first, yet they have over 100 more rushing attempts than passing attempts on the season. I would consider them to be a balanced offense that can attack you and create big plays equally either way, and their per game avg yardage, first down, and TD numbers show that. The formations they run out of, personnel they use, and the tempo they play at don’t make them “pass-first” and the numbers all bear that out. It’s a modern offense, but it is a BALANCED offense in every respect.

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It makes a huge difference when you pose a credible passing threat, which LSU did.

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You are correct. But most balanced offenses do pose that same threat. Now what Lsu offense had that made it more special was multiple home run threats. Which is why it will go down as one of the greatest of all time.
But you don't have that every year.

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As for running a balanced offense, “pass-first” or “run-first” is meaningless unless you are talking about Air Raid offenses on one side or Michigan and UCLA on the other.

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Not true. Your primary threat establishes coverages. You want the D to be in 2 deep as their primary set and that happens when your philosophy threatens the pass primarily.

If they stay with 2 deep all day you can run all day, so by just looking at runs v pass it seems "run heavy" but that's not what this discussion is about. Again, passing to set up the run.

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Forget about “establishing the run.” You HAVE to be able to run the football when needed.

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Again, passing as a primary threat sets up the most efficient running game. The point of a passing threat is to open up the run.

I’m still mystified that Kirby thinks he can win a MNC with Stetson Bennett.

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If they stay with 2 deep all day you can run all day, so by just looking at runs v pass it seems "run heavy" but that's not what this discussion is about. Again, passing to set up the run.

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A game called within 15 or so plays either way between passes and runs (at least while the game is competitive) executed effectively out of the right formations can keep a defense in base with at least one Safety back for an entire game.

What’s your definition of “passing as a primary threat” in terms of play call percentage. Are you advocating 55/45 pass? 55/45 run?

This is a good discussion, but it gets a lot less vague if we have some numbers that we can then compare to some real offenses.

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Until 2019, 2011 was the greatest season in LSU history

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We didn't win a natty so no.

That's why it was ultimately a failure

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What’s your definition of “passing as a primary threat” in terms of play call percentage. Are you advocating 55/45 pass? 55/45 run?

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That means nothing. Its about space and getting high skilled players into space and giving the QB space to throw. In college passing the quickest way to score and the most effective way to ensure you have a chance to win any game. You can never truly be out of a game if you have a good passing attack.


When you pose a credible threat through the air you force teams to back off the line of scrimmage.

LSU lost to Bama for 8 straight times because they rarely ever posed any threat through the air. Bama stacks the line and LSU runs square into it because they had no passing threat at all.


You have to take what the defense gives you. The play call percentage doesn't take into account call changes based on coverage. Again, with a good passing attack the running opportunities become more prevalent

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We didn't win a natty so no. That's why it was ultimately a failure

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Natty should have been claimed after the SECCG like the old days. Nothing left to prove. You’re barking up the wrong tree putting down that team; couldn’t be beat on the first try.