GatorNation
05-06-2005, 12:37 PM
Sports Illustrated Stewart Mandel on other teams starting to use Meyer's offense:
Have you heard anything about the changes Joe Tiller and Co. have made to their offense this offseason? Seems Tiller has taken a page from Utah and Northwestern and added in misdirection and options out of the shotgun. This is to utilize QB Brandon Kirsch's ability to run with the ball, whereas former QB Kyle Orton was almost sunk in concrete in the pocket. What is your take on this spin and what Tiller's ever-changing offense brings to the Big Ten? --Jed, West Lafayette, Ind.
I think one of the more interesting subplots this offseason has been just what a wide-ranging impact Urban Meyer's offense has had on college football. Among the teams that will be running a similar version or incorporating aspects of it this season are, obviously, Florida, where Meyer is now, and UNLV, where Meyer's offensive coordinator, Mike Sanford, took over as head coach, but also Oregon (where ex-BYU head coach Gary Crowton is now the offensive coordinator) and, as you mentioned, Purdue.
I think it's a great idea what Tiller is doing, and, to be honest, long overdue. Tiller took the Big Ten by storm when he originally arrived in 1997, bringing his "basketball on grass" approach to the historically stodgy conference. Who can forget the game against Wisconsin in which Drew Brees threw 85 passes?
But while many of his counterparts -- Northwestern's Randy Walker, Michigan State's John L. Smith -- have not only gone to the spread themselves but taken it to new levels, Tiller's, to be honest, has become more and more predictable. He had a great quarterback the past few seasons in Orton, who did put up some big numbers at times, but for the most part the Boilers have tried to run the ball more traditionally and, when they do pass, often stick to a short, horizontal attack against their better opponents. Tiller is a proven offensive mind, though, and that's why I'm as excited as anyone outside of West Lafayette to see his new wrinkles this season.
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Sounds like Meyer's offense is having an impact outside of the MWC and MAC. Perhaps this will, in some small measure, address the issue of the potential of Meyer's offensive success in the SEC.
Have you heard anything about the changes Joe Tiller and Co. have made to their offense this offseason? Seems Tiller has taken a page from Utah and Northwestern and added in misdirection and options out of the shotgun. This is to utilize QB Brandon Kirsch's ability to run with the ball, whereas former QB Kyle Orton was almost sunk in concrete in the pocket. What is your take on this spin and what Tiller's ever-changing offense brings to the Big Ten? --Jed, West Lafayette, Ind.
I think one of the more interesting subplots this offseason has been just what a wide-ranging impact Urban Meyer's offense has had on college football. Among the teams that will be running a similar version or incorporating aspects of it this season are, obviously, Florida, where Meyer is now, and UNLV, where Meyer's offensive coordinator, Mike Sanford, took over as head coach, but also Oregon (where ex-BYU head coach Gary Crowton is now the offensive coordinator) and, as you mentioned, Purdue.
I think it's a great idea what Tiller is doing, and, to be honest, long overdue. Tiller took the Big Ten by storm when he originally arrived in 1997, bringing his "basketball on grass" approach to the historically stodgy conference. Who can forget the game against Wisconsin in which Drew Brees threw 85 passes?
But while many of his counterparts -- Northwestern's Randy Walker, Michigan State's John L. Smith -- have not only gone to the spread themselves but taken it to new levels, Tiller's, to be honest, has become more and more predictable. He had a great quarterback the past few seasons in Orton, who did put up some big numbers at times, but for the most part the Boilers have tried to run the ball more traditionally and, when they do pass, often stick to a short, horizontal attack against their better opponents. Tiller is a proven offensive mind, though, and that's why I'm as excited as anyone outside of West Lafayette to see his new wrinkles this season.
_______________
Sounds like Meyer's offense is having an impact outside of the MWC and MAC. Perhaps this will, in some small measure, address the issue of the potential of Meyer's offensive success in the SEC.