The Back Alley Archives

we've all heard about Coach Meyer radically changing his offensive scheme in order to showcase TT from behind center. have 2 questions with one being a two-parter :

Question 1, Part I - is he doing it to help TTs draft and to dispel the notion that he is not a prototypical NFL QB?

Question 2, Part II - if so, 3 outcomes can come as a result.
1 - success in that the gators repeat and TT proves to the NFL world that he is worthy.
2 - failure (judging by wins and losses and type of bowl we get into) but TT shows he can play from behind center
3 - failure (judging by wins and losses and type of bowl we get into) and TT shows he can not play from behind center

my question is - is everyone cool with this? is it foolish to think that we'd have a better chance of success sticking to a proven, winning scheme?



Question 2 -if he is NOT changing the formations to showcase TT's abilities to do so, is he that much of an offensive minded genius in that he sees the need to change a winning formula? a formula that he's perfected and that most colleges are striving to copy? or is he selfishly trying to prove to the world that he is capable of winning with any style?



personally - and i say it with no fact or insight...i believe he's changing his offensive style to showcase TT...as a result, he is compromising what he's been hired to do and that is to win...he's doing it to help improve TT's draft and marketablility and that is clearly his decision...if he was committed to team and wins, he'd not abandon the formula that all other colleges are striving to copy....THAT ALL SAID, i believe the new strategy and formula's will be effective and will net great success...i believe the Coach is THAT good in that he can abandon a winning game plan and can win with any other game plan....blind faith perhaps but still, i'm confident he'll put a winning product on the field.

as a sidebar - as a result of the new formation schemes, i foresee great stats for our RBs and having 3 or 4 legit starters in the backfield will prove to be advantageous as there will NOT be a shortage of plays for them...barring injury, they'll all get their touches and will all be rewarded.

I have not heard anything about a "majority" of plays from under center. However, if you remember, he did win a title with a QB playing from under center (Leak).

I think he will be able to do both. Showcase TT and win.

First I think his sole purpose is to showcase TT under center. No doubt.

I think we need to wait and see how many plays TT is running from under center and the style of said plays. It's not going to be an every down thing. I can see how a good number existing plays can be run from under center so I don't think this is too big of a departure. So I think we can and will win regardless.

Having won last year's title, largely because of TT and his leadership and play, I don't really have a problem with us "giving back" a little to TT and helping him improve his draft stock.

I think that at least part of it is motivated by wanting to showcase TT...I also think part of it is that without Percy, we may not have a player to replace him in that role...running more plays under center will add a new wrinkle and let us showcase our backs more, IMO, since we can't replace Percy.

Look, what he stresses in practice -- and to the media -- may not work out to be what they do the majority of the time in the fall. If the new thing isn't working, he'll increase the balance of the old thing.

But I also think that, you know what, Tebow's a senior. Making sure the offense can prosper in the post-Tebow era makes sense. We cannot expect every Gator QB to run like this. And so think of this as a transitional step.

I agree that the goal of showcasing TT to improve his draft stock is foolish. But if the goal is to develop TT as a more multidimensional player and thereby to give the team more options, then it makes great sense -- both in terms of teaching a player and improving the offense, short- and medium-term.

Plus, giving the ball to the back out of the I adds a new wrinkle to the offense that we haven't seen much of. Personally, I welcome seeing some of our backs running the ball from the I formation with TT under center.

never looked at the angle of preparing for the post-TT years...great points folks...love the banter! keep it comin.