What are some lineups you hope to see in specific situations this year? A couple of packages I am curious about are what the red zone offense will look like and what the defense will do on passing situations. Wouldn't mind seeing some of these packages...
Red Zone
This will vary of course, with possible different personnel groups in depending on the down when at the 1 yard line versus the 19 yard line. But one particular grouping I think would be effective here with respect to the skill position guys is something like this:
WR: Jeremiah Booker
WR: Steven Sims
WR: Evan Fairs
TE: Ben Johnson
RB: Ke'aun Kinner
A lot of flexibility with that group. Booker is a tall and strong dude with good route running ability, so could be used in multiple ways - everything from screen blocking to fade routes. Fairs is similar, although not quite as strong, but showed a crazy good ability in HS to create separation in short areas which given with his size should make him an excellent red zone opportunity guy. Sims is the best route runner on the team, IMO, so you have to have him out there in these situations. Ben Johnson is the better blocker of the TEs so gives you the flexibility to even line him up in the backfield if needed, but is also a big guy that is a good red zone target as well. And then Kinner, has skills as a receiver in addition to running the ball.
Probably the big name I left off of this list is LaQuivionte Gonzalez. No doubt the guy is a threat with his speed and we will use him multiple ways, but to me it came down to wanting the better route runner in there in Sims with two big receivers in this red zone area. He will certainly get snaps in the redzone though.
Pass Rush Situations
I think there are some areas Bowen can definitely improve upon as a defensive play caller, but one area I think he does well in is drawing up pass rush designs. Because of that I am curious what he decides to do this year as we have seen quite a few different schemes from him the past couple of years in these situations.
One particular package I am curious about is our old friend the Bandit package. If we do something similar to what we did with Brandon Perkins back in the day, one guy I would be curious about to see in this situation is Maciah Long. Because he hasn't focused on the position the past couple of years, there will likely be a learning curve for him. But we have heard a couple of times now, including yesterday's Big 12 Media Days, he is a guy that is impressing some early on. Thus I think this Bandit package could provide an opportunity to get Long some snaps and used to the speed of the Big 12 level, but also simplify things enough to let him use his athleticism and strength without thinking a bunch. Just tell him go after the QB and then build up the rest of his game around that.
Red Zone
This will vary of course, with possible different personnel groups in depending on the down when at the 1 yard line versus the 19 yard line. But one particular grouping I think would be effective here with respect to the skill position guys is something like this:
WR: Jeremiah Booker
WR: Steven Sims
WR: Evan Fairs
TE: Ben Johnson
RB: Ke'aun Kinner
A lot of flexibility with that group. Booker is a tall and strong dude with good route running ability, so could be used in multiple ways - everything from screen blocking to fade routes. Fairs is similar, although not quite as strong, but showed a crazy good ability in HS to create separation in short areas which given with his size should make him an excellent red zone opportunity guy. Sims is the best route runner on the team, IMO, so you have to have him out there in these situations. Ben Johnson is the better blocker of the TEs so gives you the flexibility to even line him up in the backfield if needed, but is also a big guy that is a good red zone target as well. And then Kinner, has skills as a receiver in addition to running the ball.
Probably the big name I left off of this list is LaQuivionte Gonzalez. No doubt the guy is a threat with his speed and we will use him multiple ways, but to me it came down to wanting the better route runner in there in Sims with two big receivers in this red zone area. He will certainly get snaps in the redzone though.
Pass Rush Situations
I think there are some areas Bowen can definitely improve upon as a defensive play caller, but one area I think he does well in is drawing up pass rush designs. Because of that I am curious what he decides to do this year as we have seen quite a few different schemes from him the past couple of years in these situations.
One particular package I am curious about is our old friend the Bandit package. If we do something similar to what we did with Brandon Perkins back in the day, one guy I would be curious about to see in this situation is Maciah Long. Because he hasn't focused on the position the past couple of years, there will likely be a learning curve for him. But we have heard a couple of times now, including yesterday's Big 12 Media Days, he is a guy that is impressing some early on. Thus I think this Bandit package could provide an opportunity to get Long some snaps and used to the speed of the Big 12 level, but also simplify things enough to let him use his athleticism and strength without thinking a bunch. Just tell him go after the QB and then build up the rest of his game around that.
