I spoke to an NFL scout who attended North Texas practices last season to see what he thought of new USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell‘s offense.
With USC having completed just six practices I wanted to talk to someone who went to regular-season North Texas practices to see what they thought about it.
“The quarterback makes a decision every play based on the defense,” the scout said. “If the defensive end goes upfield, he hands off to the running back. If the defensive end goes toward the running back, they throw.
“They definitely want to throw the ball so the defense has to dare them to run. Your alignment can force them to run.”
This is what Washington has done in recent years against Washington State, which includes a three-man front and eight players dropping back in pass coverage.
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
Scooter,
Just like the scout said, when people drop back you run. When you rush the qb, you throw. How hard is that. SC’s talent is better than WSU’s. I believe SC beats Washington this year.
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Very nice, p.t. btw –Markese Stepp and Steven Carr REALLY are hoping that Washington dares us to run. And, while we’re talking about daring us to run, Sears could come in real handy on occasion if defenses overplay the pass. There was a team we played in the Rose Bowl for an NC once that knew exactly what to do when our defense didn’t react quickly enough to a quarterback who knew when to take off ….
#….AndThatTeamOutscoredTheBestOffenseInTrojanHistory
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Whomever your “ NFL scout” is, is incorrect. That would be basic philosophy for an RPO. Which happens in air raid but not on every play, not even close.
There are many times a game in an air raid where they are going to throw it no matter what the defense does or how they align. That is the beauty of the air raid. It is simple, option routes and mesh concepts are ran against man or zone and they work (see Patriots).
Dropping 8 men into coverage is not the magic bullet to stop air raid. Washington drops 8 and then manages to get massive pressure using 3 pass rushers. That’s why they have owned the Cougs. If they didn’t get pressure consistently, then they would be picked apart even with 8 men in secondary.
If it were easy to stop then nobody would use it. It’s hard to stop, it’s hard to cover fast guys in space.
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Brumby, you have to get used to little Scottie’s use of ‘sources’…
When he says he spoke to an NFL Scout, it means, “this morning when my mom woke me up, this is the dream I was having about creating a negative blog entry for today…”
When he says he spoke to a former player, it means, “this is what I was daydreaming about when I waited for my mom to make my lunchtime sammy today”
When he says he spoke to a college or NFL coach, it means, “this is what I was formulating in my head when my mom tucked me in last night”
You see, real journalists have sources. Swordsman Scottie has opinions that he tries to spin off as thoughts of others because he doesn’t know how to be a credible journalist.
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And some of WSU problem vs Wash has been unbelievable weather …the snow last yr ,one needed a snow plow offense…which WSU does not have. People need to have a wait and see attitude. If SC HAS MOSTLY REAL FOOTBALL PRACTICES ,INCL FALL this will be a different team; if shorts ,forget it.
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Interesting that an nfl scout would need anonymity for this type comment. Hardly disparaging Harrell so I don’t understand the need. But reading the DE is an option or RPO key albeit not the only one. And doesn’t really apply to air raid nearly as much.
Last year clemson. Ohio st. No Texas
Run. 37.8. 40.7 35.5
Pass. 33.9 40 38.8
Considering that clemson went undefeated and Ohio st lost just once compared to the No Texas team which lost 4 times, the run pass ratio is pretty much in line. It probably didn’t help wazzu that the weather that night was atrociously cold and wet.
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The weather ENDED the Air Raid. Washington fans still don’t seem to realize that the football gods gifted them that game….
#WashingtonStateWasTheBetterTeamIn2018
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Of course they were. But UW had a team built to run and in that weather against an undermanned defense it was the better team. Play that game indoors or in moderate weather and the results are much different. Harrell’s version is much more run oriented than Leach’s either way.
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The 2018 New Mexico Bowl, Harrel’s last mean green offensive game plan:
Utah St. 52 – Harharell 13 – total m.g. offense, 1 TD (1st qtr.); 1 TD (4th qtr.); 1 blown PAT. Doo dah, doo dah!
#can’twaittoseetheharharellclownuoffenseeversion
#SUCCXFB-37endssandnoQB
#OsawantstodoPusley
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You stupid slut. Get your head out. Why don’t you check the obvious and see who got hurt and what the score was then? Truth is you can’t see past rosen’s nasal extremity. His qb fine got hurt and the backups threw 4 ints. Maybe we should check the ruins record with or without their qb. That’s right it was 3 wins with their offensive genius chocolate chip!
You’re a silly little goose of a ruin.
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owns, your cheatin ruis At it again???
Go figure, it’s a ruin for ya! Hahahahaha
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I’m not going to defend Scott’s rationale. However, a real coach, real assistants, and great talent would deliver regardless of scheme. The game evolves and I’m not anti-Hartwell. But next season is toast as the players have bailed. It’s simple. Get a real coach. Build a complete roster. Get the fans excited.
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Yo Pusley whines loud and loooooong making cheap, crybaby excuses for Harharell’s last, humiliating 52 – 13 defeat at “The New Mexico Bowl.”
“You stupid slut. Get your head out. Why don’t you check the obvious and see who got hurt and what the score was then? Truth is you can’t see past rosen’s nasal extremity. His qb fine got hurt and the backups threw 4 ints. Maybe we should check the ruins record with or without their qb. That’s right it was 3 wins with their offensive genius chocolate chip!
You’re a silly little goose of a ruin.”
**********************************************************************************************
UCLA (2 – 8) 34 – Clown U with their 1st string QB (5 – 5) 27
DING goes the Vic Bell pusley – Doo dah, doo dah!
#OsawantstodoPusleywithaemptybudbottle
#Pusleycan’twait
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Aw my little biotch, you hang your hat on a single game. That’s a difference between us you ruin slime. Our season isn’t made if we beat the little gutties. Beating the ruins this season wouldn’t have salved the misery this season was. Unlike the ruins who feel vindicated with three wins as long as one is versus us. What was the ruin record in games rosen didn’t play? You can’t handle the truth you miserable ruin wannabe.
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None of this means anything w/out tough physical practices right through Fall. If it is a buncha’ shorts helton style, it will be worse than last yr.
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