4 Scores and 7 Downs Ago... A Quick Look At Lincoln

What's up y'all!? This post is intended to provide a quick and dirty look at the Sooners' new offensive coordinator. What you'll see below are embedded draftbreakdown.com videos of Justin Hardy vs USCe and UF, two semi-powerful SEC foes. I included these two games mainly because it showed how Lincoln's offense performed against defensive units that may have had more talented personnel than ECU's own. Of course, that's certainly up for debate as the ECU offense was able to move the ball very well against a schedule that included the above two, as well as Bud Foster's famed VT defensive unit. Also, if you're not familiar with this format, let me explain. I'm terrible at editing and embedding video and have limited time. Instead I like to take notes about what I'm seeing and then discuss them in general terms. You can watch the videos before and/or after the descriptions. Let's get started.

I became familiar with Lincoln Riley's offense last year, when he was rumored to Texas. Many Texas fans, including myself, had our fingers crossed for the potential hire. However, it never came to be. So now, we get to hate him instead, fun! Lincoln's offense strikes me as a coherent and integrative approach to combining classic "Air Raid" concepts to the run, play-action, and read-option game. The pass game integrates with the run game in that the base zone and power (gap) schemes are primarily utilized in the read-option, play-action, and quarterback movement game. This can be a headache for defensive players as the majority of standard down and distance plays will all appear the same, especially if keying on OL steps and/or movement. Adding to that, I was surprised how multiple the offense can be. I noted personnel that ranged from "20" (2 RB, 0 TE), empty, to "12" (1 RB, 2 TE). With regard to formations, it ranged from your typical 2 X 2 spread set to I-formation aligments with the QB under center. Base runs include zone (inside, outside, slice, and lead) and a Power-style gap scheme with the backside gaurd pulling around the center and leading into the A-gap. The beauty of those schemes are that they tend to be excellent for use in read-option and play-action. As far as the pass game is concerned, you may note shallow crossing routes (good vs man), deep crossing routes (think Y-Sail), a lot of flat combination routes (slant-flat, curl-flat), deep out routes, and of course 4-verticals some of which contain option routes like seam-read. So, let's watch some football.

What stands out most to me from the USCe video are the packaged plays. Many quick-game pass concepts will be paired with base run schemes with the read player being one of the linebackers, 2nd-level reads. What I really like about read integrated offenses is that the consistent alignment and quarterback-running back mesh gives the defense the same look without tipping a read or more traditional play-action concept. Of course these will tend to be quick-to-intermediate level passing concepts paired with base run schemes. When Riley wants to attack deep he'll change the mesh and the quarterback will take more steps on his drop. Also notable, I like that some traditional bootleg concepts are adapted to the shotgun alignment. These often help to manipulate the linebackers with run aciton one way while bringing a crossing route behind them the opposite way. A couple of plays that stood out in this video are the delayed wide receiver screen paired with run-action at 1:30 and the packaged double screen at 2:16, a wide receiver screen paired with a running back slow-screen. Also note the offensive line releases and blocking, well designed and coached. These constriaint plays need to be well-coached and executed with attention to detail. They serve to protect the offense's base concepts as well as punish defensive over-play. Let's move on to the Florida game.

In this game we see a bit more multiplicity. For instance, the use of the I-formation in short yardage. It's good to see a spread football coordinator carry this set in his overall approach, a contingency often lacking in spread offenses. At 0:43 you'll see "Spot" paired with a quarterback sweep. This is another 2nd-level read on the linebacker who opens to take away the quick-game pass concept, so the quarterback pulls it down and follows his pulling lineman on the backside, well-conceived. A  lot of this is made possible by Lincoln's understanding of basic defensive assignments as well as how formations distort defensive structures. At 4:01 you'll see a play I don't even know what to call, out of a split back shotgun formation, the left gaurd and tackle pull and lead around the center through the A-gap while the "fullback" arc blocks the unblocked defensive end. What I suspect here is the end is the read man and if he attacks the running back, he will be bypassed by the arc blocker and the quarterback will keep and have a lead blocker on the backside of the play, another well-conceived play. What do you call it!? Speaking of the split back shotgun formation, Lincoln will utilize this, as opposed to the diamond formation, to create favorable match-ups outside or in the box. Depending on the safety look, 1-high or 2-high, the quarterback can easily check into a read-run or pass. Another motif I liked is the movement of the TE, motioning him out wide. Again, it's all about distortion and creating numbers advantages from sideline to sideline, forcing the defense to pick it's poison. Lastly, I've been impressed with the way Lincoln will attack in the red zone, he will be aggressive. As seen on the first touchdown, he calls a back shoulder seam. Lincoln is a former wide receivers coach, so it doesn't surprise me that this goup excelled at ECU. Also, it may be part of the reason Stoops let go of Norvell, though I can't be sure. Another example is at 6:47, look at the receiver releases, fake blocks, and the rub on the corner-flat, dropped! 

Well, there are my thoughts in a nut shell. Given the Sooners penchant for finding wide receiver talent, not to mention tight end and running back, Lincoln stands to field an aggressive offense, one able to attack from sideline to sideline as well as all three zones of coverage. One thing I didn't get into much is the quarterback position, but from what I see, there are plenty of easy reads in this offense and often times there is only one player the quarterback is reading. The offense is coherent with all the "bells and whistles" of a modern spread-option attack. I hope you enjoyed. Please share your thoughts.