I was watching some games from last year and realized there weren't many designed runs for him. He scrambled really well and his mobility made him more dangerous. I think they need to lean into that aspect of his game more intentionally.
Does Pitt Need to Use Eli's Wheels More?
- Thread starter Usuallyunusual-partdeux
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With the amount of RPO plays that are (suppose to be) part of Kade Bell’s scheme, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Holstein keep a few more this season… although I still get flashbacks to him getting concussed in garbage time of that Syracuse game.
On the flip side, with how fast-paced the offense is, I’d imagine you also don’t want to wear him down over the course of a game when his strength is his arm.
On the flip side, with how fast-paced the offense is, I’d imagine you also don’t want to wear him down over the course of a game when his strength is his arm.
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In college football, if you have a mobile QB, the answer to your question is always "yes". But especially in Eli's case. He hasn't demonstrated consistency in the passing game yet. He is looking like the kind of player that has to get into some sort of game rhythm. Having some success running the ball could get him into that rhythm.
Maybe to an extent, I see him more of a creator with his legs than a QB who you should design runs around.
Great post. I wasn’t sure how to word it, but I’d love for Bell to schematically allow him to extend more plays versus designed runs.
That might happen with more experience and understanding of the offense and reading defenses. Of course the O line has to improve and hopefully stay healthy. Eli can definitely be a threat to run especially with designed plays and add another dimension to the offense.
Yes, especially when up 45-7 late in the 4th Quarter.
Safe to assume the line will start off with two transfers on the left, Coop in the middle and BJ and the bear on the right? Left side doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy. Any chance one of the backups takes a leap forward?
Good question about the back-ups. Can the line be any worse than last year? You hope or think that they could be better than last year. They need to be consistently better than average. If not they will have issues. Right now everything is the “if” factor.
No offense to your opinion you are entitled to it, but that would be a terrible idea. When he tried that last year he took terrible sacks and got beat up. The answer is not for him to dance around in the pocket waiting for something to break down so he can scramble its to create intentional run threat utilizing the way the defense stacks the box against Reid. Look at the way that they played in the bowl game when the penn hills kid came in. They could do a little bit of that with him too.
Agree with your point. For a QB to extend plays comes with experience. An OC can’t draw that up. Plus for Eli to be able to extend plays the line has to sustain their blocks. Designed runs like they did in the bowl game can definitely work.
Steel Curtain: Passing concepts that move the pocket (e.g., rollouts, flood passing routes), play action with Reid disguised as RPOs, tempo and misdirection, etc. are all ways Bell can scheme that up.
Usuallyunusual: I think you misinterpreted my initial post because I believe we’re on the same page; I was not advocating to allow the play to break down so he can scramble. Holstein is an athlete, and I want Bell and co. to use that to keep the defense honest when designing passing plays.
I’m sure Bell has come up with some schemes for Holstein with designed runs off of RPO. I’m wondering how the Bell will allow Holstein to run given his injury issues last year. It will be interesting if Bell how much Bell will take advantage of Holstein’s ability to run and with his size you would think it won’t be easy to tackle him in space.
If Bell does use Holstein like that it could really be exciting.
Seems counter-intuitive, but I'd like Eli to run more and for Reid to catch even more passes. The RB wheel route becomes deadly when a QB can run. Kind of like what Steve Slaton and Pat White would do at WVU (except for one fateful day in December).
I’m wondering if he wasn’t still affected from his leg injury during spring practice
Yeah you're right. Part of me always (I realize this will sound strange) wonders if they really didn't want him to look too good in the spring to prevent poacher schools from sniffing around. I have been jaded by college football I think....
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