El Citadel going to the Triple Option

[eagleskins]

Do they have any coach on staff that has run the 3-O as a head coach or OC? If they don't have at least a 3-O OC, the first year is going to be god awful. But, it can improve.

[Libertine]

We can scratch one military from that list. Sparky Woods has canned the triple at VMI in favor of an as yet undefined "more balanced attack".

Wow horrible desicion on Sparky's part

We'll see. They were turning the ball over 4+ times a game in '09 (8 times against Liberty) and that put them in some tough situations as well as, by itself, costing them what would have been a huge win at Army. Sparky has always been a ball-control minded coach and that stat must have made him nauseous. I think, more than anything, he just wants to move to an offense where the ball isn't flying through the air backwards 35 times a game.

[BullDog85]

Do they have any coach on staff that has run the 3-O as a head coach or OC? If they don't have at least a 3-O OC, the first year is going to be god awful. But, it can improve.

I think we are picking up a coach from VMI to install the 3-0 offense. I'm feel certain Higgins would not have abandoned the spread offense without investigating and fully understanding what it would take coaching wise and talent wise to go 3-0. Our recruiting this year is geared exactly to fulfilling the talent requirements - duel threat QBs that can run the pumpkin.

[BDKJMU]

Interesting then. VMI drops the TO the same year the El Cid installs it.

[clenz]

Won't now every Div I military school now be running the Triple Option or some variation of it (like the flexbone)? Army, Navy, Air Force, and VMI already run it.

I think so

I think a large reason they run it is the athletes they have, or lack there of. They have smaller lineman that are quicker side to side than most...go figure 320LB lineman wouldn't last long in the Military acadamies.


They use their quickness to their advantage. I don't think any of thoes schools could line up with Oklahoma, or even schools that run a pro-style offense that are average talent wise and make them run a pro-set and it would be worse than it is now.

[SpeedkingATL]

Just what we need in the SoCon is another team running the triple option. For what ever reason, that offense, or any offense with a good mobile QB gives App State fits. Maybe the Apps will defend it better if they see it 3 times in a year.

[SUUTbird]

Just what we need in the SoCon is another team running the triple option. For what ever reason, that offense, or any offense with a good mobile QB gives App State fits. Maybe the Apps will defend it better if they see it 3 times in a year.

The biggest reason this will give App State and other teams fits is because they will both be triple option however in two different forms. From what i have seen Wofford will run this offense out of multiple sets (Pistol, shotgun, under center ect) whereas the Navy triple option is exclusivly under center (kind of like how Air Force and Navys TO offenses are different). Looking forward to seeing this years TO offenses in action (Except Cal Polys if they decide to throw the ball way to much again)

[SUUTbird]

Wow horrible desicion on Sparky's part

We'll see. They were turning the ball over 4+ times a game in '09 (8 times against Liberty) and that put them in some tough situations as well as, by itself, costing them what would have been a huge win at Army. Sparky has always been a ball-control minded coach and that stat must have made him nauseous. I think, more than anything, he just wants to move to an offense where the ball isn't flying through the air backwards 35 times a game.

I agree that their turnover ratio was pretty bad and that it did cost them some games however that is one of the risks of this offense. When it isnt run right mistakes happen. But the blame cant be layed squarely on the shoulders of the offense as it was players who either pitched the ball poorly or just plain didnt catch it which means poor execution on the players part (Navy i believe led the nation in turnover %).

And i still think this is a bad idea primarily due to the fact that VMI does not have the players to run a balanced offense as well as other teams and i think that moving to a more balanced offense will get them the same disastrous results that Army had when they tried this a while back

[Libertine]

I agree that the execution has to be there for the triple to work. Unfortunately, VMI ran two QB's in '09, both of whom were seniors and had been in the system for four years. If they couldn't get it to work by then, I don't know that they were going to.

All that said, I have no idea to what offense the Keydets could be moving. Sparky's history at South Carolina and App says power-I, but they currently don't have the horses up front for that.

[bobbythekidd]

I agree that the execution has to be there for the triple to work. Unfortunately, VMI ran two QB's in '09, both of whom were seniors and had been in the system for four years. If they couldn't get it to work by then, I don't know that they were going to.

All that said, I have no idea to what offense the Keydets could be moving. Sparky's history at South Carolina and App says power-I, but they currently don't have the horses up front for that.

Architect of the option attack at VMI that ranked as the nation's leader in rushing offense in 2008 and 2009, Brent Davis returns to lead Georgia Southern as its offensive coordinator. Davis was the offensive coordinator at VMI for the four seasons prior to joining the Eagles during this offseason.

I wonder what it would have looked like if they had figured out how to make it work??

[clenz]

I agree that the execution has to be there for the triple to work. Unfortunately, VMI ran two QB's in '09, both of whom were seniors and had been in the system for four years. If they couldn't get it to work by then, I don't know that they were going to.

All that said, I have no idea to what offense the Keydets could be moving. Sparky's history at South Carolina and App says power-I, but they currently don't have the horses up front for that.

Architect of the option attack at VMI that ranked as the nation's leader in rushing offense in 2008 and 2009, Brent Davis returns to lead Georgia Southern as its offensive coordinator. Davis was the offensive coordinator at VMI for the four seasons prior to joining the Eagles during this offseason.

I wonder what it would have looked like if they had figured out how to make it work??

Thing Georgia Tech on steroids...

[eagleskins]

GSU will be running Paul Johnson's 3-O under Monken, who has been Johnson's 2nd in command for 13 years. PJ's option is the Cadillac of 3-O.

[ngineer]

A good idea. The Citadel has no weapons at running back and below Blanchard has no one at the QB position. Blanchard was out versus GSU and I saw El Cid's backups and it wasn't pretty. (BTW, that game between GSU and El Cid had the fewest total number of points ever scored in a game in Paulson Stadium). El Cid will almost certainly have a dismal year of offense if they stay with the system they have.

The Citadel always has disciplined players who can execute well and I don't see how they can't have the kind of success Wofford has had if they run an option offense and run it well.

Mon contrare. In RBs we have Dallas (Jr next yr) and Jones (So next year) returning. We also have Anderson (RJr next yr - if he stays heathy) and Remi Biakabutuka (So next yr - brother of Tim who played 5yrs with the Panthers). Remi actually played in our game against NC and showed some inside running quickness no one expected. Yes, on the QB end we are really in a hurt. Blanchard is graduating and foregoing his 5yr, Starks may not be returning and Edwards, who you saw play QB in most of the game against GSU is questionable in a TO offense, but he has good instincts for a frosh and will only improve with time. I agree with you that if we stayed with the spread we would probably be looking at another dismal year and The Citadel football fans are happy we are dumping most of it, but I imagine some of it will remain because that's what the HC and OC know best. Recruiting wise we have commits from some very promising option type QBs, and given our returning RB corp, we have a chance at a better season in 2010 then I imagined at the end of the 2009 season given the QB situation and the loss of Roberts to graduation.

I'm glad to find a new home to read and post about FCS football.

I am assuming Higgins and Cecchini are staying on? Going to the option should be an education, as neither has run such a system. Higgins was our HC back in the late '90's running a 'pro-style' set and Cecchini was a WR for Lehigh in the early 90's under Hank Small who was strictly 'bombs away'. A lot of people think if Coen doesn't turn it around this year at Lehigh, Cecchini will come north to rescue Alma Mater.

[BullDog85]

HC Kevin Higgins and OC Dave Cecchini are staying on. Higgins is highly regarded by the Alumni and has brought a bit of continuity to the program. Based upon the fact that El Cid has not done the well the past two seasons, I doubt there was anything out there for Dave so maybe Kevin, being the loyal sort, might be keeping Dave on until things open up at Lehigh for Dave's return after 2010? Who knows. I'm pretty certain that if Dave was offered the HC at Lehigh he would be there in a heartbeat with Kevin's blessing. As to running the 3-0, several Alumni who follow the program have wondered how Higgins-Cecchini will be able to adopt the 3-0 when they are not known for that type of offense. Personally, I think anyone who is smart, diligent and hard working can learn anything...especially if you can hire a good tutor. I guess we'll find out how well this change will work out in less than 8 months.

[bluedog1997]

I personally think that there is another coordinator coming. They are more than likely going to wait till the recruiting season is over, and then make the announcement. This is a gut feeling, but I can't see Cecchini wanting to run an offense that he has never run before. I would love for him to stay, because he is a great coach and the players respect him. I just dont think he will be on sidelines in the fall.

[ngineer]

I personally think that there is another coordinator coming. They are more than likely going to wait till the recruiting season is over, and then make the announcement. This is a gut feeling, but I can't see Cecchini wanting to run an offense that he has never run before. I would love for him to stay, because he is a great coach and the players respect him. I just dont think he will be on sidelines in the fall.

From these above posts, I sense that "Chick" may be eyeing a return to Bethlehem, PA...