I agree with Portlandcoug. Love the 4-0, but we have tried to lose the last two games by keeping the wraps on our Offense. We have won, but just by the shear will, determination, talent, and athleticism of guys like JW and TH. This game may have been a far different outcome if the TO's were 2-0 in their favor instead of ours, and without the Hine play, and the many bailout plays by Arellano.

The fact is, the short pass and crossing routes were open all night, and BYU had success almost every timie they went to them. Then, they'd inexplicably abondon the short pass, and go back to some poorly executed running plays on 1st and 2nd down. Why keep bashing your teeth against the strength of their D in the front seven, when they've shown they can stuff you, and haven't shown they can defend the short quick passes. They (UVA) may have worn down some by the second half, and some of those plays started to work, but only because of the will and athleticism of TH and JW. But, if those guys keep doing that, they're going to get injured.

The short pass was also there agaiinst UH, but under-utilized. But instead, we tend to either run, or attempt the nearly impossible sideline go route, or mid-range bomb, where TH has to be almost perfect and thread the needle, and the reciever has to do the same for any hope at the big play. As we learned from UVA, possessions are a FINITE thing, and we are wasting far too many on run/stuff, run/stuff, and then forced into 3rd and long, and too many failed hope bombs.

If we used the short pass more, TH and the WR/TE/RB could develop more flow and timing, and then gradually work deeper as they get their timing down, as the flow and timing is uniquely different with each new D we play based on their personel and scheme. The reality is that TH is NOT YET a sasoned enough passer to go back and forth from run,run,run to "long bomb'" but he can throw the short routes quite well. He may sometimes be a little off, but that is less exaggerated on the short passes, and our receivers are good at adjusting to the ball when needed. Regardless, the short passes keep working - just look at the % completion on short routes less than 15 yards this season - they're good. I know because I keep pleading for them to go back to it, and everytime they do, I find myself cheering because there is a completion, and a 1st down or short 2nd down. Sometimes, but rarely am I disappointed because of a non-completion on short routes, although I don't have real #'s on that. Also, although the O line is much better this year, there are still some issues. Issues that would be minimized if they were not always called on to either run block like rabid animals, or hold the dogs off of TH for so long on long routes. The short game would also ease the pressure here. I think it's a no brainer.

We so need to let the receivers get more YAC. On those 7-10-15 yard routes, just one missed tackle can mean a TD for our receivers, since they're at the next level, past the mouth of the D - we're just not using the tools we have well enough, and I agree with Portlandcoug, it's simply not as fun to watch when more people are not involved who could be. We are 4-0, but I think this Offense can be more than good. They have the ability to be crazy-good! You want to see big plays? Forget the long bomb down the sideline that almost always gets broken up by the bobble, the slip, the safety, the sideline, or the stripes. Just see what D. Blackmon and J. Leslie did the last 2 games when they made one or two guys miss in the midfield. That's where the money's at. Then, once the D has to adjust to the short game, that's when we come back and gash them with the run game of TH and JW, and the long bomb with better timing under it, and a disheartened D. This stubborn marriage to pounding the run to set up the pass or to "wear down" the opponent is noble, but is not working into our strengths, and is just keeping wraps on this offense, rather than letting it exlode like it is capable of.

And one more thing I've been pleading for all year. They need to have a lot more designed roll outs for TH. When he is out on the flat and can see the field, and choose to either run or pass while moving, he completely handcuffs the other team, and has almost always been deadly. Why can't the coaches see this. Think about it, how many times can you remember when TH gets free out on the flat that a bad play ensues - almost never, but I can remember lots of magic when he gets out there on the flat, both with running and passing plays. To always keep him in the pocket when it's collapsing too much (from DL and LB's pinning their ears down and licking chops from our vanilla play calling) completely negates TH's athleticism, and takes it out of play, especially if that's all we do, except on broken plays when TH scrambles to the outside and work some magic.

Although we are a great running team, could we please, please, please get more players involved and energized by playing to our strengths, and doing more of the short game, at least until someone actually stops it, which no one has done very well thus far, and by letting TH roll out and get loose on the flat more often.