Countdown to ACC Kickoff, No. 4: Bryan Stinespring and Mike O’Cain
The ACC Kickoff (aka media days) is fast approaching. I’ll be using the blog to count down to what we media members consider the unofficial start of the football season. This isn’t a list of the 25 best players on Virginia Tech’s roster. It’s a list of 25 things/people that will determine whether the Hokies’ 2012 season is a success or not. That includes players and coaches from both Virginia Tech and, occasionally, a few of its opponents.
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No. 4: Bryan Stinespring and Mike O’Cain, offensive coordinator/play-caller
In Year 1 of the a new play-calling arrangement, with offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring helping institute a game plan during the week and quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain calling plays from the booth, Virginia Tech’s offense did pretty well.
Quarterback Logan Thomas broke the school’s single-season total yardage record. Running back David Wilson did the same for the rushing mark, taking ACC Player of the Year honors. Receivers Jarrett Boykin and Danny Coale put the finishing touches on their accomplished careers. And a veteran line, led by the ACC’s top blocker Blake DeChristopher, tied for the fewest sacks allowed in the ACC during the regular season.
Yet, fans just can’t help themselves when it comes to complaining about the play-calling, a time-honored tradition in football.
There were a few legitimate reasons for grumbling last year. The Hokies were not as efficient in putting up points as they could have been, ranking 35th nationally in total yards (413 ypg) but only 57th in scoring offense (27.9 ppg).
They scored points on 74 percent of their trips inside the 20, ranking 103rd nationally. (In 2010, the Hokies ranked 5th nationally and in 2009 16th, so yes, it was a considerable step back.) That was in plain sight in the Sugar Bowl, when a touchdown instead of a field goal on any one of Virginia Tech’s stalled red zone possessions against Michigan would have meant a victory and a much different tone this offseason.
Complaints persist about predictable play-calling (ie. running on first down in the red zone every time), and coaches admit they need to vary things up, particularly when they get down near the goal line.
The task again falls to Stinespring and O’Cain. They added some wrinkles this offseason by installing the Pistol formation, wanting a look that keeps Thomas in the shotgun without losing a downhill running game that can easily go to either side of the formation. Early returns in the spring on the few occasions the team used it during scrimmages seemed positive.
There have been talks of spreading things out and pushing the tempo, although a full-scale shift in offensive philosophy is probably not going to happen. Frank Beamer has succeeded a certain way over his years (ball control, defense, special teams), so odds are you’re not going to see the Hokies break out the Air Raid any time soon.
But Stinespring and O’Cain can make tweaks to what Virginia Tech has done offensively and still be within the constraints of the team’s overall plan. If they can improve red zone play-calling and efficiency even a little bit — and that means not just getting points, but putting the ball in the end zone — it would certainly ease much of the criticism about the offense.
Coming Thursday: He’s from the 757. That’s all you get.
Previous entries:
- No. 25: Randall Dunn, senior tight end
- No. 24: Donaldven Manning, freshman cornerback
- No. 23: Pick a punter
- No. 22: J.C. Coleman, freshman running back
- No. 21: Georgia Tech’s option offense
- No. 20: Antoine and Derrick Hopkins, defensive tackles
- No. 19: EJ Manuel, Florida State quarterback
- No. 18: Bud Foster, defensive coordinator
- No. 17: A fourth wide receiver
- No. 16: Cody Journell, junior kicker
- No. 15: Brent Benedict and David Wang, offensive guards
- No. 14: Dyrell Roberts, senior wide receiver
- No. 13: Detrick Bonner and Kyshoen Jarrett, safeties
- No. 12: Dabo Swinney, Clemson head coach
- No. 11: Key reserves
- No. 10: Frank Beamer, head coach
- No. 9: Bruce Taylor and Tariq Edwards, inside linebackers
- No. 8: Marcus Davis, wide receiver
- No. 7: Beamerball
- No. 6: Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum, junior cornerbacks
- No. 5: Michael Holmes, redshirt freshman running back
July 18, 2012 - 9:33 AM
If the are going to run the pistol they have to commit to it. If they try to dabble with it and run it a hand full of plays a game it will fail miserably. I assume they know that, but I also thought they would be more unpredictable with play-calling inside the red zone last year. It was apparent the Michigan defense knew what was coming once they got in red zone.
While the easy targets are Stinespring and even O’Cain, the truth is that they are just doing what Frank Beamer desires. He wants a certain offensive philosophy, and whether Ricky Bustle, Stinespring, or O’Cain call the plays, the result will be remarkably similar.
There’s no point to complain as a fan, all those voices are typically discarded, just ask, what was his name? Jeff in Arlington?
If we just change it up on First down in the Red Zone a bit, it will help immensely. We did run the ball on First in the Red Zone over 90% of the time (fact), so any change up there will be less predictable. Also David Wilson, for all his huge talent, was just not as adept at getting into the end zone as was Ryan Williams. Some people just have a nose for the end zone. Lets hope Holmes does.
On a fishing expedition for Alaskan Crabs (sic) in Lake Fancie Gapp, I told The Beam that I’d show him the secret of losing weight if he would score more in the Red Zone. He lost 30 lbs. His promise was “I’ll git’er done!” The Beam NEVER breaks a promise!
I loved the fact they added the Pistol. I have said before it was an ideal wrinkle for them to add. It suited Thomas, Holmes, and others just fine. The read option in the Pistol is a bit slower than out of shotgun, but it gives Thomas more time to read the defensive ends. The red zone plays need more spice than calling plays from the standard Power I that Tech likes to employ. It’s predictable, motion fullback, one, two, snap the ball, hand off, and a tackle for loss is tacked.
I’m a bit curious if Stinespring tells O’Cain, “Here’s the list of plays for you choose from, and you can only call those,” during the week preparation.
As much as I am frustrated about the Stinespring/O’Cain offensive play calling, it seems the O line had a lot to do with the red zone problems. We had 4 senior starters last year and look how many are in NFL camps this summer: maybe 1? We simply need more talented O lineman if we are going to be a Top 5 team. (and please know that I truly appreciate and respect all the hard work those seniors put in during their careers)
The “Air Raid” offense was awesome. Always my offense of choice, in any NCAA football game. That being said I will be happy with a higher redzone TD percentage. Nothing more frustrating than watching a drive stall inside the 20 over and over and over again.
There probably hasn’t been anyone more critical of Stinespring and O’Cain than myself. The first down and red zone play calling have been dismal as indicated by the stats provided in the post. But allow me to defend the play calling just a bit. I know that’s a shock. When you have at your disposal a running back as talented as a David Wilson or a Ryan Williams, it’s only natural for him to be option number one. I know it would be tempting to just hand the ball off and hope for the best.
But this year should be different. Logan Thomas is the man now and should be given more opportunity to make plays on first down and in the red zone. Here’s hoping the coaches see it that way too. @gtbowyer
Wilson would have gotten his yards. Thomas would have gotten his even if the O’Cain/Stinespring arrangement had not been made. That is not evidence that it worked. VT typically will get those yards. What we didn’t get is first downs when we needed them more, red zone scoring. AND WE still don’t know how to use our weapons – so much for Wilson catching passes a fair amount. I truly wish there was an article the went deeply into criticisms or the main issues not just glossed over complaints as fans complaining when things don’t go write. There are legitimate issues and they should be detailed.
I agree with intelligentfan, no matter the play calling near the goal line, if we get no blocking, the plays will all look bad. The players put in the work, but the o-line coach let them down, Newsome has to GO !!!!!!