It is possible to win with a pocket passer QB, though I very much think it is not ideal for Duke. I think Cut was right. At a place like Duke, you have to have to do things a little differently. Using the backup QB as the power runner (Connette). Finding a linebacker in a safety's body and creating a role for him to thrive (Jeremy Cash). Developing mobile QBs who could give you more options on offense (Boone/Sirk/DJ/Riley). Cut knew that the way we try to win can't be the way other teams try to win.
I'm a bit worried that the offensive staff does not agree with that approach. We run a very basic offense. That may be because our offensive line is so bad. It may be because our young QB can't be trusted with more complex stuff. But we have to find a way to be less predictable. I'm not sure big fixes are possible in the middle of the season, but I have some ideas:
- run more motion and misdirection. It's amazing how much harder it is to defend a simple handoff when you have to worry about a WR in motion that could be a jet sweep, or a QB that could be taking off in the opposite direction as the RB, etc.
- involve Maalik in the running game. Again, this probably just isn't going to happen. But you don't have to be fast to run the ball occasionally as a QB. It could be that our QB just refuses, or perhaps that he's not ready to make the reads necessary to run the read option.
- Run more screens/short passes. We dabbled in this over the first couple of games, and it has mostly disappeared. I'm not entirely sure why.
- Have the staff keep working with Maalik on decision making. We've often talked about how much we go for the high risk deep balls. Well, most pass plays have multiple options, and it's possible our QB just makes that choice more often than he should. With good coaching, he can choose the better option. To be clear, I think the staff has definitely given him the green light to air it out, but he needs to be able to check down when appropriate.
- Give Henry Belin some opportunities. He came in for one drive against Northwestern, and I thought he did really well. His running ability kept NU off balance, and he was able to complete a short throw. For some reason, that package was put on ice.