How does new GL package affect Bell's chances of starting?

[MI Sooner]

Assuming LJ leaves, and knowing how Stoops doesn't like his starting QB to run, does Bell's success as a short yardage specialist doom him to a backup role? If Bell looks better than Allen et al, do we just scrap the package, find someone else to run it, or still run it just with our starting QB taking the snaps and the hits?

Also, I'll be interested to see how teams prepare for it now that there's a bunch of film on it, and what wrinkles Heuple still has up his sleeve.

[rekamrettuB]

I think he would run it but it would be more limited.

It's almost impossible to stop with the two lead backs. Bell takes the ball, pauses, looks for hole and hits it. If there's nothing through the middle I would imagine he has the ability to bounce it outside.

[Sooners78]

I think he would run it but it would be more limited.

It's almost impossible to stop with the two lead backs. Bell takes the ball, pauses, looks for whole and hits it. If there's nothing through the middle I would imagine he has the ability to bounce it outside.

or throw. He's had little chance to show what he can do through the air, but he was recruited mainly for his arm.

[S.PadreIsl.Sooner]

Legit game experience should help regardless of the specifics of what play is called. Its all good.

[meoveryouxinfinity]

It appears to be pretty unstoppable. If it wasn't, A&M wouldn't have let it happen over and over again. They knew what was coming and we just out blocked them. I like our chances of getting 1 yard EVERY time in this formation. Two yards? probably. Three? ehh, maybe. That's why it's so effective--it's so simple.

[BoulderSooner79]

Legit game experience should help regardless of the specifics of what play is called. Its all good.

Unless your name is Drew Allen.

[rekamrettuB]

or throw. He's had little chance to show what he can do through the air, but he was recruited mainly for his arm.

Can't really throw on a designed run play tho. They have the pass option...we saw that Saturday. The best pass play from it wouldn't be to Broyles (or another WR now :confusion: ) but to the TE or Millard who "misses a block".

[BoulderSooner79]

It appears to be pretty unstoppable. If it wasn't, A&M wouldn't have let it happen over and over again. They knew what was coming and we just out blocked them. I like our chances of getting 1 yard EVERY time in this formation. Two yards? probably. Three? ehh, maybe. That's why it's so effective--it's so simple.

I've got to believe other teams would adjust better than aTm did. I watched their D lineup and was amazed they never stacked the line when he trotted out there. Maybe that's one of the reasons they are 5-4 :) I do give lots of credit to Bell as he didn't just duck his head and charge. He was very patience waiting for a lane to develop and didn't even need his strength until he already had the 1st down anyway.

[meoveryouxinfinity]

I've got to believe other teams would adjust better than aTm did. I watched their D lineup and was amazed they never stacked the line when he trotted out there. Maybe that's one of the reasons they are 5-4 :) I do give lots of credit to Bell as he didn't just duck his head and charge. He was very patience waiting for a lane to develop and didn't even need his strength until he already had the 1st down anyway.
But you would think that, as many times as we ran it, they would have stopped it at least once.
\IIRC, the only time they did stop it was when we got too fancy.

[C&CDean]

I've got to believe other teams would adjust better than aTm did. I watched their D lineup and was amazed they never stacked the line when he trotted out there. Maybe that's one of the reasons they are 5-4 :) I do give lots of credit to Bell as he didn't just duck his head and charge. He was very patience waiting for a lane to develop and didn't even need his strength until he already had the 1st down anyway.

That's why they kept running it. The one time they stacked the line, we threw incomplete I believe. That's kind of the beauty of it. They just call/change the play according to the defense. They line up, and if the box isn't loaded, they run it. If it is, they throw out of it or do one of the little reverse looking handoffs to a wideout. It's fun to watch, and should be effective against pretty much anybody - as long as Bell can throw accurately when it's time to throw.

[BoulderSooner79]

That's why they kept running it. The one time they stacked the line, we threw incomplete I believe. That's kind of the beauty of it. They just call/change the play according to the defense. They line up, and if the box isn't loaded, they run it. If it is, they throw out of it or do one of the little reverse looking handoffs to a wideout. It's fun to watch, and should be effective against pretty much anybody - as long as Bell can throw accurately when it's time to throw.

I didn't think they even stacked the line on that play - I think we just wanted to try throwing. I'm sure some other team will try loading the box and seeing if Bell can make the right read and throw. Regardless, I love the way this forces the other team to burn practice time getting ready to defend it.

[delhalew]

Loved the handoff to Broyles in motion....he could just as easily have thrown it.

[OUmillenium]

or throw. He's had little chance to show what he can do through the air, but he was recruited mainly for his arm.

This is what really gets me excited about the future. And you know Heupel would mix in an option play every so often (ala KSU 2000).

[westbrooke]

Hearing Stoops say things like this (http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/38499/stoops-ou-will-expand-belldozer-package):


“I want us to develop more throwing out of it,” Stoops said. “I don’t care where it’s at on the field. He can throw the play-actions we’re throwing with (Landry Jones) anyway.”

...makes me think Bell's chances of starting once Landry leaves are pretty high. The opportunity for meaningful snaps, rather than Allen's mop-up duty, should give Bell a healthy advantage the next time the QB position is up for legitimate competition.

[8timechamps]

The set appears to be designed to give Bell three options: Hand off, keep it, or throw to two options.

It can be said of most plays, but more so of this one, if it's blocked correctly, it's almost unstoppable. Especially given Bell's size. The only way I think a defense could stop it would be to put 10 guys in the box, but you can't risk that too often.

I think this whole thing is great for Bell. It gives him real game experience, in high pressure situations. If there was ever a way to transition a back up QB, other than garbage time, this would be it. This is exactly how Meyer made the transition from Leak to Tebow, and that seemed to work out pretty good. Now, I'm not saying Bell is another Tebow, but he is definitely a big, strong QB with a big arm.

I like it, and it seems to be working.

Stoops said in his most recent press conference that they would be spending more time on it over the next two weeks, and adding different options for Bell. If nothing else, it forces defenses to plan for another component of an already difficult to defend offense.

[blacktop]

It just reminds me of Tebow or the Bears with "The Fridge" or Ohio State with their "3 yards & a cloud of dust" crap. Look at Tebow now - a work in progress with no throwing motion. He never developed past a college offensive system that left him as a "one trick pony". I like the fact that we develop our players to perform at the college level and at the same preparing for the NFL. I like to believe that is one of our recruiting attractions.

[Salt City Sooner]

But you would think that, as many times as we ran it, they would have stopped it at least once.
\IIRC, the only time they did stop it was when we got too fancy.
They did stuff him one time in the 4th quarter on a 3rd & 3, which led to a Tress punt that OU downed on the 5. Still, none too shabby a success ratio though.

[8timechamps]

It just reminds me of Tebow or the Bears with "The Fridge" or Ohio State with their "3 yards & a cloud of dust" crap. Look at Tebow now - a work in progress with no throwing motion. He never developed past a college offensive system that left him as a "one trick pony". I like the fact that we develop our players to perform at the college level and at the same preparing for the NFL. I like to believe that is one of our recruiting attractions.

It does feel a little gimick-y, but at it's core, it's smash-mouth football. Living in Denver, I see/hear Tebow non-stop. After watching his success in college, and his struggles in the NFL, and watching countless interviews, I've come to the conclusion that Tebow, while a physical specimen, it's very smart. QB has to be the one position on the field that requires quick thinking and decision making (basically, just more "smarts"). I just don't think Tebow has the mental capacity to be an NFL QB. I don't think Bell falls into that category. I'm not saying he's NFL quality, but given that his arm is probably 10 times that of Tebow, I don't think we'll end up with a one-trick pony with Bell.

[CarolinaSoonerFan]

I feel sorry for Mr. Allen he's been a team player and hasn't hit the road like some other players once they've seen the writing on the wall. Maybe this is why Stoops didn't just name Bell the backup at the beginning of the season and has also let Allen have most of the PT in trash time. He has been a class act, but I'm excited about what we will be able to do with Bell in the future.

[d.stOUgh]

Assuming LJ leaves, and knowing how Stoops doesn't like his starting QB to run, does Bell's success as a short yardage specialist doom him to a backup role? If Bell looks better than Allen et al, do we just scrap the package, find someone else to run it, or still run it just with our starting QB taking the snaps and the hits?

Also, I'll be interested to see how teams prepare for it now that there's a bunch of film on it, and what wrinkles Heuple still has up his sleeve.

nice thought...however...L.J. will come back...he's not ready and knows it.