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Topic: Shannon Dawson focused on “physical” version of Air Raid
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catmandoo
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Member # 1284
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posted 01-14-2015 05:46 PM
We are going to see a exciting offense next season.
Football these days is a lot different than it used to be.
The leather helmets are gone, for one. There’s this thing called the forward pass. Defensive linemen are more monstrous in size, yet somehow still quicker and more versatile. The game has been built on evolution.
So a physical and efficient run game within the confines of the Air Raid? No problem.
At least that will be the philosophy of new Kentucky offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, who spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time since being hired last month.
A Hal Mumme disciple, Dawson is part of that “Air Raid” coaching umbrella. But his approach to running the offensive philosophy has changed with time, as defenses have evolved.
“Players are getting bigger and stronger, so I think even if you talked to Coach Mumme about it, he would say the game has changed,” Dawson said. “We made a concerted effort at West Virginia this past year to get physical and be able to run the ball more efficient. Not that we’re sitting there adding a hundred more run plays into the offense. We still have those run plays; it’s simply the fact that we’re calling them a little more, just turning and handing it a little more.”
At Dawson’s previous school, West Virginia, where he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the Mountaineers ranked 11th in the country in total offense, averaging 502.1 yards per game. And 314.6 of those yards were through the air.
West Virginia actually ran the ball more times last season (531) than it passed (489). That kind of balance will be what Dawson will try to build at Kentucky, and it’s a philosophy he says “fired up” head coach Mark Stoops during the two’s initial conversations about the job.
“We’re allowing those offensive linemen to be a little more physical, some leverage-on-leverage stuff,” Dawson said. “It’s weird because probably as efficient as we’ve been throwing the football was when we made a concerted effort to be more physical in the run game. You can be better throwing it if you run it a little better.”
Although Dawson said he hasn’t had a chance to meet with all the players or to evaluate Kentucky’s current talent base, his “balance-first” approach to an Air Raid-style offense will certainly be helped by the Wildcats’ stacked stall of running backs. Stanley “Boom” Williams returns after a stellar freshman season, where he rushed 74 times for 486 net yards and five touchdowns – leading all running backs in those three categories.
Braylon Heard is also back after starting 10 games last season and accumulating 368 yards and four touchdowns. Jojo Kemp will be a junior with two solid seasons under his belt, including 323 yards and four touchdowns last season. Mikel Horton developed quickly throughout his own freshman campaign, and was second on the team in yards-per-carry last year at 5.2.
So Dawson – although considered part of the Air Raid umbrella – will use that talent and experience to balance Kentucky offensively. Only then will Kentucky fans see the kind of passing numbers they want – and the results.
“Put it this way: It fired him (Stoops) up – just having the ability to play physical,” Dawson said of his conversations with Stoops. “I mean, everybody loves seeing the ball in the air. There’s no doubt about it. But the one thing I love more than doing that is seeing the W on the scoreboard at the end of the game.”
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[ 01-14-2015, 10:34 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
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Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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catmandoo
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posted 01-15-2015 02:04 PM
Like is mentioned in the article putting a "W" on the board is the most important thing. If it takes passing to win more games that's great, let's do it.
[ 01-15-2015, 02:07 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]
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m hamilton
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Member # 127
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posted 01-16-2015 06:26 AM
Dawson is smart enough to realize that we must develop a strong running attack to be effective in teh SEC. Look at the rushing numbers in the Championship game this year!
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The potus is planning 1st major tax hike since '93 in next economic package!
I still can't believe some people believed that LIAR!!!
Your whole life is determined(by) 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you handle it!!!
Posts: 123985 | From: vevay, IN USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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catmandoo
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posted 01-16-2015 02:37 PM
Dawson didn't get to where he is at throwing the ball on every down and he isn't going to change. We have a couple of great runners and he will use their talent on many play calls.
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catmandoo
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posted 01-16-2015 02:52 PM
We actually have 3 running backs coming back that ran for over 300 hundred yards last season in Williams, Kemp and Horton.
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catmandoo
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posted 01-16-2015 02:53 PM
Didn't realize this but I see where Towles also ran for over 300 yards.
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m hamilton
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posted 01-16-2015 09:31 PM
I like the thought of putting Williams in the slot during pass plays. He's to good of a player not to get him more snaps!
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The potus is planning 1st major tax hike since '93 in next economic package!
I still can't believe some people believed that LIAR!!!
Your whole life is determined(by) 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you handle it!!!
Posts: 123985 | From: vevay, IN USA | Registered: Sep 1999
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catmandoo
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posted 01-17-2015 11:55 AM
I agree, when you got a player like Boom get the ball in his hands as much as you can.
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Posts: 186359 | From: st. augustine florida 32092 | Registered: Mar 2001
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catmandoo
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posted 01-17-2015 11:56 AM
We have a stable of good running backs for next season and hope we can find ways to use them all.
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