The Launch 2023 Analysis
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Over the next few days I will be breaking down the offensive performance from the Launch. It goes without saying that this analysis will be my opinion only as someone who has coached football on the amateur level for 20+ years and a devotee of the Air Raid offense dating back to 2005. Let's get started.
Drive #1
The drive started out strong with a nice tackle lead PRO with Braelon Allen gashing the 6 man box for a solid gain, which was followed up by a curl/flat combo hitting Jack Pugh sitting over the middle. The quick tempo right out the gate was a welcomed change. Only 11 seconds separated the ball getting set after the first play going into the second. Early in a game this isn’t about catching the defense substituting or off guard it is about setting a rhythm for the offense. If it wasn’t for the third play no doubt this rhythm would continue.
Tanner’s first interception. From the outside it looks like he just stared down Pauling and Latu walked right in front of the ball. Looks can be deceiving…
Full analysis of Drive #1
Drive #2
Braedyn Locke enters at QB and there is a shift in focus for this drive. Where both of Mordecai’s passing attempt came off of drop back passes, Locke had a series filled with RPOs and presnap reads on package plays that helped manufacture a nice scoring drive. Were the plays that Locke ran destined to be a part of Mordecai’s first drive that was cut short by a turnover…possibly? But with the 2nd team you tend to get more basic, less thinking and more reacting style of plays. This drive was highlighted by a nice quick throw to Quincy Burroughs off of a presnap read on an inside zone, followed up by a nice ball off of playaction up the field to Eschenbach which set up the TD throw to Rucci.
Full analysis of Drive #2
Drive #3
The first drive with the 3rd team offense and it was about as exciting as you would have expected this far down the depth chart. The drive focused on the run game with a ton of split flow inside run featuring Zach Gloudeman at RB. We had a nice pass from Howe on a Curl/flat combination, but he had to air mail his second attempt as late pressure and slow eyes ended the drive.
Full analysis of Drive #3
Drive #4
Tanner Mordecai and the 1st team offense returns with a similar result as the drive ends on another interception. But prior to that Tanner showed some nice poise and pocket awareness hitting a couple crossers for nice gains (albeit one via a penalty). Nowakowski looked a little lost in space but that is to be expected from a former fullback.
Drive #4 full analysis