The Clemson Insider

By William Qualkinbush.

Yesterday, we spent some time looking at a handful of trends from around the world of college football right now. These trends will impact the way the game is played and organized in 2014 and beyond. Today, we conclude this series with the second half of the list, beginning with the sixth item…

6. Mobile Quarterbacks

Remember the days of Woodrow Dantzler, Joe Hamilton, Charlie Ward, and Eric Crouch? The dual-threat quarterback used to be a luxury. Now it is largely seen as a necessity in a productive offensive system.

Just a few seasons ago, a quarterback with mobility was treated like a man with no rotator cuffs. Teams wanted a QB to throw the ball and a separate one to run it. Coaches called it a two-quarterback system.

Now, it seems like the phrase “pocket passer” is a slap in the face. Coordinators want guys that can move around, not so-called “statues” that have to sit in the pocket and be protected. (Side note: Notice how this trend coincides with the “nobody really has a good offensive line anymore” period in the game. Just a coincidence, I’m sure.)

Look at the top-rated offenses in the country. Unless it’s Texas Tech, Washington State, or another Air Raid system that will throw on third-and-one, chances are the quarterback is mobile enough to be featured in the running game somehow. Even at the Air Raid schools, the QBs have become more athletic over the years. It seems like you can’t play quarterback at a major school now without the ability to make a first down on a designed running play, which is a far cry from years past.

7. Targeting

If there was a worse rule in sports last year than the targeting rule, I missed it. The rule was poorly conceived, woefully interpreted, and incomprehensibly adhered to against the pleas of basic logic.

It’s hard to know where to begin criticizing this rule. Not all helmet-to-helmet hits are instigated by defenders, but I never saw a single offensive player flagged for it. Unless there aren’t any running backs suing the NFL for concussion-related issues (hint: there are) we should probably take a look at that.

We ejected players from the game for almost an entire season even after the reason they were ejected was found on the field to be bogus. Let that sink in for a second.

“Oops, we screwed up. Sorry about that, guys! There was nothing wrong with that play whatsoever.

“…What? Oh no, sorry, you still can’t play. Yes, I know you’re only out of the game because we screwed up, but you still can’t play.”

Our society is so advanced, yet we are such imbeciles sometimes. How did such an egregious rule even get out of committee? It really boggles the mind.

There are many other reasons why this is a dumb rule, of course, but in the interest of my blood pressure, it’s time to move on to something else.

8. Fight for Legitimacy

Here’s a joke for you: What do Boise State, Cincinnati, BYU, and UCF have in common?

Okay, it’s not a joke. It’s more of a statement of fact. All four of those schools have virtually zero chance of being involved in college football’s championship process due to conference affiliation.

The funny thing is, they weren’t any more likely to be a part in the past, but the BCS confused us by elevating five bowl games that were essentially just like the others and throwing one of these mid-major schools into the mix. It was a brilliant plan.

Now, these schools will have to fight tooth-and-nail to prove their respective worths in the greater landscape of college football. Non-conference scheduling will be key, and this year is a great chance to get off on the right foot. UCF plays Penn State in Ireland to start the year, and Cincinnati goes to Ohio State in mid-September.

You have to feel bad for these schools. Even though they really didn’t have much hope before, at least they could pretend.

9. Fair Catches

This isn’t a Clemson problem, but it feels like one. A couple of years ago, I recommended (somewhat tongue-in-cheek, somewhat seriously) the Tigers change Nuk Hopkins’ special teams abbreviation to FCS: fair catch specialist.

See, the KR (kick returner) and PR (punt returner) are dying out like the dodo. Nobody can return kicks now because a lot of middle schoolers can get touchbacks with the current rules. With the emphasis placed on offenses scoring points, all coaches need punt returners to do now is just catch the ball and run to the sideline. The risk of fumbling or muffing the kick is too great.

Special teams plays are among the most iconic in the game. Charles Woodson may not have won the Heisman as an FCS because his famous Heisman pose came after a punt return. Ohio State may not have scored in the 2007 national title game with an FCS because Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff for a score and the Buckeyes only scored once more.

It’s a tragedy what’s happening to the kicking game.

10. Scheduling Quirks

Athletic directors and coaches everywhere are trying desperately to figure out the formula for scheduling in this new world order. With the playoff system, the goal should probably be 11-1, however a team can get there. For some, the conference slate produces enough quality opponents that a good noncon contest is unnecessary. Others may need to schedule it up a notch.

At any rate, there appears to be a bell-shaped curve, and the goal is to reach the apex. Schedule lightly, and you might find yourself out of the loop with a disappointing loss and no way to make up the good will you just squandered. Schedule tough, and you might find yourself as the third-best team in the nation with a 9-3 record and a seat on the couch watching inferior teams duke it out.

It will be interesting to see the response after a year or two of this system. There’s no question the decision-makers will be watching and waiting to see what transpires.

We’ll be watching and waiting, too, and now we know exactly what to look for during the 2014 college football season.

God Bless!