Here’s what Richt had to say about the 10-second substitution rule yesterday.
“I support the officials being in position to call the game. I think you can go so fast that an official is out of position. There ought to be something in there to help the officials be in position to call the game, for their safety and for the integrity of the game, so to speak. I think that’s important. I think that not many people snap the ball faster than the 10-second timing that we’re talking about. If everybody snapped the ball right at 10 seconds, they’re flying and they’re going fast. I don’t know how much it would even affect us, but do I think that the rule should change? I don’t think the rule should change. Should it be modified somewhat if it needs to be to help the officials get in the right spots? I’d say yes. I think we’re in an off-year for rules changing, and the only way a rule can change is if it has a player safety issue involved in it. I think it’s more of a style issue than a safety issue. That’s what I think.”
Some of that is probably colored by Richt’s own experience trying to import the no-huddle offense into the SEC a decade ago. But some of that is probably colored by the pace at which Georgia runs its offense now.
Here’s a rundown of the entire SEC in the last two seasons in terms of offensive snaps per game:
2013
1. Ole Miss: 79.8
2. Missouri: 75.5
3. Georgia: 74.6
4. Mississippi State: 74.2
5. Auburn: 73.8
6. Texas A&M: 73.8
7. South Carolina: 72.5
8. Vanderbilt: 70.8
9. Florida: 68.9
10. LSU: 67.7
11. Tennessee: 67.7
12. Kentucky: 66.8
13. Alabama: 65.9
14. Arkansas: 64.7
Given that Mason likes running the hurry up, I don’t see that ranking dropping much in 2014.
Get The Picture 
. . . especially if our D and ST stop gift-wrapping possessions and field position to opposing offenses.
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And only coincidence that Arkansas and Bama are at the bottom of the list.
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http://www.footballscoop.com/news/3841-ellis-johnson-explains-why-hurry-up-offenses-are-deteriorating-the-game
i agree more with coach johnson than coach richt here.
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I’m just playing devil’s advocate here, but if the offense has enough time to get its signal in, why doesn’t the defense? If the offense doesn’t substitute, why should the defense be allowed to?
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65-50. 59-45. 62-51. These are defenses putting players into the NFL. At some point, you realize you are watching one side of the ball play at a significant disadvantage. And I don’t find that entertaining. But I understand those who do.
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the defense has to be reactionary based on the way the offense lines up, down and distance, etc.
the offense knows what’s going on every play. the defense doesn’t. every player on offense isn’t involved in every play, and play accordingly. the defense doesn’t have that luxury. they have to play every play as if anybody could have the ball on any given play. it’s a different level of exertion without question. simply by lining up (and getting the play call from the sideline), prevents substitution by the defense. as asef says below, the defense is at a significant disadvantage.
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Your point about the defense having to play harder is true but that is true in all sports, except maybe baseball were nobody plays too hard.. The defense must play harder in soccer, rugby, basketball etc. the advantage is as you said, the offense knows what they are going to do the defense is only guessing. You can’t change that with rules. The only way a defense can stop an up tempo is by being aggressive enough to alter the offense’s play. DB’s jam the WRs, front 7 tackle everybody that could get the ball. You stop the up tempo by messing it up. If you lay back and wait you concede too many yards and they will wear you out.
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Nice post, and while I agree that defenses will always have to react, one place they could easily level this is by letting the D sub anytime. This opens a small can of worms regarding how long between snaps, bit I don’t think offense should necessarily dictae all subbing, though much subbing is a reaction tobthe offense, of course.
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I’d be interested to know if Johnson’s still singing that same line now that he’s at Auburn. Perhaps Gus finally taught him the verbal package he could never develop at SC.
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I am in favor of Hockey style subbing. If the player is running off the field let them get off without a penalty, as long as the player does not directly impact the play.
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This is my view also. This would improve the game while not changing it.
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When was the last time you watched an NBA game? I haven’t paid any attention to it in 20 years. I find it boring.
I’m afraid that with all the HUNH teams and now the 4 team (soon to be 8 team) playoffs that I will soon be bored with college football.
Yes, I likened the HUNH to today’s NBA. Tell me you don’t see some similarities.
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Tell me that you won’t be upset if the Dawgs are pushed to fifth because another weaker team from the Delany Conference objects to too many SEC teams included in the four, especially since the teams may have the same record. It could easily evolve around the verbal skinning of SEC competition without having to compete with strong teams in his own conference. It’s becomes more mox nix between the 8th and 9th choice.
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I see zero similarities to the NBA. ZERO.
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Wonder what we would hear if Grantham remained on staff? He unsuccessfully fought the Hurry-up in game after game by continual substitution such that the players lost their place on the page. He never conquered the communication scheme necessary to give his players success; he only got them on the field.
Not sure that Pruitt will try to compete in that manner, but instead he just trains them to cover ground fast. If they lose it won’t be because he confused them further. We will see what that adds up to beginning in our first game.
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The defense should have an opportunity to substitute personnel packages for specific situations…but only after witnessing the offense make substitutions (as is the rule now) or committing in advance…with a signal to the an official that they want to make a substitution as soon as the play clock is set. This would not be the 10 second rule as proposed, but sort of a conditional 10 second rule initiated by the defense. It really does not harm a HUNH offense since they still retain the advantage of adjusting their play call at the LOS after witnessing the D substitutions, and can snap the ball as soon as the official signals the D players are on the field “in position” but not necessarily wait for them to be set. Kind of a combination of basketball and hockey as noted above.
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I watched a high school coach on Youtube explain the difference between a “No Huddle” O and an “Up Tempo” O. The No Huddle is not necessarily up tempo. The no huddle usually involves the prairie dog look to the side lines for the call once the D is frozen by the O being at the line of scrimmage. He said the Up Tempo was a KISS offense because the QB controlled the play to a greater extent than the sidelines. If the QB can run it fast then the defense had better figure out how to stop it fast. It’s just a return to footballs Rugby roots. Very few things in sports are truly new, just recycled.
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That is kind of what Pruitt said in an IV with Buck Belue yesterday. Said the O made it simple by have a set of plays known in advance to run, or a single signal call of a play. He said the D had to keep it simple and have a single signal to set the D to keep up.
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This tells me that our offense has been good the last two years. Makes even more thankful our D staff has been made over.
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