The Cougar Offense, or lack thereof

Editor's Note: One of the many awesome things about SB Nation is that whenever one of you puts together an especially spectacular FanPost, we have the option of "promoting" it to the front page. This is one such post. Enjoy. -- Nuss

Much has been noted about the struggles of the Cougar offense, and the play of Taylor Rochestie specifically. Being the mentally disturbed Cougar fan that I am, I spend far too many ours breaking down film on this team that I love so much, and I'm finding trends that bother me, and answers to questions that create more questions to be answered. So, let's get right down too it:

News Flash - Taylor Rochestie is struggling

I know that is nothing new to this community, and I believe that Nuss is working on something to discuss about that, so I will not dive to heavily into it on this post. cfred and I have been discussing what exactly is wrong with Rochesties game right now, and while this team needs him to be effective, scoring points, and taking shots, what they need from him more is to help create and rise level of his teammates play.

Now, taking "quality" shots leads to scoring and hence makes him more effective. But taking a large "quantity" of shots because he is forcing the issue leads to 2-11 shooting, not scoring points, and ineffectiveness. Again, since Nuss is working on a break down of this topic, I will leave this one alone for now, but let's take a look at the bigger picture.

The Offensive System

I'm wondering how much of this problem has to do with the system itself. The Cougs move the ball around a lot and once they are in their half court set, depending on what position Daven Harmeling is playing, they motion with 3 or 4 men on the perimeter. Lots of ball movement for sure, but is any of it with the intention of getting a quality shot? Much is being done in terms of movement, but it doesn't appear that there is much going on off the ball, or support for the ball handler, that creates a quality shot. They just keep the ball moving until the defense breaks down and THEN they look for the opportunity.

There is a big difference between that and creating an opportunity. I guess I just got used to seeing Derrick Low come off of screens with the intention of a catch-n-shoot shot opportunity, or Kyle Weaver forcing the defense into making a bad decision rather then waiting for them to fall asleep.

I guess the point is this: As I see it right now, this offensive system is not doing anything to create any perimeter offense at all. Defenses have bracketed Aron Baynes in the post rendering his game ineffective to the offense, and our guards robotically rotate around the perimeter waiting for someone to do something. Eventually that leads Rochestie to attacking the basket against a packed lane, and heaving up a "layup" from about 8-14" from the basket (where I come from this is called a floater or runner and unless you name was Gary Payton you were kicked out of the gym for attempting that shot. Nuss-I'm sure you can here the echo of coach Ottmar as you read this).

This team needs to incorporate the creation of quality shot opportunities from the perimeter players in order to be successful. Right now, all I'm seeing is movement for the sake of movement.

The Personnel

As stated above, this team does not have the same personnel profile as last year's team. In the current guard rotatioin (Rochestie, Klay Thompson, Nik Koprivica, Harmeling (who is a perimeter offensive player)) players with the skill set of Low and Weaver don't exist. Koprivica and Harmeling can shoot, but only from a stationary position, that means that someone else needs to create their opportunity by drawing their defender. This should be the role of Rochestie and Baynes.

I don't think Thompson has the foot speed (yet) to play the role that Low did. But, I think Rochestie does and I remember over the past two years watching Low bring the ball up court and then giving up the ball in the half-court offense to run around his off the ball screens and get open looks. I think Rochestie can fit into this role, but not until he knocks the dust off the net a little bit.

Help in this area may be closer than we think in the form of Micheal Harthun, but we don't really know much of anything about him yet, in terms of real game experience against a legit opponent. Needless to say, with this element lacking in the offense Harthun's potential intrigues me.

This team also missed the aggressiveness that Weaver had in going to the basket. I think Marcus Capers can give us what Weaver did as a penentrator, but it looks like Coach has him on a leash. Remember when Weaver was a freshman? He couldn't shoot to save his life (kinda what Capers is showing us right now). But he could penetrate and cause the defense to break down, and he could actually get to the rim, sometimes convert and/or get freethrows.

I think it's time Coach Bennett opened up the depth chart a bit and started using this freshman class more. I know these guys don't have the seasoning that the others do, and I'm not calling for Coach to bench the upperclassmen, but these younguns bring something to the table that the vets don't posess. Fact is, this upperclass group is losing games against good teams. I love Harmeling, and I stand by Koprivica when others don't, but the fact of the matter is they are statues. Because of that, this offense struggles when the are both on the floor at the same time. Is that to say that they can't help this team? No, they are very important to the team's success. Is that to say their minutes need to be cut? No, but something needs to change.

Looking Forward

It has become clear what the Cougs are doing (offensively) right now is not working against good teams. With the cupcakes almost all gobbled up now, aside from two games with Oregon St. this team will have it's hands full the rest of the way.

This team needs to find a way to get quality shots against quality defenses, and as much as it pains me to say this; Rochestie is not giving them the best opportunity to win right now. As I've said all year long; Rochestie is the key to this offense and it will come in ways that don't show up in the stats. He is the fuel that runs the engine and he has to be sharp and precise because Koprivica, Harmeling, and Baynes are not good enough at creating their own shot.

I think this team needs to see more of Capers off the bench, with a bit of freedom to see what he can do. I think  this team needs to see Harthun before it sees Lodwick off the bench, because Harthun might be the type of shooter that is missing in this offense. I know those are all question marks but one thing that isn't is this; if this team enters Pac-10 play with the same game plan they have used over the past five games, they will be in some serious trouble.

Baylor was the game that the Cougs needed to win for me to feel comfortable heading into conference play. Baylor is way good, better than I thought coming into the season but I noticed it the first time I saw them on TV. Gonzaga exposed every single weakness on this Cougar team the other night, and by every weakness I mean everything from skill, to athleticism, to mentality, to schemes. The Cougs got caught with their pants down in an uncomfortable situation.

The team has continually improved over the course of the non-conference season, right up until half time the other night. That continual improvement is great, but I am one who believes that there also needs to be some "changes" in order to servive the Pac-10. That is, if making the Tournament again is the goal for this season.