Took a look last week at youtube footage of Fresno State Bulldogs in 2004 and 2005, check out the Fresno State vs USC 2005 and Fresno State vs Kansas State and Fresno State vs Washington in 2004. In the Kansas State game you will see a little bit of Logan Mankins, boy he was a beast he made one guy quit like a girl, funny stuff. Based on looking at the film tape Cignetti appears to utilize a fullback instead of H-back so that could be something new this year so look for draft interviews that involve fullback types, could make signing of Cory Harkey moot at this point, but will wait and see. In 2004 he appeared to run more two tight end formations for power running and a lot of play action passes. He likes to attack the middle of the field on downfield passing game with slants, posts, and seam routes. He loves to throw to the backs out of the back field so Tre Mason and crew will need to focus on their pass receiving skills even more, he likes to keep blocking TE in for pass blocking, it appears Cignetti likes to use his receivers and backs as pass targets, plus a lot of screen action. He also likes to use three wide receiver formations and might even incorporate some four wide receiver formations. I could see a three wide receiver formation of Britt, Quick, and Bailey with Tavon in the back field with Tavon not staying to block but to release out of back field for reception, I could see Cignetti using Tavon much like Philly uses Sproles and New England uses Vereen. We need to get Tavon out in space where he can do some damage. I would look for us to get a better pass blocking TE than Lance Kendricks because again Cignetti appears to like using in-line TE's to pass block instead using his backs.
Based on what others have posted before Cignetti sounds like he will utilize our best talent and create miss-matches for the defense, I think he will have a plan for Tavon Austin to get him out in space. Based Wikipedia Cignetti's offenses have ranked in the top tier most seasons he was OC with a 30+ point per game average. Noticed on the Fresno vs Washington tape that Cignetti called plays from the booth so not sure he will do that with the Rams, also you will notice that he gets amped on some of the play calls and has high fives for all those around him, he appears to like to take it to the defense and win his match ups, have to admit I am intrigued by what this guy could do for our offense.
Cignetti had Logan Mankins in 2004 and his OL's appeared to be big and physical, I sure hope he presses Snead/Fisher to get him a road grading and good pass blocking LG in FA/Draft, I think we can have a serviceable Center in either Barnes/Jones/Rhaney, and resign Barksdale. I would love to get Scherff at #10 and plug him next to Robinson and man you could probably run a freight truck through the left side of our line with the hole being so big.
