Protecting the ball in the HUNH

Last night we posted a story from a recent interview with Chad Morris on the helping hand he gave alma mater Texas A&M in its attempt to rejuvenate its offense.

The Aggies' transformation the past two seasons has been nothing short of remarkable, and the example further excites Clemson fans who hope the transition to Morris' Hurry-Up, No-Huddle scheme creates a similar trajectory of offensive improvement in these parts.

While researching the story on Mike Sherman and his staff's cram session with Morris in the winter of 2009, I came across a recent Q&A with Sherman at the Big 12 Media Days.

The Aggies have shown demonstrable improvement the past two seasons, using a prolific offense to rise from four wins to six wins in 2009, then to nine wins and a trip to the Cotton Bowl last season. But Sherman knows they could've done even more had they just protected the football.

Last year, A&M finished 80th nationally in turnover margin. In 2009, they finished 68th. They have lost a total of 30 fumbles the past two seasons while tossing 23 interceptions.

"I think we have to be better controlling the football. Hang on to the football. Turnovers last year really cost us and put us in some bad positions, so hopefully we can correct that. If we do that, I think we have a good chance."

Turnovers hurt no matter what kind of offense you're running, but they can hurt more in this offense because they can take your offense off the field in a hurry and apply more stress on your defense. When the goal is 80 plays per game -- as it is in the offense Morris learned from Gus Malzahn seven years ago -- three-and-outs and turnovers are absolute killers.

Here's what Sherman had to say about QB Ryan Tannehill:

"We still gotta work on his decision-making, make it precise, because again the turnovers are going to be what I think defines us, in a positive or negative way."

Sense a theme here? This is precisely the same stuff Morris has been saying about first-year starter Tajh Boyd. All offensive coordinators want their quarterbacks to protect the football, but coordinators of this system are more anal about protecting the ball because they have to be.

Yet another reason to believe this season will hinge on Boyd and his ability/inability to protect the football by making the right decisions when big games hang in the balance.

But it's also up to the running backs and receivers to avoid fumbles. Hence Morris' charting of instances in which his players carry the ball loosely and put it in danger (Ball In Jeopardy).

It also helps to have a defense that can get off the field quickly by producing turnovers of its own. Tulsa finished last season second nationally in turnover margin in part because of just 19 turnovers by the offense (8 fumbles, 11 picks), but the Golden Hurricane's defense gained 24 interceptions and 12 fumbles, too.

LW