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An overlooked improvement

DMoney

DMoney

D-Moni
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2025 (on October 19th)

Rushing Yards Per Game- 86th (133.6 Yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry- 93rd (3.8 YPC)

2026

Rushing Yards Per Game- 34th (185.8 yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry- 19th (5.2 YPC)

The schedule has something to do with it, but I think the improvement in the run game is real. The OL is getting better, TE blocking has improved from last year and the Fletcher/Mallory combo is rolling.
 
DMoney said:
2025 (on October 19th)

Rushing Yards Per Game

86th (133.6 Yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry

93rd (3.8 YPC)

2026

Rushing Yards Per Game

34th (185.8 yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry

19th (5.2 YPC)

The schedule has something to do with it, but I think the improvement in the run game is real. The OL is getting better, TE blocking has improved from last year and the Fletcher/Mallory combo is rolling.
Click to expand...

I’m assuming Fletcher’s hand injury is no big deal?
 
DMoney said:
2025 (on October 19th)

Rushing Yards Per Game

86th (133.6 Yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry

93rd (3.8 YPC)

2026

Rushing Yards Per Game

34th (185.8 yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry

19th (5.2 YPC)

The schedule has something to do with it, but I think the improvement in the run game is real. The OL is getting better, TE blocking has improved from last year and the Fletcher/Mallory combo is rolling.
Click to expand...
Good point. Mallory vision, Mark being mark. His vision has really improved imo. Digging a layer deeper if might be interesting to see YPC left side vs right side. Would also be interesting to see our success rate / YPC on pulling with king Congdon.

Maybe we can get a heat map or something from one of the analytics gurus on here
 
DMoney said:
2025 (on October 19th)

Rushing Yards Per Game- 86th (133.6 Yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry- 93rd (3.8 YPC)

2026

Rushing Yards Per Game- 34th (185.8 yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry- 19th (5.2 YPC)

The schedule has something to do with it, but I think the improvement in the run game is real. The OL is getting better, TE blocking has improved from last year and the Fletcher/Mallory combo is rolling.
Click to expand...
 
We played a solid DL slate in UF, ND, FSU, and Louisville all before that date last season. Think the schedule has a little more than something small to do about it. Ha.

I just wonder why we aren’t getting into the pistol more. Mystery to me. I have some hope we continue to build into it like we suddenly did with the WR inserts into last year’s playoffs.
 
LuCane said:
We played a solid DL slate in UF, ND, FSU, and Louisville all before that date last season. Think the schedule has a little more than something small to do about it. Ha.

I just wonder why we aren’t getting into the pistol more. Mystery to me. I have some hope we continue to build into it like we suddenly did with the WR inserts into last year’s playoffs.
Click to expand...
We seem to have our centers practicing Guard as much as they do snapping.
 
Gocanes1990 said:
Fletcher to me is better than he was last year. Best out of pistol and 2 back. He’s banged up too. You want Fletcher in big boy games. Lyle coming in and running hard is huge
Click to expand...
Love Mark the person, like him as a player. He is too stiff and lacks vision, at times. It frustrates me, admittedly. Mallory adds a level to the run game that Fletcher doesn’t have.

Lyle’s coming out party is coming soon. Not sure what we are doing with Pringle. Kid is talented and can be a weapon.
 
I'm no Pringle apologist, but I find myself wondering why he isn't get a little more burn. I know all the talking points about blocking, and those are valid. However, is it deeper than that? Is he hurt, not engaged, or has he simply been passed up? I envisioned his speed being a backbreaker against a team like FSU. With Mark being a little banged up, maybe we see him more over the next two games.
 
LuCane said:
We played a solid DL slate in UF, ND, FSU, and Louisville all before that date last season. Think the schedule has a little more than something small to do about it. Ha.

I just wonder why we aren’t getting into the pistol more. Mystery to me. I have some hope we continue to build into it like we suddenly did with the WR inserts into last year’s playoffs.
Click to expand...
Include the designed runs for Beck that we had last year maybe becoming more of a thing with Mensah as the season wears on. I think that wrinkle would do us good as long as Mensah doesn't take any wild shots as a runner.
 
I also like to look at 20+ yard runs.

In 2025, we averaged 0.6 such runs per game. We only had 9 runs of 20+ yards in 15 FBS games.

In 2026, we have 6 already, in 5 games. 1.2 per game. Literally double.

We're not quite to that 2024 level, though. We had 21 in 12 games (1.75 per game). But we're trending where we need to be. The really good teams rip off close to 2 of these runs every single game.

When you have Mensah and Mali and this passing game, if you can rip off 20+ yard runs a couple times a week, you're borderline impossible to stop.

By the way, Javian Mallory is now at 6.07 yards per carry against FBS teams. I'm not envious of anyone who has to determine playing time for this backfield, we know what Fletcher is and how good he is in pass pro, and now you've got Mallory emerging as one of the best players on the team and Lyle looked like he was running really hard Saturday night. Even losing Marty and not even really deploying Pringle, this still looks like a very formidable RB group.

IMO we still have a lot to get to in the running game as well. Virtually no pistol yet to this point, and obviously we know that's in the playbook. Very little 2 back sets where we run wide. I wouldn't hate seeing 11 personnel, but put Lofton in the backfield in split backs and run wide zone with him leading the way. Can also get him into the flats and vertical. There's still so much Dawson can do that we haven't shown yet because of our versatility.
 
DMoney said:
2025 (on October 19th)

Rushing Yards Per Game- 86th (133.6 Yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry- 93rd (3.8 YPC)

2026

Rushing Yards Per Game- 34th (185.8 yards)

Rushing Yards Per Carry- 19th (5.2 YPC)

The schedule has something to do with it, but I think the improvement in the run game is real. The OL is getting better, TE blocking has improved from last year and the Fletcher/Mallory combo is rolling.
Click to expand...
28 points in regulation and I really dislike our pass blocking, especially on the right side of the line.

This is twice where Mensah looked rattled (Wake & FSU). This past week, just bad all the way around until Q4.

Are they really satisfied with that side of the line? It seems we are collapsing on that side forcing Mensah to his left and thus, struggling to throw against his body.

What has the re-watch or all 22 show?
 
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