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- Oct 21, 2011
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- 15,466
In the early part of the 2012 season, Kansas State's Bill Snyder did what any good coach would do: look at film and see how he could get the most output from the lowest risk. His team ran us over only having to throw the ball 11 times in that game.
Later on that season, Notre Dame's staff did the obvious: they copied what looked like a successful approach and applied it to their players' skill sets in a game against us:
51 rushes for 376 yards. An 8.1 average.
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We talked about how inexperienced our players were. Frankly, it's fair to note that guys like Corey King, Earl Moore and others were being bullied in our style and that game.
In 2013, we saw Wake Forest early in the season and their coaching staff moved around our defenders. They didn't have a great game, but they did have one of their better games (against us).
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We talked about how it doesn't matter what they did since we got stops and won the game. Fair enough.
Later on that season, Duke's staff did the obvious: they copied what looked like a successful approach from KState, Notre Dame and what Wake Forest had shown and applied it to their players' skill sets in a game against us:
52 rushes for 358 yards. 6.9 average.
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We're not there yet. Our Safeties are terrible. Our DTs are worthless. We'll be better with better talent. But, yes, we're worried a little.
In 2014, Nebraska's staff did the obvious: they copied what looked like a successful approach over the span of 2 previous years (KState, Notre Dame, etc.) and applied it to their players' skill sets in a game against us:
54 rushes for 343 yards. 6.4 average.
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We're still not there even now, but we're making progress. We had unnecessary penalties (what?). Our Safeties are terrible. Our DLine still isn't strong. Imagine what GTech will do to us! Well, here's the likely answer: GTech may not look great against us because they haven't shown the willingness to spread out the field and get numbers inside. They run different formations that fail to give them the same advantages some of these other teams have used.
Here's the point of all of this:
Whether we hold FSU's national championship team to a mere 4.4 yards/carry on 44 attempts like we did last year, or hold GaTech to a mere 227 yards rushing (relative to their style, that's pretty decent), the recipe to destroy us in the run game is out there. It's as simple as spreading us out and outnumbering us in the box. The teams willing to do that will apparently have eerily similar stats to that pattern you see above. Therefore, try not to look at results without looking at the context. Why something works versus Arkansas State is as important as the result. Ultimately, we need things to work in a way that will be sustainable in meaningful games.
Later on that season, Notre Dame's staff did the obvious: they copied what looked like a successful approach and applied it to their players' skill sets in a game against us:
51 rushes for 376 yards. An 8.1 average.
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We talked about how inexperienced our players were. Frankly, it's fair to note that guys like Corey King, Earl Moore and others were being bullied in our style and that game.
In 2013, we saw Wake Forest early in the season and their coaching staff moved around our defenders. They didn't have a great game, but they did have one of their better games (against us).
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We talked about how it doesn't matter what they did since we got stops and won the game. Fair enough.
Later on that season, Duke's staff did the obvious: they copied what looked like a successful approach from KState, Notre Dame and what Wake Forest had shown and applied it to their players' skill sets in a game against us:
52 rushes for 358 yards. 6.9 average.
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We're not there yet. Our Safeties are terrible. Our DTs are worthless. We'll be better with better talent. But, yes, we're worried a little.
In 2014, Nebraska's staff did the obvious: they copied what looked like a successful approach over the span of 2 previous years (KState, Notre Dame, etc.) and applied it to their players' skill sets in a game against us:
54 rushes for 343 yards. 6.4 average.
Some fans and Press Conference Responses: We're still not there even now, but we're making progress. We had unnecessary penalties (what?). Our Safeties are terrible. Our DLine still isn't strong. Imagine what GTech will do to us! Well, here's the likely answer: GTech may not look great against us because they haven't shown the willingness to spread out the field and get numbers inside. They run different formations that fail to give them the same advantages some of these other teams have used.
Here's the point of all of this:
Whether we hold FSU's national championship team to a mere 4.4 yards/carry on 44 attempts like we did last year, or hold GaTech to a mere 227 yards rushing (relative to their style, that's pretty decent), the recipe to destroy us in the run game is out there. It's as simple as spreading us out and outnumbering us in the box. The teams willing to do that will apparently have eerily similar stats to that pattern you see above. Therefore, try not to look at results without looking at the context. Why something works versus Arkansas State is as important as the result. Ultimately, we need things to work in a way that will be sustainable in meaningful games.
