Interesting Note on the Run Game (and Praise for Zach Carpenter)

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If you remove Martinez’s 3 TDs he didn’t have any.

If you remove Lyle's record breaking (yes, that is a new school record) 91 yard run, he doesn't have any and the record stands at 90 yards.

If you remove Brown’s 76 yard TD, he didn’t have any either and Cam would’ve only thrown 3 TDs.

If you remove my uncle's balls, (s)he becomes my aunt.

All of these things happened. And the best part? They ******* count too! The score reflects that fact.

This is such a dumb argument in this situation. It’s one thing if we won the game 28-27 with Lyle's TD saving us. It's a whole other argument when we're blowing the doors off of teams. We're not a run heavy/run only team like Army or B1G team. We've shown just last year that if we NEED to run the ball (Clemson) we can and will.

The best part about this? We haven't needed to because we have the best QB in college football slangin that ****. Killa Cam is dealing.

So lock that BS up and save it until you need it.
caitlyn jenner GIF by TMZ
 
My takeaway so far is this guy makes all the calls and plays above his athleticism. He plays thru the whistle and finishes defenders once he gets them moving. Much needed transfer after Lee went to the bigs.
 
I've felt we haven't been as effective in the run game as we were expected to be, so I looked at the Miami running plays against USF to get a sense of Miami's run game output. These bullets might be ticky-tacky BS with dumb caveats made up by me (I'll own that) and don't account for Miami’s pass game being on fire, USF defensive scheme, etc., just looking at our runs in the USF game.
  • Miami had 29 rushes for 188 yards (technically 28 rushes for 189 yards without the knee at the end of the 2nd quarter), averaging 6.48 yards per run.
  • Miami RBs rushed 24 times for 145 yards, averaging 6.04 yards per run.
  • Excluding Lyle's 91-yard run, Miami RBs rushed 23 times for 54 yards, which is just 2.35 yards per run.
  • The longest non-QB run in the first three quarters was 4 yards. We didn’t exceed that until the mid-4th quarter when Martinez broke a 7-yard run.
  • Ward was productive in the 1st half with runs of 18, 9, 2, and 8 yards.
  • After two negative runs in the 1st quarter, we had 24 consecutive rushes with positive yardage (excluding the knee), all of which occurred after 6:29 in the 1st.
Miami could certainly be more effective, but to me, it isn't as bad as some could make it out to be and we should take what the defense is giving us. We gotta continue to rely on Cam and let him operate the offense effectively. The three-for-three goal line runs that resulted in TDs is everything we should want to be as a power run team. I also think of the 1 or 2 passes to Martinez at the LoS that resulted in massive yardage gains and think those kinds of plays are an extension of the running game.

Note: I pulled this info from ESPN’s Play-by-Play (not rewatching the plays), so there may be some errors. Feel free to correct any mistakes.
 
Pretty cool chart. There are only about 5 teams in the entire country who have a lower rushes over expectation rate. That’s a good thing!! Throwing the football is much more efficient, especially when you’re really good at it. Hey, look at that. Coaching!

Also, i think this speaks to some of what Dawson was saying. Of all the teams who are really even close to us in pass rate over expectation, only 3 run play action/RPO at a lower rate. Meaning, there is a lot more creativity that can come in the pass game. This is pretty much all Cam. We’re not running much RPO or play action at all. Yet.

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Have you read any of the analysis. Mario used to force the run with 7 or 8 in the box and we were upset, rightly so. Now you want whine about taking what they are giving with an elite Qb. Really?? Did you see the holes open up 3 times on the goalline when they knew we were running? Heck CAM even told them where we were going on one play. Wake up.
 
if you remove lyle's 91 yard run garbage time run we averaged 2 yards per carry... they may not be letting people in backfield for TFLs but they aren't opening holes either.

if you read Mario's post game USF comments it seems teams gear up to stop the run by stuffing the box. He alluded to possibly testing the perimeter of the defense when they do that. Lyle's big run was when he bounced it outside when a defensive player shot through the gap he was supposed to run to. It was a great instinctive move by Lyle to avoid the defender that was shooting the gap.
 
we also dont get holding called on us in the run game. there's a miniscule chance of a negative - i.e. drive killing - play happening when we run the ball. worst case the running back falls foward at the line of scrimmage and we pick up 2-3 yards, which is fine with this passing offense.

i contend most of our issues in the run game have come from 8/84 coming in motion and missing their lead blocks. if we get that sorted...oh boy. we ran the 2TE sets some with 88 blocking in second half and pushed their **** in.
 
I think the opponents we've faced so far were thinking of the Wazzou Ward who sometimes tried too hard and at times got careless taking care of the ball. They apparently never factored the much better OLine he would have w/ us and the incredible skill position players he would have access to.

Will be interesting to see going forward which opponents get away from stacking the box.
 
Have you read any of the analysis. Mario used to force the run with 7 or 8 in the box and we were upset, rightly so. Now you want whine about taking what they are giving with an elite Qb. Really?? Did you see the holes open up 3 times on the goalline when they knew we were running? Heck CAM even told them where we were going on one play. Wake up.
It's not that they aren't running, it's the product when they do run.
 
I've felt we haven't been as effective in the run game as we were expected to be, so I looked at the Miami running plays against USF to get a sense of Miami's run game output. These bullets might be ticky-tacky BS with dumb caveats made up by me (I'll own that) and don't account for Miami’s pass game being on fire, USF defensive scheme, etc., just looking at our runs in the USF game.
  • Miami had 29 rushes for 188 yards (technically 28 rushes for 189 yards without the knee at the end of the 2nd quarter), averaging 6.48 yards per run.
  • Miami RBs rushed 24 times for 145 yards, averaging 6.04 yards per run.
  • Excluding Lyle's 91-yard run, Miami RBs rushed 23 times for 54 yards, which is just 2.35 yards per run.
  • The longest non-QB run in the first three quarters was 4 yards. We didn’t exceed that until the mid-4th quarter when Martinez broke a 7-yard run.
  • Ward was productive in the 1st half with runs of 18, 9, 2, and 8 yards.
  • After two negative runs in the 1st quarter, we had 24 consecutive rushes with positive yardage (excluding the knee), all of which occurred after 6:29 in the 1st.
Miami could certainly be more effective, but to me, it isn't as bad as some could make it out to be and we should take what the defense is giving us. We gotta continue to rely on Cam and let him operate the offense effectively. The three-for-three goal line runs that resulted in TDs is everything we should want to be as a power run team. I also think of the 1 or 2 passes to Martinez at the LoS that resulted in massive yardage gains and think those kinds of plays are an extension of the running game.

Note: I pulled this info from ESPN’s Play-by-Play (not rewatching the plays), so there may be some errors. Feel free to correct any mistakes.
So, only Miami doesn't get QB's rushing stats added in? Good to know.
 
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I don’t think its as simple as they are stacking the box…we are basically telling them when we’re gonna run it lol

This what I meant last year about marrying the pass game and run game together
 
we also dont get holding called on us in the run game. there's a miniscule chance of a negative - i.e. drive killing - play happening when we run the ball. worst case the running back falls foward at the line of scrimmage and we pick up 2-3 yards, which is fine with this passing offense.

i contend most of our issues in the run game have come from 8/84 coming in motion and missing their lead blocks. if we get that sorted...oh boy. we ran the 2TE sets some with 88 blocking in second half and pushed their **** in.
Oline tend to get called for a lot more holding calls with schemes like the outside zone as the Oline have to move and sometimes reach to make their blocks, and then too often grab if the RB cuts behind their block.

Inside zone running should have a lot fewer holding penalties. Which goes to your point that not having negative plays or penalties maybe the most important thing.
 
I think the opponents we've faced so far were thinking of the Wazzou Ward who sometimes tried too hard and at times got careless taking care of the ball. They apparently never factored the much better OLine he would have w/ us and the incredible skill position players he would have access to.

Will be interesting to see going forward which opponents get away from stacking the box.
The beauty of the running QB, RPO's, and the Air Raid- the opponent should always be wrong.
I think the jimmy/joe factor will up the intensity

SP+ defense:
Florida 62nd
Ball State 112th
USF 116th
Va Tech 37th
Cal 35th
L'ville 18th
 
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