Mark Richt’s Run Game Playbook in 2017

Paranos

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This was an excellent read.

Link to full article & play diagram video clips
Possible Additions to Mark Richt?s Run Game Playbook in 2017 - State of The U

Possible Additions to Mark Richt’s Run Game Playbook in 2017

Mark Richt has more tricks up his sleeve than we saw in 2016. 2016 was vanilla. The entire season felt like a spring game or fall camp scrimmage. While the Hurricanes were learning the fundamentals and basic reads the playbook stayed stale. But at UGA Coach Richt ran a varied scheme mixing shotgun and under center running game and short passes that will bring Miami back to the future.

You’ll see your beloved “pro style” but with a spice of modernization. Coach Richt took the offense as far as he felt comfortable with. The Offensive Line was behind the 8-ball having been unprepared by the prior staff and Coach Searles did what he could in a short amount of time. 2017 will bring new wrinkles, both because of having a more mobile and agile Quarterback to run them and an offensive line with better coaching and more seasoning.

Mark Walton needs the ball and he needs it in a varied offense. If the run game becomes too predictable the defenders can scream to the ball and Walton will keep running for 4.5 yards a carry. I doubt Coach Brown wants that. Getting Walton up around 6/carry is the key and he’s more than capable physically to do so.

Which lineman would pull best? The staff has to use the spring and summer to figure this out. If you want to pull the center use Gaynor- he has a ton of experience pulling, just check his Hudl film. At guard you need someone agile, so a big body won’t be the guy (Donaldson). I see Donaldson being the base blocker that ensures the front-side dominating his gap.

Pin/Pull

On pin/pull you’re looking to down block an End or Tackle and pull your uncovered guard or tackle. Take a look at the screenshot I stole borrowed from a google images search. The LT is going to down block the 3-tech, the LG is going to skip pull and come around the TE who is going to reach block the DE and attempt to turn him or cut him off from the edge. Pin/Pull is a for of outside zone scheme the Colts loved with our boy Edgerrin James back in the early 2000’s.


Above- a toss version of pin/pull
Above: Toss pin/pull
Above: Stretch pin/pull
Counter

Cam and I were talking topics and one we both jumped out at was the lack of misdirection in the offense. Why would a coach struggle to install a ton of misdirection early on? Possibly a lack of trust in the O-Line to take on the right man, and to “stay” or not pull when there’s a defender in your inside gap (gap towards the play). Again, a heavy focus on basics and getting right what you need to get right. With Linder getting blown off the ball or KC being victim to a weekly false start- basics are key.

As you can see below, Coach Richt had a nice counter using an H-Back/TE and guard at UGA.


Buck Sweep

If you played high school or youth football you probably know what Buck Sweep is. Buck is a classic in the Wing-T, and you’ll see it in the Auburn playbook quite a bit. Coach Richt ran it back at UGA in 2015 with Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Traditionally the OC would draw this up to pull both guards. However, in the UGA version, Coach Richt actually pulls the PSG (play side guard) and Center.

Outside Zone

Outside Zone is a cousin of pin/pull which is a cousin of buck sweep. Here, Coach Richt is using a fan-block method which is to drive the DL to the sideline so the RB can cut underneath the OL’s ***. The OL purposefully turn their back side to be parallel with the LOS (line of scrimmage). The RB attacks the OG’s outside butt cheek and cuts back underneath where he finds space. Terrell Davis made the Hall of Fame on this in the NFL with the Broncos. Below, Chubb and Michel run it quite well.

I’ve borrowed this image as well. It’s an Oregon Ducks (hey, Coach Mark Helfrich was in the building this spring) outside zone run using fan blocking.
 
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Just curious how he expects us to be more complex with a first year QB

That's the variable that all these "Rick was holding back" goofballs have no answer for.

The more I think about it, and I'm kind of arguing with myself here, the article IS only referring to the run game.

And honestly, it'll need to be more complex with a first year QB.


If opposing defenses can tee off on Walton, we're in deep doodoo.
 
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If the article is an indication of what the run game will look like this year, it is a step in the right direction of protecting a first year QB. I'm not an X's and O's type of guy compared to some on this board; for those that are, can all of the stuff that is mentioned in this article take place in an RPO scheme? Thanks in advance.
 
My money is on Evan Shireff starting with Malik Rosier as the back up. Coach is waiting on Perry to arrive give him a shot over the summer to show what he can, in order to prevent the other from transferring. Shireff is smart game manager with the ability to break a 20yd run.

Link to article
What is a Mark Richt Quarterback? - State of The U
 
Clicking on the link to the original article is well worth it. Video clips illustrate the comments on X's and O's. Great stuff.

What's clear is that this kind of run game puts a premium on agile Olinemen who work together closely as a unit. Pulling your Guards, Tackles and Center is a central part of this scheme. Can our guys perform in this way?

My guess:

Linder: yes, he can pull. His weakness is against a strong DT who dominates him. See, e.g., WSU bowl game.
Gautier: not sure. How agile is he?
Darling: no. He's better straight ahead.
Donaldson: yes. Despite his great size, this man can move.
Gaynor. Yes, he's an experienced pulling guard. Guy is the goods.

OTS
McDermott: not sure. He's pretty large.
St. Louis: also not sure. He looks athletic but hasn't been totally consistent
Hillery: looks very agile
Herbert: could be the star of the OL. Our future LT who can run.
Dykstra: yes. His current issue is strength/power rather than speed. Likely needs a year or more of physical development.

My guess: Donaldson will start for sure as we've all assumed. But, I'm looking for Gaynor and Herbert to see early action if this revised running game scheme becomes our model.
 
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I hope Richt is more creative with playcalling this year.

With that being said, every week last year people were saying Richt was a week away from opening the playbook. So I'm not gambling on it happening this year.
 
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Just curious how he expects us to be more complex with a first year QB

The article focuses on variations in the running game Richt couldn't use last season for a myriad of reasons. This is the 2nd season of S&C/MAT drills under Richt and players have more familiarity with the system as well; not to mention the infusion of talent/depth (5 new linemen) curated by the new staff. The old staff's o-linemen simply weren't ready in season 1 under Richt to do all the things he wants to do.

You should read the article before you ask how a first year QB can manage it, because you and everyone else would see that next season's starter should benefit from a better running game and hopefully better pass-protection as well. At the very least a better running game means better down/distance and not having to rely on the QB as much, especially with our defense.

In truth the route trees last season were rather simple and we were all waiting for something that inevitably didn't come because we couldn't master the fundamentals of blocking.

It's the most basic you can get in football. Help me understand what you're missing..
 
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Just curious how he expects us to be more complex with a first year QB

That's the variable that all these "Rick was holding back" goofballs have no answer for.

The more I think about it, and I'm kind of arguing with myself here, the article IS only referring to the run game.

And honestly, it'll need to be more complex with a first year QB.


If opposing defenses can tee off on Walton, we're in deep doodoo.

Well it'll probably be adding the QB being able to run with the ball as the third option. Giving a QB the option to run with it himself(I'm sure Kaaya didn't have that option per say due to obvious reasons) will technically make it more complicated because it adds the QB having to read the DE.
 
Clicking on the link to the original article is well worth it. Video clips illustrate the comments on X's and O's. Great stuff.

What's clear is that this kind of run game puts a premium on agile Olinemen who work together closely as a unit. Pulling your Guards, Tackles and Center is a central part of this scheme. Can our guys perform in this way?

My guess:

Linder: yes, he can pull. His weakness is against a strong DT who dominates him. See, e.g., WSU bowl game.
Gautier: not sure. How agile is he?
Darling: no. He's better straight ahead.
Donaldson: yes. Despite his great size, this man can move.
Gaynor. Yes, he's an experienced pulling guard. Guy is the goods.

OTS
McDermott: not sure. He's pretty large.
St. Louis: also not sure. He looks athletic but hasn't been totally consistent
Hillery: looks very agile
Herbert: could be the star of the OL. Our future LT who can run.
Dykstra: yes. His current issue is strength/power rather than speed. Likely needs a year or more of physical development.

My guess: Donaldson will start for sure as we've all assumed. But, I'm looking for Gaynor and Herbert to see early action if this revised running game scheme becomes our model.

Yea Linder played well at Left Guard as a youngster. Really thought he would progress from that. Donaldson is the worst linemen I've seen in some time. Kid got beat multiple times per game at LT smh. The coaches pretty much said he trash and they're waiting for Linder and Odogwu to get healthy n the fresh meat to arrive to find the best 5.
 
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Clicking on the link to the original article is well worth it. Video clips illustrate the comments on X's and O's. Great stuff.

What's clear is that this kind of run game puts a premium on agile Olinemen who work together closely as a unit. Pulling your Guards, Tackles and Center is a central part of this scheme. Can our guys perform in this way?

My guess:

Linder: yes, he can pull. His weakness is against a strong DT who dominates him. See, e.g., WSU bowl game.
Gautier: not sure. How agile is he?
Darling: no. He's better straight ahead.
Donaldson: yes. Despite his great size, this man can move.
Gaynor. Yes, he's an experienced pulling guard. Guy is the goods.

OTS
McDermott: not sure. He's pretty large.
St. Louis: also not sure. He looks athletic but hasn't been totally consistent
Hillery: looks very agile
Herbert: could be the star of the OL. Our future LT who can run.
Dykstra: yes. His current issue is strength/power rather than speed. Likely needs a year or more of physical development.

My guess: Donaldson will start for sure as we've all assumed. But, I'm looking for Gaynor and Herbert to see early action if this revised running game scheme becomes our model.

Yea Linder played well at Left Guard as a youngster. Really thought he would progress from that. Donaldson is the worst linemen I've seen in some time. Kid got beat multiple times per game at LT smh. The coaches pretty much said he trash and they're waiting for Linder and Odogwu to get healthy n the fresh meat to arrive to find the best 5.

Would you like to change that statement?
 
Clicking on the link to the original article is well worth it. Video clips illustrate the comments on X's and O's. Great stuff.

What's clear is that this kind of run game puts a premium on agile Olinemen who work together closely as a unit. Pulling your Guards, Tackles and Center is a central part of this scheme. Can our guys perform in this way?

My guess:

Linder: yes, he can pull. His weakness is against a strong DT who dominates him. See, e.g., WSU bowl game.
Gautier: not sure. How agile is he?
Darling: no. He's better straight ahead.
Donaldson: yes. Despite his great size, this man can move.
Gaynor. Yes, he's an experienced pulling guard. Guy is the goods.

OTS
McDermott: not sure. He's pretty large.
St. Louis: also not sure. He looks athletic but hasn't been totally consistent
Hillery: looks very agile
Herbert: could be the star of the OL. Our future LT who can run.
Dykstra: yes. His current issue is strength/power rather than speed. Likely needs a year or more of physical development.

My guess: Donaldson will start for sure as we've all assumed. But, I'm looking for Gaynor and Herbert to see early action if this revised running game scheme becomes our model.

Yea Linder played well at Left Guard as a youngster. Really thought he would progress from that. Donaldson is the worst linemen I've seen in some time. Kid got beat multiple times per game at LT smh. The coaches pretty much said he trash and they're waiting for Linder and Odogwu to get healthy n the fresh meat to arrive to find the best 5.

He's not LT, did you see him in the UA game? We all knew this kid isn't an LT after that, doesn't mean he's trash especially when he was getting first team snaps all spring.
 
With a QB with just a bit of mobility, I can see us burning someone a couple times with that buck sweep - but then maybe the next time, the QB keeps and goes counter - and with a more open field, can run or throw.
 
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Gotta believe King must have meant Darling rather than Donaldson
 
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Just curious how he expects us to be more complex with a first year QB

That's the variable that all these "Rick was holding back" goofballs have no answer for.

The article was about adding variation to the run game. It also stated that the complexity involved the OL, not the QB. Yes, a first year QB can easily hand off the football. The staff believes they have better OL talent that is more fundamentally sound now and can execute the more complex run schemes mentioned in the article.
 
Clicking on the link to the original article is well worth it. Video clips illustrate the comments on X's and O's. Great stuff.

What's clear is that this kind of run game puts a premium on agile Olinemen who work together closely as a unit. Pulling your Guards, Tackles and Center is a central part of this scheme. Can our guys perform in this way?

My guess:

Linder: yes, he can pull. His weakness is against a strong DT who dominates him. See, e.g., WSU bowl game.
Gautier: not sure. How agile is he?
Darling: no. He's better straight ahead.
Donaldson: yes. Despite his great size, this man can move.
Gaynor. Yes, he's an experienced pulling guard. Guy is the goods.

OTS
McDermott: not sure. He's pretty large.
St. Louis: also not sure. He looks athletic but hasn't been totally consistent
Hillery: looks very agile
Herbert: could be the star of the OL. Our future LT who can run.
Dykstra: yes. His current issue is strength/power rather than speed. Likely needs a year or more of physical development.

My guess: Donaldson will start for sure as we've all assumed. But, I'm looking for Gaynor and Herbert to see early action if this revised running game scheme becomes our model.

Yea Linder played well at Left Guard as a youngster. Really thought he would progress from that. Donaldson is the worst linemen I've seen in some time. Kid got beat multiple times per game at LT smh. The coaches pretty much said he trash and they're waiting for Linder and Odogwu to get healthy n the fresh meat to arrive to find the best 5.

Would you like to change that statement?

Oh Śhit!! My bad I was on one!! I meant to say Darling!!
 
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