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Running game and OL

BS85 said:
DMoney said:
Our running game is built to win real games against real opponents. We saw that last year in the playoffs and against Notre Dame.

There is a ton of room to improve. But philosophically, we need to get used to it because our coaches (rightfully) believe it is a system that wins big-boy football games
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Is the philosophy that they may get less average yards only running up the middle, but also way less negative plays (which could kill a drive)?

That's the only thing that kind of makes sense to me.
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Yup. And running inside wears defenses down more than running outside and Mario wants to impose his will on teams especially late in games
 
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BS85 said:
Is the philosophy that they may get less average yards only running up the middle, but also way less negative plays (which could kill a drive)?

That's the only thing that kind of makes sense to me.
Click to expand...
Last season that made a little more sense because Beck really needed to stay on schedule to be successful.

Mensah doesn't really need to do that but also last night there was no need to do anything special. Stanford loaded the box and dared us to throw so we did and since we were getting all we wanted through the air the urgency to establish the run game and lean on it as a means to matriculate the ball was de-emphasized.

FWIW both Brown and Mallory looked good it was only Fletch who really seemed to get bottled up and as Supa noted we didnt really bust out that pistol look that was so productive in the CFP.

Im gonna give the staff a pass here I just feel like they didnt have to worry so they kept the run game vanilla. Probably making the young o line put in work agaonst a clear disadvantage just to push them and create good teachable film
 
kyle_schick said:
We have a different middle 3 now.

They're not generating nearly as much push as the last 3 years guards/centers did.

I fear the reliance on developed recruits instead of seasoned portal additions might come back to bite us against serious competition. (At many other positions too)

Mallory, the slowest RB on the team, had the most success by running outside.
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We had 63 yards rushing last season v Louisville last season at home. I was posting about my concern with it when we were undefeated. Dawson got hot as L in one press conference when they pressed him on it.
 
I’ve never really been a fan of the run scheme but after the playoff run I had to eat some crow. However, I did see some national guy on Twitter mention something about our guards constantly lining up in a two point stance the whole game and how it wasn’t optimal in his opinion. I’m far from an expert but the lack of running game for decent parts of Mario’s tenure is concerning
 
I swear i'm seeing deja-vu, people were saying the same thing in the Cam year, about our running game. Eventually, it did get better because teams knew 8-9 in the box against Cam Ward was a terrible idea.

We had over 500+ yards of offense in a game where didn't even run the ball that well, I'm not too worried right now.
 
BS85 said:
Is the philosophy that they may get less average yards only running up the middle, but also way less negative plays (which could kill a drive)?

That's the only thing that kind of makes sense to me.
Click to expand...
Yes and no. I believe I have read Dawson state that is part of the advantage of the tight zone blocking scheme. Even in unsuccessful runs you get 1-2 yards and don’t get behind the sticks.

I also think some of the runs up the middle are on our RB. The scheme allows for the RB to read and hit the hole. Fletch in particularly seems more set on hitting the A gap. Sure we could do more designed outside runs. I could say more on the RBs, but I’ll save that for another thread
 
BS85 said:
Is the philosophy that they may get less average yards only running up the middle, but also way less negative plays (which could kill a drive)?

That's the only thing that kind of makes sense to me.
Click to expand...
That’s exactly what happened last year. They were afraid to play behind the sticks. From what I saw last night, they should not have that same fear.
 
Let’s be honest. After the first quarter this was clearly a scrimmage. There was no need to get cute. Let’s see what happens as the season progresses. Clearly the staff adjusted after the SMU game last year. I don’t see them waiting for a loss to do that again. As much as we loved going on that run, we also know part of that success was Mario growing as a coach. I don’t think he’s going to crawl back in a cave. That man is hungry and will do anything to get a ship.
 
BS85 said:
Is the philosophy that they may get less average yards only running up the middle, but also way less negative plays (which could kill a drive)?

That's the only thing that kind of makes sense to me.
Click to expand...
I imagine Mario and Mirabel would push back on the less average yards part (in 2024 we averaged 6 ypc with our backs), but I think minimizing negative plays is a big part of it. We rarely get tackled for loss, and, more importantly, our OL almost never gets called for holding on runs, which is generally a drive killer.
 
supacane said:
kyle_schick said:
We have a different middle 3 now.

They're not generating nearly as much push as the last 3 years guards/centers did.

I fear the reliance on developed recruits instead of seasoned portal additions might come back to bite us against serious competition. (At many other positions too)

Mallory, the slowest RB on the team, had the most success by running outside.
Click to expand...
We had 63 yards rushing last season v Louisville last season at home. I was posting about my concern with it when we were undefeated. Dawson got hot as L in one press conference when they pressed him on it.
Click to expand...
I’ll say it again— we can win any shootout Mensah is that good— but fellas, let’s take our orange & green glasses off—- we were one dimensional against a subpar opponent
Take that to Clemson and we will get our asses handed to us.
I’d rather be the wet blanket and speak truth than be a sunshine pumper

There it is…
 
This run scheme requires a back with good eyes because most of it will be muddy and interior OL that can move folks…but they should get lighter boxes, if not 10 will throw for 400+ a game…pick how you wanna die DC’s.
 
Was hoping to see Pringle with the starting O-line when the run game stalled. Sometimes more deliberate speed to hole can offset linemen who cant sustain blocks.
 
DMoney said:
Our running game is built to win real games against real opponents. We saw that last year in the playoffs and against Notre Dame.

There is a ton of room to improve. But philosophically, we need to get used to it because our coaches (rightfully) believe it is a system that wins big-boy football games
Click to expand...
respectfully ... this isn't selling out the stop the run ... this is lack of talent and/or strength on the oline


cantwell gettin stood up, rodiguez doesn't have the athleticism to get to the second level ... samson owned that rep, one of sj's better reps, and mccoy was solid
 
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