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Message: [QUOTE="blizz, post: 2664642, member: 4252"] A couple of run game thoughts. The most basic tactical principle in this offense is to spread the defense out as much as possible in order to 1) run the ball against a favorable box or 2) exploit match-ups on the outside when the defense elects to be sound against the run. To make #1 viable, I see two things that have to happen: 1) The defense has to respect a deep threat on [B]both[/B] outside flanks. By definition this takes a defender out of the box. Ideally you want 6 defenders with coverage responsibilities against 4 receivers. This leaves 5 against the run. 2) Oline has to be able to consistently execute blocks to cover the 5 run defenders. Ideally this gets your running back in a 1 v 1 against a safety. We haven't had either 1 or 2 the last two years. AET was a consistent deep threat in year 1. No deep threat on the other side. Last year, Ish made his lunch on stop routes and fades, and situationally he could beat 1 on 1's against a short field as he was a master of leverage. Ish didn't have the top end though to be a deep threat everywhere on the field. The Oline has been pretty bad run blocking, particularly in executing zone blocks where there is responsibility to climb up to a linebacker. Last year I thought they improved at moving the front but still were usually late climbing up to defeat the run fit. So, the point in all this is to try to illustrate the fact that the offense has been handicapped. I'm optimistic that the pieces are in place to see improvement. Butler, Custis, Johnson & Johnson, and Riley all have that home run speed that in theory creates the threat of the deep ball. I'm also optimistic that the additions of Martin and Roberts are going to change the dynamics in the trenches as those two are both capable of sticking blocks on the front that will allow Adams and Servais to quickly climb off a double. [/QUOTE]

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