Running game today | Syracusefan.com

Running game today

RF2044

RF2044

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Not sure if it was just a matchup thing, but the coaches were really committed to the run today. And Srickland had probably the best game of his career.

Is he turning the corner with his overall play and just hitting the hole more decisively?

Is the OL improving?

Was it just Pitt being weak defensively in the interior?

Either way, it was nice to see. And having some modicum of a running game plus Pearce emerging really would make this offense so much more potent.
 
RF2044 said:
Not sure if it was just a matchup thing, but the coaches were really committed to the run today. And Srickland had probably the best game of his career.

Is he turning the corner with his overall play and just hitting the hole more decisively?

Is the OL improving?

Was it just Pitt being weak defensively in the interior?

Either way, it was nice to see. And having some modicum of a running game plus Pearce emerging really would make this offense so much more potent.
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Unfortunately i'm going with Pitt is that bad...
 
Strickland actually had a couple of good moves today. I didn't even think it was him, I thought it was a different back until he got up and it was number 4.

I still don't like him as the RB, but it was good to see him do something with it today.

My only real quibble with him today was late in the game he should've followed those two Elmore blocks, instead he cut it up inside for small gains.

His pass catching is good to. A better throw on the wheel route would've gone for a lot more.
 
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anomander said:
It's still amazing Strickland final stats were 25 carries 80 yards. 3.2 ypc and a long of 8 yards. It mind blowing how inept we are running the ball.
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Surprised that's how the numbers turned out, seemed like he was more effective in general.
 
I took a buddy to the game that started for 4 years at a Moorehead State as a an o.l. He assured me that
#1 The run blocking isn't great, but that Strickland has no vision. He was pointing out holes that Strick missed nearly ever carry.
#2 The O.L., even if they add nobody, will improve greatly just because they're so young. He didn't seem to see a talent problem, as much as a youth problem. He said most people have no idea how difficult it is to go up against 21 and 22 year old men in the trenches, when you're 18-20.

The running game, and the O.L. will be fine. Just not this year...most likely not next year either. Improved, hopefully...but not to the point where we can depend on the running game to grind out the clock late.
 
first time he made cuts, so that was good to see. still we need that guy with an extra gear to cut and get out of the hole. he runs hard if he can just get started.
 
Hard to say given Pitt was a weaker opponent but year to date Pitt has not been a pushover on D, just has faced ( like us) a really tough schedule. A couple of things after watching the game a second time I noticed with the run game.

1) Despite waiting for the 2nd half to feature it more, the runs in the first have showed push on the line and we were gaining positive yards on our runs. This was one improvement from previous games in that even though Pitt's ends were collapsing on the run, we hit the hole before they got there.

2) I felt Dungey did a better job with his ball handling in the run game. In previous games, I have noticed that whether he is in the Gun or under center, Dungey has been a little slow handing the ball off. Primarily taking extra steps or too long after taking the snap he is giving it to the back. This has even impacted his own stats with him being sloppy with when to give and when to tuck it. Vs Pitt it was much better and really since CMU it has been improving. Additionally, Strickland was getting a better head start to grab the handoff with forward momentum as well. He often was getting hit in the backfield without haven taken more than a couple of steps and then trying to push forward while having a 260 lb DE already latched on.

3) It could be a symptom of the first two points but it looks like we were running with a purpose behind our tackles and pulling guards vs just into a wall. As already mentioned this is likely an issue with Strickland's vision, but even then Moe wasn't having much luck either. It seemed that execution was much better in running where the play intended which provided some positive yardage while Strickland did a good job of breaking some LB arm tackles and pushing the pile with LB's and safeties in front of him vs only DL.
 
anomander said:
I had the same exact reaction. Seemed like he had a decent game. Guess that's how bad things have been.
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I think that's because he was much better in the second half. He had his best carries when that d-line was gassed. And what a difference it made with even a little threat of a running game. That's when the middle started to open up, and more passes were being thrown into the middle. I'm telling you...getting this running game even to a respectable level, will do amazing things for getting this offense to really hum. Can't wait to see the improvement over the next couple years.
 
i thought strick had a pretty good game. no big #'s, but it seems there were a few times when we needed short yards to get a 1st, and he was able to get them.good day at the office for the kid imho.
 
Strickland reminds me of the kid Penn st had couple years ago. His name was Bill Belton. Another jersey kid. He knew all the checks and blocking assignments but was average running the ball. Didnt make a lot of big runs. Part of that was due to Penn st youth and inexperience up front. Saquon Barkley arrived and you never saw him out there again lol. So my question is who will be our Saquon Barkley?
 
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money3189 said:
Strickland reminds me of the kid Penn st had couple years ago. His name was Bill Belton. Another jersey kid. He knew all the checks and blocking assignments but was average running the ball. Didnt make a lot of big runs. Part of that was due do to Penn st youth and inexperience up front. Saquon Barkley arrived and you never saw him out there again lol. So my question is who will be our Saquon Barkley?
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Jordan/Hall/Dixon.

One of 'em.
 
IMO, Strick is not getting enough credit for ball security which is always important, but is particularly vital in a game like Pitt. One fumble, and this board might be in a completely different place.

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I agree bigmike, he doesn't fumble and does quite a few good things while struggling to gain yards. Fantastic hands and if Pierre and one of those young incoming RB's can step up Stickland can be moved to Phillips spot.
 
Dungey also missed him when he leaked out and was open down the middle on a seam route. He had beaten the LB and a better touch throw might have gone for 6. He had a few decent runs but I think he could have been helped if Dungey kept on the read option a few times.
 
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