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Message: [QUOTE="SmilinBob, post: 2684036, member: 857"] For this team to be effective, Strickland has to be near 5 per carry now that the meat of the schedule is upon him. I understand what is expected of the RB's that we know is X and what is really expected from the staff is X + Y but production is production and from here on there has to be consistent improvement in the running game from the man who gets the first 2 series because stats show how well SU does when they score first and these 2 possessions are obviously important. I still continue to believe that his vision seeing any potential holes that are not the original play, he struggles to see but maybe that's what Babers wants, him to drive to the assumed driven hole which seems to be opposite of what coach says about taking what looks the D gives you. This is obviously on the OL as well to make the appropriate holes for Strickland and Neal which I'm not sure they are quite yet there. It's kind of interesting that last year I said the OL was better than most say and this year I'm saying they are not as good as many are saying they are. It's been a gradual improvement and they are not even close to what I'd like to see but they have been getting better over the process of the 3 years Babers has been here which is a very good thing. That said, if the passing game were to take off that would help the pile in the middle, the mass of humanity that Strick has to drive through would be less congested and add a .5 or yard to his per carry. SU needs this whole offense to click to beat the ACC teams and imo they are not there yet but there is potential to be which is a very good thing. The WR's other than Custis HAVE to make plays, it is just that simple but yet complex. Another reason SU has been doing well scoring wise has been field position. My worry is when the starters (first 2 series) are pinned under the 20 will they be able to drive forward and at the very least push to the 40 and reagain the field position battle? I see a lot of 2nd and 9's and 8's if this past execution continues and is 1 hold or offsides to pretty much burying the O unless ED continues to do his thing which while is effective but, for the past 3 years not sustainable. Or the passing game improves and that of course includes protection for ED. Time to put the hammer to the nail and it'll be very interesting to see how the offense does on Saturday. Can not lose the turnover battle or play foolishly. [/QUOTE]

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