We need to fix the run game | Page 2 | Syracusefan.com

We need to fix the run game

cuseguy said:
I get it. But he wouldn’t start at a lot of good programs. Results speak louder than your resume. He’s a downhill runner with no wiggle. We need a breakaway runner who can get outside and take it to the house. Willis would compliment that type of runner.
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What's a good program? Pitt is 8-3 and first in the ACC.

Willis is a starting back in the right system.
 
Newhouser said:
I agree - I don't like him but Willis would be a huge asset for another team. Running game is mindset, scheme and technique. We are lacking in all 3.
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He's not perfect, but he'd be a huge asset for this team if he had reasonable room to run.
 
cuseguy said:
I get it. But he wouldn’t start at a lot of good programs. Results speak louder than your resume. He’s a downhill runner with no wiggle. We need a breakaway runner who can get outside and take it to the house. Willis would compliment that type of runner.
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Nobody is getting to the outside with our blocking.
 
Here’s the deal - we don’t have a quarterback even close to competent. When that happens, the defense stacks the box and it’s impossible to run or move the ball. When you have a competent qb, the defense isn’t running down hill.
 
jgeorge322 said:
Here’s the deal - we don’t have a quarterback even close to competent. When that happens, the defense stacks the box and it’s impossible to run or move the ball. When you have a competent qb, the defense isn’t running down hill.
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Explain last year then. We had a few games we ran the ball well but overall we were poor.
 
HRE Otto IV said:
Explain last year then. We had a few games we ran the ball well but overall we were poor.
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I was surprised to actually look at the averages and stats. We average one more yard per rush this year than last. Neither year is good - 3.3 vs. 3.2.

Nixon's offense is pass heavy. He loves to throw the ball, which in theory should have opened up more running opportunities last year. But it hasn't from a statistical perspective.

However, looking into stats more, LeQuint averaged 4.5/carry and everyone else wasn't great. Yasin was 3.6. Will Nixon before getting hurt was 4.0. And LeQuint got better as year went on.

This year, Yasin is at 4.30 and Will is 3.90.

I contend the scheme on OL is the biggest reason why. I routinely see OL not blocking anyone. Literally not laying a body on a guy. How are they constantly this confused. I've watched it at home games all year where Dale is confusing guys and they routinely miss assignments. When it keeps happening game after game, it's on the coach.
 
The blocking in the running game is a huge mystery? But we also see it in the passing game. Are they not getting assignments correct or just confused? One reason its hard to know how the PFF numbers work is because you can see a guy blow a block, but maybe he is trying to recover for some other mistake?
 
richmondcuse03 said:
I was surprised to actually look at the averages and stats. We average one more yard per rush this year than last. Neither year is good - 3.3 vs. 3.2.

Nixon's offense is pass heavy. He loves to throw the ball, which in theory should have opened up more running opportunities last year. But it hasn't from a statistical perspective.

However, looking into stats more, LeQuint averaged 4.5/carry and everyone else wasn't great. Yasin was 3.6. Will Nixon before getting hurt was 4.0. And LeQuint got better as year went on.

This year, Yasin is at 4.30 and Will is 3.90.

I contend the scheme on OL is the biggest reason why. I routinely see OL not blocking anyone. Literally not laying a body on a guy. How are they constantly this confused. I've watched it at home games all year where Dale is confusing guys and they routinely miss assignments. When it keeps happening game after game, it's on the coach.
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Scheme is more OC than OL coach IMO. If we are calling a lot of RPOs, then the OL cannot really run block. And if the runs we do call happen to be a lot of inside zones, it is not really traditional run blocking.

I do think we need a new OL coach to improve things but there is only so much the next guy can do if Nixon is limiting things.
 
PhatOrange said:
On the very first running play at ND why did we pull both the gaurd AND tackle? Leaving the DEnd unblocked who easily made the play behind the LOS.

I don't think that is a normal type of run scheme to pull both those lineman.
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Not unless te was supposed to chip him to slow him down. Strange
 
HRE Otto IV said:
Scheme is more OC than OL coach IMO. If we are calling a lot of RPOs, then the OL cannot really run block. And if the runs we do call happen to be a lot of inside zones, it is not really traditional run blocking.

I do think we need a new OL coach to improve things but there is only so much the next guy can do if Nixon is limiting things.
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But if guys are confused and missing blocks, it makes the scheme look worse. I'm sure both deserve blame. It's hard to know how much to assign to each.
 
Last edited:
HRE Otto IV said:
Scheme is more OC than OL coach IMO. If we are calling a lot of RPOs, then the OL cannot really run block. And if the runs we do call happen to be a lot of inside zones, it is not really traditional run blocking.

I do think we need a new OL coach to improve things but there is only so much the next guy can do if Nixon is limiting things.
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I can’t say this enough, we need to forget rpo and get off the damn ball. Run trap counter or anything with or tackles. Our guards are big. Double down and drive them off the damn ball and slide to a backer. This is getting to be aggravating. Follow Indiana. They run power zone and pull all their guys and had 2 guys out hurt and still ran extremely well. it’s a mindset and we need that mentality. Stop blocking sideways. Get big dog down and have him move some people backwards or their is no point in have such big dudes. Willis needs a sec for stuff to open.
 
HRE Otto IV said:
It was a problem last year as well. So is it the O system? The OL coaching? The talent? All three?

I find it interesting that Fran has made comments about the OC in this regard several times this year. It makes me think there might be a change.

And I am not saying we need meathead football. We just need some sort of balance. We can be pass first. But we should still run the ball over 40% of the time.

Also we should have more than just inside runs and/or RPOs. I don't think it is asking much for us to avg over 4 ypc against FBS teams. That would have put us 87th this year and 82nd last year. Sadly that is a huge improvement.
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We hired an O line coach who was known for good pass protection and mediocre to poor running games. Since the offense under Nixon is pass-heavy, that made a certain amount of sense. But for the life of me, I don't understand how guys that big can't get a 2 yard push off the line.
 
IthacaMatt said:
We hired an O line coach who was known for good pass protection and mediocre to poor running games. Since the offense under Nixon is pass-heavy, that made a certain amount of sense. But for the life of me, I don't understand how guys that big can't get a 2 yard push off the line.
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What I don't get is why it has to be one or the other. Is it that hard to be competent at both? We ran well with Mike Schmidt. Can we coax him to come east again?
 
richmondcuse03 said:
I was surprised to actually look at the averages and stats. We average one more yard per rush this year than last. Neither year is good - 3.3 vs. 3.2.

Nixon's offense is pass heavy. He loves to throw the ball, which in theory should have opened up more running opportunities last year. But it hasn't from a statistical perspective.

However, looking into stats more, LeQuint averaged 4.5/carry and everyone else wasn't great. Yasin was 3.6. Will Nixon before getting hurt was 4.0. And LeQuint got better as year went on.

This year, Yasin is at 4.30 and Will is 3.90.

I contend the scheme on OL is the biggest reason why. I routinely see OL not blocking anyone. Literally not laying a body on a guy. How are they constantly this confused. I've watched it at home games all year where Dale is confusing guys and they routinely miss assignments. When it keeps happening game after game, it's on the coach.
Expand...
Stats can lie. Except for Clemson, we could not establish the run game when we needed it. And we frequently had good runs when the game was over and teams are in a loose prevent. More than happy to let us get 8 yard gains if it keeps the game clock moving. So... 10 carries for 20 yards in real time. 10 carries for 45 yards in garbage time. Looks like 3.3 YPC, but it is misleading.
 
TexanMark said:
Willis is Thunder
We lack Lightning

Oh...and P5 level OL schemes and execution
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I didn't think it until recently but Willis is starting to remind me of Smith. Although Willis has more big play ability. I think Hill can be our PTG. We just don't run the ball enough to have two RBs succeed at the same time. In a way Nixon getting hurt might have helped last year.
 
We seem to run the same exact run play. OL talent is extremely low. Yasin is good but seems to have bad vision as he’s always trying to bounce it to the outside. Defenses being able to completely lock in on the run since Steve going down doesn’t help, but we witnessed the same thing last year with an NFL RB and McCord. Therefore, it has to be a combination of scheme/coaching/talent.
 

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