We need to fix the run game

[HRE Otto IV]

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.

 

[PhatOrange]

It's Nixon

 

[SoBristol]

Last season LaQuint Allen was a 1000 yd runner - opposing teams had to respect the run.

Good teams have balance. Get 4 or 5 yards with a 1st down run, set up a manageable 2nd and 3rd with options to run or pass. It is basic football. Meathead, maybe, but it is what the majority of winning teams can do.

Why can’t Fran Brown’s 2025 team run the ball for balance? The primary RBs (Willis and Nixon) lack wiggle and the OL has size but our guys are below average in agility. Need to recruit and develop for run-blocking, not bulk.

Lesson learned?

 

[djorange1989]

I hope we get a RB in the portal, I think Willis is talented but limited. Obviously we need OL
help as well and a new OL coach

 

[sufandu]

I think it's a combo of run blocking and scheme. Our RBs are plenty good enough. No running back does well when consistently getting met at the LOS. Numbers are down this year compared to last because defenses don't have to respect the pass and we don't sustain drives. Think about how may drives were kept alive last year by a pass and how many more carries that lead to. Our per carry average is actually .1 yard better this year than last year, 3.3 vs 3.2, essentially a wash. Considering how we have no pass game to respect, I'd say our guys are doing a little better this year.

 

[upperdeck]

Just go watch every running play we run. the oline fails in at least 2 spots every time.

 

[Newhouser]

I think it's a combo of run blocking and scheme. Our RBs are plenty good enough. No running back does well when consistently getting met at the LOS. Numbers are down this year compared to last because defenses don't have to respect the pass and we don't sustain drives. Think about how may drives were kept alive last year by a pass and how many more carries that lead to. Our per carry average is actually .1 yard better this year than last year, 3.3 vs 3.2, essentially a wash. Considering how we have no pass game to respect, I'd say our guys are doing a little better this year.

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.

 

[CuseIsGodsTeam]

We need a new O-line coach.

 

[richmondcuse03]

Just go watch every running play we run. the oline fails in at least 2 spots every time.

yup. It's the OL coach and scheme.

 

[swish7]

It's Nixon

People overcomplicate things. Its this simple. Nixon needs to be held accountable for the offense.

That said, the problems as I see it, begins with the OL. They seem unfit for the job. I don't pay enough attention to know if they were recruited more for a pass blocking scheme or not, all I know is there is never any push. And when they are chasing down an interception, they look very very slow.

Then, you get to the RBs. Nixon is frankly underappreciated. He's imperfect, but he gets the most out of his physical attributes. Yaz is great in a sense, but no vision. He'd rather hurt someone than alter his path to gain 5 more yards. As he often ends up hurting himself, Id rather have the 5 yards.

That said, we need athletic, gritty guys on the OL, not slow behemoths.

 

[upperdeck]

Last year we could throw simple back shoulder fades and keep droves going. We lost our one BIG WR and QB and its been down hill since then. Gill loses that fight that Meeks won 80% of the time last year.

 

[cuseguy]

It’s a combination of scheme, OL and RB talent.

Nixon lacks imagination as a play caller.

The OL is banged up and short on talent.

Willis is a backup on a good team. Nixon is an Ivy League back..

We need help in the portal.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Last season LaQuint Allen was a 1000 yd runner - opposing teams had to respect the run.

Good teams have balance. Get 4 or 5 yards with a 1st down run, set up a manageable 2nd and 3rd with options to run or pass. It is basic football. Meathead, maybe, but it is what the majority of winning teams can do.

Why can’t Fran Brown’s 2025 team run the ball for balance? The primary RBs (Willis and Nixon) lack wiggle and the OL has size but our guys are below average in agility. Need to recruit and develop for run-blocking, not bulk.

Lesson learned?

I don't think they did respect the run last season. 1000 yards in 13 games is nothing. He was 10th last season in the ACC in YPC (min 100 rushes). That is middle of the pack.

 

[PhatOrange]

Just go watch every running play we run. the oline fails in at least 2 spots every time.

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.

 

[orangemass]

I hope we get a RB in the portal, I think Willis is talented but limited. Obviously we need OL
help as well and a new OL coach

This rb room is subpar. Should be the easiest position to recruit no?

I hope we are not breaking the bank for Willis. He just runs into guys and can’t catch a cold.

Hart/coleman meh

Hill is the only potential to make someone miss.

James is always hurt and hasn’t outrun anyone yet.

I know the run blocking blows but I do t see any difference makers here.

Need serious upgrades

 

[javadoc]

It's Nixon

A comparison I would like to see (not enough time to do the research) is how our play calling and production compare to "the average NFL team", in terms of run vs pass plays, and how productive the run game is. I think a lot of the answer will be there.

 

[PhatOrange]

It’s a combination of scheme, OL and RB talent.

Nixon lacks imagination as a play caller.

The OL is banged up and short on talent.

Willis is a backup on a good team. Nixon is an Ivy League back..

We need help in the portal.

Willis was a 4 star RB who flipped from Pitt and Narduzzi would have him putting up 150/game.

 

[Chip]

It's Nixon

Fran said Nixon and E-Rob will be back next year. But he said it because he was asked it specifically in a press conference. Did people think he would fire them right then and there?

I wouldn't be surprised to see both replaced. Being humbled like Fran was this season puts everyone on high alert. Even close friends.

 

[cuseguy]

Willis was a 4 star RB who flipped from Pitt and Narduzzi would have him putting up 150/game.

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.

 

[FrancoPizza]

yup. It's the OL coach and scheme.

How confident are you that Dale gets the pink slip?

 

[orangepassion]

RB is the last of our problems. Did you see the holes the ND RB's had to run through? I see the same things from opposing teams in other games, too (though not to the same extent). Do you think Jeremiah Love would be anywhere near a Heisman Candidate with our run blocking?

 

[upperdeck]

Our Rbs would have gained 25 yds with the same holes Love gained 170.

There were several holes Sat that Nixon just doesnt see. At the same time there were some plays where we need 1- 2 yds and ours decide that trying to cut instead of hitting the hole and gaining the FD was the play

 

[rmtsu]

No imagination from Nixon as many have said, but if you look at the first play of the second drive, it was obvious ND was selling out on the run up the middle, we had a WR in motion, after the handoff Fillardi ran to the left trailing the WR, if that had been a fake to Nixon, there was plenty of running room and we would have had the option to pitch to the WR if a DB had come up, big gain possibility. This is the kind of thing that a OC with some imagination might see and say lets try and keep some people on the back side home and take advantage of a defenses aggressiveness. Again we do the same simple things over and over again and fail. I'm not saying we should run an option offense but we need to get creative but we don't even try, we really haven't and we don't have anything to lose, I don't get it. Even good teams with non running QBs once in a while fake the handoff and the QB takes off running around the end. No attempt to keep the defense honest.

 

[PAcuse]

Oline coach
Scheme
Not having a QB to scare the defense

All three will hopefully be addressed before next season

 

[Archbold44]

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.

Big guys beat up small guys... but fast guys run around big slow guys.