Why can't we run the ball?

[anomander]

I love Mackey as much as the next guy, but he is the only guy we lost from last years team that showed it could run the ball. Sure there is Jerome Smith, but I don't see how his loss would lead to such a disaster? Last year it seemed we tried much harder to establish the run, and had many more sets with run oriented personnel on the field. My question is why did he abandon a strength? Yes, we have been down in games, but even from the onset running the ball seemed to be option C. Despite returning 9 starters we actually managed to regress on offense. We had no rhythm, or no known scheme of attack. This move had to be made, i'm just surprised it happened mid-season.

 

[cuseinchina]

I love Mackey as much as the next guy, but he is the only guy we lost from last years team that showed it could run the ball. Sure there is Jerome Smith, but I don't see how his loss would lead to such a disaster? Last year it seemed we tried much harder to establish the run, and had many more sets with run oriented personnel on the field. My question is why did he abandon a strength? Yes, we have been down in games, but even from the onset running the ball seemed to be option C. Despite returning 9 starters we actually managed to regress on offense. We had no rhythm, or no known scheme of attack. This move had to be made, i'm just surprised it happened mid-season.

I suspect that has a whole lot to do with who is calling the plays. You'll recall McD was given a babysitter last year and play calling improved as did results on the field. I'm not sure if we ran more after the switch but we did everything more successfully.

 

[cuseguy]

We have a cast of average running backs.

Knew we'd miss Jerome Smith this year.

 

[Orangeman]

Did we really "run off" a high-quality, veteran RB by telling him that the offense would shift away from him?

Or did he just make an assumption that this was his best shot at the draft.

If the former, wowsers

 

[HeaterCuse22]

I suspect that has a whole lot to do with who is calling the plays. You'll recall McD was given a babysitter last year and play calling improved as did results on the field. I'm not sure if we ran more after the switch but we did everything more successfully.

Never underestimate the timing of plays being called.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

We have a cast of average running backs.

Knew we'd miss Jerome Smith this year.

Jerome Smith = Average ...... Sorry

 

[CUSU]

RB quality is not our problem.. Jerome Smith was not some magic man. He was average or slightly above, himself.

 

[RF2044]

Did we really "run off" a high-quality, veteran RB by telling him that the offense would shift away from him?

Or did he just make an assumption that this was his best shot at the draft.

If the former, wowsers

Yes.

 

[ssbriefcase]

The only game they've even tried to establish the run was CMU. The read option has a lot to do with it, as Hunt is the ultimate decider and checked out of called runs or kept the ball himself. Gulley and Adonis both are averaging 6.3 yds/carry, each top 40 in the country. Too many rb's in the rotation, no rhythm. I mean Gulley is getting an avg of what, 9 carries a game? Adonis 5? C'mon that's ridiculous.

 

[cuseguy]

Jerome Smith = Average ... Sorry

Smith is better than any current back.

I never thought he'd stick in the pros, but we still miss him.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

Smith is better than any current back.

I never thought he'd stick in the pros, but we still miss him.

That's fine. He's average and I liked him.

I believe Gulley is good but he is a change of pace back. Give me 20-25 runs for Moore or Morris. and 15 from Gulley. Ill show you a team that wins games. Ask WVU.

 

[tep624]

I think it's a simple answer - it hasn't been prioritized, and we're gobbling up opportunities to run between the tackles by throwing out in the flat on screens.

 

[xc84]

Smith is better than any current back.

I'd take any of our current backs over Smith...and I like Smith.

I think AAM could have had a good game last weekend but they just didn't run much. I think what was missing was running plays.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

The only game they've even tried to establish the run was CMU. The read option has a lot to do with it, as Hunt is the ultimate decider and checked out of called runs or kept the ball himself. Gulley and Adonis both are averaging 6.3 yds/carry, each top 40 in the country. Too many rb's in the rotation, no rhythm. I mean Gulley is getting an avg of what, 9 carries a game? Adonis 5? C'mon that's ridiculous.

Remind me what was the outcome of that game?

Agree too many but ill say with all those backs and you forgot Erv killed it that game we controlled the game by RUNNING

 

[HeaterCuse22]

I think it's a simple answer - it hasn't been prioritized, and we're gobbling up opportunities to run between the tackles by throwing out in the flat on screens.

THIS IS THE ANSWER.

 

[Franz69]

Philips had that one awesome series against CMU. Since then...crickets.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

I love Mackey as much as the next guy, but he is the only guy we lost from last years team that showed it could run the ball. Sure there is Jerome Smith, but I don't see how his loss would lead to such a disaster? Last year it seemed we tried much harder to establish the run, and had many more sets with run oriented personnel on the field. My question is why did he abandon a strength? Yes, we have been down in games, but even from the onset running the ball seemed to be option C. Despite returning 9 starters we actually managed to regress on offense. We had no rhythm, or no known scheme of attack. This move had to be made, i'm just surprised it happened mid-season.

That's because last year McD had a learners permit. This year he got the keys. Now Dad just grounded him for backing into the garage.

 

[anomander]

Philips had that one awesome series against CMU. Since then...crickets.

Since the season is basically headed down the toilet I am all for a youth movement.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

Philips had that one awesome series against CMU. Since then...crickets.

Since then like 8 carries

 

[ssbriefcase]

Jerome averaged 15 carries per game. He had 3 games over 100. He averaged 4.6/carry. That includes the bowl game. He got the opportunity to get in a rhythm and work up a lather in each and every game.

 

[rrlbees]

We're averaging a few more yards per game than we did last year. Even if you take out the CMU game, it's only 15 ypg less.

 

[CousCuse]

The freeze option freezes our line . It tends not to reward the hard work of blocking in the trenches as many times the QB will pull the ball put and run around end. Linemen then start thinking that the play that was called is not going to be run or they beat their block and open up a running lane and the QB gets the wrong read and is tackled for a loss , it justs seems futile. In a regular offense , a running play is called , say off tackle , and that's where it is going to go , easy to see wno is working hard and winning their blocks.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Having Palmer and Robinson both out vs Villanova hurt our ability to run quite a bit.

Ran well vs CMU.

Ran well vs Maryland.

ND's front 7 was really good.

Louisville's D is pretty good, looks like we didn't prioritize the run much.

I think injuries and good strategy by Villanova's coach took out that first game, and then we've faced a couple of really good defenses that decided to sell out against the run.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

Philips had that one awesome series against CMU. Since then...crickets.

He had 9 carries against CMU.
He's had 10 since...

Some coaches run their hot hand into the ground. McDonald runs his to the bench.

 

[RICuse44]

I suspect that has a whole lot to do with who is calling the plays. You'll recall McD was given a babysitter last year and play calling improved as did results on the field. I'm not sure if we ran more after the switch but we did everything more successfully.

Isn't it funny how last year when Lester went up to the booth there seemed to be more offensive cohesion?

Also, to quote the great American poet rocky balboa "nothins ova".
We are 2-3. The defense isn't bad. FSU and Clemson are likely losses but then you have wake, nc state, bc, duke ( duke!), and Pitt. Solid clubs but not exactly the sec