The missing FB

[lo country]

So I went back through the stats for each game (quickly) and didn't see any FB rushes or receptions. It doesn't seem like we even have them in the back field this year. With the injuries to the OL and Carter (a beast in the run game) any thoughts on why we are not using the FB like last year. Jano was a stud and did a great job running and receiving. Maybe Langs is hiding that until Wisky...... (the lie I believe every year is we are "hiding" awesome sauce in a cabinet)......

Are the current guys that far behind in abilities? What about a 2 back set? Anything to help the OL or get an extra blocker or make the D slow up a step..

It seems it'd be much better to let the FB eat a DT in the backfield than Newby with the ball.....

 

[Mierin]

For about 4 weeks I thought we were hiding the FB for Wisconsin/Ohio State, and then someone mentioned to me that we rarely ever even have a formation with a fullback in it. If we were going to hide the FB, we would probably have formations with the FB but just never run them until those games.

 

[ColoradoHusk]

The interior line just doesn't block well enough to use the fullback. Also, with a fullback it brings another defender in the box. Its probably better to spread out the defense and have that create space for the running backs in the run game.

 

[Hayseed]

Good question. Have any of our 4,392 sports reporters asked about this?

 

[knapplc]

The interior line just doesn't block well enough to use the fullback. Also, with a fullback it brings another defender in the box. Its probably better to spread out the defense and have that create space for the running backs in the run game.

This is correct, and Langsdorf has talked about this in the recent past.

 

[Hayseed]

The interior line just doesn't block well enough to use the fullback. Also, with a fullback it brings another defender in the box. Its probably better to spread out the defense and have that create space for the running backs in the run game.

That explanation makes zero sense to me....a lead blocker would far outweigh another guy in the box at some random location. We would still gain us an advantage at the point of attack and have a blocker to pick off a defender who shot a gap.

​It's not like you'd have to have him in all the time.

​It also allows you to keep the d line honest by having a potential run up the middle while still taking the play outside. I have doubts about the effectiveness of the jet against Wisconsin and O State.

 

[ColoradoHusk]

The interior line just doesn't block well enough to use the fullback. Also, with a fullback it brings another defender in the box. Its probably better to spread out the defense and have that create space for the running backs in the run game.

That explanation makes zero sense to me....a lead blocker would far outweigh another guy in the box at some random location. We would still gain us an advantage at the point of attack and have a blocker to pick off a defender who shot a gap.
​It's not like you'd have to have him in all the time.

​It also allows you to keep the d line honest by having a potential run up the middle while still taking the play outside. I have doubts about the effectiveness of the jet against Wisconsin and O State.

Part of having a lead blocker is having him a key guy on defense to go block. Right now, the o-line is playing so poorly that the FB would not have an obvious guy to block. I don't see how a FB would make the offense better at this point this year.

 

[Nebfanatic]

The interior line just doesn't block well enough to use the fullback. Also, with a fullback it brings another defender in the box. Its probably better to spread out the defense and have that create space for the running backs in the run game.

That explanation makes zero sense to me....a lead blocker would far outweigh another guy in the box at some random location. We would still gain us an advantage at the point of attack and have a blocker to pick off a defender who shot a gap.
​It's not like you'd have to have him in all the time.

​It also allows you to keep the d line honest by having a potential run up the middle while still taking the play outside. I have doubts about the effectiveness of the jet against Wisconsin and O State.

our jet sweep will be much more effective with Westy and Carter back. Both great blockers. Have Westy, Stan and Carter to one side and have Moore taking the sweep to that side good luck stopping that if we can prevent interior penetration from blowing it up

 

[Hayseed]

The interior line just doesn't block well enough to use the fullback. Also, with a fullback it brings another defender in the box. Its probably better to spread out the defense and have that create space for the running backs in the run game.

That explanation makes zero sense to me....a lead blocker would far outweigh another guy in the box at some random location. We would still gain us an advantage at the point of attack and have a blocker to pick off a defender who shot a gap.
​It's not like you'd have to have him in all the time.

​It also allows you to keep the d line honest by having a potential run up the middle while still taking the play outside. I have doubts about the effectiveness of the jet against Wisconsin and O State.

our jet sweep will be much more effective with Westy and Carter back. Both great blockers. Have Westy, Stan and Carter to one side and have Moore taking the sweep to that side good luck stopping that if we can prevent interior penetration from blowing it up

The interior blowing up is what I'm worried about and to answer Colorado, I think a blocker in front of him to take out the first guy who busts through would give us a much better chance to find daylight somewhere. At some point though ,you just have to accept that you're not good enough and no tricks will do much.

 

[LumberJackSker]

One of the coaches talked about this early in the week, can't remember exactly what he said but it was something about the interior offensive line play

 

[Army_Allen]

So I went back through the stats for each game (quickly) and didn't see any FB rushes or receptions. It doesn't seem like we even have them in the back field this year. With the injuries to the OL and Carter (a beast in the run game) any thoughts on why we are not using the FB like last year. Jano was a stud and did a great job running and receiving. Maybe Langs is hiding that until Wisky...... (the lie I believe every year is we are "hiding" awesome sauce in a cabinet)......

Are the current guys that far behind in abilities? What about a 2 back set? Anything to help the OL or get an extra blocker or make the D slow up a step..

It seems it'd be much better to let the FB eat a DT in the backfield than Newby with the ball.....

You mean this stuff?

 

[lo country]

So I went back through the stats for each game (quickly) and didn't see any FB rushes or receptions. It doesn't seem like we even have them in the back field this year. With the injuries to the OL and Carter (a beast in the run game) any thoughts on why we are not using the FB like last year. Jano was a stud and did a great job running and receiving. Maybe Langs is hiding that until Wisky...... (the lie I believe every year is we are "hiding" awesome sauce in a cabinet)......

Are the current guys that far behind in abilities? What about a 2 back set? Anything to help the OL or get an extra blocker or make the D slow up a step..

It seems it'd be much better to let the FB eat a DT in the backfield than Newby with the ball.....

You mean this stuff?

Oh if we only had some magic sauce!

 

[fb30]

I agree with Hayseed.

 

[lo country]

The interior line just doesn't block well enough to use the fullback. Also, with a fullback it brings another defender in the box. Its probably better to spread out the defense and have that create space for the running backs in the run game.

This is correct, and Langsdorf has talked about this in the recent past.

Don't teams already stack the box? Not like they would bring 9 down. Seems it would possibly allow us a better chance of 1 on 1 with the DB's or even open the run/pass option for TA. The way the DT from Purdue was almost beating the handoff makes me think I'd at least try it. Rather have the non ball carrier get hit than the RB....

 

[84HuskerLaw]

Last year we used Jano very effectively and in my view the FB runs are what opened up the run game and allowed us to turn the season around the final third of the year. Without those quick strike FB traps, I don't think we even get to that Foster Farms chicken bowl and who knows what happens this year. The FB is there for a number of reasons in addition to the obvious 3 or 4 quick hitters that often end up with about 30 'big' yards just when the defense has forgotten about him. I am sure hoping that the answer is NOT the missing O line Coach Tenopir. He is not there to help them get thosebig linemen making those great trap blocks that spring those gut busters.

We need more push in our power run game. We are missing Ozigbo to some mysterious injury and of course Cross is gone and apparently the O line is missing several key links as well. But we better find a way to get some 4 and 5 yard gains on first down up the middle or the last half of this year will be too much like the first half of last year. Ugh.