xlbder

Our offense has outscored their offense.

Stoo!

There was a vocal contigent on this board advocating a power running game, and it was opposed by several long time posters. Big difference running out of a power set with two backs and a tight end versus a lone tailback. I believe the success of the past two games is not a product of a change in player attitude but rather a change in offensive strategy. Cross has proven himself to be a valuable back in this offense. Hopefully Riley will build a 2016 offense around the strengths of the team instead of trying to adapt the team to some west coast offense.

I think the change has much more to do with executing out of a running formation. Two back sets, tight ends, etc. Tommy is not the best passer, and we had so many three and outs, the defense was on the field and we didn't have a consistency. Now we are running out of a power formation, making their defense try to stop the running play, and there is a much stronger mix to our offense. We move better and the defense spends less time on the field.

Same video, 1:44:20, Nebraska lined up in the I-formation. I nearly wet myself...

This^ All run plays are not created equal. Big difference running out of a run formation than running out of passing formation.

The whole, "Cross finally got it," makes as much sense as saying "Jano finally got it." Bo never used Jano, but Reilly did and Jano showed he can get it done. Cross showed he can get it done too when used in a proper way. If they go back to single back sets and delayed handoffs Cross won't do as well with that. Ameer was great with the delayed handoff, Backs are different. Cross is a power runner. Jano is a power runner. II think Newby and Wilbon are great backs. If there is a spread offense that worked well and Newby and Wiilbon starred in it, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But we were losing game after game like that and many of us were advocating trying a power running game but the MASTERS OF THE BOARD, pooh-pooh the idea, It bothered me that Guy, Mavric and some other honchos on this board dismissed the idea of Cross as a featured back. Most of us on this board know we are talking bullsh#t half the time. Some people confuse their opinion with facts.

There is a narrative that goes something like this: Cross is not so good, both coaching staffs used him in the same way, he had his chances, etc, that I do not find compelling. The other narrative:Cross finally found himself, he finally "Got it", or other words that imply he is doing something fundamentally different. I think he always was what he is right now, a power option that could be used to good effect. What is happening with Michigan State is you saw him run out of a power running formation more. With the same results that would have been obtained if they had used him in this capacity many years ago. Just as Mark Wiesman ran for Iowa, had Nebraska gone to a power running game, Cross would have been a strong contributor. But the pass first offense, with a single tailback and a delayed handoff beside a shotgun quarterback, doesn't suit his running style so much. But Jano and Cross together is a powerful combo and it yielded the predicted results. A football team can be successful in a number of different ways. At the beginning of the season I saw a team loaded with running back talent, with a great running quarterback, and had high hopes for the season. Instead we started playing this west coast finesse game and lost game after game. I don't think things have changed at all. Had we run a power game from the beginning of the season, I think we

There is a narrative that goes something like this: Cross is not so good, both coaching staffs used him in the same way, he had his chances, etc, that I do not find compelling. The other narrative:Cross finally found himself, he finally "Got it", or other words that imply he is doing something fundamentally different. I think he always was what he is right now, a power option that could be used to good effect. What is happening with Michigan State is you saw him run out of a power running formation more. With the same results that would have been obtained if they had used him in this capacity many years ago. Just as Mark Wiesman ran for Iowa, had Nebraska gone to a power running game, Cross would have been a strong contributor. But the pass first offense, with a single tailback and a delayed handoff beside a shotgun quarterback, doesn't suit his running style so much. But Jano and Cross together is a powerful combo and it yielded the predicted results. A football team can be successful in a number of different ways. At the beginning of the season I saw a team loaded with running back talent, with a great running quarterback, and had high hopes for the season. Instead we started playing this west coast finesse game and lost game after game. I don't think things have changed at all. Had we run a power game from the beginning of the season, I think we would have a much better record. Just my opinion, and we all know what that is worth...

That might have been cut and dry with the coaching staff, but many of us on this board don't think it was so obvious. Prior to this Season, Cross had high ypc than Newby. This year Newby has the higher YPC, but he got his most carries against Southern Alabama. Give Cross those carries and give Newby the MSU carries and the situation would be reversed.

I'd like to see Tommy as our number one running back. That sweep with Jano and Cross lead blocking for Tommy looks hard to defend. That would be in the regular playbook, not just a goal line play.

Mavric thought Cross "just wasn't that good," but some of us were calling for this backfield months ago. Posted 12 October 2015 - 02:16 PM I too am a fan of the power running game. Alas, we are not going to see it this season. I wanted to see a lot of Cross and Jano with Armstrong under center and a TE on half the plays. But we have the rink-a-dink schizoid offensive game plan. Maybe we will confuse a few opponents.

The commitment to the run is not just the number of runs versus the number of passes but how many times did we line up in a run formation versus s pass formation? It appeared to me we used more two back sets. Instead of running out of a passing we did more passing outta the run formation. I see Jano and Cross together and my heart soars like a hawk.

Jano and Cross. Look at them lead blocking for Tommy. 1:35 mark.

Imani gives credit to the Offensive Line and Andy for great blocking. On Tommy's TD runs, Imani did some awesome leading blocking himself. He's laid a lick on the MSU linebacker.

Nothing wrong with running toward the endzone.

GBR!!!

Imani!

Fuggh

Cross Smash!

GBR!

What if, we had run Cross and Jano up the middle, and Newby around the ends, and passed less than 50%? Could we be 8-2?

Run Imani Run

Five yard run, let's not do that any more.

Whaaaa???? I see. Fiddy-five. Explains everything.