LJS: Husker Run Game is Common Sense

[RedSavage]

I think we will run more and run better, but let's put to rest this trope that we ran the ball straight into the line a few times, then gave up and flung the ball all over the place.

We ran as much as we passed, and were right in the middle of the run-centric Big 10, with a higher per-game rushing offense than Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Penn State, and just a yard behind the conservative ball control offense of Iowa. Nebraska's 4.7 yard per carry rushing average was perfectly decent, reflecting a sane diversity of play calls.

Interesting to see Coach Power T invoke Shawn Watson, who was often criticized on this same board for being too cute and never running the ball enough.

If the defense holds up its end of the bargain and if Tommy makes better decisions both running and passing, I think run game will evolve nicely.

His run scheme's were good I always thought. I thought his decision making/play calling was suspect. However I liked the scheme of what Watson was doing.

Agreed. Watson's 2010 offense was fun, creative, and deadly until Taylor got hurt.

I thought that Watson did a good job of designing runs and blocking schemes for the RB run game. Some of the traps and pulls that he used against Missouri when Helu set the single game run game record was awesome. Watson also ran the 98G trap over and over in the 62-36 beating of CU over NU in '01.

I think Watson struggled with how to use Taylor consistently in the run game. The QB run game wasn't Watson's strength. It was Taylor's talent and pure speed than enabled him to find creases and break off huge runs.

I always thought Watson was a genius at reviewing film and designing a game plan. IMO, he was below average at making adjustments during the game. I would have liked to keep him as OC, but let someone else call plays.

OC's who "script" the first 15 plays or quarter of the game can typically find success that way. The best OC's are able to figure out how a defense will respond and then call plays to counteract that. The average-poor OC's aren't able to make those in-game adjustments.

That was one of Tim Beck's greatest downfalls as well. We'd come out the first and sometimes even the second quarter and blow the doors off the place. Then halftime would roll around, the other team would adjust, we wouldn't and well, we all know how that typically played out for us.

 

[Scratchtown]

I think we should pass to open up the run. But that's probably just me.

I've always felt a little odd by this, because to me it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. You know the "pass to loosen them up.". Who are you loosening up? Not the DB's.....they have to respect the passing game.
The only part of the defense that you will loosen up with a passing game is the LB's (in my opinion). That's by attacking the middle of the field in your pass concepts. Especially if the defense you are attacking struggles a bit at the safety position.

So my point, is that you have to be very specific in how you attack a defense in the passing game in order to help the running game. Throwing 5-8 yard hooks and comebacks aren't going to open up anything. (Again, my philosophical opinion)

When the opposing team is stacking the box the easiest and best way to beat that is to throw the ball and force the defense to be honest. If you have a credible passing game opposing defenses won't stack the box to begin with. This is another way the passing game helps the run game.

Did you read what I said?

What you said isn't wrong but you have to attack the position that is doing the "stacking" which is the linebackers and occasionally safeties. You can't just chuck the ball deep on a fly when a corner covers that already in the first place.