Possible Reason for Some of the Unsuccessful Run Attempts - Lack of Audibling?

[ajt1970]

While I feel NU CAN run the ball, even quite well at times (although they are not running the ball nearly enough for me as I'd like to see it in the 80/20 -or higher - run/pass ratio).......The 3rd and short running plays come to mind where NU was stuffed on several run attempts and I got to thinking. What sort of AUDIBLE SYSTEM is in place to check out of dead running plays? Is there even any audible system at all to go opposite (as they did in the old days), which is if the playcall is to the right but clearly the defense's formation does not seem favorable for running the ball to that side, they would check out of it and run the play to the left.

Osborne even used to say that there were just some running plays versus certain defensive fronts where you simply cannot account for blocking everyone, hence checking to go opposite or to another type of run, say an option play.

Looking back over film, I do not see this, or any, kind of audible system for getting out of running plays where the offense is outnumbered at the point of attack. If the playcall is for a dive to the right, it seems to happen regardless of what type of defensive front appears, even if a defense is loaded up to that side..... which is obviously not good to stay with a play when it is clearly dead in the water.

Has anyone noticed or heard of what kind of audible system NU has for running plays? Does Langsdorf even know enough about a running attack to incorporate this into the system?

 

[Bowfin]

One would have to get plays in quicker to allow time for an audible. Nebraska didn't even have time to line up in the right formation on 3rd and 7, let alone change a play.

 

[ajt1970]

True. Get the plays in sooner, but a simple tap on the helmet by the QB is all the time it takes to Go Opposite, not much time at all. To check into another play, now we're talking a few more extra seconds. I just can't see how a team cannot have an audible sytem of getting out of bad plays. Not saying they don't have one, I just don't see evidence of it.

 

[zoogs]

A very underrated aspect of QBing is the ability to see a bad play and checking to a good one. Or sliding protection, finding something the defense is leaving open, etc. It comes with time and polish, and I have no idea how Tommy is in this regard...but it's year one of this new system, after all.

 

[ajt1970]

Right Zoogs, that is an underappreciated aspect of a QB's duties, getting the offense out of bad plays and into good ones based on the defensive front. But even though it is year one of this new system as you mentioned, it doesn't take much to recognize a front and see that there are four guys in the intended running area and we only would have three blockers, Tap the helmet and Go Opposite to the other side where there only three defenders. Or if the defense lines up in a balanced front but the free safety is cheating to the strong side of the field, run it to the weak side. Of if you notice a potential blitz coming form the outside linebacker, audible an option his way and pitch it off him. Pretty simple stuff.

I think Langsdorf doesn't have the confidence or know-how to run smashmouth up-the-middle runs effectively, and i think he is inexperienced and uneducated on running finesse runs like many option runs, which brings me to my original thesis....Langsdorf and Riley simply do not have the know-how and credentials to put together what is really needed to be a championship caliber team in Lincoln, Nebraska (weather conditions)...and that is to have a devastating rushing attack. It's easy for us fans to simply say "run the ball!" (and I would be the one leading that cheer!).......but I just think we have the wrong coaches in place for running the ball correctly. These coaches are just too ingrained with their pass-happy offense to ever have the desire to want to figure out and design a powerful rushing attack and its corresponding audibling system.

 

[Hunter94]

A very underrated aspect of QBing is the ability to see a bad play and checking to a good one. Or sliding protection, finding something the defense is leaving open, etc. It comes with time and polish, and I have no idea how Tommy is in this regard...but it's year one of this new system, after all.

great post, so true.

 

[Hayseed]

Personally, I liked the Pro style that Solich ran. I'm not a fan of running guys in and out during a series and basically broadcasting the type of play you'll run. Giving a guy a breather by subbing in an equally talented back is not the same as putting in your fullback, then taking him out, then putting in the pass-catching back, etc. I also loved the way Solich's guys attacked the hole in the line....haven't seen much of that with these dancing bear linemen and moonwalking rb's.