I agree that we need an identity. It helps to have a single overarching focus and to commit to that. The only thing I didn't like about what Frost said was that he wants to combine the physicality of the old Nebraska system with the speed and tempo of the Oregon system. To me, this sounds eerily similar to what Beck has tried to do (be "multiple") and is inconsistent with the "identity" ethos.
Stanford under Harbaugh and Wisconsin are smashmouth, power-run teams that pound you and pound you and pound you. Big linemen, big backs, fullbacks, tight ends. Pound the rock, burn the clock. You know what's coming but you don't have the strength to stop it.
Auburn and Oregon are up-tempo, finesse teams with smaller, faster players. They get to the line quick, use misdirection, and get the defense on their heels. You're gassed and confused and eventually give up big chucks of yardage.
I think things tend to go awry when you try to combine the two. Who wouldn't want to be fast, confusing, and powerful? Sounds great, right? Trouble is that these are often mutually exclusive endeavors. The linemen that Oregon needs to run its system (smaller more mobile) are different from those Wisconsin needs to run its physical system (massive road-graders). This is not to mention that the more time you try sharpening one attribute, the rustier the other one gets.
IMO, we need to pick one--up-tempo spread offense or smashmouth power-run--and stick with it.
I would like to disagree with you on some of your points. Let's start with the O-line. Big, slow, and strong is good for goal line or 3 yards and a cloud of dust. It'll be a long, slow grind. That's not smash mouth football. The oldest "power running" system EVER is the old single wing of the pre WWII days. There were almost no passING plays, so the QB was another running back. He took the snap from 4 yards behind the line (not under center: today we call it the shotgun snap) and would either hand the ball to a fullback in a dive, run off tackle himself, or pitch it to the halfback in a sweep. Later development lead to the first option run plays, and later to the first triple option plays. Most plays in this system used one or both pulling guards and a tight end or two as lead blockers. This system, developed by Pop Warner, was to help his small, undersized team compete with larger, stronger teams through trickery and misdirection. The idea of a pulling guard and a fullback to use as lead blockers in a Dive play straight up the middle blended some of the aspects of the Single Wing formation with the more popular "T" formation, which would later develope into the "I" formation. Devaney, here at NU, used the I with pulling guards and lead blockers to run a power set. Those guards had to be quick and agile enough to be able to get around the center to make a block on time. Dr. Tom took the I and added the triple option of the old Single Wing and the (very very popular at the time) Wishbone, and made the option offense he was so famous for. The thing all these offenses had in common? Strong, but slightly smaller and faster linemen. Or at least very agile linemen. Bigger doesn't always mean better. Besides, blocking is all about balance and strength, not size. In fact, smaller and stronger linemen are able to get better leverage against larger opponents and can make much better blockers. It takes tremendous leg strength, though.
Now, combining Oregon's spread option with the Power option is actually quite easy. Just run a pistol formation, but set a fullback 1.5 yards to one side of the QB. He can lead block along with a pulling guard anywhere along the line, he can take the ball himself for a FB dive in short yardage situations, he can be one part of a triple option, he can be a lead blocker on a speed option pitch to the outside, and can motion out of the backfield to a slot position for a 4 verticals play along with the 3 recievers in this hypothetical formation. Power running isn't about size, it's about strength, scheme, and timing. Practice will perect all three of these things. The scary part is that Oregon has already started to apply some of these power blocking schemes to their inside zone read plays. So has Auburn, for that matter.
What I don't understand is why Beck has nearly the perfect personel for this kind of scheme, but
runs a zone blocking cutback running game. It baffles me.
If you want to know more about different schemes on offense or defense, just let me know.
