Did my eyes deceive me?

Donate To GopherHole
#93fanclub

#93fanclub

Active member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
234
Reaction score
190
Points
43
I could swear that I saw Brooks and Smith in the backfield at the same time for a play late in the game. How I long for the days with the QB under center with two backs to occupy the thoughts of the defense ala Maroney and Barber. That would seem to me to be especially important when the offensive line is struggling. I also wonder if we couldn't benefit from having a coach dedicated to coaching the O-line instead of the current OC/O-line setup. Finally, and it seems like we have to ask this every year, but could the DB's please turn their heads when the receiver is out of sideline real estate?
 

Did Maroney and Barber play together? I seem to remember them subbing in for each other. Now Tapeh and Barber, that was a smash mouth duo.
 

#93fanclub said:
I could swear that I saw Brooks and Smith in the backfield at the same time for a play late in the game. How I long for the days with the QB under center with two backs to occupy the thoughts of the defense ala Maroney and Barber. That would seem to me to be especially important when the offensive line is struggling. I also wonder if we couldn't benefit from having a coach dedicated to coaching the O-line instead of the current OC/O-line setup. Finally, and it seems like we have to ask this every year, but could the DB's please turn their heads when the receiver is out of sideline real estate?
Click to expand...
I guess one solution could be since you can only have so many assistants is Jerry could call the plays
 

#93fanclub said:
I could swear that I saw Brooks and Smith in the backfield at the same time for a play late in the game. How I long for the days with the QB under center with two backs to occupy the thoughts of the defense ala Maroney and Barber. That would seem to me to be especially important when the offensive line is struggling. I also wonder if we couldn't benefit from having a coach dedicated to coaching the O-line instead of the current OC/O-line setup. Finally, and it seems like we have to ask this every year, but could the DB's please turn their heads when the receiver is out of sideline real estate?
Click to expand...

Can't say this for sure, but I remember them being on the field a lot together, but with one of them usually split out. Then they would often run an end-around, or fake it and hand it off to the RB.
 

gopher7 said:
Can't say this for sure, but I remember them being on the field a lot together, but with one of them usually split out. Then they would often run an end-around, or fake it and hand it off to the RB.
Click to expand...

I think I remember Smith lined up in the slot at Northwestern with Brooks in the backfield. Jet sweep fake and then jet swep for little or no yardage.
 


It all depends one or or both of them be able to block. If or when that exists I"m sure that will happen. (I hope sooner rather then later)
 

gopher7 said:
Can't say this for sure, but I remember them being on the field a lot together, but with one of them usually split out. Then they would often run an end-around, or fake it and hand it off to the RB.
Click to expand...

For sure. One of our best plays from the Mason years was bringing maroney in motion and either handing off to Barber up the middle or giving to Maroney on the sweep. It was almost unstoppable with our mobile OL. Also think it's kind of interesting that Mason always took the braces off his OL. How many knee injuries for OL did he have? Compare to current injury situation. I know the braces seem to make sense, but maybe it's counterintiutive.
 

Section2 said:
For sure. One of our best plays from the Mason years was bringing maroney in motion and either handing off to Barber up the middle or giving to Maroney on the sweep. It was almost unstoppable with our mobile OL. Also think it's kind of interesting that Mason always took the braces off his OL. How many knee injuries for OL did he have? Compare to current injury situation. I know the braces seem to make sense, but maybe it's counterintiutive.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they usually do it the opposite way? Barber in motion with Maroney going up the middle? I swear that's how they generally ran it. And it bugged me because it seemed like they should be putting Maroney in motion instead.
 

2727Gopher said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they usually do it the opposite way? Barber in motion with Maroney going up the middle? I swear that's how they generally ran it. And it bugged me because it seemed like they should be putting Maroney in motion instead.
Click to expand...

You may be right, but Maroney was definitely in motion at times as well.
 



Section2 said:
For sure. One of our best plays from the Mason years was bringing maroney in motion and either handing off to Barber up the middle or giving to Maroney on the sweep. It was almost unstoppable with our mobile OL. Also think it's kind of interesting that Mason always took the braces off his OL. How many knee injuries for OL did he have? Compare to current injury situation. I know the braces seem to make sense, but maybe it's counterintiutive.
Click to expand...

The OL wore knee braces under Mason. Lone exception was Matt Anderle when he switched from DL to OL prior to his senior year.
 






Tim Riggins said:
The OL wore knee braces under Mason. Lone exception was Matt Anderle when he switched from DL to OL prior to his senior year.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the correction. Since you reminded me, I think it was the QBs who mason had take off the braces, and I was just wrong.
 

ChicagoGopher said:
This is a small sample but looks like mostly single back setshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR_aN0qg--g
Click to expand...

The 2000-2006 Mason teams tended to run mainly one back sets, with some exceptions involving Tapeh and Valentine (who where not true TB types but legitimate TBs on their own right). The exception was the Barber Maroney set introduced in the 2003 road game at Penn State where Maroney started in the slot, with Barber behind Asad Kahlique. Mason ran variations of this set for the next two years, with great success. Most of the yardage was gained in traditional sets with either Barber, Maroney or Gary Russell in a one back formation.

It really annoys me that the Kill/ Limgrover system cannot run on the edge, as was done in the Alabama win or on this play by Gary Russell an the Oline in 2005. All the Limegrove running plays are right up the gut, ever a wide play.

I do not think Limegrover and Kill even try to run outside, unless it a guy with a 4.9 forty time trying to do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88nLh3qykbU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88nLh3qykbU
 

That blocking almost brings a tear to my eye.

Anyway, I have a soft spot for hard runners like Barber, one of the precedents to Beast. He's been going through some stuff but he ought to be honored for being one of the more exciting and fearless RBs in recent years. Kind of a poor man's Barry Sanders at Dallas. I see a lot of Barber in this Brooks fella. He's gonna be an impressive one if he can stay healthy. Big knock on wood.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iqmIby3LYkQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom