Improving the Run

[IceBoxGopher]

So, clearly, the rushing attack hasn't been great the last few games. While it seemed fine early in the year against the first couple overmatched opponents, it has certainly dropped off.

Here's the total rushing stats and lead rusher from each game so far in the season.

• Vs. Buffalo. Team total: 153 Yards, 0 TDs. Darius Taylor, 141 Yards, 0 TDs - W
• Vs. Northwestern State. Team Total: 258 Yards, 5 TDs. Grant Washington, 126 Yards, 0 TDs - W
• Vs. California. Team Total: 130 Yards, 1 TD. Fame Ijeboi, 85 Yards, 0 TDs - L
• Vs. Rutgers. Team Total: 35 Yards, 1 TD. Fame Ijeboi, 37 Yards, 1 TD - W
• Vs. Ohio State. Team Total: 68 Yards, 0 TDs. Fame Ijeboi, 52 Yards, 0 TDs - L
• Vs. Purdue. Team Total: 30 Yards, 0 TDs. Darius Taylor, 32 Yards, 0 TDs - W

And here's the running backs getting the most attempts so far this season.

• Fame Ijeboi, 238 Yards, 1 TD - RS FR
• Darius Taylor, 205 Yards, 0 TDs - JR
• Grant Washington, 126 Yards, 0 TDs - FR
• Cam Davis, 85 Yards, 2 TDs - SR
• AJ Turner, 64 Yards, 1 TD - RS JR

All things considered, the running back room has a standout in Taylor, and a mix of experience with upper classmen and promising rookies like Ijeboi. So, what has hindered the run game so much in 2025? Is it that much confidence in Drake? Is Taylor being used too much in the passing game? It seems like Darius is getting more targets this year.

With Taylor seeming to be healthy and Ijeboi appearing to be useful, I feel like right now the issue is coming down to the offensive line. Here's how that unit lines up right now:

• Nathan Roy, 6-5, 304 lbs, RS FR
• Greg Johnson, 6-7, 325 lbs, JR
• Ashton Beers, 6-6, 315 lbs, RS JR
• Marcellus Marshall, 6-6, 330 lbs, RS SR
• Dylan Ray, 6-6, 320 lbs, SR

It seems like the size and experience is there. I wonder if it's a mix of a lot of these guys being new to the schemes as transfers and Roy still learning as a rookie. Regardless, it feels like there are pieces here for a run game to be at least somewhat successful, certainly being able to gain more than 30 yards a game.

I'm curious what thoughts the Gopher Hole community has on the issues and what you'd like to see from the rushing attack moving forward? Clearly the team has still been managing to win games and Drake has been able to make things happen, but having a more balanced offense would certainly help.

 

[BilldGopher]

Can't count Northwestern State Loozanna as a game for this analysis. Take that off the board and the big gainer is 153 yards against Buffalo and mostly dropping from there.

Interestingly we got 68 yards against The OH-IO State.

 

[mkAz]

I would like to see Kahlee Tafai plugged in at OT, move Johnson back to OG, bench Ray or Marshall.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

OL just doesn’t get a push, misses assignments, etc.

It doesn’t help that there is blood in the water and the game plan for any opposing team is to ATTACK. Blitzes, stunts, etc.

 

[Gopherchase]

For it to be this bad there must be multiple things that are effed up. Get 74 out of there widen those splits out a little bit lineup under center like we did against Buffalo more and let’s go. Even if our players aren’t that good, the scheme must be bad in order for our run game to be this pathetic.