Gold Rush
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2008
- Messages
- 1,868
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- 113
The first thing we need to do better next year is run the football. If a team can't run the football, it is very tough to beat a good team because you become one-dimensional, it's hard to pick up 3rd and short conversions, and it's hard to control the time of possession and run the clock down.
Unfortunately, the 44 yards that our running backs gave us today has become all too common for us -- we are very bad at it and our rushing game has become a joke.
I was glad to see Hoese in there and he helped convert 2 touchdowns for us. There is nothing wrong with power football, especially if we get bigger and stronger offensive linemen. I would much prefer to be able to smash the football on 3rd or 4th and short than have to pass for it, or at least have the OPTION of doing it.
Next year, I think Carufel should help and the offensive linemen are all returning with a year under their belts. I do think Davis will help, but Brewster has to know the fans are all saying, "Hey we used to rush for 200-300 yards a game against the best rush defenses in the country, why can't we rush for even 100 yards a game right now?"
I don't fault the offensive line for the entire problems we have here, though. Our WR's were very poor at blocking. One thing that made Mason's teams run the ball so well is that our WR's did a great job of sealing off their defenders. Also, we flat out need better running backs. Eskridge and Saloman did their best, but they were both young and inexperienced and not quite ready for the prime time. They should both be improved, but I think a lot of people are hoping that Lipscomb, Whaley and a healthy Bennett will be back -- they should all help us out there. Lastly, and not too many people have talked about this, Weber can help the running game too, by audibling or setting the blocking scheme to match what the blitz package is. I can not point out any specific examples there, but a good QB can help out the running game a lot. I praise the coaching staff for cutting down Weber's carries this year -- even though they were effective, you can't get him banged up and by rushing less, his YPC will go up as the defenses aren't keying on him and expecting it as much.
Whatever the case is, we need to make it a priority to run the football a whole lot better than we did this year and I think that will help us out a lot!!!
Unfortunately, the 44 yards that our running backs gave us today has become all too common for us -- we are very bad at it and our rushing game has become a joke.
I was glad to see Hoese in there and he helped convert 2 touchdowns for us. There is nothing wrong with power football, especially if we get bigger and stronger offensive linemen. I would much prefer to be able to smash the football on 3rd or 4th and short than have to pass for it, or at least have the OPTION of doing it.
Next year, I think Carufel should help and the offensive linemen are all returning with a year under their belts. I do think Davis will help, but Brewster has to know the fans are all saying, "Hey we used to rush for 200-300 yards a game against the best rush defenses in the country, why can't we rush for even 100 yards a game right now?"
I don't fault the offensive line for the entire problems we have here, though. Our WR's were very poor at blocking. One thing that made Mason's teams run the ball so well is that our WR's did a great job of sealing off their defenders. Also, we flat out need better running backs. Eskridge and Saloman did their best, but they were both young and inexperienced and not quite ready for the prime time. They should both be improved, but I think a lot of people are hoping that Lipscomb, Whaley and a healthy Bennett will be back -- they should all help us out there. Lastly, and not too many people have talked about this, Weber can help the running game too, by audibling or setting the blocking scheme to match what the blitz package is. I can not point out any specific examples there, but a good QB can help out the running game a lot. I praise the coaching staff for cutting down Weber's carries this year -- even though they were effective, you can't get him banged up and by rushing less, his YPC will go up as the defenses aren't keying on him and expecting it as much.
Whatever the case is, we need to make it a priority to run the football a whole lot better than we did this year and I think that will help us out a lot!!!
