Shama: U to Dial Back Quarterback Runs

[BleedGopher]

per Shama:

The Gophers apparently will minimize the number of hits their quarterbacks will be exposed to next fall. “I think there’s a lot of the quarterback run game that we kind of got rid of,” Philip Nelson said.

Fewer hits on Nelson and his backups can mean less chance of injuries. The Gophers have minimal game experience at quarterback. As a freshman, Nelson started seven games last year in relief of injured quarterbacks MarQueis Gray and Max Shortell.

Behind Nelson now on the quarterback depth chart is redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner and true freshman Chris Streveler.

The rushing game responsibility will focus on the running backs. Nelson was encouraged by the Gophers’ rushing game in the Meineke Car Care Bowl loss to Texas Tech and sees the performance as a predictor of success in 2013. Running backs Donnell Kirkwood and Rodrick Williams were the team’s leading rushers in the game with 77 and 60 net yards, part of a team total of 222. “I think our running game will be tremendous this year,” Nelson said. “No doubt about it.”

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!

 

[wait!what?]

I'll believe it when I see it. I am expecting everything the same but hope for better execution.

 

[Monty519]

I'm pretty sure the fact that they spent an entire off season working an offense around MarQueis Gray had a lot to do with all the QB running we saw. I think they feel more comfortable with the running backs they're working with and likely the receiving options as well, making it a little easier to be more traditional-like with the offense and not rely on the QB to produce more of the running attack.

 

[mkAz]

The QB's did seem to be playing under the center at the spring game more than I can recall from last year. I wonder if Shortell would have been a better fit in this type of system?

 

[Dr.Don]

The QB's did seem to be playing under the center at the spring game more than I can recall from last year. I wonder if Shortell would have been a better fit in this type of system?

\\

Who knows? He's gone. Good question tho.

 

[...]

The QB's did seem to be playing under the center at the spring game more than I can recall from last year. I wonder if Shortell would have been a better fit in this type of system?

Shortell was definitely more of a pocket passer, so it probably would have been better for him. It seems we really changed the offense to tailor to Gray's rushing ability.

 

[Dilemina]

Quarterback rushing yards will still be a big part of the offense, but not as much of a focal point as with Gray. Gray was quite elusive, and with the skill we had at running-back oline and receiver, it was pretty much the defacto way to gain yards.

Nelson and Leidner have a more experienced team to play around with and their skill sets are more balanced when talking about what is expected from a QB. So it only makes sense that they will use the running-back more in the rushing game, and throw more passes too.

If we play a team that has a hard time keying up on the QB runs though, expect quite a few, as even if these QBs are not as quick and elusive as Gray was, they can still make gain some yards rushing the ball.

Also kill and company are not shy about throwing QBs to the wolves, so we can probably expect to see two or three QBs getting time this year.

Sent f
rom my PLAYSTATION PHONE using tapatalk

 

[wait!what?]

Spring Game = no QB contact = no QB runs
Kill would have recruited pocket passers if it met his game plan. it doesn't

Kill told us when he got here that he and his staff have a plan and they don't veer from it. running qbs are an integral part of the plan.

 

[husker70]

The spring game showed power I, stacked I, and one back sets. They now have Henry and I think Hartman at Fullback. The talk since the Bowl Game was power. The QB in the Northern Illinois system ran when teams dropped in zone coverage. It was a second option to throwing the ball. The zone read, option is gone. Now that we have 2 years of Kill and Klein we are bigger and stronger, there is no need to try to finesse the ball. You may see a QB escaping out the back door after establishing the run. The play action is most effective after you have established the run. If you don't sell the fake, you will get buried when you turn to throw. I think they will be happy with the QB running maybe 5-10 times a game when it is called for, and not by design. The bulk of the carries are going to Kirkwood and Williams. It will critical to see the offense run the ball effectively from the first game throughout the pre-season. Make a few tweaks and take it to Iowa.

 

[oleboy41]

Limey has consistently said they won't run the QBs as much. We had to do it a ton last year because we couldn't get the running game going much traditionally so we needed the numbers advantage.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

I am all in favor of this. Let the big backs bruise their way, and let Felipe carve up a secondary.

 

[Killjoy]

Limey has consistently said they won't run the QBs as much. We had to do it a ton last year because we couldn't get the running game going much traditionally so we needed the numbers advantage.

People don't seem to realize with Gray we didn't have much of a passing game and running the ball was Gray's strength last year. We now have more options, so by saying less, he is not saying it won't be an important part of the offense this year. It will be.