STrib: Gophers know they'll need to pass to beat Nebraska

[Iceland12]

Memories are tricky. We lined up in a 1 running back, 1 TE and 3 WR sets 50% of the time during that game. We passed twice as much out of that formation then we ran. We only used our usual heavy personnel formations (our strength) a quarter of the time. It was a perfect example of abandoning our identity to try and play to an opponent's weakness (Iowa did not have a good secondary coming into that game). So we got the results you mentioned.

 

[Ole]

Nebraska has not really been challenged by a good running team.

BYU is 109th in rushing, but 27th in passing offense

South Alabama is 111th in rushing, but 51s in passing offense

Miami is 98th in rushing, but 18th in passing offense

Southern Miss is 73rd in rushing, but 13th in passing offense

Illinois 101st in rushing, but 34th in passing offense

Wisconsin 77th in rushing, but 56th in passing offense

Southern Miss is the best rushing team they have faced.

Dive deeper into those stats and you see that this Nebraska rush defense is not what it cracks up to be.
BYU's running QB racked up yards on them before getting injured. They ran very few times but had some huge averages between their top rushers.

Miami had a respectable per rush attempt average of 4.0, they threw for 379 yards.

Southern Miss only ran for 11 yards but it included 2 rushing TD's and -30 some sack yards. They threw for 447 yards.

Illinois's #1 back ferguson had 50 yards on 4 carries before getting injured.

Wisky still ran for 4.3 yards per carry. Their leading rusher was 18 for 117 (6.5 per carry) They threw 50 times for 322 yards.

I'd say the real reason Nebraska's rush defense is so good is they gave up 30 yards rushing between their 2 cupcake games and they have been super bad against the pass.

 

[Hates Monikers]

You always "need" to pass, to at least establish a credible threat to keep everyone from playing the run the whole time... so yeah, but that's every game.

And the fact that we didn't do it against Northwestern provides evidence that it's something that could be considered.

 

[MinneStoa]

we run and then on 2nd and 3 we pull a fruchte for 40yds

I worry about potential eligibility issues with this game plan.

 

[cjbfbp]

There is the other side of the story. The main part. Looks like big days in the Passing Game against Nebraska could have led to those Rushing numbers. People who believe that the Gophers have no ability to throw the ball are throwing in the towel way to soon.

Yes, it's a sort of "what came first - the chicken or the egg question?" Is Nebraska giving up relatively few rushing yards because they are very good at stopping the run or because people are throwing so much because they are poor against the pass? The evidence seems to lean in favor of the latter explanation. Nevertheless, even if the running game is working well enough, the Gophers should try to take some advantage of Nebraska's relative weakness.

 

[Gopherocious]

I worry about potential eligibility issues with this game plan.

Didn't you hear? He's taking a week break from the Vikes practice squad to play the game against Nebraska

 

[Section2]

Run it till the stop it. If they cannot, then there is no reason to throw it. Its a simple game. Its all about the ball. Control it, protect it. Ball Security at all times. Woody Hayes had it correct. There are three things, actually four that can happen when you throw the ball, and three of them are bad. First you are sacked and suffer a loss of down and distance. Second intercepted. Third Incomplete loss of down.

If you remember last year, Nebraska could not set the edge on the backdoor.

Stop this drumbeat of throwing the ball.

You can fumble the ball, be tackled for a loss, or get tackled at the line of scrimmage for no gain.

 

[killme]

I think the film session showed better blocking technique, effort and attitude would have helped against NW.

 

[Spoofin]

We will run. If it isn't working, we will run more. If we end up going to the air any significant amount, it will be later than most on here will want.

 

[Donovan]

I was happy to read this:

“If you want to run the football, you have to keep [Nebraska] off-balance a little bit,” offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. “You can’t just dive it between the tackles and hope for the best.”