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Concerned about our running game

Stuck

Well-known member
Any thoughts on this? This is the one item that conerns me the most about the Cowboys this year, and I would have never expected it 2 months ago. I was excited about watching Alexander with a year under his belt and Kankolongo coming in as a Freshman. ACS needs a running game to buy time to work his magic. Is it our O-line, is it a running back issue, or is it a non-issue? I'm hoping that the Boise game is our break out game for rushing yards.
I'd love to hear peoples thoughts on this.
 
Like I have said, its a combination of those things mentioned above, plus i would add we are making the wrong read on many of the zone read option plays. It seemed like everytime ACS should have handed it off he kept it and everytime he should have kept it he handed it off.
 
It's mostly an O-line and ACS issue. The O-line isn't opening up any holes and ACS has been making the wrong read at least 1/3 of the time.

Getting better at making the correct zone read can improve with more experience and a little bit more time in the film room. With the spread offense becoming so popular in the last few years, many of the DE's have gotten really good at disguising whether they will stay at home or crash down on the RB. That being said, each and every DE has some small quirk that will give it away. It's critical that ACS get in the film room and tries to pick up on those things.

The O-line issue is of more concern to me. I think these are the best 5 guys we got and they aren't cutting it. Yeah, they might improve slightly over the course of the year, but we need drastic improvment and fast. I'm afraid this will be our achiles heel all season long. The fact that the staff has put some emphasis on bring in some JUCO O-linemen in this next recruiting class makes me think they know they need immediate help in that area.
 
I think ACS is more of an issue in the sense that he can improve what he is doing and improve our running game when he gets it figured out. I also think we improved against Texas its just that they are a good defense. Our running game will struggle agaisnt elite defenses this year but will probably do well against lesser d's. I believe the suu game was a fluke game and the first game of the year which caused our running game to look really bad.

We will struggle in the running game against tcu, boise, and possibly AF and Utah. Lets hope our passing game is much improved which it appears that it is. Our o-line is what it is, we are missing nick puetz so maybe next year we can get some players that will push this years group.
 
DC may need to go to a pistol formation for running plays, as it seems that we really only get anywhere (minus backwards) is when we run straight up the gut.
 
DC may need to go to a pistol formation for running plays, as it seems that we really only get anywhere (minus backwards) is when we run straight up the gut.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. If I recall from spring and fall practices we had some pistol formations. Also, this year we were not supposed to have any full backs on the roster but we Studnicka was made a fullback and so was another DE whose name I cant remember. Maybe will see the use of a fb on obvious running plays but it kind of goes against the spread philosphy.
 
marcuswyo said:
DC may need to go to a pistol formation for running plays, as it seems that we really only get anywhere (minus backwards) is when we run straight up the gut.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. If I recall from spring and fall practices we had some pistol formations. Also, this year we were not supposed to have any full backs on the roster but we Studnicka was made a fullback and so was another DE whose name I cant remember. Maybe will see the use of a fb on obvious running plays but it kind of goes against the spread philosphy.
It may go against the spread philosophy, but until we can really get things going on the ground, it will be a long day.
 
OrediggerPoke said:
Just my opinion but zone-read and inside handoffs are not good plays to run against a team with good D-line speed like TX.


I think the Texas D-line speed is very close to what we will see from BSU, AF, & TCU this year. I agree our zone-read and inside handoffs are too slow developing and easy for the D to see - especially against these teams.
 
We might need to throw away the zone read against tougher teams until we get our O-line improved. Zone blocking schemes are much harder than simple man-on-man blocking. Footwork and instinct are crucial in zone blocking.

I would like to see us start off with lots of draws and screens until we can slow down BSU's d line and keep them guessing a little.
 

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