I'm not blaming the RB's yet...
If you people recall, Our running game was also lackluster last year too.
I'm starting to think the struggles are more scheme related than putting the blame on any single RB.
Quote:Denard was splitting reps with Cobb in the 4th quarter of the first preseason game. That does not look good for him. I'd hoped to see him more in the 2nd quarter but it didn't happen. I'm hoping he can show enough progression so the coaches put him on the field earlier.
Denard was the lone back on the second play of the Jaguars opening drive in the third quarter. He did more than split the 4th with Cobb.
Quote:Storm Johnson looked like a guy out there trying to utilize speed and agility he doesn't have.
He was making good reads but he has to realize he's a big kid out there. Lower your shoulder and plow over these tiny DBs and get that extra yard.
He did the thing I can't stand on a couple of occasions where he'd hit the line and turn his back to try to get more yardage, but that never works well. Stay low and push forward. He's an interesting back to watch, but he's got a ways to go.
As far as Denard goes, that TD was a great run for him, but it was a misdirection play that allowed him to take the pitch in open field. When they tapped him to run the stretch, or to punch it between the tackles, he struggled, as did the other backs. The line didn't do any favors for any of the guys. Decent lanes were few and far between.
Quote:Fixed.
We had lack of talent on the interior of the OL for many years now, including 2012 and before....and the running game was better at that point than it's been since we brought in the new OL coach/ changed to ZBS.
Quote:We had lack of talent on the interior of the OL for many years now, including 2012 and before....and the running game was better at that point than it's been since we brought in the new OL coach/ changed to ZBS.
Meester, Uche >>>>> Brewster, UDFA/Rookie
Quote:Meester, Uche >>>>> Brewster, UDFA/Rookie
Um, we had Meester and Uche last year and our running game was still putrid.
The YPC with the running game in 2012 were much better.
Also, Detroit's running game with this OL coach was largely disappointing as well.
Theres too much that point to the OL coach/ scheme as a huge contributing issue for the running game's struggles.
I think the blocking scheme isn't clicking with these guys yet and I think we still have talent issues at C and RG. Although I do think Linder may turn out to be solid or better at RG. I have zero confidence in Brewster right now.
Hard to really judge the run game with this going on, and it's likely to be an issue going into the season.
Quote:its Jedd Fisch
Its not Jedd Fisch. Fisch had some success running the ball at Miami.
Quote:it's Fisch. i am a Miami fan....he is not good with running the ball.
he averaged 145 ypg both seasons which placed UM at 71st nationally and 83rd nationally
anything else you'd like to throw out there?
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/leader/nati...ort01.html
Lamar Miller was pretty good from what I remember. So...
If the issue is coaching, it has more to do with the OL coach than Fisch. The OL coach has overseen many poor running game's at THIS level of football than to pin it all on Fisch.
Quote:Fixed.
He is just setting the stage to send the coaching staff to the gallows if the opportunity presents itself.
Also idk who said it, but I would be afraid storm would get claimed off the practice squad if he wound up there.
The end around misdirection play was nice but the problem is if d rob is in the game that's what they will expect.
Gonna be Interesting to see maybe 2 rb sets. With gerhart and d rob to exploit matchups and add some confusion.
I still don't care for todman, just not a fan of his. I wish we saw Toby play but again our Oline will effect our Backs play too.
I hope Drob has. Great pre seSon tho
I think we have some untalented RB's after Gerhart in addition to some crap run blocking. Is it scheme? A bit too early to tell but its not out of the question like some people think. I really am interested to see how well gerhart will do this season.
People blaming Fisch for the interior o-line being complete trash. lol
Quote:Um, we had Meester and Uche last year and our running game was still putrid.
The YPC with the running game in 2012 were much better.
Also, Detroit's running game with this OL coach was largely disappointing as well.
Theres too much that point to the OL coach/ scheme as a huge contributing issue for the running game's struggles.
It's not the scheme. A successful running play has so many moving parts, it takes a while to make it work. We have a lot of new players. You have to have good players, and then it takes time to get all the moving parts in sync. You can't scheme your way into a successful running game.
Quote:I think we have some untalented RB's after Gerhart in addition to some crap run blocking. Is it scheme? A bit too early to tell but its not out of the question like some people think. I really am interested to see how well gerhart will do this season.
I totally disagree that we have "untalented RB after Gerhart". On the contrary, I think both Cobb and Storm are very talented, and even Todman is capable of 4.0+ YPC. Cobb's issue is he's coming off of a foot injury last year, IIRC....which is a shame, because if you watch his footage pre-injury he was a special player. I bring that up only because his injury may/ may not be still some sort of factor. Denard Robinson is not a prototypical RB and is still learning the position, so we don't know what he is, there, yet or if he'll ever become anything. I don't blame the OL on any struggles from Denard.
Quote:It's not the scheme. A successful running play has so many moving parts, it takes a while to make it work. We have a lot of new players. You have to have good players, and then it takes time to get all the moving parts in sync. You can't scheme your way into a successful running game.
You don't know that "its not the scheme". It may very well eventually prove not to be, but at this point its too early to dismiss that as a possibility. I already mentioned the run blocking issues Yarno's OL's have had over his past 4-5 years as a NFL OL coach, and Knapp from Oakland (just as another example) is another ZBS guy who's overseen HIDEOUS run blocking OL's. I remember Darren McFadden was coming off of a very promising season when they added Knapp in the following offseason and then their entire run blocking went to crap - same personnel, too.
However, there are some good run blocking ZBS's too....so I'm willing to give it some more time.
I'm just starting to lean in the direction that the OL coach/ scheme might indeed be a contributing factor to the lack of success there. Fisch might also be part of the issue, but since feature back Lamar Miller did pretty well under Fisch, I'm less inclined to believe he's the issue.