Run up the Middle

Cloned4Life

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So run the ball how
Many times to set up one play? Besides the Iowa Hawkeyes, name one other successful team that keeps doing the same thing over and over just to set up one play on 4th down
LOL! Correct.

I am still laughing at the thought that the Dean play "worked" because we stubbornly repeatedly ran into the teeth of the defense most of the night, stalling out many other drives, putting us behind the sticks on early downs continuously, etc.
 
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Dgilbertson

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If you have the answers you should talk to them, they'd hire you as a consultant for sure and then we'd be national champs, why are you being selfish keeping it to yourself?
I’ve got a lot more difficult things on my plate than being an offensive consultant to a P5 football program. CMC and this crew need to GET IT TOGETHER! The goal is to win. You win by running successful plays.

CMC, GIVE YER HEAD A SHAKE!!

Also, I’m more of a ‘big idea’ guy.
 
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shagcarpetjesus

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We run between the tackles on well over 80% of first downs. If you don't think that is a problem you are clueless. It is literally the definition of insanity. We ran the ball 21 times for 9 f'n yards. What are we trying to prove?

You might want to check the actual stats. In the first half we ran 13 plays on first down. 6 passes and 7 runs. Not exactly well over 80% rushing attempts. Rocco was 2-6 on those 1st down passes for 30 yards. Some good yardage on the completions, but it’s not like we were connecting consistently.

In the second half we had 11 first down plays: 5 passes and 6 runs. We were much more effective in this half on those pass plays. Rocco was 4-5 for 81 yards and a TD. The one incompletion was the INT.

There’s nothing wrong with criticizing the play calling, it’s your right as a fan. But don’t say something like we were well over 80% on first down when we were basically 50/50 with run/pass distribution.
 

CloniesForLife

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I didn’t have a problem with how the game was called from an offensive standpoint, even the runs in to the black hole, I get what the point of that is. No one seems to be talking about another game lost to ST debacles. That EP doesn’t get blocked and returned I think this game goes a completely different direction.
Also missed a FG. So that extra point should've been for the tie
 

CyGuy5

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You HAVE to run up the middle some to keep the defense honest, even if you don't expect it to work much. This was the first time in a while it didn't work AT ALL.

It would have been nice to run a few more times to the outside - pitch, jet sweep, whatever. Might not have worked either, but maybe pulling them inside was the goal, idk.

I was disappointed they didn't run a sluggo route a couple times - the slants were working so well, you're telling me they wouldn't have bit on that once? Against a great defense, sometimes you only score by scheming (e.g. TD to Dean). Although maybe they did try this and Rocco got buried before he could throw.
You mean the second time in three weeks it didn’t work at all. We couldn’t run the ball at all against a bad Kansas defense either. It has to be an OL problem because they do just fine pass blocking

I would be curious to know how many times we ran the ball immediately after a 3rd down conversion or a big gain, because that’s my biggest gripe. When the momentum was going our way and Texas was on their heels it felt like a run for no gain came immediately after almost every single time
 
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CascadeClone

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Missed FG’s happen, I can live with that. Getting an EP blocked and returned for 2 might happen once a season, maybe less. Shouldn’t be happening in Week 11.

I won't say that solely cost the game, but sure didn't help. It's a lot different game imho if they make that kick.

Just a couple plays short, and this was one of them. Play this well at KSU, and they will be right in that game too.
 
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Mr.G.Spot

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LOL! Correct.

I am still laughing at the thought that the Dean play "worked" because we stubbornly repeatedly ran into the teeth of the defense most of the night, stalling out many other drives, putting us behind the sticks on early downs continuously, etc.
Laugh all you want, but it dramatically helped in the success of that play. Even the strong safety bit.
 
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SCNCY

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Also missed a FG. So that extra point should've been for the tie

Even though we missed a field goal, it was a 51 yarder. Hardly a give me.

For the greater discussion of this thread.

Regarding our running plays, I don't recall us really trying to run to the outside much. That may have been a better approach than going up the middle.

Overall, the way this offense has gone this year, we need to pass in order to set up the run. Looking at our play spread, we had 32 pass attempts to 21 run attempts which comes to 60% pass and 40% running. I think we could have made better use of our running plays if we had decided to run outside more.
 

madguy30

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Missed FG’s happen, I can live with that. Getting an EP blocked and returned for 2 might happen once a season, maybe less. Shouldn’t be happening in Week 11.

I'd put the illegal formation that negated a high yardage play some time in the 3rd or 4th quarter (my memory's a little fuzzy from beers) over the returned PAT for things that shouldn't happen outside of game one or two.
 

Gunnerclone

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I'd put the illegal formation that negated a high yardage play some time in the 3rd or 4th quarter (my memory's a little fuzzy from beers) over the returned PAT for things that shouldn't happen outside of game one or two.

Agree. Chose to focus on that solely for the colossal momentum shift the XP caused. Those formation penalties are kind of baked in to the CMC cake for me, seems it’s a theme over the CMC years, they really push the envelope in that regard.
 

madguy30

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Agree. Chose to focus on that solely for the colossal momentum shift the XP caused. Those formation penalties are kind of baked in to the CMC cake for me, seems it’s a theme over the CMC years, they really push the envelope in that regard.

Formations or offsides penalties from over shifting following an explosive play when the opponent is on their heels.
 

CyGuy5

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I'd put the illegal formation that negated a high yardage play some time in the 3rd or 4th quarter (my memory's a little fuzzy from beers) over the returned PAT for things that shouldn't happen outside of game one or two.
We have had so many formation penalties this year it is unreal. No idea how guys still can’t line up correctly in game 11
 

nrg4isu

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We have had so many formation penalties this year it is unreal. No idea how guys still can’t line up correctly in game 11

We've had what 4? 5?

It'd be interesting to know exactly how many. I can only think of 3. The one against Texas and another where there were 2 guys in motion who didn't get set before the play. And another where Jaylen Noel didn't get set for long enough after a pre-snap motion.

I remember a ton of these types of calls when we had Brock/Kolar/Allen because they wouldn't end up on/off the line as they were supposed to.
 
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Gunnerclone

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We have had so many formation penalties this year it is unreal. No idea how guys still can’t line up correctly in game 11

I will give my theory again on this. With how many we have, imo it’s about pushing the envelope on what we can get away with. I’m not buying the “guys don’t know how to line up” argument for the majority of these calls. It happens when we have veteran teams, it happens when we have a mix, and it happens when we have young teams.
 
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nrg4isu

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I will give my theory again on this. With how many we have, imo it’s about pushing the envelope on what we can get away with. I’m not buying the “guys don’t know how to line up” argument for the majority of these calls. It happens when we have veteran teams, it happens when we have a mix, and it happens when we have young teams.

All teams push the envelope, but mostly on WR rub plays. What constitutes a rub versus a pick? That HAS to be difficult to decern as an official. I also think they do this with the pre-snap motion stuff, but more in the what constitutes being set before a play versus still in motion. Texas got away with a WR pick, but unlike most, this one was down the field 15-20 yards.

I think as far as who is on the line versus off can be a challenge just for the WR's eyes. If you watch WRs get set out of a huddle, they're often checking with the linesman to see whether they're in the right spot or not and then adjusting. Happens multiple times every game in the NFL. When you're in motion, especially more than 1 guy in motion, I can see that being difficult to do quickly.
 

cyclones500

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I didn’t have a problem with how the game was called from an offensive standpoint, even the runs in to the black hole, I get what the point of that is. No one seems to be talking about another game lost to ST debacles. That EP doesn’t get blocked and returned I think this game goes a completely different direction.
In addition to the point-swing, it was such a momentum-deflator. Perhaps it wouldn't have mattered in the end, but I wish we could do an alternate reality and find out.
 

Dgilbertson

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It’s not about fewer runs! It’s about not calling plays that don’t work! We want and need imagination! Wow us! Don’t run plays that don’t work!

Don’t try to get objective and nail down specifics. “What would you like to see?” “How many fewer runs?” We don’t need to be gaslit! We know what we want! It’s pretty clear!
THIS!!! A WEEK LATE BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE!!!