All of the blame on the poor running game the last few weeks is justified, but the defenses are not only getting 8 defenders in the box but they are crashing down very hard at the line of scrimmage. A play action pass behind those linebackers to Fant or Hockenson would work great wouldn't it?
I think our biggest problem though is something I haven't seen mentioned much. Sure our defense bends but they are giving up drive after drive and valuable time of possession for our offense. Our offense is getting limited touches and when they do they are usually backed up inside there own 10. How many possesions have we been inside our own 15 the last two weeks. I bet it has been close to a third of our possessions. Can somebody check this. Yes our defense is well coached and the second half today they played very well, but our lack of playmakers on the dline allows quarterbacks to sit back and pick us apart. That's what made the early 2000 teams with Roth, Hodge, And Babineaux so special. Players that can beat their man and make a play.
When we blitzed today they burned us. People say we need to play talented youngsters like AJ more but on that last third and 10 he didn't contain his gap and Lewarke ran 15 for the first down. This is something our other experienced dlineman do well. This is why Kirk doesn't play youngsters, like Smith's fumble, their mistakes are just too costly.
Akrum reminds me of Tavian. He has great game breaking quickness but he doesn't have the strength to run in between the tackles against quality Big Ten teams. Losing Butler hurts us. I know this is sacrilege , but I'm not sure Akrum should be our every down back, he is just too easy to take down. I know he has carried us but it's too much boom or bust. We need 2 to 4 yards more consistently and we are having trouble getting 1.
I think our biggest problem though is something I haven't seen mentioned much. Sure our defense bends but they are giving up drive after drive and valuable time of possession for our offense. Our offense is getting limited touches and when they do they are usually backed up inside there own 10. How many possesions have we been inside our own 15 the last two weeks. I bet it has been close to a third of our possessions. Can somebody check this. Yes our defense is well coached and the second half today they played very well, but our lack of playmakers on the dline allows quarterbacks to sit back and pick us apart. That's what made the early 2000 teams with Roth, Hodge, And Babineaux so special. Players that can beat their man and make a play.
When we blitzed today they burned us. People say we need to play talented youngsters like AJ more but on that last third and 10 he didn't contain his gap and Lewarke ran 15 for the first down. This is something our other experienced dlineman do well. This is why Kirk doesn't play youngsters, like Smith's fumble, their mistakes are just too costly.
Akrum reminds me of Tavian. He has great game breaking quickness but he doesn't have the strength to run in between the tackles against quality Big Ten teams. Losing Butler hurts us. I know this is sacrilege , but I'm not sure Akrum should be our every down back, he is just too easy to take down. I know he has carried us but it's too much boom or bust. We need 2 to 4 yards more consistently and we are having trouble getting 1.
