The zone blocking scheme has really set up some average backs for failure here. It’s too easy to defend and it’s been a while since we have been able to consistently kill teams with our running game. I’d like us to get back to power football and start running people over again.
Is Iowa ever going to have a strong running game under Ferentz?
- Thread starter Jim_Beaner
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I think the only thing you and I are going to agree on is that A3 running back offense doesn't work. We need to have Sergeant as the starter and Young as the change-of-pace back. Ivory is too banged up and out of rhythm this late in the season to get meaningful carries.
If you look at our ypc rushing stat we really haven’t been impressive. This is nothing new. We were ranked like 99th last year with Wadley. I don’t think we’ve been in the top 50 since 2008. That’s a big problem for a team like us.
Ask Shonn Greene. Or Ladell Betts. Or Fred Russell. Or Jordan Canzeri. Or Leshun Daniels. Or Akrum Wadley. Or Albert Young.
I actually think the running game is going to suffer as we transition more towards Brian's offense. But, I think we will end up being a much more balanced team in the end. With better balance, we should be able to attract better WR's, hopefully anyway.
I think Young is the best of them all...he runs downhill but that just my observation
All 3 RB's have moments...but I am most impressed with Sargent's ability to get extra yards after contact.
Wadley made plays out of nothing while he was here. Without that type of back, the running game is fall forward for 3 yards and 0 ability to pop anything. I would be curious to know the yards per carry on the dozen or more play calls to the short side of the field. I suspect it would be something like .02 or negative.
It goes hand in hand with having a QB that can consistently hit receivers and in turn, them catching it when it is actually near enough to get their hands on it. If the Defenses can cheat on the run because 4 has issues with keeping the passes in the same area code as the receivers he's throwing to then running the ball is going to be a challenge every week. Iowa needs both options working to win games like the PSU game. Missing on 31 passes......not acceptable.
Agree with the RBs comment I don’t know if I totally agree with the OL narrative. It’s been pretty pedistrian for awhile. Yes, a few pros sprinkled in for good measure but far too many times when we need the OL like we did yesterday against a good team we have difficulty moving the ball and getting what we want when we want it. We gave up 3 sacks when coming in we gave up 6 all year. The OL looks good against the mediocre or avg teams but when it counts ... not so much.
PSU completely sold out to stop the run. They had no reason not to. As previously stated, no defense is going to honor the passing game unless the offense shows they can hurt them with it. Teams have had the zone blocking scheme figured out for several years now. Penetrate. Don't chase laterally. Force the ball carrier to run wide and have LBs and safeties clean up behind them because the safeties don't have to respect getting beaten deep. Iowa's succesful running plays yesterday largely were on gap blocking plays. If they can't create a consistent passing game, they will never again have success running like they did earlier in KF's tenure.
