[Husker] Depth Chart

[Andy Knipp]

One point of OL/running games is that the type of running back you have can dictate the type of OL you need. The Huskers of old ran a lot of pulling guards (and tackles) as well as a bunch of traps. That and other misdirection would often open a hole that a fast RB can exploit (like Marlon). However when you move to 350# OL and a ton of zone blocking (just hit the guy who is closest to you), then instead of a hole, you have a lot of seams. So a defender will typically get a shoulderpad or arm on the RB, but a power back should plow through. One of the articles talks about how the OL is losing weight. Hopefully they can pull and trap some more and make more holes for the RBs. 

On Jul 22, 2008, nolan at romaine.tssi.com wrote: 

> It might work better if when Lucky was running between the tackles his  
> own offensive line might get the hell out of the way. They were big  
> and slow last year. Perhaps this season when they're run-blocking they  
> could get off the ball and Lucky will find some space between the  
> tackles.

In general blocking schemes for running plays are designed to create 
holes that the runner goes through.  However, it is much easier to 
create those holes and thus be out of the way of the runner if you 
aren't being pushed around or knocked flat by the defense, which was 
often the case last year.  

The extent to which they can change that in 2008 will go a long way
towards defining the success of the team.
--
Mike Nolan