[Husker] Power running plays

[David Strong]

I think this is a really good post.  (and btw Nick, it took a while but I *finally* got it about the Descartes footer on your posts.  I must not have been thinking before.)
 
Anyway, about the attitude.  You are right of course.  And how to get that attitude?  Give the boys some plays where their first and foremost assignment is to smash the guy in front of him.  Whether it's the WCO, or the Spread, or the combo (whatever Watson calls it), the OL has all sorts of reads to make before the play.  You can see it on virtually every play.  Lineman go into a half-stance, they are looking around, pointing at people, yelling out calls.  The OB starts pointing at people and yelling out calls to the lineman.  How about some running plays where the guys don't need to do all that.  If there is one thing Nebraska fans know about, it is watching running plays.  Sure the lineman check where the defense is, but on a running play, you know where the hole is supposed to be and your foremost job is to attack the guy in front of you and move his fat *ss out of the way.  You are the aggressor, you are the attacker, and if he beat you
 the last play, attack him again.  That will build your attitude all right.  And for many years, lineman have been taught how to pass block *and* run block.  Bill Callahan would try to convince you that it is iall ncredibly complex and too comlicated for us to understand.   Guess what?  It isn't.  I'm not saying go back to 2 tight ends and the I on every play, but damn sure work it into the scheme.
 
Dave
 
Nick wrote:

I think that as far as the line goes, run blocking is a matter of
attitude more than aptitude.  You have to want to smash someone in the
mouth.  Pass protection is more aptitude - technique and skill is
needed.  Finding a lineman who can do both equally well is difficult.
And I'm not sure we have a line that "likes" to run the ball.  The
guys we have seem to be more of the pro style, passing offense
linemen, not at all like the roadgraders we were used to.  But then,
we also seem to have some guys who can't seem to remember the snap
count.

But I'm beginning to think that if we are going to run successfully -
and by that I mean a fairly good chance at 4-5 yards a pop - we're
going to have to go to more two tight end sets, or using the fullback
more, to get that extra man on the defense on his back.  It sounds
like that's what Pelini wants.  It seems at least superficially that
the line can block, and run blocking doesn't require the control
needed in passpro, just enough time to delay the defense for the play
to get going.  Its clear that Helu doesn't need much to get loose, but
he needs more than he's getting now.  I'm just not convinced that we
can run out of the formations we use now.

Is it just me,or does it seem that our opponents seem to sense when
we're going to run?  Are we tipping our hand somehow?

I think Helu can be that inside-outside guy, and while I didn't see
much of the others this weekend (mercifully couldn't watch the whole
game), at least one has to be an inside guy exclusively - maybe use
all of them until hopefully someone develops a taste for it.

Nick
-- 
“Rene Descartes walks into a bar.
The bartender asks, "Would you like a beer?"
Descartes answers, "I think not." And promptly disappears.”
          Harlan Ellison