[NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness

[Tom Maycock]

> play when it's open.  We've seen some long pass plays
> work when defenses focus on the short game, but the problem is that the
> running game just isn't there (Kafka is the team's leading rusher) - partly due to the RB situation/injuries and partly due to the OL's lack of
> success.

Yep. And although our pass protection has been decent, it doesn't hold up very long, which I think is one of the reasons we've really leaned on quick (short) passes the last two years.

Another big issue is downfield blocking, which has generally been poor this year. That's where your big running plays (or short passes followed by long runs) come from. 

Granted, PSU has a very good defense, and has players who are good at avoiding or defeating blocks, but if you look at that game closely, we had a ton of plays blown up because one or more lineman or receiver *completely* whiffed on a downfield block assignments. It's easy to miss if you're just watching the ball, but it's been a huge problem this year. 

Tom