[NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness

[Roy Lamberton]

Gary Barnett's Line Coach, Tom Bratten used to preach that "It all starts on the Offensive
Line."

I stole that line, and anyone who has played for me knows the answer when I yell, "It all
starts..."

Very few running backs can shine when they are first hit in the backfield. You can't find the
hole because there is a linebacker in the way, or on the edge, or anywhere. Other teams
apparently know that you rush your 4 and send 2 LBs, one keys the QB, the other the RB, it is
easy to shut down the run when the two deep backs are covered.

Concannon looks good when they blow a seam for him, so does Simmons, compare them to State
Penn's big guy - he had open lanes in the 4th quarter and used them. 

But our offensive strategy is to chip away passing and the zone rushing play between guard and
tackle has disappeared because there is almost always a LB standing inside the line scrimmage
waiting for the RB. 

With that, I can't tell you any more on how to beat all this except that the old zone blocking
play had the tackle kick the outside guy one way, and the rest of the line take the front 4 or 5
the other. Walker's backs would scamper thru the seam created and even Tyrell enjoyed a lot more
success when that seam was opened.

So once again... It all Starts!

rsl 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
-------------------- Also ----------------------
Commissioner Delaware American Legion Baseball
Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]
Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========
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     Working for ya?

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-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of
cherron604 at aol.com
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 9:31 AM
To: tbng at comcast.net; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness


Too many are throwing out the mantra 'No RB's, lousy offensive line', and declaring the
discussion closed.

If we have no RB's, why ?  What did we recruit ?  Did it not pan out ?  Why ?  Who recruited
them ?  What did they see at that time ?  Where has the breakdown been ?  How can we make sure
this doesn't happen going forward ?  RW used to have RB's in the pipeline - what is the current
regime doing wrong ?

Again, if the O-Line stinks, why ?  I know you can't teach speed, explosiveness, moves, the
other RB stuff, but you can teach O-Line play.  Where have we fallen short ?  Are the training
facilities sub-standard ?  Or are the coaches not teaching O-Line play ?  Not enough weights ?

If coaches are to blame, then name names.  If they cant recruit, then point that out.  If they
cant teach the position, then point that out.  If they cant pull it all together on gameday,
then that should be pointed out.

Either somebody is not recruiting properly, or somebody is not teaching properly, or somebody
can't handle the job on game day.  In any event, somebody should be answering questions about
why they failed at their (well compensated) job.

Just repeating 'No RB, Lousy O-Line' endlessly implies that it was something evil spirits did to
us, and we just have to fight on.  In reality it was problems with the
coaches/recruiting/training, and those have to be fixed, or else the Fitz regime could be
branded a 'No RB, Lousy O-Line' regime.

Chuck Herron   Tech '85


-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis W. Brandt <tbng at comcast.net>
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Sent: Sun, Nov 1, 2009 9:42 pm
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Lack of explosiveness


> I feel this is a design flaw in Coach McCall's offense. The big run plays > played a huge role
in the success of this offense and I think they need to > come back any way McCall can make that
happen 
 
Nonsense. It's the absence of a good running back and a dominating offensive line. I will agree
that we should limit the outside runs because we lack the speed to turn the corner.  
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