[winflop]

I'm not totally sure what the phrase "power running game" means. As opposed to what other kind of running game? All running games depend primarily on the offensive line moving defenders out of the way; even Toby Gerhart and Tommy Vardell couldn't knock down everybody. Two of the best running backs I've ever seen at Stanford, Darrin Nelson and Glyn Milburn were both considerably under 200 pounds. So was Anthony Bookman, who was also very successful.

I'd say our running game depends first on the offensive line playing better than it did last year, and second on our ability to pass (which of course also depends in large part on the offensive line), which exacts a heavy price from defenses that stack eight or nine men in the box. If "power running games" refers to a Nebraska-style offense that passes only eight or nine times a game, well, Stanford has never had that, at least not in the post-Cactus-Jack era.

I usually equate power running with between the tackles plus off-tackle.  Not a lot of wide runs.  Basically the OL is like a steamroller moving north-south rather than east-west as they might on a sweep.

[winflop]

I'm not totally sure what the phrase "power running game" means. As opposed to what other kind of running game? All running games depend primarily on the offensive line moving defenders out of the way; even Toby Gerhart and Tommy Vardell couldn't knock down everybody. Two of the best running backs I've ever seen at Stanford, Darrin Nelson and Glyn Milburn were both considerably under 200 pounds. So was Anthony Bookman, who was also very successful.

I'd say our running game depends first on the offensive line playing better than it did last year, and second on our ability to pass (which of course also depends in large part on the offensive line), which exacts a heavy price from defenses that stack eight or nine men in the box. If "power running games" refers to a Nebraska-style offense that passes only eight or nine times a game, well, Stanford has never had that, at least not in the post-Cactus-Jack era.

I usually equate power running with between the tackles plus off-tackle.  Not a lot of wide runs.  Basically the OL is like a steamroller moving north-south rather than east-west as they might on a sweep.