[oman]

At first glance, I saw Toby and Stepfan as downhill runners.  You tell the O-line guys to blow the defenders back and keep moving forward.

Thinking harder about it, that's not true. Toby and Stepfan were both patient about hitting holes.  They weren't adverse to juking someone.

But will we likely see a lot more of a new kind of back next year, and will that mean that the o-line will need to make significant adjustments?

[oman]

At first glance, I saw Toby and Stepfan as downhill runners.  You tell the O-line guys to blow the defenders back and keep moving forward.

Thinking harder about it, that's not true. Toby and Stepfan were both patient about hitting holes.  They weren't adverse to juking someone.

But will we likely see a lot more of a new kind of back next year, and will that mean that the o-line will need to make significant adjustments?

[fullmetal]

I think the OL this year wasn't all that effective--part of that is a lack of comparative experience/talent from past years (Beeler/DeCastro/Martin/etc.), but part of is that Shaw's conservative playcalling ensures that at least four running plays per game are just blown up at or before the LOS because opposing defenses anticipate the play correctly.  Another five (at least) run plays per game gain from 0-2 yds for the same reason.  I feel like most plays 3yds and beyond are usually due to the RB making great plays.

As the line gets stronger and can get more push, guys like Young, Wilkerson, and Sanders will find some space to show off their speed and moves.  I can't wait :)

[fullmetal]

I think the OL this year wasn't all that effective--part of that is a lack of comparative experience/talent from past years (Beeler/DeCastro/Martin/etc.), but part of is that Shaw's conservative playcalling ensures that at least four running plays per game are just blown up at or before the LOS because opposing defenses anticipate the play correctly.  Another five (at least) run plays per game gain from 0-2 yds for the same reason.  I feel like most plays 3yds and beyond are usually due to the RB making great plays.

As the line gets stronger and can get more push, guys like Young, Wilkerson, and Sanders will find some space to show off their speed and moves.  I can't wait :)

[slide]

replacing a DeCastro and a Martin is a tough task for any team, and probably moreso given the way we rely on "power."  there was noticeable dropoff on effectiveness of our guards pulling this year.  hopefully, Yankey goes back to LG and Garnett continues to improve at RG.  if that happens, I think you will see Stanford run the ball effectively next year.

[slide]

replacing a DeCastro and a Martin is a tough task for any team, and probably moreso given the way we rely on "power."  there was noticeable dropoff on effectiveness of our guards pulling this year.  hopefully, Yankey goes back to LG and Garnett continues to improve at RG.  if that happens, I think you will see Stanford run the ball effectively next year.

[fullmetal]

Something I noticed about pulling guards this year--they never had room to get momentum going after the pull.  It's as if the OL didn't get enough push to give the pulling guards room to move to the point where the guards got locked up in the pile even before the RB got to the LOS.

[fullmetal]

Something I noticed about pulling guards this year--they never had room to get momentum going after the pull.  It's as if the OL didn't get enough push to give the pulling guards room to move to the point where the guards got locked up in the pile even before the RB got to the LOS.

[atcg]

Shaw's taken more and more to running Power, even if he telegraphs it, in situations where he'd previously take a knee (i.e. that play, and also the last play of the first half of the RB). I mean, you may as well give yourself a chance to get yards and maybe even score, even if it's really small. Taking a knee sends your chances to zero, and seeing as Wisconsin are the sort of guys who rush the victory formation, you might even turn over the ball anyway.

I think that Shaw just wanted to drain half a minute off the clock, punt out of bounds on purpose, and force Curt Phillips (probably Stave in that scenario) to throw a Hail Mary in order to win.

[atcg]

Shaw's taken more and more to running Power, even if he telegraphs it, in situations where he'd previously take a knee (i.e. that play, and also the last play of the first half of the RB). I mean, you may as well give yourself a chance to get yards and maybe even score, even if it's really small. Taking a knee sends your chances to zero, and seeing as Wisconsin are the sort of guys who rush the victory formation, you might even turn over the ball anyway.

I think that Shaw just wanted to drain half a minute off the clock, punt out of bounds on purpose, and force Curt Phillips (probably Stave in that scenario) to throw a Hail Mary in order to win.