Running Back Workload

[AreWeThereYet]

I would like to see Butler get a little more work on the inside zone running scheme, at least while they are working on the blocking next game. Butler seems to be a little more suited to grinding out yards inside than Wadley. Also, Butler does really well on yards after contact. Wadley is better in open space, to state the obvious.

In the third quarter of the Iowa State game it looked like they were trying to get the inside zone running game going for Wadley. The blocking just wasn't there and the offense went silent.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Akrum Wadley makes Butler look like he's running in sand. To me, Butler looks like he's thinking too much and hesitating...which is understandable with a new scheme. I think he gets better, but it's obvious just how special Wadley is.

 

[Stanzi]

I would like to see Butler more involved if for no other reason than to reduce Wadley's carries. He has 52 carries through 2 games. I'm not sure he's built to keep up that type of workload for an entire season.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Akrum Wadley makes Butler look like he's running in sand. To me, Butler looks like he's thinking too much and hesitating...which is understandable with a new scheme. I think he gets better, but it's obvious just how special Wadley is.

I thought Butler looked good. He ran hard. The stats are a little misleading. I think he had a 10 yard run that got called back. Couple big lossses on blown blocks. His best run was after his catch for the 26 yards reception. I personally like him in short yardage situations.

 

[theboat]

Butler will have a couple 100 yard games this year.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

I thought Butler looked good. He ran hard. The stats are a little misleading. I think he had a 10 yard run that got called back. Couple big lossses on blown blocks. His best run was after his catch for the 26 yards reception. I personally like him in short yardage situations.

I agree, he did look good and was digging hard for extra yards. He also has proven skills receiving the ball. The poor blocking is a bit of a disappointment.

 

[PCHawk]

I think if they tried to get Butler more carries last night, we would be 1-1 right now. Wadley is by far our best player and we need to give him the ball as much as it takes to get wins when we can.

 

[uihawk82]

I agree that the 28 to 10 carry workload could have been more like 24 to 14 but Wadley is a game breaker and when the hawks got behind in the second half he needs to get touches.

If the hawks hold ISU after going up 21-10 and then put up another score to go ahead 28-10 then you can use Butler more to hammer and ground out some yardage. I have seen Butler make good moves in the holes when he has a chance and it seems he has a little better acceleration and speed than Daniels had last year.

The formations with Butler as the single back and Wadley in the slot look great and give the hawks lots of options including jet sweep to Wadley.

But overall most runs laterally yesterday were a bust.

 

[FirstDownHawkeyes]

Wadley doesn't take many direct hits especially vs sub par D...the Clowns and WY aren't exactly B1G defenses. That being said, 52 carries in 2 games may not work once IA opens B1G play.

Re AW running inside zone. You need to do that or the D will stock up outside every play he is at RB. Also, the play vs VS where he broke Peppers knees was an inside zone counter.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

Wadley doesn't take many direct hits especially vs sub par D...the Clowns and WY aren't exactly B1G defenses. That being said, 52 carries in 2 games may not work once IA opens B1G play.

Re AW running inside zone. You need to do that or the D will stock up outside every play he is at RB. Also, the play vs VS where he broke Peppers knees was an inside zone counter.

I wasn't suggesting AW abandon running inside zone. I was suggesting that in game situations that lend themselves running possession football that Butler may get a little more work.

This year's offense will need plenty of big plays. I don't think they will be as good at grinding it out with the running game as the last two years. Not right now at least.

 

[IndianaHawk]

Hopefully a successful passing game will help decrease AW"s carries.

 

[99topdawg]

Butler was running too much laterally. He needs to be a between the tackles guy a majority of the time.

 

[uihawk82]

Butler was running too much laterally. He needs to be a between the tackles guy a majority of the time.

Butler ran laterally on a few plays because that was the play call. It was some of BFerentz's worst play calls as ISU had the speed to run those plays down.

 

[SamBrownlee48]

I hope they use Butler more next week against North Texas. Work him in a little more, and keep Wadley fresh for Penn State.

 

[99topdawg]

Butler ran laterally on a few plays because that was the play call. It was some of BFerentz's worst play calls as ISU had the speed to run those plays down.

I agree that it was the play call. I reread my post and I didn't really say that. I don't have a problem with him running outside some--he has too, but he wasn't given enough of a chance to hit the hole hard and power forward.