Why can't we run the ball?

[longtimer]

Poor offensive line?
We have 2 NFL potential tackles and a center that everyone seems to be high on even though young. yes we have had injuries and probably has impacted us but what major college team doesn't Seems hard to believe with a coach that is known for offensive lines that this one can't perform better

Poor RBs?
We don't have great RBs but 2 that are at least adequate and Goodsen who could end up being a very good one. Of course we don't have a QB that is a threat to run which does probably impact the defense's ability to focus on the RB (don't think the option is the answer) Stanley is probably the slowest QB we have had at Iowa and we have had some pretty slow ones. To his credit he is great on the sneak in short yardage situations

Scheme? I'm not a coach but sure seems like this may be where at least some of the problem comes from? Maybe we need to run more counter stuff, Maybe we need to use wider gaps in offensive line? whatever it is we need to do it soon as I just don't see anyway we run against a Wisconsin defense and our passing attack ain't going to get it done against the better teams

 

[ssckelley]

The blocking isn't great but the schemes are not that great either. At least twice yesterday they had a running play where they put a player in motion that brought an extra defender into the box and then they ran right into the shift. So even when the line does block well you've got an extra defender the defense can use to plug the running lane.

 

[smitharooney]

I thought it looked good when we gave it to our best back

 

[HawkGold]

Part of the issue is as Dolph described. When certain linemen and other players were brought into the game, it was a run to a specific spot.

That said, Sargent is D2 material. Not that it is bad, but it isn't great. We grabbed our best RB in recent years from 1AA. Linville Elliott, a super bowl RB played for NEMO, now known as Truman.

Other issues, Stanley isn't a threat to pull it back and run or quickly read a breaking reciever on the fake hand off or a pull back.

Don't worry, Sargent will again gouge Nebby.

Sargent and Stanley both seem like great people who want to bad to please the coach. Maybe even over winning. Sargent is shifty enough to break some things open, but he is dead set on NO FUMBLE.​

 

[DDThompson]

Running is such a boring way to move the ball.

Why can’t we have exciting passing offenses like Scott Frost brought from UCF and Mike Leach at WA ST.

 

[smitharooney]

Running is such a boring way to move the ball.

Why can’t we have exciting passing offenses like Scott Frost brought from UCF and Mike Leach at WA ST.

Yesterday Nebraska ran the ball 50 times and only threw 23 passes . You really need to figure this out or stop posting

 

[HaydenHawk56]

I also think we take to damn long to run a play. It gives the defense a chance to set up and read Stanley's predictable audibles into runs, etc. We need to run some more no-huddle to keep the defense off-balance and guessing. Not use all of the damn play-clock to run a play all the time.

 

[DDThompson]

Yesterday Nebraska ran the ball 50 times and only threw 23 passes . You really need to figure this out or stop posting

You should really work on your reading comprehension: somewhere in the instructions is a section on sarcasm.

I notice you didn’t mention WA ST throwing 50 times and running 15 times.

Exciting to you I’m sure.
Did they win with all that excitement?

 

[revkev73]

Defenses ignore the Iowa passing attack, rightly guessing, quite often, that the Kirk and Brian schemes and an inaccurate and mostly nervous QB can't beat them via the air...they play run first and always... and Iowa attacks this defensive shift by being hesitant in blocking and in running (and keeping the game breaker off the field way too much)...

It isn't that complicated, frustrating yes, but not complicated...

If you want to beat anyone in sports, you try to take away what they do best, and most often, off the table...for Iowa, it is trying to run the football.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

Yesterday Nebraska ran the ball 50 times and only threw 23 passes . You really need to figure this out or stop posting

 

[smitharooney]

You should really work on your reading comprehension: somewhere in the instructions is a section on sarcasm.

I notice you didn’t mention WA ST throwing 50 times and running 15 times.

Exciting to you I’m sure.
Did they win with all that excitement?

So you still think Nebraska is a passing offense ? Ok cool. The team who threw the ball more than they ran it actually won the game even though I never agree with that if it’s predetermined. You weren’t being sarcastic about Nebraska just being inaccurate . Opening up the playbook is very exciting to fans , just not guys like you who love our kickers

 

[DDThompson]

So you still think Nebraska is a passing offense ? Ok cool. The team who threw the ball more than they ran it actually won the game even though I never agree with that if it’s predetermined. You weren’t being sarcastic about Nebraska just being inaccurate . Opening up the playbook is very exciting to fans , just not guys like you who love our kickers

I figured 12 year olds could understand sarcasm.
Some are just not able to keep up