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Auburn used to be RBU, what has happened in the last few years?
Posted on 9/28/20 at 10:38 pm
Posted on 9/28/20 at 10:38 pm
What happened?
In the last two years against the SEC (17 games including the Kentucky game), we have had only four 100 yard rushers.
We have lost our mentality on offense. I miss the days of Ben Tate, Tre Mason, or Kerryon Johnson pounding the rock. Going into the game expecting at minimum 100 yards from the starting back. We have become one dimensional and are unable to be a threat running the ball.
Our leading rusher had 34 yards vs Kentucky. It was Bo Nix.
Our leading rush last year vs Georgia had 42 yards. It was Bo Nix.
Our leading rusher against Minnesota in the bowl game last year had 24 yards. As a team we ran 26 times for 56 yards (2.2 average)
What has happened to Auburn's run game and the Gus we fell in love with? Is this mostly to blame on the OL and OL Recruiting?
In the last two years against the SEC (17 games including the Kentucky game), we have had only four 100 yard rushers.
We have lost our mentality on offense. I miss the days of Ben Tate, Tre Mason, or Kerryon Johnson pounding the rock. Going into the game expecting at minimum 100 yards from the starting back. We have become one dimensional and are unable to be a threat running the ball.
Our leading rusher had 34 yards vs Kentucky. It was Bo Nix.
Our leading rush last year vs Georgia had 42 yards. It was Bo Nix.
Our leading rusher against Minnesota in the bowl game last year had 24 yards. As a team we ran 26 times for 56 yards (2.2 average)
What has happened to Auburn's run game and the Gus we fell in love with? Is this mostly to blame on the OL and OL Recruiting?
14
Posted on 9/28/20 at 10:41 pm to WarCamEagle
I'd imagine some of it is everyone getting used to his scheme, but yeah, it's
quote:
mostly to blame on the OL and OL Recruiting
Posted on 9/28/20 at 10:49 pm to WarCamEagle
Gus has done a terrible job recruiting SEC quality lineman.
Posted on 9/28/20 at 11:06 pm to WarCamEagle
Didn’t think this was a big mystery. Bad OL play and bad offense overall. Also Whitlow wasn’t an every down back, was hurt a lot, and had fumble issues.
Lots of reasons really. We’ve seen this new offense for one game so it’s hard to say what the running game will look like going forward. Could be bad still
Lots of reasons really. We’ve seen this new offense for one game so it’s hard to say what the running game will look like going forward. Could be bad still
Posted on 9/28/20 at 11:09 pm to WarCamEagle
I really think the knock was our OL was not prepared for the NFL, and our style of offense didn't translate well for the lineman. It was used for negative recruiting and why we have struggled with top linemen. That is all speculation on my part, and my opinion. I don't know how true it is, but our OL recruiting has not been good as a whole.
Posted on 9/28/20 at 11:22 pm to WarCamEagle
Proally much to do with
quote:it being game one, KY stopped the run at the OL, and BN leaving the pocket too soon.
Our leading rusher had 34 yards vs Kentucky. It was Bo Nix.
quote:Another year and Gus has reached season's end with de'nada backup in sight.
Our leading rush last year vs Georgia had 42 yards. It was Bo Nix.
quote:see above - RB was dead man walking - he had a hitch in his giddy up - and obviously bowl games don't count as much if your from Arkansas.
Our leading rusher against Minnesota in the bowl game last year had 24 yards
Posted on 9/28/20 at 11:55 pm to WarCamEagle
quote:
miss the days of Ben Tate, Tre Mason, or Kerryon Johnson pounding the rock.
Kerryon Johnson was so long ago
Oline has sucked. Pretty simple answer
Posted on 9/29/20 at 4:57 am to WarCamEagle
A plethora of reasons. Poor O-line recruiting, very poor running back recruiting to fit the scheme and us going to a more pass heavy offense than before.
We are getting backs for the most part that really dont fit the every down back we need. Tank could be it but the others just dont fit the mold. Pettway was the hero we needed. Just didnt happen
So now we pass.
We are getting backs for the most part that really dont fit the every down back we need. Tank could be it but the others just dont fit the mold. Pettway was the hero we needed. Just didnt happen
So now we pass.
Posted on 9/29/20 at 5:31 am to WarCamEagle
The entire SEC only had one 100 yard rusher last week (Spiller, TAMU).
This doesn't excuse AU's problem, but I found it interesting. I suppose more RB by committee and overall passing is killing the traditional RB.
This doesn't excuse AU's problem, but I found it interesting. I suppose more RB by committee and overall passing is killing the traditional RB.
Posted on 9/29/20 at 5:59 am to BuckFama334
quote:
The entire SEC only had one 100 yard rusher last week (Spiller, TAMU).
You have to think it has more to do with the lack of practice
Posted on 9/29/20 at 6:39 am to LanierSpots
quote:
You have to think it has more to do with the lack of practice
Does this not apply to AU too? We have had had big problems in past years, but let’s not write this season off after what many neutrals have called a good game by AU despite the rushing issues. Let’s just be happy for the moment with crossing routes.
Posted on 9/29/20 at 7:09 am to Rhymenoceros
Cubelic said multiple times that the OL has not had a full week of practice together as a unit which I’m assuming is due to covid.
We have Ark and SC the next two games after UGA. If we could just somehow win, even win ugly would be fine with me against UGA I think the OL would improve over the next 2-3 weeks.
We have Ark and SC the next two games after UGA. If we could just somehow win, even win ugly would be fine with me against UGA I think the OL would improve over the next 2-3 weeks.
This post was edited on 9/29/20 at 7:16 am
Posted on 9/29/20 at 9:09 am to WarCamEagle
It’ll be the death of his AU tenure... one can’t win the SEC without high quality O line play...
Posted on 9/29/20 at 9:18 am to WarCamEagle
quote:
What happened?
Posted on 9/29/20 at 9:29 am to WarCamEagle
we ran off the only back we had with experience in favor of starting a midget.
Posted on 9/29/20 at 9:41 am to CaptainBrannigan
Posted on 9/29/20 at 9:43 am to CaptainBrannigan
quote:
we ran off the only back we had with experience in favor of starting a midget.
Im not sure thats what happened.
Posted on 9/29/20 at 10:10 am to Rhino5
quote:
Gus has done a terrible job recruiting SEC quality lineman.
That is basically it, in a nutshell.
Remember when fans took pride in that Gus' offense produced so many 1,000 yard rushers consecutively for like 9 years with Gus either the OC or the HC?
So Gus didn't lose his ability to have good RBs but he did fall down on recruiting and developing good OLs.
And it definitely contributed to his offensive struggles including the RB production.
THis year's OL group is still an unknown, so we will have to see if they can get better, more cohesive, and allow the running game to take off.
Posted on 9/29/20 at 10:20 am to AuSteeler
I will argue the RB recruiting hasn't been good. Mason was our last workhorse. KJ was fantastic, but stayed injured. Outside of those two, we have not had an elite back.
Posted on 9/29/20 at 10:37 am to AUCE05
quote:
I will argue the RB recruiting hasn't been good. Mason was our last workhorse. KJ was fantastic, but stayed injured. Outside of those two, we have not had an elite back.
How can you be sure? When your OL is weak and can't provide RBs any room to run, you tend to go more to your passing game.
Just bc KJ was hurt, doesn't mean we didn't recruit quality RBs. He still was a highly sought after RB/Ath.
Michael Dyer was rated the #2 RB in the country.
Roc Thomas was 5* RB, and a top 7 RB in the country.
Asa Martin was a top 10 RB in the country.
Tank Bigsby was a 5* RB at one time.
Your not going to know how your RB production will be, if they get hurt or are disgruntled and leave.
I agree, we haven't landed the top top level RB, but with 9 years of 1,000 yd RBs, it was shown you don't need only an elite back to be a good to great running game.
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