Traditional run game vs. LSU (long)

1Q, 14:15 | 2nd & 8
LSU w/ 7 in the box; UA with six blockers (1 TE)
Miller shotgun left, inside run to the right, 2 yard-gain
71, 72, 75 all hold up well on their blocks, but 77 gets worked by 88 for LSU - 88 not only holds the point of attack despite being outweighed by 60 pounds, but makes the tackle while engaged; better or really ANY movement from 77 probably results in a pretty good gain, as Brailsford had reached the PS linebacker and the backside LB cut himself off.

1Q, 12:26 | 1st & 10
LSU w/ 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE - only one stays in to block, 80 releases for RPO route)
Miller shotgun right; inside (RPO) run to the left, 7-yard gain
Play was actually really well blocked, the unblocked read man (DE/OLB) gets arms around Jam but isn’t able to finish and we get a win with a 7-yarder. May have benefitted from Ty pulling it, but the read man was sitting, not attacking, and that probably caused him not to be able to make the tackle on Jam at the LOS.

1Q, 11:40 | 2nd & 3
LSU w/ 8 in the box; UA w/ 7 blockers (2 TE) - 11 also motions down to block, bringing another defender
Under center, Miller 7 yards deep; delayed counter to right side; 2-yard gain
OL blocks the play well, TEs 81 and 80 both engage but get little movement. Jam opts back to the middle and is stopped just short of the first down; there was nothing but green grass if he bounces it outside to the right; would have had an opportunity for an explosive; bad miss by Jam there in my opinion

1Q, 10:40 | 4th & 1
LSU w/ 7 in the box; UA w/ 6 blockers (TE in backfield)
Miller in Wildcat, fakes sweep to Ty, keeps it, 1-yard loss
Disaster of a scheme; slow developing run play where we down block RG & RT and pull TE around. LSU’s 44 blows up straight ahead run, Miller has to bounce right, and 75 whiffed on the backer, who made the tackle - terrible play design, at least on 4th and 1, and this one was entirely on Grubb in my opinion.

1Q, 2:20 | 1st & 10
LSU w/ 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE)
Miller shotgun right, delayed draw handoff, 3-yard loss
Deep safety telegraphs blitz, but for some reason we stick with the play which is designed to go right at the spot he’s coming from; Formby whiffs on the LB, who makes the play. Even if he hadn't, there were two other guys right there. If he had the leeway to do it, Ty should have gotten us out of that play.

2Q, 12:27 | 1st & 10
LSU w/ 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE)
Miller shotgun left, inside handoff to right side; 2-yard gain
Downblock the guards and pull everyone else to the right; 77 and 72 do well on their blocks, nobody else really; linebacker 33 attacks play and 74, pulling, picks him up 2-yards in the backfield and now Jam is in scramble mode to get what he can; play design seems susceptible to attacking linebackers, and they blew up that play

2Q, 10:09 | 1st & 10
LSU with 7 in the box; UA with 6 blockers (1 TE)
Hill shotgun left, quick draw inside; 5-yard gain
Simple blocking scheme, everyone zoning left and TE works to seal the backside; well-blocked, decent hole; unblocked extra defender ends up being the one to make the tackle; good play

2Q, 9:34 | 1st & Goal (4-yard line)
LSU with 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE)
Hill in pistol; motions to shotgun right; inside run straight ahead; 4-yard gain (TD)
Similar play call to the previous one in that all of OL is working left; 80 looking to seal backside; 77 gets enough of his man on a pull to give Hill a little room; 80 struggles to reach 6 for LSU, who contacts Hill at the LOS, but Hill takes him for a ride for 4 yards for the score. Not well blocked but great individual effort.

2Q, 7:04 | 1st & 10
LSU with 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE)
Riley shotgun right; inside run to left; 4-yard gain
Pretty well blocked by 4/5. RG (77) blocks nobody and what could have been a 10+ yard gain ends up being 4 yards. Note - Riley hits the hole MUCH faster than either Miller or Hill.

3Q, 7:26 | 1st & 10
LSU with 9 in the box; UA with 8 blockers (1 TE, 2 WR bunched left)
Miller shotgun left; toss left; 2-yard gain
OL does a decent job with the exception of 56, pulling to lead the way, not really blocking anyone; 80 got blown up by the DE 44 and that kind of ruined the play honestly. WR blocking on outside wasn’t great either, so even if 80 holds up better you’re probably only looking at 2-3 more yards.

3Q, :21 | 1st & 10
LSU with 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE - one set as FB)
Hill in the I-formation; delayed counter inside right; 1-yard gain
Not much to say really; safety and linebacker on backside of the play come unblocked and both are there to blow it up. Once again the slow-developing nature of the play allows guys off the ball to get into the backfield, and we just don’t have the numbers advantage to pick them up.

4Q, 10:28 | 1st & 10
LSU with 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE)
Hill shotgun right; inside handoff left; 3-yard gain
Line working left; 77 engages the DT but then passes him off to 75, who is not there. Result - DL meeting Hill at LOS. Just sloppy work by the RG & RT. Unblocked read man on end of LOS for LSU was also there, but did not commit until Ty gave it, so read was fine. Honestly chance for a decent hitting play here if we block the DT. The left side had blocked it up well.

4Q, 9:33 | 1st & 10
LSU with 7 in the box; UA with 5 blockers (1 TE inline released to an RPO route)
Hill shotgun left; inside handoff right; 1-yard gain
Formation actually gave us a good numbers look as both TEs to the left with a WR take several defenders that way; Unfortunately 56 & 72 get blown up by the nose, and we are unable to get a blocker to the off-ball backer to that side. He makes the play without being touched. The nose, 90, was also right there at contact despite being double teamed. Bad OL execution.

4Q, 7:11 | 1st & 10
LSU with 10 in the box; UA with 9 blockers (2 TE + 2 WR bunched tight)
Miller shotgun right; toss right; 1-yard loss
80 whiffs on a down block; result is 77 (pulling right to lead the way) picks up 80’s man instead of the safety, who comes untouched into the backfield for an easy tackle; theme establishing as I watch these - 80 does not do a good job of blocking in the run game

4Q, 3:05 | 2nd & 10
LSU with 8 in the box; UA with 7 blockers (2 TE)
Hill shotgun right; delayed inside handoff middle; 1-yard gain
LSU loading up on the run obviously based on situation; 81 gets blown up by the DE; 56 doesn’t handle the DT very well either, and the result is another poor run. Nobody really getting a lot of movement TBH.

4Q, 2:20 | 3rd & 9
LSU with 7 in the box; UA with 9 blockers (2 TE + WRs bunched)
Hill shotgun left; toss left; 7-yard gain
Well blocked for the most part; one of the few plays where the RB had any room to move; 74 didn’t hold his down block very well would be main complaint. If he holds it for a count longer the run probably goes for a 1st down as his man ends up primary in the tackle

Ok you did this on a Sunday afternoon, don't show it to Venables ok.

And we are so bad at running on first down that running on second down would be drive suicide. If we were effective at all on first then that’s what opens up a 2nd down run or third down run.

It doesnt matter when you run it if you are this bad at it.

I think the fact that we only run on 1st down pretty much shows that we don’t actually have any confidence in it. And teams know damn well that we aren’t running it on 2nd or 3rd.

I'm hoping that Grubb is going to change things up this week and NOT run on first down so much. That and some new looks to confuse opponents.

One thing I don't understand is that opponents consistently load 8 guys in the box over and over and over. It's like they're daring Bama to try a pass. Yet, we keep running up the middle over and over.

I get it that we can't abandon the run but we've got to start making them pay with passes. That and a little more creativity will help loosen up the run game.

I do think the O line just isn't nearly consistent enough. We have a few guys who are way too big and slow, not quick enough particuarly Formby. I also think the O line coaching leaves a lot to be desired. However, there ain't nothing we can do about it now. We are who we are and Kapilovic is there at least for the season.

Good post. Some thoughts:

1. I think the opponent loading the box is directly related to formation. We are running out of two TE formations the bulk of the time. That's going to bring bodies down in there, as opposed to going four wide, spreading it out, and trying to run. Maybe that is something worth trying some?

2. To my untrained eye, it seems that any runs that aren't quick hitting, designed to get the RB going north-south fast, are a total waste. We used several delayed draw or counter type plays, even the wildcat play was slow developing with a fake sweep to Ty. All that is doing is allowing guys to penetrate the LOS. My opinion: stick with quick-hitting run plays, and let's see #4 carry it more. He carries people, which you don't get from the other backs.

3. The above style of run game doesn't really utilize Brailsford's strengths, and he's undersized to deal with big DTs, but I think the other four OL would do much better just coming off the ball and finding a hat. Asking big dudes like Proctor, Roberts, Dewberry to pull, find a (often smaller) guy in space, and lock on before they blow up the play just doesn't seem to jive.

This is one hell of a post. I like this.

quote:

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and our TEs really are not good blockers.

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Neither are our WRs which doesn’t help with trying to run outside.

I really can’t speak to any specific strengths we have offensively when it comes to running the ball which given the fact that we are a top 15 offense from an adjusted scoring standpoint is almost impossible to accomplish.

From an oldtimer, the OL is spending to much effort trying to get to the next level defender instead of taking care of the defender right in front of them

The rule in the 60's is you don't run past a defender to get to the next defender even though it might have been the design.

Just kick the arse of the guy in front of you!

quote:

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From an oldtimer, the OL is spending to much effort trying to get to the next level defender instead of taking care of the defender right in front of them

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Yep! Lots of wasted motion. Awful angles by the OL. Lots of bad run block mechanics.

Jam has missed some holes, as well.