There an be no higher priority for Coach Franklin and Penn State. Not one 100yd rusher in thirteen games this season. You cannot seriously compete at this level without a balanced offense. You cannot play complimentary football without a balanced offense. The issues with the running game need to be fixed.
#1 2022 priority: Fix the running game.
- Thread starter dcf4psu
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Makes sense to me. Need to stop using blocking schemes drawn up by a QB I think that would be a start
The late John Madden said, “if you’re going to win in football, you have to run the ball and stop the run”.
No 100 yard rusher metric is diluted since it's RB by committee. Not to say that there aren't serious issues with the running game. The issue starts with the oline.
I agree. I watched the BWI post game on YouTube, and TFrank was saying Yurcich wants to run an outside zone where going back to Moorhead, PSU has run inside zone. The reads are different, etc. If thats the case, thats fine for the first couple of games in the season, not game 13. To me, it appears more basic. Penn State doesn't have a difference maker at RB, and the Oline appears to miss blocks on almost every play. Not knowing the right read is on the coaching. Missing blocks is partly execution, and partly coaching. As for not having a difference maker at RB, you can't coach athletic ability.
That said, Zack Zwinack ran for 1,000 yards in a season.
That said, Zack Zwinack ran for 1,000 yards in a season.
Just look at the NFL. The best offenses with the best QBs are able to run the ball consistently. Green Bay? Check. Tampa Bay? Check. Dallas? Check. The Rams? Check.
Even the Eagles who were bad through the first half have clawed into playoff contention by running that ball for 200 yards a game.
Both lines of scrimmage need some major help. Can’t run the ball. Can stop the run.
Got to be a threat in the passing game as well to help the running game. I’m sure Cliff isn’t keeping defensive coordinators up at night trying to figure how to stop our pass. So they stuff the box and make it impossible to run
that is important, so it is more meaningful to look at the ypc of the backs, and even their yac on runs. we would have likely hit a 100 yd runner in a couple games if it were not for the committee. today was actually pretty decent. both Lee and Cain had good games. Neither was going to turn their longer runs into a home run, but they did decent. Counting Ford's 1 run, I think we had 10 or 11 runs by the RBs for about 75 total yards, and did not suffer a bunch of negative plays in their run game. not that we do not need to improve, but today was better than most of the games this year. I did not notice if any of the other RBs were in the game.
Rebuild the interior of both lines would be the first priority. Clifford is not the answer. He panics under pressure and his accuracy is poor. This may be one if the worst offensive lines that I have seen here. I remember when Paterno said to lower our expectations. I think everyone knows that Franklin has made us do that.
Until the OL improves, we don’t have a chance. Look at the Bama, Ohio State, UGA O lines. Huge, athletic, mean. When’s the last time u saw a PSU line push a pile? Have confidence we can get a yard when we need to?
I agree.
I'm sure "Obviously we will clean that up this off season." This is why it's a coaching problem. It wasn't cleaned up all season.
No your wrong its Explosive plays that win games James Franklin said.
Was there any position group on the team today that didn't look like it needed "fixed" ??
Wide receivers did well when the ball was in their general vicinity. Secondary had a couple of interceptions. Dline wasn't awful, at least in the first half before they got gassed. Lekuta was making plays all over the field. TE's sucked. Oline sucked. FG kicking sucked. RBs had some big runs, but we went away from that. QB had to be the hero. Overall, when a team runs you over for 360 yards and you hold them to 24 points? In a college game if you hold a team to 24 points, you should win. Good coaching on Defense (6 starters down) Bad coaching on offense (Parker Washington doing the Dotson things)
More like we need a new RB coach.
The retirement of the lawnboyz meme is a big clue to that. Don't you agree?
That right there is enuff to lose a RB room.
Yeah, blocking. I know.
But, imho, RBs need to be coached to work with what we have.
Has not happened. And, that is what killed us this year.
Not to give you a hard time and I like your posts but the RB coach is probably the easiest position coach on the team. I'll leave it at that.