I was at a game at Michie a few years ago, I forget the opponent. They held the ball on a 16 or 18 play drive taking off 13 mins. of the clock.
As to our passing attack it's really not designed to go downfield, we only do that maybe 4 to 5 times a game because we know we suck at it. It's more designed just to move the chains or hit short passes in stride for big gains. We didn't see that because, our QB couldn't complete passes let alone hit someone in stride. That's what they want, hit the easy one's and hit the man in stride. You don't need to win the game but at least help out.
GS said RU didn't throw long because the OL couldn't block well enough for long passes. He said Kirk avoided the long passes to help the OL. The problem with no long ball threat is that the defense doesn't get stretched - that makes short passes harder.
RU's passing game is pretty simple for defenses to handle. Most passes go to the safe spots - corners, sidelines and zone coverage weak spots in the middle and flats. There is a vertical zone gap between LBs and DBs. The coverage needed for the flats leaves a gap in the middle . If the WRs can go long the bubble gets looser.
One of RU's fav passes was slot WR zipping across the weak spots in the zone. Weaknesses in the flats were also a target. Dremel was used as a seam exploiter. He wasn't going to mug DBs for balls so the goal was to hit him in stride on the seams.
Alas DCs figured that out by the end of September and Dremel never had another TD after Sept. Its too easy for B1G defenses to cover RUs safe pass routes with an unstretched field. There don't have to be a ton of long passes, but defenses need to not be able to write them off. Even if the receptions aren't there it helps the stretch.
That's why Miller is such a valuable acquisition. Smallish slot WRs are typically not sent long . Now we hope the OL can hold-on
