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How encouraging was the running game? - Printable Version

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RE: How encouraging was the running game? - fullmetal - 09-07-2022

We still talking about Mike Bloomgren?  Cause Mike Holmgren played for U$C a few years ago, not Stanford.

Also, let's be honest, there are a lot of decent OL from the state of Texas that can be recruited to play for Rice.  Bloomgren should have already recruited a nice squad of talent by now.

I saw Colgate DL penetrating on a few carries (those negative rush yards, yikes), and while McKee was never sacked, I was very worried that the OL would give up negative rush yards.  Maybe Shaw is saving some blocking schemes.  I dunno.  We have a lot of recruiting stars among the OL starters, and they're supposed to be healthy this year.

But also, maybe this is just another KJ-like year where the run is just used to keep the defenses honest while a great QB and receiving corps pick apart secondaries.  Sorry EJ, until that OL starts blowing DL off the ball, you might not see a lot of grass.  Opposing front sevens will surely know they're facing the son of Emmitt Smith; there will be hats in the box.

RE: How encouraging was the running game? - pcgoode - 09-07-2022

Too early to tell on the running game IMO. McCaffrey had a grand total of 66 yards vs Northwestern in the first game in 2015 (the season we won the Rose bowl vs Iowa). There were some other factors at play like an early start and it being an away game, but I think it just takes time for the line to gel for the run game to work.

RE: How encouraging was the running game? - Goose - 09-07-2022

(09-07-2022, 12:25 PM)pcgoode Wrote:  Too early to tell on the running game IMO. McCaffrey had a grand total of 66 yards vs Northwestern in the first game in 2015 (the season we won the Rose bowl vs Iowa). There were some other factors at play like an early start and it being an away game, but I think it just takes time for the line to gel for the run game to work.
That could be the case this year too. However, there is precedent that it may not be. That year, we recovered. In recent years we have had OL problems that we never shook.

RE: How encouraging was the running game? - SamuelMcF - 09-07-2022

(09-07-2022, 12:51 PM)Goose Wrote:  That could be the case this year too. However, there is precedent that it may not be. That year, we recovered. In recent years we have had OL problems that we never shook.

Here are "recent years" with explanations ("Line Yards" is a metric from Football Outsiders determining run game effectiveness by the OL):

2018: Carberry's first year, implementing a new blocking scheme. Despite having 3 seniors and Walker Little, it is one of the worst lines in the country by Line Yards.

2019: Carberry's second year. 7 injured OL and 3 true frosh starters by midseason. And even despite that, it was still MILES BETTER in Line Yards than 2018 (just above average nationally, improving over 50 places!) because of familiarity with new scheme.

2020: Carberry's third year. The OL stayed healthy overall and even without an opted-out Walker Little was top 25 nationally in Line Yards. Carberry poached by the Rams.

2021: Heffernan's first year, implementing yet another new blocking scheme. One of the worst lines in the country by Line Yards. See any parallels to 2018? Only this time it's even worse because the line doesn't have a single senior/5th year starter.
(Carberry's Rams win the Super Bowl and are 9th in the league in Line Yards in his first year there. Huh, maybe he's actually a good OL coach? What could've told you that besides the glaringly obvious YOY improvement here at Stanford?)

2022: Heffernan's second year. Let's see what happens. Line Yard figures are posted after Week 4.

RE: How encouraging was the running game? - CTcard - 09-07-2022

(09-07-2022, 12:25 PM)pcgoode Wrote:  Too early to tell on the running game IMO. McCaffrey had a grand total of 66 yards vs Northwestern in the first game in 2015 (the season we won the Rose bowl vs Iowa). There were some other factors at play like an early start and it being an away game, but I think it just takes time for the line to gel for the run game to work.

While it is certainly too early to know details about strengths and weaknesses, at this point there is a pretty significant track record on the current offensive staff. That track record shows the Pritchard doesn't really care about the run game. 
Pritchard became offensive coordinator for the 2018 season. 
Over his four years as OC, Stanford has been (approximately - did a too quick check) 11th, 11th, 10th and 12th in percent of plays rushing within the Pac 12. That coincides with being 11th, 10th, 10th, and 11th in yds/run. 
So, my assumption is that the run game will be an afterthought until there is evidence otherwise. I didn't see such evidence vs Colgate.

RE: How encouraging was the running game? - Goose - 09-07-2022

(09-07-2022, 01:31 PM)SamuelMcF Wrote:  
(09-07-2022, 12:51 PM)Goose Wrote:  That could be the case this year too. However, there is precedent that it may not be. That year, we recovered. In recent years we have had OL problems that we never shook.

Here are "recent years" with explanations ("Line Yards" is a metric from Football Outsiders determining run game effectiveness by the OL):

2018: Carberry's first year, implementing a new blocking scheme. Despite having 3 seniors and Walker Little, it is one of the worst lines in the country by Line Yards.

2019: Carberry's second year. 7 injured OL and 3 true frosh starters by midseason. And even despite that, it was still MILES BETTER in Line Yards than 2018 (just above average nationally, improving over 50 places!) because of familiarity with new scheme.

2020: Carberry's third year. The OL stayed healthy overall and even without an opted-out Walker Little was top 25 nationally in Line Yards. Carberry poached by the Rams.

2021: Heffernan's first year, implementing yet another new blocking scheme. One of the worst lines in the country by Line Yards. See any parallels to 2018? Only this time it's even worse because the line doesn't have a single senior/5th year starter.
(Carberry's Rams win the Super Bowl and are 9th in the league in Line Yards in his first year there. Huh, maybe he's actually a good OL coach? What could've told you that besides the glaringly obvious YOY improvement here at Stanford?)

2022: Heffernan's second year. Let's see what happens. Line Yard figures are posted after Week 4.
Lets hope history repeats. As of now, we only have the first data point. YOY will tell us something.