Running the football

[KMac151993]

I was just wanting to see what everyone here thought. Has Charlie abandoned the running game, I know they had 34 rushes yesterday but over the past few games it seems as if Weis has said hey you guys can't stop the pass so I am gonna keep throwing it. I am not complaining I was just wondering, because after the first few weeks everyone here was saying Walker was going to get 1000+ yards this season, as it looks right now he will be lucky to get 1000. I understand that the defenses we have faced over the past few weeks have stacked the box and have been good D's against the rush; just wanted to see what everyone thought. Also what has happened to RPN, anyone have any inside info? The kid went from being the first FB going in the draft to may not even drafted.

 

[TexasDomer]

I think that CW will run against defenses that are weak against the run, and pass against defenses that are weak against the pass.

From one week to the next, he tries not to show any tendencies. Against an athletic front like Tennessee has, it's not surprising that we didn't run as much. Look for us to establish it next week against Navy, taking advantage of our size advantage vs. their front.

 

[jiggafini19]

You will see the run return against the likes of Navy, 'Cuse and Stanford.

But I'm with you, K Mac. I've noticed the same thing. I'd like to see more of Walker, Thomas and even Schwapp.

Weis will go to the well as many times as he can until the defense stops him. His ability to exploit a defense is the best I've ever seen, especially on the college level. While SC out-talents everyone, Notre Dame is simply outscheming defenses.

They find a hole and exploit it.

 

[Aerosmith777]

"If they're gonna bring 8 and 9 on every play then we'll pass it on every play."

I think that quote at halftime of the BYU game says it all. I know the offense has looked a lot like the Eagles the past few games, but I really think its just b/c of the schemes he's been facing. First time ND sees a team that drops it safeties back to protect the pass rather than inch up to the line of scrimmage, I think you'll see Darius go nuts. But until that happens, look for a lot more 30-35 pass attempt days out of Brady Quinn...

 

[leppycole]

I think walker will get his yards against the next three opp. He is just in the situation where ND has played two teams that set up to stop the run and USC was a control game for the irish that worked. #3 is still our best back hands down, I am sure CW lets him know it.

 

[Batch]

The last press conference with Coach Weis he stated that RPN is not even practicing. So I think he is probably done. The guy probably blew his chance at the next level.

-Batch

 

[PantsB]

"If you don't like it, stop it."

"If you don't like it, stop it."

I think CW is throwing the ball because reardless of balance issues, its giving them the best chance to win. I wouldn't be surprised if that changes in the next two games.

Walker's best style is stringing out plays or cutting back. That wasn't going to work with Tenn's strength with an athletic DL(4th in the country in rushing D). BYU(31st rushing D) and USC (19th rushing D).

Navy is giving up almost 160 y/g on the ground and only 182 in the air. I wouldn't be surprised if the Irish racked up 200-250 on the ground.

The Orange are giving up 171 in the air and 172 on the ground. Again, Walker should get plenty.

Stanford is tougher to tell, since they play in the Pac10, and have already played UCLA and USC but it looks like they'll probably go back to Air Weis in the final regular season game.

 

[ND Lifer]

Charlie's using screens as "running plays" It keeps the defense honest and limits their blitzing. If you take the screen yardage and add it to the true rushing yardage, you get a completely different picture. The backs are getting the screens in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage anyway, so it's basically a run.

 

[BGIF]

Aero and pants (where've ya been pants?) have been listening to Charlie comments to sideline reporters and pressers!

Yeah, let's run the ball more, bring on the smashmouth game of old. The hell with what's been winning. Maybe CW can teach Brady the triple option in a week so we can have respectable rushing numbers.


A CNNSI.com article notes:

The three TD passes surrendered by the Volunteers also equaled the amount they gave up in their first seven games combined.

Let's see, ND's QB has the highest QB Efficiency Rating in their history. Two WRs (would have been 3 but one's injured) and a TE setting receiving records. And a TB on a pace to set a receiving record (largely on "run" plays as Lifer points out).

And defenses pack the box and blitz.

What is wrong with Weis thinking, calling those plays that have been winning?

Somebody e-mail CW quick and send him THEIR GAME PLAN so ND can beat Navy as after all their secondary is their strength.


Sigh!

 

[bigdon]

Everybody agrees that Weis will use whatever is going to win the game. That is not the point. Let's face it! ND simply does not have a running game that is going to go against a good defense. Walker is a good back--not a great one. He is very intelligent and has a knack for getting a few more yards after he is hit, and he does not fumble. But he does not have the speed to turn the corner and will not outrun good DB's. The ND fullback, whoever that is, will be a blocking back under the current system, In other words Weis would use the running game if it were better.

Years ago Bill Parcells said it was extremely difficult to have a good running game and a good passing game. The offensive linemen are trained for one or the other. ND may be able to run against NAVY especially in the second half when size becomes a factor, but that does not mean we have a good running game. Weis will win throwing the ball because that is ND's strength now.

 

[jiggafini19]

Everybody agrees that Weis will use whatever is going to win the game. That is not the point. Let's face it! ND simply does not have a running game that is going to go against a good defense. Walker is a good back--not a great one. He is very intelligent and has a knack for getting a few more yards after he is hit, and he does not fumble. But he does not have the speed to turn the corner and will not outrun good DB's. The ND fullback, whoever that is, will be a blocking back under the current system, In other words Weis would use the running game if it were better.

Well said.

 

[irishtexan]

this may be a little off topic, but if anyone DVR'ed the game like me or has TIVO, go back and watch Fasano's TD run. The middle line backer was coming through on a blitz and jumped in the air and Darius cut him low and the guy did a freakin' triple lutz in the air. It was a beautiful block by walker.

 

[gingtoad]

irishtexan is absolutley right. Although I have to say, as a team, ND is great at downfield blocking!! The Pitt game on DW screen, there were like 5 guys in front of him, Zibby's punt returns are not even there if there isn't any blocking. Samadjiza's run against purdue...just a few. Give these guys some credit, they are doing it all!!

 

[domerfor life]

It would be nice if we stopped wishing for better this and better that and accept the product that is out on the field. You people want it all. LOL!!! We'll have it all eventually. Notre Dame has two straight pass-oriented gameplans and all of sudden Darius is not the back that will lead us to the NC. Now he's being nitpicked to death. He's not this and he's not that. This isn't the only post that I have seen concerning this topic. First time one of the star recruits has a stretch where he's not as productive, there will be posts just like this that pop up. This is a neverending saga. He's got three games left and could very well gain 400 more yards rushing. I'll even put money on the fact that ,unless he gets hurt, he'll be our starter for the next couple of years. The guys a true sophomore and is still learning. If we go 10-2 and average 20 yards a game rushing I will take that any day of the week. Worrying about avg rush yards and the running game is a waste of time right now. Now....if they don't average at least 180 yards on the ground the next three games, then that would be a problem.

 

[guff]

You will see the running game big time this week. Navy is undersized at DLine - ND will be able to blow 'em off the ball. It also shortens the game. The way the offense is playing ND could embarass Navy. I don't think Weis is into embarassing opponents. ND scores 45 mainly running, Quinn throws 15 passes.

 

[Domer95]

irishtexan is absolutley right. Although I have to say, as a team, ND is great at downfield blocking!! The Pitt game on DW screen, there were like 5 guys in front of him, Zibby's punt returns are not even there if there isn't any blocking. Samadjiza's run against purdue...just a few. Give these guys some credit, they are doing it all!!

It reminds one of Lou's days as coach, as that is one thing he REALLY stressed (down field blocking) by his receivers. It's so nice to see it again.

 

[jiggafini19]

Navy's red zone defense is giving up points at a 78% clip.

Notre Dame is going to score a ton of points in this one.

 

[KMac151993]

domerfor life I am not bringing complaints I was just asking what people thought of Weis saying hey if they aren't going to stop it then we are going to keep throwing it. I just brought that up because we do have a talented backfield that can do it all, run-block-catch and just wondered what people thought about the backfields contributions and running the football.

 

[jiggafini19]

Again, we'll see a lot more running in the next three games. Then again, we might not. That is the beauty of Weis....you just don't know what's coming.

In high school, we once ran the same delayed handoff four consecutive times, all for first downs. We ran it the fifth time and gained five yards, then went to other things.

If the opposition cannot stop what you're doing, keep doing it until they figure it out.

Your point is well taken, K Mac. Being that this is Weis' first year, we are certainly not accustomed to this kind of offensive scheming. I like the fact that no one, not even big ND fans like ourselves, seem to have a clue what this guy will do from week to week.

 

[Vince Young]

One of my high school teachers once told a story about our football team years before, when we were having a VERY bad season. One of our out-of-town rivals came in and just ran the exact-same student-body-right running play over and over and over again in the first half, getting 4 or 5 yards each time. We just couldn't stop it, so they just kept doing it.

At halftime, they switched to student-body-left. Same result. Our defense was just THAT BAD that year. Ugh.

Hey, if it works, keep doing it. Make the other team stop you. C-Dub gets that.

 

[bigdon]

Every coach in America will use the same play over and over if the opposition cannot stop it. That was not invented by Charlie Weis! Holtz used it and every other one has.

That's why ND throws the ball. Nobody has found a way to stop it. Tenn found a way to stop th ND run. We won the game through the air.

 

[DukeDomer]

Every coach in America will use the same play over and over if the opposition cannot stop it. That was not invented by Charlie Weis! Holtz used it and every other one has.

That's why ND throws the ball. Nobody has found a way to stop it. Tenn found a way to stop th ND run. We won the game through the air.

Sometimes the coach will use the same play over and over even if the oppositon is stopping it! Remember the bubble screen!!

 

[irish9331]

Sometimes the coach will use the same play over and over even if the oppositon is stopping it! Remember the bubble screen!!

I miss the bubble screen....okay maybe I don't.

 

[BGIF]

If the opposition cannot stop what you're doing, keep doing it until they figure it out.

Your point is well taken, K Mac. Being that this is Weis' first year, we are certainly not accustomed to this kind of offensive scheming. I like the fact that no one, not even big ND fans like ourselves, seem to have a clue what this guy will do from week to week.

I like even better that the professionals paid to coach on the other sideline can't figure it out.