New Fullback

[Polish Leppy 22]

Is anyone else disgusted with our offense's 3rd and 1 or 3rd and 2 shortcomings? This happened a lot in 2007 and 2008, too. Think about USC. Think about last weekend. I know there have been others. Every one of our linemen weighs 300 plus. Yet we struggle consistently in getting first downs here. If things don't change it will come to bite us in the ass down the road. Gauranteed.

SOLUTION: Aldridge and Hughes are not fullbacks and Paskorz is obviously not good enough to be on the field right now. Bring Wenger in. Put Chris Stewart at FB. 330 pounds of Texas beef either lead blocking or carrying. What do you have to lose? Nothing.

 

[Junkhead]

I have noticed that Stewart is usually pushing the RB up field, punishing anyone in the way. I keep waiting for an injury from it, but he plays to the whistle now.

 

[BillyIrish]

why not Manti? He played some fullback in high school right? He has the size and the attitude. I think he could be a great short yardage lead blocker.

 

[Guest]

why not Manti? He played some fullback in high school right? He has the size and the attitude. I think he could be a great short yardage lead blocker.

He is your best defensive player and I don't think you want to risk injury by playing him on offense.

It is not just the offensive lineman getting a push. Defenses in obvious run downs will stack the middle. When you have 8 guys squeezing the middle, even the best offensive lines won't get a big push.

I think the key is to mix up your calls on 3rd and short. Throw in some toss plays. Try play action and quick routes. Try a bubble screen, throw to the tailback, work the TE down a seem, and throw slants and curls. Do this from multiple formations so it is impossible to pick the play from the offensive formation.

That way when the defense watches film, they will not be able to pick up one tendency. They will have to cover more options. Then when they thinking pass, pound it in the middle.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Did Aldridge even play aganist BC? I don't remember seeing him on the field.

 

[jason_h537]

I have not noticed us struggle on short downs this year. The only short yardage plays that come to mind are the 4th down plays against USC and Boston College. In Hughes defense he got cracked on a helmet 2 helmet shot and looked like a possible concussion

 

[irishtrain]

Be nice to see an o lineman fill in there at goal line like the Bears/49'ers used to do.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Be nice to see an o lineman fill in there at goal line like the Bears/49'ers used to do.

That's what I was getting at. ND doesn't have a solid fullback on the roster. Put big Stew back there and let him lead the way. Hell, you could hide ANY one of our backs behind him for a damn yard or two.

Not being able to move the chains on third and short just grinds my gears.

 

[ubet49]

Maybe have 2 running backs in the backfield. Pretty easy to defense with only one running back.

He is your best defensive player and I don't think you want to risk injury by playing him on offense.

It is not just the offensive lineman getting a push. Defenses in obvious run downs will stack the middle. When you have 8 guys squeezing the middle, even the best offensive lines won't get a big push.

I think the key is to mix up your calls on 3rd and short. Throw in some toss plays. Try play action and quick routes. Try a bubble screen, throw to the tailback, work the TE down a seem, and throw slants and curls. Do this from multiple formations so it is impossible to pick the play from the offensive formation.

That way when the defense watches film, they will not be able to pick up one tendency. They will have to cover more options. Then when they thinking pass, pound it in the middle.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Maybe have 2 running backs in the backfield. Pretty easy to defense with only one running back.

That's been attempted. Hasn't worked. My argument for putting Stew at fullback gives the tailback a legitimate lead blocker. Alridge, Hughes, and Paskorz aren't making that happen.

 

[fitz_bu47]

I like the idea of Big Stew, if anyone has seen Alabama this year they do it on the goal line w/ Terrence "Mt." Cody, saw it once and he wiped out 3 defenders and two of his teammates, and Ingram walked in untouched......But really I agree w/ Wyvrn, remember what USC did to us w/ their tight end on third/fourth and 1...big plays, gotta keep em guessing.

 

[BGIF]

Did Aldridge even play aganist BC? I don't remember seeing him on the field.

No, he did not. He's only played in the opener agasint NEV and against USC.

 

[BeatSC]

That's been attempted. Hasn't worked. My argument for putting Stew at fullback gives the tailback a legitimate lead blocker. Alridge, Hughes, and Paskorz aren't making that happen.

Bring in Stu and give the ball to AA. Frankly has anyone seen GT jump/leap? He could have leaped over any obstacle on both 4th down plays a la Wlater Payton. Bring him in for the jump. who thinks this wouldn't work? Also our QB sneaks have gainded an average of 2 yards a pop which is alot better than what Locker was able to do against us.

 

[BGIF]

Bring in Stu and give the ball to AA. Frankly has anyone seen GT jump/leap? He could have leaped over any obstacle on both 4th down plays a la Wlater Payton. Bring him in for the jump. who thinks this wouldn't work? Also our QB sneaks have gainded an average of 2 yards a pop which is alot better than what Locker was able to do against us.

Bring in Stu (or any other OL). Seems it wasn't that long ago that fans were complaining about the slowness of ND plays developing and the slowness of the front wall surge. Now we want to take a 330 lb lumberer to lead the charge?


As for the QB sneaks, our QB has a steel plate in his shoe. Do you recall Everson Griffen taking every opportunity in a pile to step on Clausens's injured foot? His mobility has improved a little each of the last few weeks. Should we jeopardize the key component of the offense when there are others who should be able to get the job done?

 

[Irish52]

Fullback

Fullback

why not Manti? He played some fullback in high school right? He has the size and the attitude. I think he could be a great short yardage lead blocker.

I agree that we are losing too many 3rd and 1 plays...due to a combination of sloppy line play and light weight running backs. I recall Frank Leahy often ran Leon Hart, a lineman, on these plays....never missed a one. I think we should use any of our 280-295# players and 4 wide outs to spread the field...bet we are successful 95% of the time.

 

[Irish.Ca]

I am not naive enough to say that we'll never have 3rd and short situations. I do think that we could make more of an effort to avoid them though. We almost always seem to be 2-3 yards short after our first down. Then we run or toss a play that leaves us with the same yardage to make up on 3rd down. Why not actually throw the ball TO the first yard marker for a change instead of just 7 yard gains. Throw come back routes where the WR goes 15 yards downfield and then comes back on the ball for a 9-10 yard gain and possibly a 1st down. What do you think?

 

[shortnd]

How about a linebacker like Weis and Hoodie did in New England at the goal line?

 

[tgolden]

I don't think fullback as a lead blocker is even the problem. Most of the plays getting stopped on 3rd or 4th and short have come with a single back getting stopped, getting stopped in the wildcat, or with the fullback getting stopped without a lead blocker. The few times we've run it using the tailback and the fullback as a lead blocker, it seems to have worked. At least that is how I am remembering things.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

I don't think fullback as a lead blocker is even the problem. Most of the plays getting stopped on 3rd or 4th and short have come with a single back getting stopped, getting stopped in the wildcat, or with the fullback getting stopped without a lead blocker. The few times we've run it using the tailback and the fullback as a lead blocker, it seems to have worked. At least that is how I am remembering things.

Thanks for reiterating my point.

1) We don't have a true fullback

2) No lead blocker.

 

[Senoj13]

The only way Hughes was stopped on that 4th and goal play was a helmet to helmet hit. If they run that play 10 times, Hughes most likely scores on 8 of them.

 

[jason_h537]

The only way Hughes was stopped on that 4th and goal play was a helmet to helmet hit. If they run that play 10 times, Hughes most likely scores on 8 of them.

exactly

 

[BeatSC]

exactly

9 of them or at least 4 out of 5 of them

 

[GDomer09]

Is it me or do we always have our RBs stand about 12.286 yards back from the goaline on running plays? Are line isn't good enough for that sh*t, the holes are closing before they get there.

 

[JefMaj]

Hope Roberson can fill out as a 240 - 245 fullback - don't see it happening in one year.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Hope Roberson can fill out as a 240 - 245 fullback - don't see it happening in one year.

Me either. Nor do I want to rely on a freshman fullback to open holes for our tailback. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by putting Stew or one of the big uglies back there to lead the way.

 

[jason_h537]

pretty sure Huges will take over at FB next year. Cam will sit and get ready to blow up in 2011. Maybe Paskorz?

 

[JefMaj]

What happened to Burger when he was playing Fullback? He should have had hands out of the backfield.

 

[Riddickulous]

pretty sure Huges will take over at FB next year. Cam will sit and get ready to blow up in 2011. Maybe Paskorz?

Ah, 2011. It'll be a mixture of Theo, Jonas, and Cierre at running back (maybe a little Giovanni Bernard, too) and Cam Roberson at fullback.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Bernard will get ample playing time next year. I think that he will be a star. His highlights are so impressive. He plays like Armando Allen has this season. Power and speed. Once he is a junior he will be carrying this team.

 

[Riddickulous]

Bernard will get ample playing time next year. I think that he will be a star. His highlights are so impressive. He plays like Armando Allen has this season. Power and speed. Once he is a junior he will be carrying this team.

More like carrying the rock while Dayne Crist wings it all over the field to Shaq Evans, Tai-ler Jones, Bennett Jackson, Roby Toma, John Goodman, Deion Walker, ...., ....