Our Rushing Offense

[Patulski]

Kelly said in his Press Conference that he's got three backs that could play for anybody, a QB that is physically ready (emphasizing his athletic ability to elude the rush and run for TD's) and recognizes that he needs to get Atkinson more touches. What are the chances we will at times use a rushing formation with two backs with Golson, and attack MSU with misdirection and read option plays with GAIII as the pitch man?

We have the personnel to do this. Seems like a no brainer to me. We'll see.

 

[fightingirish26]

i have wanted to see a 2 back formation all year

 

[Irishman77]

We could see some option. The playbook will expand no doubt.

 

[Cogs]

I am still mind ****ed by Coach Kelly's decision to put Rees in at the end like that. Imagine if Rees throws an Int and loses the game for Irish... he and Kelly would be crucified by Irish fans. What a gutsy but brilliant call for BK and great redemption for Rees. Sorry I'd just like to say this without making a thread. And I like the 2 RB system you can run play action out of it for days...

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Kelly said in his Press Conference that he's got three backs that could play for anybody, a QB that is physically ready (emphasizing his athletic ability to elude the rush and run for TD's) and recognizes that he needs to get Atkinson more touches. What are the chances we will at times use a rushing formation with two backs with Golson, and attack MSU with misdirection and read option plays with GAIII as the pitch man?

We have the personnel to do this. Seems like a no brainer to me. We'll see.

I dont think we have much of a choice. We cant run right at this defense. WEll have another 50 yard rushing total. I said in another thread, I think we are going to cautiously use our speed that we finally have.

 

[fightingirish26]

I am still mind ****ed by Coach Kelly's decision to put Rees in at the end like that. Imagine if Rees throws an Int and loses the game for Irish... he and Kelly would be crucified by Irish fans. What a gutsy but brilliant call for BK and great redemption for Rees. Sorry I'd just like to say this without making a thread. And I like the 2 RB system you can run play action out of it for days...

i am still having a hard believing golson was hurt

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I am still mind ****ed by Coach Kelly's decision to put Rees in at the end like that. Imagine if Rees throws an Int and loses the game for Irish... he and Kelly would be crucified by Irish fans. What a gutsy but brilliant call for BK and great redemption for Rees. Sorry I'd just like to say this without making a thread. And I like the 2 RB system you can run play action out of it for days...

The 2 back system would no doubt get that monster dline in a "thinking pattern" instead out just attacking. The options would be endless. We need to be creative for sure, ill be very disapointed if we play not to lose.

The big play will be HUGE saturday night.

 

[irishff1014]

I dont think we have much of a choice. We cant run right at this defense. WEll have another 50 yard rushing total. I said in another thread, I think we are going to cautiously use our speed that we finally have.

I don't understand why we lined up unde center so much against purdue. Thats not us nor is it how we have been succesful running the ball. Yes i knw that Rees was the QB then ut it shouldn't matter. I know it is considered shot gun even though the QB is as far back is they way we have run most of our running plays. It makes the defense think more if the QB is going to pull it back and throw. Not saying the Pro style with the shot gun cant work because it can. When we are in the red zone instead of throwing it use Eifert or Troy as a full back and smash it down there throat.

 

[Downinthebend]

Not sure I want to condense the formation against a tricky defense.

 

[mrmiller8]

I think the running game right now is strictly to open up the pass. I also believe that riddick opened up all our against a lackluster navy defense. I think he missed some holes and some cutbacks against purdue and truly believe that with wood back and healthy (not that health was an issue) will make everything a bit better. Also, until the notre dame QB's prove they can beat the secondary on a regular basis the opponents are going to stack the box with 7-8 and safeties will continue to play 8-10 yards off the ball. Eifert is the only threat right now. someone else needs to step up....

 

[stlnd01]

i am still having a hard believing golson was hurt

By the end of a game like that, everyone's a little hurt. It gave Golson a little bit of cover. No biggie.

As for running: Yes, let's. That's where our horses are, and then it'll open up the passing game after a few possessions.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Unless you're using them as receiving threats, a run-oriented two-back formation means one's a fullback. We don't really have one of those.

 

[irishff1014]

Not sure I want to condense the formation against a tricky defense.

I agree with this. Mich state defense is normally pretty sound. I think if you are going to try and trick anyone we should wait to play a more exposed defense like Mich.

 

[kmoose]

Kelly said in his Press Conference that he's got three backs that could play for anybody, a QB that is physically ready (emphasizing his athletic ability to elude the rush and run for TD's) and recognizes that he needs to get Atkinson more touches. What are the chances we will at times use a rushing formation with two backs with Golson, and attack MSU with misdirection and read option plays with GAIII as the pitch man?

We have the personnel to do this. Seems like a no brainer to me. We'll see.

You don't just throw some option into the offense because you have a QB that can run, and also have more than one tailback that can carry the ball. The option requires absolute timing, and needs to be practiced over and over and over and over again. And then? You practice it some more. The Quarterback has to absolutely know what he is doing. Golson didn't run the option in High School, and he's not going to pick up enough of it to run it successfully, in just one week of practice.

 

[Downinthebend]

You don't just throw some option into the offense because you have a QB that can run, and also have more than one tailback that can carry the ball. The option requires absolute timing, and needs to be practiced over and over and over and over again. And then? You practice it some more. The Quarterback has to absolutely know what he is doing. Golson didn't run the option in High School, and he's not going to pick up enough of it to run it successfully, in just one week of practice.

Hasn't Golson ran some option successfully already this season?

 

[Buster Bluth]

Not sure I want to condense the formation against a tricky defense.

This man gets it.

 

[georgia irish]

When EG learns to hit Eifert when he has iso coverage our run game will open up.

 

[Chamellion]

i am still having a hard believing golson was hurt

I don't, after having multiple people on campus who saw it bandaged, and a kid on the team, confirm it.

 

[Mr. Larson]

Let's spread them out with Golson under center. Riddick and Atkinson are quality backs, but they aren't as good as this guy:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oK8glMWg6Gw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kiXp6GVGN0w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Chamellion]

Damn I think he's going to miss Mike Floyd's blocking

 

[Whiskeyjack]

You don't just throw some option into the offense because you have a QB that can run, and also have more than one tailback that can carry the ball. The option requires absolute timing, and needs to be practiced over and over and over and over again. And then? You practice it some more. The Quarterback has to absolutely know what he is doing. Golson didn't run the option in High School, and he's not going to pick up enough of it to run it successfully, in just one week of practice.

There's are different levels of "option". The Read Option doesn't even involve a pitch, and Golson should absolutely be able to do that. A simple Speed Option to the outside is very easy to install; we saw video of Golson practicing such in fall camp. Double and Triple Options definitely require a very high level of execution to use successfully, but no one expects to see either from Kelly.

 

[Mr. Larson]

Damn I think he's going to miss Mike Floyd's blocking

Who wouldn't-Floyd was a beast. (Nearly impossible to tell from that video..but...) In the longer of the two TD runs TJ Jones was setting the block on the outside.

 

[NDhoosier]

could always put Eifert out there to block a little CB and have Niklas as the inline blocker. Ill take Eifert over Floyd all day when it comes to blocking.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Let's spread them out with Golson under center. Riddick and Atkinson are quality backs, but they aren't as good as [Cierre Wood]

Exactly. At this point in his career--and he will improve--GAIII is like a Tommy Rees. He has some traits (here, speed) that weaker opponents can't defend. However, those are largely canceled out against better opponents.

I think Cierre Wood is a significantly better RB than GAIII and that our running game will be much more potent with his return. I was not worried about the Navy game without CW, but Purdue was a different beast. MSU will look more like that and hopefully CW won't be too rusty.

 

[kmoose]

There's are different levels of "option". The Read Option doesn't even involve a pitch, and Golson should absolutely be able to do that. A simple Speed Option to the outside is very easy to install; we saw video of Golson practicing such in fall camp. Double and Triple Options definitely require a very high level of execution to use successfully, but no one expects to see either from Kelly.

Good point. I assumed that the poster was talking about the triple option, since he was making the point that we have multiple backs that Kelly thinks would start for lots of other teams.

 

[BGIF]

Good point. I assumed that the poster was talking about the triple option, since he was making the point that we have multiple backs that Kelly thinks would start for lots of other teams.

We have multiple backs but no FB to run a Triple Option.

 

[polishjuice4]

You don't need a FB for a triple option. Just have two running backs back there, one on either side of Golson, either give to the running back (regular read option), keep, or pitch to the other running back on an option.

 

[Patulski]

Exactly. At this point in his career--and he will improve--GAIII is like a Tommy Rees. He has some traits (here, speed) that weaker opponents can't defend. However, those are largely canceled out against better opponents.

I suppose kickoff returns for touchdowns against USC and MSU are proof, because as we all know USC has no speed and MSU is one of the weaker opponents on our schedule.

Sheesh.

 

[Veer option]

You don't need a FB for a triple option. Just have two running backs back there, one on either side of Golson, either give to the running back (regular read option), keep, or pitch to the other running back on an option.

In a traditional I", Wishbone or Flex formation you need a fullback. For the triple option in the spread you at least need a sturdy/durable-hefty back who is a threat to pound the ball between the guards if the read is there. ND doesn't have a single back over 210lbs.

 

[FLDomer]

In a traditional I", Wishbone or Flex formation you need a fullback. For the triple option in the spread you at least need a sturdy/durable-hefty back who is a threat to pound the ball between the guards if the read is there. ND doesn't have a single back over 210lbs.

FYI Wood is listed at 215...and Mahone is 211