Has anyone stopped our running attack in the redzone? I don't remember. Did we even get in the redzone against AUB? It seems like the refs prevented us from getting there.
The implication was fairly obvious. I know a little football, Red. I agree that the running game has not shown up and it's something that needs work, but to act like the season is doomed unless the run game comes around flies in the face of what is actually happening. Buster Davis said teams can stack the box all they want. They'll just beat them with the pass. There is no rule that says you have to have a balanced attack to be successful. When you put up 35 points while rushing for 26 yards, there is no problem IMO. Get ready for the Gators to stuff our run as well. They've done it to every team they played. The Condoms rushed for 135 on 36 carries last night against a pretty bad team. It's not just us. My only point is we need to relax and enjoy what we have. The lack of a rush is a valid talking point and I'm not trying to squelch any discussion of it. I only try to point out that it's not as big a problem as some might think it is.
Too bad Buster wasn't calling the plays against Auburn. Miles is the offensive line coach. He needs to get this fixed.
The coaches know we can't run the ball very well these days. While I was critical of them after the Auburn game for sticking with the run, they came out throwing the ball against Tulane and MSU. Once we had big leads, we worked on the run game. The adjustment has been made. I fully expect to see more of this against UF. We'll throw early and often while mixing in the occasional run. I think it's obvious to everyone that our best chance of winning at Florida is to ride that big ole arm of JR.
Well, that comment was intended to be in the sense of, "We're just talking football here, not calling for anybody's head or predicting gloom." Sorry for the imprecise language, it was not intended to suggest that you weren't also part of the "talking". I agree with all of this. My comments were about about the contribution of the offensive line to the lack of running effectiveness this year. I think it is higher than that of the play calling or the skill of the running backs. I do not predict doom and I stick to my preseason prediction of a 10-2 season and a BCS bowl. No, but there are statistics that suggest that the most successful programs feature balance on both offense and defense. LSU is well balanced against the run and pass on defense. But the offense is disturbingly one-dimensional, I think, if the rushing attack doesn't improve. No problem for Mississippi State, but as one contemplates Florida and Tennessee on the road, it suggests possible problems. If we get one-dimensional against ranked teams, it can be taken advantage of. Very true. We will have to throw the ball against Florida. But this limits us, because we can't establish a time-consuming, ball control running drive. The new clock changes everything, as we found out in Auburn. Leak and Tebow can't score if they can't get the football back. All of our scoring drives against State were quick and ate up huge chunks of yardage, but very little clock. We can't let Florida match us in time of possession like State did. They aren't going to go three-and-out so easily and could post serious points if they get as many chances as State got. Well, I agree with you there, of course. I have not joined the gloomy Calamity Kids. Cheeseburgers and beer may kill me someday, but stressing over football ain't going to do it.
I think the running game will come around. I also think that there were lessons learned in our one loss. I suspect Miles was playing very conservatively trying to avoid a huge mistake that would cost us the game. Unfortunately, his plan would have worked had the officials not been so damn incompetent. Since then, he has let Jimbo try different things in the running game once the game was put away (still, there are complaints that we should put up 60 in those situations). If Florida's strategy is to stuff the run with multiple personnel, then that plays right into our hands. If they try a more balanced defense, then we will see more success with our ground game. Florida is a good team and we'll have our hands full on the road, but not just because "we can't run block". The game dictates the situation. For those of you who just cannot let the Auburn loss go, well, I can't help you. It was the same thing last year. Despite the tremendous successes of the team last season, the Tennessee loss just wouldn't work it's way down the food pipe. Swallow hard guys and relax and enjoy this team.
I haven't figured out the multi quote thing, so bear with me. What have you seen that makes you think our running game will come around? I'm not certain that the Gators need to put 7 or 8 in the box to contain the run. Although it still hurts, I let the Auburn loss go. I'm not convinced that a one dimensional team can run the table in the SEC. If JR continues to perform at his high level I'll come around. I'm enjoying the hell out of this team. Call me stubborn, hard headed or something else, I just want to see them play to their full potential.
