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The Running Game - or lack thereof

I am encouraged by Saturday night.

OL shakeup seemed to work.

Pistol was a nice wrinkle.

Many runs started with a counter step, which helped confuse defensive reads from 10 personnel.

I still don't like the amount of 10 with a QB who doesn't like RPO & won't do Zone Read or QB Power.

I still don't like the balance with 49 passes to 17 RB carries. 26% run when playing with a multi possession lead and your ypa on RB runs was 6.6 compared to 6.3 ypa on passes? That doesn't make a lot of sense. Especially when your defense is playing great and the clock is your best friend.

I accept that we're a passing team and should be a passing team. I accept that many of Shurmur's pass calls were short crossing routes and other throws which are basically an extension of the running game. But if this is the balance in a game where the run game is working that well, the defense isn't giving up points, there's a comfortable 2nd half lead, and the offensive point of emphasis was to get a run game established... let's just say that I don't have confidence that we won't look back at Saturday as the game when we ran the ball a lot. And I don't like it.
 
I am encouraged by Saturday night.

OL shakeup seemed to work.

Pistol was a nice wrinkle.

Many runs started with a counter step, which helped confuse defensive reads from 10 personnel.

I still don't like the amount of 10 with a QB who doesn't like RPO & won't do Zone Read or QB Power.

I still don't like the balance with 49 passes to 17 RB carries. 26% run when playing with a multi possession lead and your ypa on RB runs was 6.6 compared to 6.3 ypa on passes? That doesn't make a lot of sense. Especially when your defense is playing great and the clock is your best friend.

I accept that we're a passing team and should be a passing team. I accept that many of Shurmur's pass calls were short crossing routes and other throws which are basically an extension of the running game. But if this is the balance in a game where the run game is working that well, the defense isn't giving up points, there's a comfortable 2nd half lead, and the offensive point of emphasis was to get a run game established... let's just say that I don't have confidence that we won't look back at Saturday as the game when we ran the ball a lot. And I don't like it.
It is sloppy 7 on 7 style football
Clock only mattered on a few specific snaps where they were told to wait till 5 seconds
Very casual and sloppy style of play and they had 2-3 BS explanations about why it is what it is
If you got #2, you gotta throw it
If they are still trying to score, we should try and score ??? WTF
Nobody worries about balance until you lose ??? WTF

With a great Defense and a potential running game, it only makes Shedeur better

I actually cannot believe that we threw it 49 times, that kind of feels weird that it happened.
 
Welch was nice. He didn't require a huge hole to get positive yardage. If Flea can get out of his own way and allow a feature back, Welch should produce handsomely.
However, that was still a low running total vs an atrocious defense, one of the worst in the country. That was a good win for a confidence builder, but make no mistake about it, the ewes are a bottom feeder at the G5 level.
The offense continues to underperform given the tools they have. Shurmur is Shurmur.
The defensive looked very good last night. A few turnovers was a welcomed sight and the tackling is solid. N. Hill-Green is good enough to cover for a terrible LB coach. The Defense should keep games close enough... IF the offense can figure it out, this team may get to a bowl. That's about the ceiling with this coaching staff.
 
Many runs started with a counter step, which helped confuse defensive reads from 10 personnel, with one running back and no tight ends.

I still don't like the amount of 10, 1 running back and no tight end, with a QB who doesn't like RPO & won't do Zone Read or QB Power.
FIFY but agree with your post.
 
I really expected that our OL this year would be LT Seaton, OG Mayers, OG Johnson, RT Benson and C Brown/ Zilinskas position battle.

I have a bit of concern that there is loyalty/ favoritism to certain players and too much of players making decisions. For example, Benson prefers playing Guard and Brown doesn't like playing Center - and Brown's gonna start so we have to work around these 2 things.

Similar to how Mata is going to be our PK so we had to run off an all-conference PK and then put an extra PK on scholarship to handle kickoffs and 40+ yard FG attempts.
 
I really expected that our OL this year would be LT Seaton, OG Mayers, OG Johnson, RT Benson and C Brown/ Zilinskas position battle.

I have a bit of concern that there is loyalty/ favoritism to certain players and too much of players making decisions. For example, Benson prefers playing Guard and Brown doesn't like playing Center - and Brown's gonna start so we have to work around these 2 things.

Similar to how Mata is going to be our PK so we had to run off an all-conference PK and then put an extra PK on scholarship to handle kickoffs and 40+ yard FG attempts.
I do think Brown is a good guard. It just unfortunate that they brought too many guards and too few tackles from the off-season
 
Buffs should watch the Lions offense. Balanced run attack while getting your talented WRs involved in various ways.
These days, balance really means 60/40 P/R. Nobody is 50/50. The problem is when your norm becomes 70/30 or more. Buffs being "committed" to the run means we're closer to 70/30 than 80/20. One dimensional offense gives a lot of advantages to a defense.
 
I really expected that our OL this year would be LT Seaton, OG Mayers, OG Johnson, RT Benson and C Brown/ Zilinskas position battle.

I have a bit of concern that there is loyalty/ favoritism to certain players and too much of players making decisions. For example, Benson prefers playing Guard and Brown doesn't like playing Center - and Brown's gonna start so we have to work around these 2 things.

Similar to how Mata is going to be our PK so we had to run off an all-conference PK and then put an extra PK on scholarship to handle kickoffs and 40+ yard FG attempts.
This.
 
Why do you hate Barry Sanders?
I love Barry Sanders. My favorite NFL running back ever.. But Barry got screwed over by the Mouse Davis' Run-and-Shoot offense...The only reason he was able to make the runs he did was because he was the best ever (in my opinion). Did he ever even get to go to a playoff game? If Barry had a real offense, he would have been Super Bowl MVP, easy.
 
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These days, balance really means 60/40 P/R. Nobody is 50/50. The problem is when your norm becomes 70/30 or more. Buffs being "committed" to the run means we're closer to 70/30 than 80/20. One dimensional offense gives a lot of advantages to a defense.
I expected 70/30 coming into the season, but it’s been more about situational football and what kind of runs they are calling. For example, they simply aren’t a team that can line up in short yardage and pick up a yard or two consistently; just not who they are or what they practice. Short yardage should be whatever they are best at and that’s passing. They should be running on 1st and/or 2nd down more frequently so it sets them up with 3rd and manageable and allows them to run the pass plays they are good at.
 
I expected 70/30 coming into the season, but it’s been more about situational football and what kind of runs they are calling. For example, they simply aren’t a team that can line up in short yardage and pick up a yard or two consistently; just not who they are or what they practice. Short yardage should be whatever they are best at and that’s passing. They should be running on 1st and/or 2nd down more frequently so it sets them up with 3rd and manageable and allows them to run the pass plays they are good at.
You’re going to have your wife and kids get your life insurance payout if you continue worrying about what they should do vs. what they’ll actually do.
 
I am encouraged by Saturday night.

OL shakeup seemed to work.

Pistol was a nice wrinkle.

Many runs started with a counter step, which helped confuse defensive reads from 10 personnel.

I still don't like the amount of 10 with a QB who doesn't like RPO & won't do Zone Read or QB Power.

I still don't like the balance with 49 passes to 17 RB carries. 26% run when playing with a multi possession lead and your ypa on RB runs was 6.6 compared to 6.3 ypa on passes? That doesn't make a lot of sense. Especially when your defense is playing great and the clock is your best friend.

I accept that we're a passing team and should be a passing team. I accept that many of Shurmur's pass calls were short crossing routes and other throws which are basically an extension of the running game. But if this is the balance in a game where the run game is working that well, the defense isn't giving up points, there's a comfortable 2nd half lead, and the offensive point of emphasis was to get a run game established... let's just say that I don't have confidence that we won't look back at Saturday as the game when we ran the ball a lot. And I don't like it.

I am encouraged too. One of the things I saw was small O gains through a pass where the WR stayed in bounds, and they ran some clock even in the shotgun. The O seemed more much more relaxed in this road game, not pressuring to throw downfield nearly as much. Personally, I don't really like the 10 all that much, but if they run it and run clock, that does give the defense a breather, if they can move the chains.

In some ways, the play is dictated on what the D is keying for, and I'll have to watch more film to see how things were lined up. For this CU team, the "run game" in and of itself can be a mixture of runs and short passes, just not 50 second 3 and outs + sacks. I hope the Oline and run game progresses from week to week. It can if Welsh and others are productive. We will get in games where it is 3rd & 2, or 3rd and 1, where they have to go run and just move the chains. Same thing in other situations, if the D is keying pass, CU has to run effectively to keep the opposing D honest. Salting away games CU in the 4th Q is ahead, and they just run out the clock.

If the D continues to progress, we will be in a bunch of games going forward--expecting to win hard games at home and competitive on the road. The D is making some strides, not perfect by any means, but we got some TO's and some of those throws were under pressure. We created some great stops. IMO, if CU is going to make noise and exceed expectations, it will be the D not the just the O shining in those games. The ESPN highlights will be the O, but where games and seasons are made is on D.
 
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I really expected that our OL this year would be LT Seaton, OG Mayers, OG Johnson, RT Benson and C Brown/ Zilinskas position battle.

I have a bit of concern that there is loyalty/ favoritism to certain players and too much of players making decisions. For example, Benson prefers playing Guard and Brown doesn't like playing Center - and Brown's gonna start so we have to work around these 2 things.

Similar to how Mata is going to be our PK so we had to run off an all-conference PK and then put an extra PK on scholarship to handle kickoffs and 40+ yard FG attempts.

I think that is hard to say without knowing what Johnson is going through. I see a C battle b/t Brown/Zilinskas, however like a catcher/pitcher in baseball, it is probably whoever snaps the ball better/more consistent to SS and is on the same page. I know some posters want Wells back, but if he was not the guy on the exchange, then it is what it is.

Win or loss next week (I presume a win), CU will have the bye week to figure further iron the Oline stuff out.

Mata has to play better, or it is plan B. I don't really think Becker was ran off, rather he went to UUs to hopefully play in the playoffs or conference championship game, so I can't blame him. If Becker was in CU camp with the other guys, I don't think it is a contest. He is one of the few guys that left CU actually trading up.
 
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I think that is hard to say without knowing what Johnson is going through. I see a C battle b/t Brown/Zilinskas, however like a catcher/pitcher in baseball, it is probably whoever snaps the ball better/more consistent to SS and is on the same page. I know some posters want Wells back, but if he was not the guy on the exchange, then it is what it is.

Win or loss next week (I presume a win), CU will have the bye week to figure further iron the Oline stuff out.

Mata has to play better, or it is plan B. I don't really think Becker was ran off, rather he went to UUs to hopefully play in the playoffs or conference championship game, so I can't blame him. If Becker was in CU camp with the other guys, I don't think it is a contest. He is one of the few guys that left CU actually trading up.
Mata is what Mata is. He kicks low knuckle balls and always has.

We might not have "pushed" Becker out, but bringing in HCP's favorite kicker certainly opened the door nice and wide. This is the one move I've been critical of for a while. One thing we had was pretty good specialists. We horribly downgraded kicker, and our punter has gone from very good to awful. And we still haven't found anyone who can kick the ball out of the endzone--at altitude. How is that?
 
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