Running game

[bdgan]

Barkley 10 carries for 47 yards. One second half carry for 33 yards. The other 9 carries netted only 14 yards.

Sanders 3 carries for 44 yards. The big gain was 29 yards on a play where was completely stuffed at the LOS but he bounced outside and turned it into a long gain.

Robinson 2 carries for 39 yards. One carry wa 41 yards and the other was -2 yards.

It's very strange. A lot of big plays and a lot of nothing. Very seldom drive the opponent back and grind out a 4 yard gain. Running between the tackles to convert a 3rd and 2 doesn't seem like a good bet at this point. Is the OL that weak? Is it the RPO scheme where McSorley delays the handoff? There's no doubt that PSU has some terrific athletes.

I thought this team would have much better OL play, would grind out more yards on the ground, put themselves in more 3rd and short situations, and rely less on the long pass. That prediction was way off.

 

[rmem]

The OL is better, especially when it comes to pass-blocking. The way to beat PSU is still to stack the box and make McSorley beat you. It's gonna be the same all year.

Barkley being the beast he is in pass-catching makes it very difficult for defenses to stack the box and defend him, which would be hard enough anyway. Moorehead knows this, and you can see it in his playcalling.

 

[bdgan]

The OL is better, especially when it comes to pass-blocking. The way to beat PSU is still to stack the box and make McSorley beat you. It's gonna be the same all year.

Barkley being the beast he is in pass-catching makes it very difficult for defenses to stack the box and defend him, which would be hard enough anyway. Moorehead knows this, and you can see it in his playcalling.

Why do you say the way to beat PSU is to stack the box and make McSorley beat you? That hasn't worked for anybody. If I was the opposing coach I'd be more focused on stopping the big plays.

 

[rmem]

I say it because it's true. Barkley is a known. McSorley can be inaccurate. It's really pretty simple, and all you have to do is watch any game to see opposing coaches see it the same way.

 

[ram2020]

We will never be good in third and short at long as out all world runningback takes a lazy handoff 6 yards behind the line of scrimmage sta ding flatfooted. I know it's Joemo's damn offense and has earned a level of hubris, but 3rd and short execution will cost us at least one game this year. We lost to USC in the rose bowl by producing 8 yards of total offense in the 4th quarter. We are incapable of lomg sustained drives and our offense is just not built for 4 yard runs. It is what it is, but the fact that we can never run a qb sneak or have Barkley take a handoff moving towards the line at full speed confounds me.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Why do you say the way to beat PSU is to stack the box and make McSorley beat you? That hasn't worked for anybody. If I was the opposing coach I'd be more focused on stopping the big plays.

He says it because he's not a dope.

 

[BBG65]

The offense that Penn State runs is not a power running offense. It takes too long to get the ball back to the line of scrimmage and the runner has no speed or momentum built up. It's tough for the OL to hold their blocks that long. Obviously, there are advantages for the offense, as a whole, but it is a trade-off.

 

[Ranger Dan]

i was complaining about the lack of inside running game last night, but was called a cry baby. CJF himself said in an on field, post game interview that the lack of a running game was a problem.

 

[Bardo]

Barkley 10 carries for 47 yards. One second half carry for 33 yards. The other 9 carries netted only 14 yards.

Sanders 3 carries for 44 yards. The big gain was 29 yards on a play where was completely stuffed at the LOS but he bounced outside and turned it into a long gain.

Robinson 2 carries for 39 yards. One carry wa 41 yards and the other was -2 yards.

It's very strange. A lot of big plays and a lot of nothing. Very seldom drive the opponent back and grind out a 4 yard gain. Running between the tackles to convert a 3rd and 2 doesn't seem like a good bet at this point. Is the OL that weak? Is it the RPO scheme where McSorley delays the handoff? There's no doubt that PSU has some terrific athletes.

I thought this team would have much better OL play, would grind out more yards on the ground, put themselves in more 3rd and short situations, and rely less on the long pass. That prediction was way off.

The only way we'll get run yardage between the tackles is by punishing the defense with effective passing. Forcing the D to make decisions to move people out of the box. Also, misdirection plays that Barkley with an in space, like the toss sweep they ran worked.

 

[PSUcup1]

The offense that Penn State runs is not a power running offense. It takes too long to get the ball back to the line of scrimmage and the runner has no speed or momentum built up. It's tough for the OL to hold their blocks that long. Obviously, there are advantages for the offense, as a whole, but it is a trade-off.

This. It's the scheme

I really wish we had some pistol formation. I believe it would help the short run game immensely

 

[PSU0622]

Trace ran against Akron a good amount but maybe once this week on a designed RPO. This makes it very difficult for Barkley to get going because the defense isn't worried about Trace as a running threat. Mark my words you will see Trace running next week to keep Iowa off guard. I see Barkley getting 20 carries and having a big day on the ground.

 

[Nitwit]

We didn't see McSorely run much last night maybe by design. But our running game improves when he takes advantage of everyone keying in Barkley.

 

[83wuzme]

A running QB is the quickest way to create an offensive advantage. Think 2005 versus 2004.
That said, there are some risks with the JoMo offense :
- you need high levels of talent at all of the skill positions, guys who can make big plays consistently.
- you need a good defense with a deep rotation due to the TOP imbalances.
- running out the clock with a lead is a problem.
- managing short yardage downs and distances is often problematic.