The role of the running game in an Air Raid offense
by kayakyakr on Jul 7, 2008 11:05 PM CDT
Email
PrintBear with me, this is a rough, in-progress look at the role our running game has played in the past and a question of what role it should play in the future. I feel that we should start with finding out what has worked and what hasn't worked in the running game so we can, as an inconsequential online entity, point out the direction that we feel Mike Leach should take in the further development of the running game. Yes, I say we because I'm hoping for input. Most of my thoughts on the matter are anecdotal (though I suppose I could look up old game footage, I'm not going to do that right this instant), so feel free to correct me and I will adjust.
First, I'd like to characterize our running game as of last year: a few draws, but mostly off-tackle handoffs out of the shotgun, what amounts to running the zone read without any of that read part. A majority of the handoffs go directly up the middle, what I see as either a homerun or a 2 yard loss if the runningback can't avoid the end that's come to get him. There was a set with two TE's that often managed to pick up a couple of yards, but it never seemed to get quite the push needed to pick up consistant yardage.
Now, of course, I'm going to tell you the 2 reasons why I think that was:
1) There is next to no motion on the line. Run blocking last year was very similar to pass blocking. The idea of standing your man up and not letting him get to the running back is a great though, but it doesn't open up any running lanes. A scheme that pulls a guard, runs the defense along itself (in a zone blocking scheme), even one that has a fullback leading the way will open up running lanes. I remember that one of the most consistent plays last year was the "student body left/right". Everyone's going one direction and at some point there's a cutback lane for the running back.
2) No misdirection. This can really be 2 part: basic runs without fear of counters or delayed draws or the like; and absolutely no play action. The first is pretty self explanatory. The second you may ask why play action would help the running game. With the lack of play action, a defense can read run as soon as they see the quarterback go for the handoff. The linebackers can attack the line at will or stuff up the mid-field passing lanes without having to make a choice between run and pass.
There's the one claim I think I can back up with statistics. I hope I'm not the only one that remembers talk in 2004 (I think it was some tv announcer in our opening game) about the addition of play action to the playbook. And true enough, I remember a much greater presence of play action during games. That year, our top two running backs gained the most yardage in the modern leach era (Henderson had more yards individually in 2005, but he and Mack combined for more the year previous. Yards per carry were down in 2004 vs 2003 and 2005, though. Not sure how to explain that except to point out that yards per carry were way down in 2007).
Ok, so much for part 1 of this running game look. I think next time, if there is one, I think I might look at touches vs running game as an indicator of success. Part 3 would be thoughts about what sort of running mentality might work with the Air Raid.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.
19 comments
|
3 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
thoughts
The idea of standing your man up and not letting him get to the running back is a great though, but it doesn’t open up any running lanes.
A split-T coach would disagree with you. Of course, in a split-T offense, you have to be willing to accept that a gain of 4 yards running the ball is a good play.
A scheme that pulls a guard, runs the defense along itself (in a zone blocking scheme), even one that has a fullback leading the way will open up running lanes.
I’ve seen Tech pull their linemen, even out of those wide splits. A lack of pulling is not the problem. Those wide splits do make running an outside zone running scheme (what I think you’re referring to here, ala Denver Broncos or Atlanta Falcons w/Vick) pretty much impossible.
will see if there’s a set of youtube videos that i can show. It could be that TTU has been pulling guards around and such all this time and I’ve missed it, but I feel it’s more likely that you caught a few of the exceptions to the rule.
And I agree, the wide splits make an outside zone scheme unlikely to be a fit in the system. I wasn’t planning on getting into what sort of ground philosophy I would like to see incorporated into the system until part 3, but I will say now that I’ve felt for a while that it runs best when the 2nd back is leading the way, helping to open up holes, preventing a defender from crashing in on the handoff, or taking a linebacker out to help our runner get through the 2nd level.
Hmm...
I’d like to comment, but I think I’ll wait until I see what else you have to say.
Well written.
Wes Welker can't be stopped.
feel free to comment as we go, it may not be for a bit that I post again and this is a very open thread of discussion. Any input, even if it is premature, is very appreciated.
I think tonight I’ll be trying to find youtube examples of what our running game has done. (Seth, you have any running highlights sitting around?)
i’ve got a list of highlights. Sadly, the best source i found for runs that did not work was highlights for other teams. I’m pretty tired of looking at highlights, but i’m gonna post up the quick list with rough thoughts. Of all the highlights I found, there are few of what i would consider “draw” plays.
Here’s the list:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLJprQDiSQ
1:06 – Blitz, Center/Guard fail to pick it up. LB reacts to handoff without hesitation,
1:30 – Zone blocking package? Line completely fails to stop… anyone,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyerwEmutpI
runs that work:
5:00 – lead blocker
5:05 – lead blocker
5:15 – SMU
5:22 – Huge push, danny puts an awesome block on the OLB
5:34 – lead blocker, baylor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC0guzCtZ7U
chris long vs ttu (god dropped passes killed us early in that game. the christ long fappery almost killed me):
1:06 – happy with the push on this
1:30 – play action!
3:13 – no blockers?
4:55 – lewis went the wrong way/the linebacker got too much penetration
5:30 – no great outside block
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLaUxNioHFM
1:22 – TD, but look how quickly the sooners react. the corner is immediately moving to the line, 95 already moving down to plug any hole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM-liZfGL_Y
0:31 – lead blocker misses the linebacker, OU’s LB’s are on it immediately.
0:52 – play action!
1:22 – just no push, actually happy with this short gain.
3:05 – nice seal block – bit of a counter
5:20 – good push, good seal
5:30 – TD above, different angle
6:25 – Lead blocker
7:20 – good push, line moves as a group here
8:38 – LB’s reacting to the handoff
8:46 – ?? I think the line hates the RB’s
9:00 – Actually happy with all of these. The third one could have been better, though. Call a delayed draw a-la Kansas a few years back?
The best place I’ve found for actual Texas Tech footage, that easily accessible, are the posted clips from the Red-Black scrimmage. You’ll notice all of those things mentioned above.
Go Raiders . . .
yes, the offense looked absolutely horrible during that scrimmage. Remember, I don’t think Vasquez or Reed played, which cause the line to be shuffled quite a bit. If anything, it makes me a little concerned about the current offensive line depth (long-term I think it’s fine). Yes, the guards do pull quite a bit on running plays.
Go Raiders . . .
In the highlights of the spring game the guards are pulling a fair amount. I haven’t seen one of those running plays that makes me cringe in the set when a guard whips around the center and the center actually hits his man proper. I have seen 2 running plays without a lead blocker or pulling guard that fell apart behind the line and I’ve seen a couple of the “straight ahead” type of runs work out.
The key to those straight ahead runs working: the running back was going full speed at handoff and hit the wedge formed by the two guards and the center before a linebacker could crash in on the center or around the guards. The biggest busted play was an obvious handoff in which the running back took the ball with his feet planted and tried to counter from there. Looked more like the RB forgot the play than it being a designed counter: there was no move to seal the WLB and DE inside and the “wedge” was set up in the middle.
reply
Agree with your takes on the first highlight video.
Regarding the second:
1:30 – play action!
It looks like Tech needs to do more self-scouting, b/c they may have a strong tendency towards that screen pass on 1st and 10 from that area. If you look at the LBs for UVA, none of them bite hard on the play-action, but they flow quickly to stop the screen pass. It looks like they expected it.
3:13 – no blockers?
Poor read of blocks by the RB. If he had cutback for a counter, he would have gained significant yardage. The Center takes his man out, and the guard moves to the second level; he would have been able to spring the back for big yardagfe, but he went for the left side, which was quickly bottled up, despite being temporary daylight provided by the line.
4:55 – lewis went the wrong way/the linebacker got too much penetration
The whole line and his lead blocker is going one way, back goes the other. He was lucky to make the yards he did.
5:30 – no great outside block
This is an inside run in the A gap, so outside blocking is not as crucial. They should have pulled the backside guard and let him trap anything coming into the A-gap, and blow it out.
This is an inside run in the A gap, so outside blocking is not as crucial. They should have pulled the backside guard and let him trap anything coming into the A-gap, and blow it out.
The “no great outside block” is a reference to a similar run in the previous video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyerwEmutpI
runs that work:
5:22 – Huge push, danny puts an awesome block on the OLB
Danny cut inside the linebacker real quick and then turned out and took him out of the play. It was a very good block. In the one that didn’t work, the same linebacker was, if i can remember (i’ve slept since then), the key man on making the stop.
And I do agree on most the other comments. The problem is that the solution is to have a better running back and I don’t buy into that: the run needs to be redesigned to be a counter or we need to put in more repetition on the play so the back doesn’t go the wrong direction.
sorry. I rewatched and the play without the outside block is one in which chris long manages to overpower toward the middle. Still, the OLB was in on the play.
rewatching the play action: the linebackers do a hop step, but the D-Line is already flowing left because the offensive line immediately takes off hard to the left (while the running back is heading right.). The WOLB is frozen completely, but that’s not surprising since the runningback was heading toward his area. With the way the offensive line flowed, i’m not certain that play action would ever be wholly successful. the end is pushed by his own blocker into the play, the safety on the side of the screen has the opportunity to take his time since a run would be heading the other way.
In short, while it did have play action (and i want to see more play action for the sake of play action, so a team like OU won’t jump on our running plays so quickly, not to open up any passing game), It wasn’t actually a good play.
Running game in an Air Raid offense
The Raiders are indeed missing a grind it out rushing attack. I have often thought a 600 to 1000 yard individual rusher or even a committee of 2 or 3 backs able to beat down a defense in 3- 5 yard pushes with an occasional 20 – 25 yard scamper – would render our Big 12 opponents senseless. The beef package gave me some hope ie a tackle in the slot receiver position – yet even this formation in last years campaign didn’t appear very productive. During the spring practice I saw a few mentions of an I formation for the Raiders. The well documented QB sneaks seem to be rather predictable. During last years Texas game the fake sneak direct snap to Crawford failed miserably. The change of pace inflicted on a defense with a back like Batch or Crawford creating a routine 2nd and 3 would keep the opponents defensive coordinators from lining up linebackers in the gaps or conversely putting the 5 or 6 defensive backs on the field. The Gator Bowl showed the lack of a rush could cripple the Raiders. Virginia was effective against our short passing attack result we punt 5 or 6 times- with a near disaster on one – saved only by monster effort by Lacour and the defense. More deception perhaps greater rewards on offense – so run play action. Knowing Leach’s tendency to focus on rep’s which equals excellence in execution (i.e. Practice what you are good at – pass) I believe it’s unlikely the Raiders will become good at 3 plus yards and a cloud of dust running attack. They simply run out of practice time.
run the ball punish the defense
I would like to believe Mike Leach has a stockage of running formations it is after all what he and Seth Littrell do i.e. move the ball against opposition. One factor which would seem to limit the # of run plays executed is the lack of productivity. Leach is notorious for ditching stuff that doesn’t work.. A talented running back would have to be an above average performer routinely to get “noticed” enough to demand more touches. The 2nd and 3rd order effects of taking the clock back by running forces the opposing offense out of their rhythm – i.e. got to pass to keep up. Or better yet to catch up. I heard Sonny Cumbie say ” ... the Raiders (Harrell) is/are breaking tendencies … when the Raiders ran “effectively” against TAMU. Result a 28 point win. The 100 plus yards on the ground drove A&M crazy.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
