It should be mentioned that there was more going on in the running back position than the public ever saw. Robbins had several broken ribs that have finally healed and looks to contribute quite a bit more and when you think about it, third downs have been our Achilles’ heel,
this guys body is built for this kind of Abuse. So we’ll see if we improve on third down so that it happens Byu can play in any game.
I will start by saying that I lay the failures of our running game on our OL , which has been bad, on hte OL coach (who has obviously failed to produce results with his group), and on the OC, who has been beating a dead horse running instead of just using short passes as a replacement for early down runs. THAT SAID: BYU has ran a zone blocking scheme for many years now. For people who don’t know what that means, it means each OLman is moving both forward and laterally on the snap. For example, if the C, RG, RT, and TE are all blocking to the right (or “even”), ideally they are moving in tandem forward and right. As they force the pursuit with them, the running back is taught to “see butt and cut,” meaning the first time he sees air behind a big boy’s butt, he cuts upfield right behind that guy. The backs who excel at this are big strong guys because there is almost ALWAYS contact with a DL or LB who is being blocked and being forced to move laterally with a 320 pound road grader helping him along. One reason our RBs have been so great the last several years (JWill, Ty’son, Allgeier, Brooks) is that all were BIG, PHYSICAL BEASTS. Thus the recruitment of TJM and Robbins–big, strong, physical dudes. We have the right blocking scheme for our talent, it’s just bad execution so far combined with terrible play calling. I share Fish’s optimism about Robbins and his return can only help what has been a disaster so far in the run game.
LJ is a big back as well. But to have both and successful, that can only help.
Maybe we will see the short passes now as we get to Texas and Oklahoma. Maybe the coaches didn’t want to show everything until now.
Appreciate the detail and explanation - draws a pretty good picture.
I just have been struggling to reconcile the really pretty high level of experience (all American, starter from other teams) with the returns/ results)
Agree. And hope your right.
Hopefully it’s taking this long to get them all meshed as far that’s at least part of the reason
Only other excuses are not really that talented or poorly coached/motivated or both.
1 Like
LJ is not a big back Hopper. He is a freshman and he only tips the scale at 205 lbs. he is average weight to a little below average for a D1 back. When a rb hits 230 lbs and above they are considered big backs.
1 Like