Lawboy wrote:
The issue was not the running, but the formation. When BYU ran out of the I-formation, we ran it great. Dominated in fact, since Manase blocked so well from that formation. When we ran single back, or from a spread formation, the success was varied. I wanted BYU to run from the I all 2nd half long. I know it is old school, but I thought Anae should have stuck with it until they stopped it, then kept doing it and throw play action from it. In the 1st half TD, we ran 2 plays from the I to get the score for Harvey and overpowered them. We ran 1 play action pass from it completed to McKay. The formation worked all game when used, but Anae did not stick with it. I wish he had because we were really good from it. If you rewatch, you will see it.
Yep, this is similar to what I've said in other places about Anae's play-calling. After BYU scored by pounding the ball on the ground to open the second half, even my nemesis Todd Christensen had the presence to call out BYU when they lined up in their spread out shotgun to open the next drive. He wondered why BYU wasn't trying to run after it was unstoppable before--probably the only time I ever agreed with him. BYU did run, but out of shotgun formation, the runs are always draw plays or misdirection, usually without a lead blocker.
BYU has two sets--shotgun with spread linemen and I-formation. I don't have stats, but qualitatively, when BYU goes shotgun, the 70% pass, 30% draw play (no read option that others use). When they lineup in I-formation, it's 80% run, 10% pass, 10% play action. Fairly predictable, though BYU relies on execution rather than deception (which apparently is illegal). But why tip your hand to the defense when you could execute the same plays from a formation that doesn't allow the defense to key to a tendency.
I think BYU would benefit from adding some more formations that have the QB under center. Under-center formations allow for more downhill running--that suits BYU's powerful running backs well--while still allowing decent passing game. Personally, I'd like to see more Pro Set (the classic BYU formation) and offset I.