Thoughts on our running game

On the much elaborated subject of our running game...



I think the coaches need to give up on the idea of "downhill" running. Playing Alisa as a powerback simply reeks of desperation. We do not have an Unga, Vakapuna, or Tonga type of player on our roster right now. It is really that simple.



I think the high rotation of running backs is not working. We need to commit, more or less, to a primary ball carrier and a secondary ball carrier and run plays to their strengths. The primary ball carrier should remain on the field 75% of the time and cater the gameplan to his strengths.



Looking at the data from our first three games, it is pretty apparent that JJ is the best option we have and we should do more stretch runs...a la the Jamal Willis days, and get our bite-sized portions of run yardage there.



If we keep looking for a back who can break one for 30 yards or for a power runner who can fall forward four yards, we will be looking all season and never find it.

I agree with these comments.



We should be running JJ both stretch and up the middle way more often. Yes, he probably wont do great up the middle, but you have to keep the option alive. And in fact there were a lot of holes up the middle of the line early in the game against Utah when we were trying to go too far outside.



I wish I knew what was wrong with Kariya. He's either injured or he pissed in Doman's cheerios. Because JJ & Kariya should be the only 2 running the ball right now, and it should be a heck of a lot more often than it has been.

My seats were high up in the north end zone, so I was able to watch plays develop. One thing that I noticed is, when we run wide not necessarily a sweep but a stretch play, there are holes initially but the second level blocker are not getting on the backers and safeties. The biggest issue I noticed was that the o line doesn't move their feet. They seem to reach for their opponent rather than using proper foot work. When they do get into position the don't keep driving. They make the initial hit and them stop



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The biggest problem I see is that Kariya and Quesada do not read the holes well. Kariya typically is tripped up by a blocker because he sees the hole late and tries to adjust to the side as he is running into the blocker's back. Quesada pretty much expects to be tackled as he hits the hole and actually appears to fall down even if he isn't touched.



JJ gets happy feet if there isn't a hole and ends up taking a 2-3 yard loss.



I wish our running backs had half the ability that utah's juan blanco quatro had for reading the holes and running hard. Even when there wasn't a hole quatro would plow into the line to minimize the loss. His ability to hit holes and run through them explosively was impressive. It's too bad he is so small because he probably won't be durable enough to last the season. (too bad as in it sucks when really good players get hurt, not when utah loses...)