It depends on the matchups. Last year we had a prelude going into the NCG as to how LSU could handle our running game. The answer? They could handle it quite well. So we knew going into the NCG we were going to have to do something different.It is funny how quickly people forget about last year's NCG. We threw on first down 15/16 times. That is what helped us dominate. Most teams expect us to run on first downs, so therefore I don't mind throwing on first downs. If anyone one here can predict when we will run or throw on first down, then Nuss is not doing a very good job. The goal is to not be predictable on first down. ND will stop us on first down if they know we will run every time. ND's run defense will be much better than UGA's. If they stop the run on first down, then we become predictable on 2nd, and 3rd downs too.
This is a different game, different team and totally different circumstances. Our strength is running the ball. We don't know if ND is capable of handling it or not. So to jump to the game plan of last season's NCG could possibly be a huge mistake. Personally, I don't think ND's defense is in the same class as last season's LSU's defense. Nowhere close. I think we play toward our strength until ND shows they can stop it. If we would have come out of the gate in the SECCG pounding the ball like we did in the second half I don't think that game would have gone down as one of the greatest in SEC history. Because it wouldn't have been that close. But that's just my opinion.