I've been saying the same basic thing since 2016, which is that you need to develop a strong running game. A strong running game doesn't just randomly happen, you have to build it up over time, the passing game is more skill based, you can get away with under-utilizing it and unleashing it later in the season. You can't do that as easily with the running (back) game. You have to work at it and keep working at and if you do it will likely bear fruit. It's not going to look good if you keep under-nourishing it though.What exactly are you expecting us to do? It's not like we have been overly successful running the ball with the backs this season anyways.
Do you think it's coincidence that Alabama hasn't been overly successful running the ball once Alabama started relying more heavily on quarterback play? They got away from a balanced offense and the end result was an unreliable running game. It wasn't lack of talent, it was lack of utilization, you don't build muscles you don't use. Haynes (who is leaving...) averaged 5.7 per rush. The only thing wrong with that is he didn't get more carries.
From 2008-2015 Alabama had 4 national championships and failed to have a thousand yard rusher only twice. Both of those seasons they had multiple losses.
From 2016-2024 they've failed to have a thousand yard running back 5 times. I understand it might be easy to conclude they just didn't have the right backs those years, but in three of those seasons they had running backs who are top 5 rushers in the NFL right now.
Which is why you put guys like that in bubble wrap. I said this before he got hurt in the Miss. State game by the way, I made this exact same point. So I'm not changing my tune, it was obvious then and it's obvious now. It absolutely has to do with the playcalling.Tua was was/is flat-out injury prone. He was the antithesis of Jalen Hurts who has always been able to avoid major hits. Some players are just like that, but it has nothing to do with offensive philosophy/scheme.
Alabama was up something like 35-3 with Tua out there running a pass play that ended up with him scrambling on the sideline. Nothing can be done right, can't help it... except you can because pretty much everyone knows that if the QB hands the ball off the odds of him getting hurt go down to near zero.
He had Brian Robinson and Najee Harris and a huge lead yet he's out there throwing the ball around despite not being 100% (obviously you still need to pass sometimes, but if for instance you reduce passes by 20% you also reduce chance of injury by 20% and develop a better running game as well). It did not need to happen, but that team relied on QB play far too much even when it wasn't necessary.
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