The running game... or lack thereof

[Rollingtide]

The one big question I can't wrap my brain around is how can a team that recruits like we do wind up with such a poor stable of running backs. I mean Mel Kiper Jr does not have Miller in his top ten rb's and I agree. Sure hope Crowell can come in and pick up blocking assignments because he looks like the real deal. Won't be surprised if we get another back from the portal. Hopefully someone better than Dre Washington who has not made any impact I can see. There is AK Dear so maybe he will be ready come next year.

 

[alwayshavebeen]

It does look like the backs are running into a swarm at the line of scrimmage a lot, and when I think we are on the verge of running the ball down goes Jam. I really like Riley but still it just hasn't jelled yet...but I think it still could. Obvious we have a pass game so it falls on the backs and mostly on the OL. Seems to me the left side is way better than the right and is an issue too...but again IMO the team is generally getting better every week which is very encouraging.

 

[bamajas]

I agree but I feel like he is going to get it off where as I didn’t back when Bryce Young was doing it. Maybe the system is better suited now than the way Bill O’Brien was calling the games.

I think it & using TOs early in the game happens often enough that it’s more of a feature (giving Ty more time to see what they’re doing) than a bug like it was under BoB

 

[Windsortide]

I feel like the run game is improving but not great. The short passing game with Ty is an extension off the running game. There is more work to do.

 

[crimsonaudio]

As much as I hate it (because I’m old), the running game is a compliment to the offense in CFB in 2025, not unlike the NFL.

 

[gtgilbert]

The one big question I can't wrap my brain around is how can a team that recruits like we do wind up with such a poor stable of running backs. I mean Mel Kiper Jr does not have Miller in his top ten rb's and I agree. Sure hope Crowell can come in and pick up blocking assignments because he looks like the real deal. Won't be surprised if we get another back from the portal. Hopefully someone better than Dre Washington who has not made any impact I can see. There is AK Dear so maybe he will be ready come next year.

Well, we did have justice Haynes who's doing pretty.dang well, but transferred out b/c Miller stayed a year longer than planned since he didn't get enough work last year.to show.the nfl.scouts what he might be able to do.

 

[JDCrimson]

I think the running game will improve in the next couple of seasons. CKD does not have the body types yet that he wants on the OL. He wants longer leaner OL that can pull and get out in space. He also likes to rotate OL and combo OL. He want LTs all across the line.

We just arent there yet with the roster.

As much as I hate it (because I’m old), the running game is a compliment to the offense in CFB in 2025, not unlike the NFL.

 

[arthurdawg]

The one big question I can't wrap my brain around is how can a team that recruits like we do wind up with such a poor stable of running backs. I mean Mel Kiper Jr does not have Miller in his top ten rb's and I agree. Sure hope Crowell can come in and pick up blocking assignments because he looks like the real deal. Won't be surprised if we get another back from the portal. Hopefully someone better than Dre Washington who has not made any impact I can see. There is AK Dear so maybe he will be ready come next year.

Lots of misses over the last few years. We. haven't had a great back since Najee in 2020. Robinson had a very good year in 2021, but his numbers also reflect a bunch of carries. After that we have not had a dominant back. Gibbs gave us a single year boost, but Jase and Roydell weren't elite. And the last two years for all the reasons above haven't been great. We definitely need better talent than we have displayed the last 3 years.

 

[PattheCatinSaudi]

Ty has 100 yards in sack yards lost this season which is counted against the rushing stats. Also, the "cute" handoffs, "sweeps" and behind the line passes to Bernard that have lost yardage also count against the rushing totals as well. The last two games (for sure) we've rushed the ball a lot better and the offensive line is opening up more holes. I wonder what our yards per rush is just counting the actual running back carries? If it's 3.8 with sacks allowed and the cute plays that have counted as rushes but gone for losses, then I would venture to say we are probably over 4 yards per carry. Is it 2015 Derrick Henry level? No, but this offense isn't designed for that type of runner and I don't think we can expect old school Saban type of rushing stats with this staff.

I think a good measure of how productive your running game is, is calculate the average after removing sacks and explosive running plays.

I expect some creativity from DeBoer and Grubb if Jam doesn't play. Granted, I hope it isn't a bunch of trick play razzle dazzle, but if Jam doesn't play I don't see them not coming up with some alternative approach.

With as much pre-snap movement that we do, I would expect jet sweeps to be very effective.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

And the way our passing game is able to control the clock, I have zero problem with this ratio. The passing game is eating clock like most people use the running game. I'm not as concerned about how it gets done just as long as it gets done. The last three games we have massively chewed up clock with the pass. If that's what fits this team the best then I'm all for it.

Clear offensive upgrades (to me) compared to the Saban era - time of possession; using the whole field and every player; return of traditional screen game.

 

[davefrat]

As much as I hate it (because I’m old), the running game is a compliment to the offense in CFB in 2025, not unlike the NFL.

Used to be you run to set up that pass, now a lot of teams pass to set up the run.

Weird, but it is what it is.

 

[Bama_N_Va]

I agree but I feel like he is going to get it off where as I didn’t back when Bryce Young was doing it. Maybe the system is better suited now than the way Bill O’Brien was calling the games.

BoB calling games????????????????? see, thats the problem right there.... BoB would screw up ordering off the McDonalds value menu...

 

[BAMARICH]

Lots of misses over the last few years. We. haven't had a great back since Najee in 2020. Robinson had a very good year in 2021, but his numbers also reflect a bunch of carries. After that we have not had a dominant back. Gibbs gave us a single year boost, but Jase and Roydell weren't elite. And the last two years for all the reasons above haven't been great. We definitely need better talent than we have displayed the last 3 years.

IMO, RB is one of the easiest positions to "miss" on a player coming out of HS. Some things you can coach at that position and some things you can't and then there's the intangibles. Great example of this was Henry... who had a lot of "experts" who believed his game wouldn't translate to either college or pro. Between that and the beating you take at the position, it's just difficult to predict.

 

[colbysullivan]

I really thought Richard Young was going to be RB 2. We heard so much about him in the off season and last year, he showed us glimpse of breaking out. Crazy part is that Young was considered by many scouting services as the #1 RB from his class.

So were BJ Emmons and Camar Wheaton...

 

[cdub55]

So were BJ Emmons and Camar Wheaton...

And lest we not forget...Trey Sanders

 

[colbysullivan]

And lest we not forget...Trey Sanders

I thought about mentioning him, but he gave his all for Bama. Injuries killed him. The overall point is highly rated players becomes busts all the time. It's time we move on from Richard Young IMO.

 

[BamaMoon]

I asked AI what our average distance to gain on 3rd down in 2025?

It couldn't provide the stat for mid October, but noted that back in June, there was a stat for LAST YEAR that we averaged "3rd and 8."

I'm pretty confident this year we are averaging alot less than "3rd and 8."

It's probably close to 3, 4 or 5. If so, with our ability to pass so accurately in short yardage situations, the short passing game has simply become an extension of the run game.

 

[cdub55]

I thought about mentioning him, but he gave his all for Bama. Injuries killed him.

I'm definitely not besmirching the young man. Just mentioning that he was another, and most likely the highest rated player, that we have had at the running back position that didn't "pan out".

 

[cdub55]

I asked AI what our average distance to gain on 3rd down in 2025?

It couldn't provide the stat for mid October, but noted that back in June, there was a stat for LAST YEAR that we averaged "3rd and 8."

I'm pretty confident this year we are averaging alot less than "3rd and 8."

It's probably close to 3, 4 or 5. If so, with our ability to pass so accurately in short yardage situations, the short passing game has simply become an extension of the run game.

In our defense, we rarely made it to 3rd down because JM had probably fumbled by then...

 

[sanjosecrimson]

I thought about mentioning him, but he gave his all for Bama. Injuries killed him. The overall point is highly rated players becomes busts all the time. It's time we move on from Richard Young IMO.

From what I am reading, Young suffered a lower body injury from the Wisconsin game. The severity is unknown at this time. So perhaps we should not be too eager to dismiss him.