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"Run" Is Not a Dirty Word
UHND.com - Derek Drushel
12/14/2001
Lucky friends in green, its good to be back. I appreciate all the comments in the past couple of weeks on the coaching situation. Your thoughts are always welcome. As the sun finally sets, and the end of an era has finally arrived, I'd like to discuss the one thing that needs fixed (on the field at least) by the new coaching staff more than anything else, the offense. I have noticed something rather glaring during the Davie era and the twilight of Lou Holtz's regime. There seems to be a general anger amongst the fans with the offensive philosophy of the Irish. What's that? "DUH!" you say? Patience friends, elaboration is forthcoming. I don't mean the production, we all know its (most writers insert "offensive" here). That's right folks I'm tired of that broken record of a pun. Besides that's too cute a way to describe the Irish offense. Repulsive, seems much more appropriate. At any rate, I'm speaking of the uproar about the lack of focus on the passing game.
Where did this come from? All of a sudden every Subway Alum believes that the whole reason Notre Dame Football is in the gutter, is because we haven't "moved into the 21st century" and tried to become the "fun and gun" of the north? I'm sure if you told these same people that hiring Steve Spurrier was necessary to emulate the offensive philosophy I just referred to, many would reconsider. Others say that the Irish should install the "West Coast Offense" Right, that would solve all our problems. Give me a break. Running the ball isn't stopping the Irish from winning games. Not throwing the ball often enough isn't stopping them either. What's stopping Notre Dame is their decisions on HOW and WHEN to do both. Kevin Rogers could line up five receiver sets, assign each of them no less than a twenty yard deep out pattern, and throw the ball deep whenever else he gets the chance, and it wouldn't change a thing. The predictability of the offense, the lack of WR's coached well enough to consistently break open, and the QB also not being coached to find the open man are the problems with the passing game. Before we go deeper into passing offenses, I want to touch on the problems with the running game.
The offense is struggling. It is predominantly a running offense. Because of this many fans conclude that running the ball (or more specifically the option game) in itself is the problem. This is like trying to tell liberals that the gun didn't pull its own trigger. Both of these philosophies are the equivalent of saying that restaurants cause eating, and Nikes cause running. Fans see the lack of scoring and feel that the running game not only fails to produce points, but that it also is takes TOO LONG to produce whatever it manages on a given day. I don't see Nebraska running out of time to put sixty points on the board. Colorado didn't have any trouble either. Throwing the ball down field more, is not the real answer to the problems with the Irish offense. In fact, turnovers would have been even more frequent this season if that's what was attempted. Notre Dame is not prepared for this type of attack. An offensive philosophy that focuses on the running game, and winning the battles in the trenches has always been THE key to success. Sadly, ball-control offenses are ridiculed quite often. Yet, most offenses are in essence, ball-control oriented. The run is necessary. Rex Grossman doesn't have a 170 QB rating because he throws on every play. Steve Spurrier understands the importance of a balanced offense as much as anyone. Its just a different philosophy on approaching that balance. Lou Holtz used the run to SET UP the pass. He didn't call pass plays very often, but they were effective plays when he did. Often because he used the play-action pass so well. When the LB's are frozen underneath to stop the run, the play-fake causes HUGE openings over the middle of the field, allowing slant patterns to go for big gains after the catch. Sometimes the safeties will even cheat up, allowing the offense to simply go over the top. Whining about the lack of big plays? They don't have to come from the pass EVERY time. You want backup stats for my point? Look at the DISGUSTING yards per catch numbers for Javin Hunter and David Givens. Observe where the few big plays came from. Lou Holtz had plenty of big plays to gloat about, running and passing. More on this below. Peyton Manning, and Joe Montana have made careers on their ability to execute a beautiful play-fake, something a QB always had to do well under Holtz. Apparently the current coaching staff cannot teach the QB to simply fake the handoff, hide the ball on his hip, and hit the open man. What's more, when you have a running QB like Carlyle Holiday, and a play-action fake is made followed by a rollout, the corners of the field are left wide open by the RB to sprint for first downs. Something that I've seen Steve Young and Brett Favre do countless times. So what do we do now you ask? Not to worry, I read your mind. That's next.
Quite simply, the offense is so predictable that even the blocking schemes in the running game are too simplistic. The coaches don't trust the OL with anything less than straight-on blocking, often leaving LB's unblocked. Is the OL not intelligent enough to learn a few trap plays? Perhaps a counter trey? Or even a draw? Draw plays are exactly what burns pass rushing linemen who become overzealous moving up field. Remember Spurrier and his balance? Gator RB Earnest Graham is the key to keeping opposing defenses honest. In fact, Florida has lost two games this year, at Auburn, and, for the first time in thirty years at the Swamp, the Volunteers. Earnest Graham did not play in either game. Back to the Irish. How about that fullback? What's his name again? OH YEAH! Tom Lopienski! Friends this here is the savior of the option game. You see any team that runs the option, usually runs the triple option. Here the FB is the first option for the QB, with a quick handoff for a slam up the middle. Next the QB has the choice of moving outside and faking the pitch for the keeper, or flipping the ball to the tailback as he makes a break for the corner. Break for the corner, doesn't that sound nice? That's the big play threat that pass-happy advocates long for, and no throwing needed! This is flat out dangerous. However, Notre Dame all but completely neglects the up-back choice. When the Irish run the option, it's immediately read by the linebackers and the secondary, and they quickly dash for the corners. Where's Notre Dame's team speed you ask? It's there, but even the slowest teams we play look fast when they know where the Irish are going before they get there. In short, the easiest thing to fix, is the predictability in the running game. Now, about the passing game.
I mentioned earlier that Lou Holtz used the run to set up the pass. This is more or less the basic offensive philosophy that has been traditionally accepted in the college and the NFL. However in the 1980's, things changed dramatically. 49ERS Head Coach Bill Walsh devised an offense that would turn defenses inside out. In this new offense, the focus would be on short, five to ten yard timing patterns, aimed and controlling the tempo of the game, and moving the chains consistently. In essence, the pass would now set up the run. It required a quicker, more mobile breed of linemen, it also required the quarterback and his receivers to have unprecedented chemistry. The running backs, more than ever, needed to help picking up the blitz, and become frequent passing targets as well. The tight ends become more of a receiving threat than ever before. Today this offense is seen all over the NFL in some shape or form. It now enjoys the dubbing, "west coast offense." Apparently taking all credit from the man and team who pioneered it, and instead naming it simply after the team's particular region. Anyway quick slants, motion, and toss sweeps ruled the day. The day was beautiful for this 49ERS fan too. If Jon Gruden or Steve Mariucci had been named the next coach, they would have undoubtedly brought their versions of the offense to Notre Dame. However, they would certainly have made adjustments due to the nature of the college game, and also due to the complexity of the offense, which is unrivaled. The west coast offense doesn't use the shotgun, (not usually at least, since the days when Walsh felt cursed by it). It also does not give the QB added time contrary to popular belief. It also does not preach throwing the ball deep on every play, a la the Raiders before Jon Gruden came to Oakland. Nor does it involve constant spread formations. So what will George O'Leary do? It goes something like this.
You probably consider O'Leary a passing oriented coach. Perhaps, but not on a Joe Tiller dosage. You probably think Gruden is also this way. However, Gruden is also a frequent user of two-tight end, power running formations. He said earlier this season that he has an offense for everyone, he gets everyone involved to maximize their strengths. He also tries to minimize weaknesses, mixing personnel for various situations. This is why I believe Gruden was the best fit, with Mariucci (who also likes to run the ball) the only other truly great choice. Both coaches would call their own plays, and Gruden would have the least trouble of anyone, making the Notre Dame offense into a perfectly molded, slightly modernized, and highly productive reincarnation of its days under Lou Holtz. An all out, west coast offense, is the hardest offense in football to stop, but its also the hardest to learn. Do not be fooled by Northwestern or Purdue, and their spread formations and wacky strategies for scoring. These are not west coast offenses, they are versions of the run-and-shoot. They are simply a pass-happy traveling circus, which, much like the wild animals that the kids love so much, can easily be tamed. A disciple of Bill Walsh however, such as Gruden or Mariucci, are far beyond the circus. Unfortunately, neither will be in South Bend next year. Enough nostalgia though. Fear not, George O'Leary will no doubt install something similar to the nature of what Gruden and Mariucci may have implemented. Quite simply, O'Leary will implement an offense that uses the run to set up the pass. The subtle things are what need more variety. Motion, mixing up similar plays by simply changing the formation. The FB will again become a force in the Irish offense. The TE will as well. Big plays are no stranger to Notre Dame tight ends. Remember Holloway's catch? Irv Smith? DEREK BROWN? The play-action pass will once again be utilized to its full potential, and the QB will be put in position to make BIG plays. Those big plays will come from the option, the running game, flushing the pocket, and passing across the middle and behind the safeties. So you see, big plays can, and WILL come from everywhere. There's no need to (I smell a double pun coming) pass on every other option.
Today's Item: I will be attending Holy Cross effective 15 January 2002. I look forward to meeting any of you in the area. I feel truly privileged to be a part of the community of fans, loyal supporters, and students of Notre Dame. I can't begin to express my anticipation of experiencing life at Notre Dame.
Today's Slightly "Beanoesque" predictions: First; EVERY returning player that I mentioned in my last article, will live up to the hype, even Mike McNair if he returns for a fifth year. Second; four new superstars will emerge on defense. On the line, Greg Pauly, at linebacker, Mike Goolsby, and in the secondary, Vontez Duff and Gerome Sapp.
Next Time: The mental loss. It happens long before kickoff. Why and how it needs to end. I delve into some other intangibles that I believe will also be addressed. All of them are crucial to success.
Comments? Complaints? Major psychotic hatred of me? Set your firing coordinates directly on ddrushel005@attbi.com or yell at DomerDerek on the Football Board. Until next time, have a wonderful Christmas, New Year's, and National Signing Day. God bless.