Boise State isn't used to being ranked 73rd in the nation in rushing offense. The Broncos are averaging 140.0 yards per game, but a mere 3.8 yards per carry on the ground.
The reasons are plentiful — young offensive line, emphasis on the passing game, constant shuffling of running backs. I will tackle the final of those points in my column tomorrow.
Ian Johnson, who will celebrate a birthday Friday, has yet to rush for 100 yards in a single game this season.
"One of my personal goals is to still get that 100-yard rushing game," he said.
I talked to Boise State coach Chris Petersen and running backs coach Jeff Choate about the running back rotation and its impact on the Broncos' numbers. Both are looking at the issue, trust me.
It is not an easy situation when you have backs as good as Johnson, Jeremy Avery, D.J. Harper and Doug Martin. Choate said Martin will have a very specific role this week, perhaps one that will take him out of the tailback mix.
"We’ve got a little bit of a Catch-22 in that we’ve got four guys who are probably as good as anybody has got," Choate said. "It’s very much a fine line because those guys all deserve an opportunity."
• As for the Broncos' passing offense, which currently ranks ninth nationally at 312.5 yards per game: There's reason to believe it will get even better.
Still remaining on the Broncos schedule are Utah State (94th in pass defense), Idaho (116th in pass defense), Nevada (118th in pass defense).
Boise State already played Louisiana Tech which ranks 119th — dead last — in the nation in pass defense.
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O-Line needs to get better in a hurry.
The blame needs to go to Coach Huff - these kids aren't getting better. The only reason the team is doing well is Kellen Moore and the playing calling with all the shifts.
If you look at every game that's been played so far Kellen is getting tons of pressure and is usually on the ground after the ball is gone. This kid is awesome, he sees the coverage and is able to keep one eye on the pass rush and still hits his receivers.
The kids on the o-line aren't the problem. Please Coach Pete move Coach Huff from the 0-line before its too late and Moore ends up hurt.
It's youth...
Huff is a good coach. The line just needs to gel on the running game. It'll happen, they just need time. They've actually been strong in pass blocking. Most kids don't run zone blocking schemes in high school and they aren't used to it yet. They will get better every week.
Agreed
The O line does need to start getting better at their blocking scheme for running the ball. They did this very well under Kuegler when he was here before Huff.
I think the pass protection has been pretty good actually, especially at Oregon with their defensive front. A lot of these kids are young and inexperienced so only time will make them better. I hear great things about Coach Huff and cant judge yet if our running game (or lack thereof) is on him.
Just a slight twist
The pass blocking is still unbelievable for such an inexperienced group. Moore does take some licking in the chops from time to time, but sometimes he gets a lot of time back there to throw the ball.
Now here's the dilemma. Do you see if this team can get any better by focusing away from the pass blocking in practice a bit to try to make the run blocking better or do you not take that risk? I mean, Boise State is 4-0 without the running game clicking on all cylinders. I do think they can get better by focusing more on the rush blocking in practice, but not sure if that's worth the risk. I don't think it's Coach Huff's fault, because I think he's a fine coach. It's just a question on whether more emphasis should be placed on that point in practice. Something has got to go to make up for that added emphasis though.
Strength and time
Pass blocking is relatively easy compared to run blocking. It takes a lot less effort to stand in front, or slow someone down (offering resistance), then it does to push them in the opposite direction (overcoming resistance). And while technique can help a little bit, its more about the muscle.
Unfortunately you do have a young line and muscle wise, their bodies are still growing and maturing. Given another year with the strength and conditioning coach, and your O-line will be pushing people around.
Plus, they are still undersized compared to the previous years linemen. Don't worry, just give them a little more growing and seasoning, and your running game will be back in no time (unfortunately:).
Frasier
I thought you liked the Broncos?
I don't like or dislike the
I don't like or dislike the Broncos. I was born and raised in central Oregon, and didn't live in Idaho until I got out of the military in 2004 and married a local girl. While I may not be a Broncos fan, I am a fan of football. I've been a coach, I am still playing the game, and I have even been a ref a couple times while in the military, so I have got a lot of personal experience about the game. I love discussing football in general (not individual teams) and pushing fans buttons. Since BSU football is really the only game in town to talk about, here is where you will find me. Now my wife and her whole family are BSU fans only, and they are just about the only team my wife will let me sit down and watch. The other teams get outranked by the honey do list, so I don't get to watch all the games that I want to.
Actually, I get to really rag on a diehard USC fan about OSU this Saturday, so this will be a great weekend for me. Since I won't be at work, I doubt if I will be on here again until Sunday. Have fun all
Re: Strength and time
I totally agree with Frasier. Just give another year with the strength and conditioning coach and it will make all the difference.
The Rushing Game
Here is a thought. Ian has struggled with injuries as the last 2 seasons have gone on, and he has tore it up through the beginning and middle of the season right? Is there any chance the coaches are limiting his touches early, especially with so many good backs, with the idea of running him hard in the last few games including the bowl? I think that would be a sly strategy as it would take the focus off him, and maybe he jumps out as a huge weapon late in the season when games are most important and teams aren't prepared. His yards per rush aren't too bad right now are they? Even if they are, many times it takes touches to get going and maybe the coaches will increase his load later in the season so he isn't so beat up and can make a big impact then. With a young O-Line this might be a good strategy to keep him healthy too. Just trying to think like Pete.
DEFENSES
ok guys here it is.
What would you do?
Your a coach, and your going to play a team with a redshirt freshman QB, and a proven senior RB. Seems pretty simple to me. If you watch the teams they've played so far especially the BG game they committed 8 players to stop the run in the 2nd half and completely begged KM to beat them through the air. Same with UO but UO played a zone defense thinking they could beat BSU up front with the 4 down lineman. BSU's O-line is undersized which makes them ideal for pass blocking. Being 270 and trying to move around DT at 300+ isn't going to bode well for the o-line. I think once teams realize they can't stop the passing game we'll see more and more success running this season.
Why is O Line so small?
I live in Utah but grew up in Idaho. This enables me to root for Boise State and give it to all the Utah and BYU fans. This year however, I see a huge difference in the abilities of the O and D lines as well as the linebackers. BYU is over 300 lbs per lineman across the board on their Oline. Utah is pretty well the same. Their D lines have big hard to move players and their linebackers I believe are all in the 220 range or more. BSU on the other hand has linebackers weighing well under 220. My question is how did this happen? Did we focus too much on the skill position players and not have game ready Olineman and linebackers to step in as a result? Or, is the strength and conditioning coach concentrating too much on speed vs bulk and strength type lifting? At wide receivers, D backs, and runningbacks I fully understand focusing on speed, but why has this coach not been able to get these (except for Byrd)6 foot 3 to 6 foot 5 inch frames anywhere near the 300 lb range? As far as the linebackers go, they seem to have gotten smaller instead of bigger. So, I don't know if it was recruiting or not, but I have to believe that somewhere the weight training program being used is failing to some degree in getting the size and muscle this team needs. The skill position players are the best we have ever seen, but the O and D lines as well as the linebackers are not top 20 caliber in my opinion and sooner or later it will cost us. Hopefully by nexy year the size and strength comes together with the speed and BSU can play with anyone just like they did the Fiesta year.
YOUTH!
Pretty much sums it up aside from woodruff and ???? we have one of the youngest O-lines in teh country. D-line is the same as its been pretty much, with a few exceptions ie ellis, guererro. I don't really know what the deal is with the LBs except they are the same blue collar players the BSU always goes after and what they lack in size and speed they make up for in thier smarts. I know that with Acrey and a couple of commits next year the LBs with get much bigger. People keep pointing to the strength and conditioning like its a problem, but we have 2 freshman and 1 soph starting on the 0-line, it will take the rest of the year to develope the size to get with thier talents. Potter by the time he leaves here will push 290 to 300 lbs no problem.