Question on rushing records, discussion on rushing trends

by TXinDC on Dec 4, 2008 8:39 AM CST

According to the AP article on their Big 12 awards, Colt is the leading rusher for the team this year, with 576 yards to this point.

I remember the year before last - Colt's freshman season - if memory serves me correct, it was the first time in a long time that UT had not produced a back with over 1000 yards rushing.

What years have we been under 1k yards rushing?

Do you think it's a sign of the times (only 2 players so far this season in the Big 12 have broken the 1000 yard mark, as opposed to 4 in the SEC) that the conference has tipped the scales in the direction of passing instead of rushing? Interestingly, however, the Big 12's combined yardage for the top 3 is 7850, whereas in the SEC it's 7461.

Does it point to dearth of good rushers in the league, period? Or is it an issue of o-lines, or even o-line coaching?

I'd love to hear some thoughts on UT's pretty poor showing in the run game (Baylor has outrun us by more than 200 yards) this year, as well as thoughts on the general state of the run in the conference compared to other conferences.

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Finally a question about football...

instead of computers, polls, and the BS (oops BCS)

It’s the spread offenses. In the spread, the QB has to be an excellent runner, as is Robert Griffin of Baylor to generate space for the running backs to be effective, or you have to have an extremely quick RB like Steve Slaton or Quentin Griffin or Jacquizz Rodgers. IN the spread, short passes are like runs, and the spacing of receivers is set up so that someone is open on every play. When you pass at least 50% of the time and often on first down, you need a better pass-blocking OL, whose linemen are often not as effective at run-blocking. Running becomes more of a finesses exercise, trying to find holes in the defense that you’ve “spread” out.

The other factor is that teams like Texas use situational runners more often to metch the different formations they use in the spread. This spreads the yards among more backs, leading to no individual stars but still a potentially effective running game. This has been the case for Texas every year since Ricky Williams left, with the exception of Cedric Benson in 2004 and Jamaal Charles in 2007.

by burnt in ny on Dec 4, 2008 10:03 AM CST reply actions