I figured since I looked at the Pitt passing game against Syracuse I could do a little bit on the running game. I'm going to be focusing on what worked and why because I think that helps explain when things aren't working.
Zone Split out of Spread
This is a play that worked a few times on Friday. The line blocks zone to one side and the TE/H-Back comes underneath to kick out the backside defender. Then RB then has their pick of where to cut. Ulizio does a really nice job walling off the backside and Davis picks his way for a first down.
You'll also notice 46 for Syracuse comes too hard upfield. That's important for the next clip.
This time we get the same exact play except the Syracuse defense, particularly 46, are expecting Davis to break it to the right of the Center again...but the play is designed to be able to break wherever the defense is weakest. Davis doesn't cut, he just takes it left for another big gain. Hargrove and Morrissey do a nice job opening the hole and Kradel does a really nice job getting to the second level on the Backer...which is something I saw Kradel do multiple occasions. He's going to be very good.
Catching Syracuse Off Guard
Whipple called runs in passing situations and used Syracuse's tendencies against them really well in the first half. This play was the result of great coaching. 3rd & 4...you're thinking crossing patterns if you're playing against Pitt. Syracuse had been running that "A" gap blitz pretty well and getting hits on Pickett. Whipple calls a simple off tackle hand off where the OL didn't even block particularly well but the SU defense was so out of position that it was an easy first down (including a nice effort by Davis running and Ffrench blocking).
Later on, there's a 2nd & 10, pretty standard passing situation. Syracuse is playing far less aggressively, anticipating a throw. They decide to play looser coverage and Whipple dials up the same zone split call that had been working before...and surprise, it works again. The LB's are ALL taking false steps backwards and DE's both rush too aggressively upfield. This happens when a team is expecting one thing, but getting another. Also another really nice effort by Davis. Good combination.
Short yardage (The Good and the Bad)
Short yardage running has been pretty hit and miss this season. Here's an example of when it's bad. Sometimes guys get beat but when Pitt fails on run plays, I almost ALWAYS see a communication/responsibility error...or 3 in this case.
It LOOKS like a jailbreak, and it was. But it wasn't a dominant SU defensive line doing it. Morrissey and Kradel both passed off the DT to climb to the LB. Hargrove looks very confused as he steps to block the DE but my suspicion is he believed Warren would help and they'd combo the DE and then one of them would be climbing to the next level. I don't know who's right or who's wrong. I just know when a play like this happens, they all need to figure their $hi! out. But later on, you got to see a good example of blocking/being on the same page/and good formation usage by Whipple to gain an advantage.
Late in the game, Huoy comes in to play an extra TE and the look completely confused the SU defense. Keep in mind, the strong side of the formation is to the left but with Huoy as an extra TE to the right, Syracuse ends up incorrectly shifting the strength to Huoy. They end up with 6 guys to the weak side of the formation at the snap of the ball and have no prayer of stopping the play before another chunk gain.
The last example I'll show is again, Whipple using formations to set up the running game. Here you'll see the formation Pitt lines up is one that they usually pass from and SU's alignment tells you that's the case. They have 2 DL in a stand up position and they are not crowding the LOS. I'm not quite sure why because I think it was a dumb defensive alignment, but it gave Pitt great angles to run a simple toss and Carter did a nice job planting his foot and getting upfield. I'm also a sucker for a pulling Center so props to Morrissey and Warren for getting out and executing. Wheeler does a nice job pinning the DE inside to make the play an easy big gain.
The run game has a long way to go but I've seen flashes most weeks that make me believe that Whipple can bring versatility to the offense and we don't necessarily HAVE to live with the run game not being good as long as Whip is here. It's just a work in progress and he does have a good mind for setting up successful runs.
Zone Split out of Spread
This is a play that worked a few times on Friday. The line blocks zone to one side and the TE/H-Back comes underneath to kick out the backside defender. Then RB then has their pick of where to cut. Ulizio does a really nice job walling off the backside and Davis picks his way for a first down.
You'll also notice 46 for Syracuse comes too hard upfield. That's important for the next clip.
This time we get the same exact play except the Syracuse defense, particularly 46, are expecting Davis to break it to the right of the Center again...but the play is designed to be able to break wherever the defense is weakest. Davis doesn't cut, he just takes it left for another big gain. Hargrove and Morrissey do a nice job opening the hole and Kradel does a really nice job getting to the second level on the Backer...which is something I saw Kradel do multiple occasions. He's going to be very good.
Catching Syracuse Off Guard
Whipple called runs in passing situations and used Syracuse's tendencies against them really well in the first half. This play was the result of great coaching. 3rd & 4...you're thinking crossing patterns if you're playing against Pitt. Syracuse had been running that "A" gap blitz pretty well and getting hits on Pickett. Whipple calls a simple off tackle hand off where the OL didn't even block particularly well but the SU defense was so out of position that it was an easy first down (including a nice effort by Davis running and Ffrench blocking).
Later on, there's a 2nd & 10, pretty standard passing situation. Syracuse is playing far less aggressively, anticipating a throw. They decide to play looser coverage and Whipple dials up the same zone split call that had been working before...and surprise, it works again. The LB's are ALL taking false steps backwards and DE's both rush too aggressively upfield. This happens when a team is expecting one thing, but getting another. Also another really nice effort by Davis. Good combination.
Short yardage (The Good and the Bad)
Short yardage running has been pretty hit and miss this season. Here's an example of when it's bad. Sometimes guys get beat but when Pitt fails on run plays, I almost ALWAYS see a communication/responsibility error...or 3 in this case.
It LOOKS like a jailbreak, and it was. But it wasn't a dominant SU defensive line doing it. Morrissey and Kradel both passed off the DT to climb to the LB. Hargrove looks very confused as he steps to block the DE but my suspicion is he believed Warren would help and they'd combo the DE and then one of them would be climbing to the next level. I don't know who's right or who's wrong. I just know when a play like this happens, they all need to figure their $hi! out. But later on, you got to see a good example of blocking/being on the same page/and good formation usage by Whipple to gain an advantage.
Late in the game, Huoy comes in to play an extra TE and the look completely confused the SU defense. Keep in mind, the strong side of the formation is to the left but with Huoy as an extra TE to the right, Syracuse ends up incorrectly shifting the strength to Huoy. They end up with 6 guys to the weak side of the formation at the snap of the ball and have no prayer of stopping the play before another chunk gain.
The last example I'll show is again, Whipple using formations to set up the running game. Here you'll see the formation Pitt lines up is one that they usually pass from and SU's alignment tells you that's the case. They have 2 DL in a stand up position and they are not crowding the LOS. I'm not quite sure why because I think it was a dumb defensive alignment, but it gave Pitt great angles to run a simple toss and Carter did a nice job planting his foot and getting upfield. I'm also a sucker for a pulling Center so props to Morrissey and Warren for getting out and executing. Wheeler does a nice job pinning the DE inside to make the play an easy big gain.
The run game has a long way to go but I've seen flashes most weeks that make me believe that Whipple can bring versatility to the offense and we don't necessarily HAVE to live with the run game not being good as long as Whip is here. It's just a work in progress and he does have a good mind for setting up successful runs.
