Running game: Hitting the hole

by orange&blueblood on Sep 9, 2008 6:17 PM MDT Comment 15 comments

Like everyone else, I thoroughly enjoyed the MNF beat down on the hated raiders and the senile, adult-diaper wearing al davis. However I noticed that on multiple running plays, the back failed to see the hole and really burst with confidence (go north-south )and instead ran into the back of his blocker (on one play Daniel Graham). This happened several times on stretch plays. If the back had either taken the ball all the way to the outside or cut back inside, he would have picked up at least several yards. Instead the RB seems to just follow behind the blocker, getting stopped for no gain or a loss. I just wanted to see if anyone else noticed these plays and if so, who the running back was.

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I know what you mean but...

I believe that it wasnt really on the RBs more on our FB Peyton Hillis and our line not being in sync with each other. On 2 or 3 seperate occasions when we ran a stretch run play to the left….I saw Clady kick his man out to the left….let him go for a split second and then went back after the same def to finish him off. In both instances when he let the man go for the split second Hillis went after that def to block him…which in turn lead to Clady and Hillis double teaming a guy was removed from the play. I felt that we had 2 ways we could have handled that situation…Clady stays with the guy and Hillis cuts it up thru the hole with RB in tow or Clady passes the defender on after the initial kick out and goes up field leaving Hillis to pancake the def by himself. I was wondering if anybody else saw those instances too.

by d2soulja on Sep 9, 2008 7:23 PM MDT reply actions

Anxious to see

what HT has to say. It is difficult to evaluate the individual player in the ZB system we use.

On to Syphilis and his merry men...... rynoz71 on Sep 9, 2008

by firstfan on Sep 9, 2008 9:57 PM MDT up reply actions

I noticed it too.

Here’s something to consider. One thing you learn as a coach is that what things look like from above (camera) are different from a player’s angle.

While a few of these seemed to be “first game of the season” errors, several of the “easy holes” may not have been visable to a RB at ground level and at game speed.

Either way, I think most of the errors I was pretty sure were legit “player” errors didn’t come from the runners. Our new FB didn’t zone block on a couple of zone plays (rookie error, nothing major), and the OL is still adjusting to some guys at new positions.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Sep 10, 2008 6:22 PM MDT up reply actions

I saw up close and personal that Selvin Young is NOT our number one....

it is becoming clear that he is lacking the confidence at hitting the right hole. He seems to second guess himself too much. Andre Hall ran with authority and is making a strong case for making him the official #1 RB.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

I got a high ankle sprain in college and it still hurts! ~ TSG 8/13/08

by Tim Lynch on Sep 9, 2008 8:53 PM MDT reply actions

and to think so many

originally thought my boy from USF would be an early roster casualty.

"I could never quite get the hang of Thursdays..."

by FlaBroncoFan on Sep 9, 2008 9:41 PM MDT up reply actions

And we get Torrain Train back in six weeks.

On to Syphilis and his merry men...... rynoz71 on Sep 9, 2008

by firstfan on Sep 9, 2008 9:55 PM MDT up reply actions

I wan to see more

of Andre Hall. To me he looked way better than Selvin. I mean he had a 6.1 ypc. I cant wait for Torain to return. He could be the best back since Portis

by broncfanstuckinsd on Sep 10, 2008 11:35 AM MDT up reply actions

agreed that hall has overtaken young

it seemed like hall ran with more authority than selvin did; I was very pleased with his cuts and yardage after contact. The fact that he played immediately after the death of his mother makes it more impressive. Combined with the game against CHI last year that he played with a sprained ankle, he has proven himself to be extremely tough and productive even while injured. I think at this point he is the no. 1.

by orange&blueblood on Sep 9, 2008 10:26 PM MDT reply actions

He does seem to be a more decisive and hard to bring down inside runner

but I don’t think Shanahan will move him ahead of Young based on one game. But we shall see.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Sep 10, 2008 12:13 AM MDT up reply actions

Hall

May not see much action this Sunday – he’ll probably be in Florida all week for his mother’s funeral, so not much practice time.

I like a man who fights with a grin on his face. Winston Churchill.

by bradley on Sep 10, 2008 9:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Agreed.

Also, both guys were over 5 ypc.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Sep 10, 2008 6:23 PM MDT up reply actions

Selvin

comes into the season as the more all around back, in terms of catching out of the backfield, but Hall seems to be pressuring Young on all fronts. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hall moved ahead of Young in certain games, but I think overall that Young would have to LOSE his spot before Hall could take it.

That is waht I don’t see happening, barring injury…

Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.

by Jeremy Bolander on Sep 10, 2008 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions

hall/young

i agree with zappa, hall is taking the job away from selvin. young has looked tentative, runs upright, and seems to be looking to follow a block. hall is decisive, lowers his shoulders, and hits the seam. he also shows more power, and the ability to break tackles. selvin is getting tackled right away. pass protection is not good, either. young is a better pass-catcher and home-run threat, but until the line opens up bigger holes, i think hall can fight for more yardage right now. pittman and hillis will be getting a few carries, too. selvin is looking more like a change-of-pace player so far. still valuable, but you can kiss 2,000 yards goodbye. if he gets 1,000, i would be thrilled with that, along with the other backs output. if we can average 5-yards a carry, does it really matter who is running the ball, anyway?

by davecheffy on Sep 10, 2008 11:50 AM MDT reply actions

The run game

Keep in mind that Young and Hall both are running behind 4 new OL’s (Hamilton is new to them), plus Kuper in a new spot, and a new FB in Hillis. Give them all a little time to get in sync. We can give them the time with Cutler so hot in the passing game.

I like a man who fights with a grin on his face. Winston Churchill.

by bradley on Sep 10, 2008 2:58 PM MDT up reply actions