the return of the fullback?

[sa husker]

just saw Owen Schmidt's TD from the fullback position for West Virginia.
do people think that TO's influence will result in the return of some fullback running plays?  It's funny if you think about it that in West Virginia's spread offense the fullback is used so effectively.  I consider TO the master of fullback iso plays and creative uses for the fullback, so I am cautiously optimistic we'll see a run from that position more than one time in the next 4 years.  I will also be the first to admit that BC tried to use the fullback as a receiver, but dropped balls put a damper on that.

[Red Said Ted]

just saw Owen Schmidt's TD from the fullback position for West Virginia.
do people think that TO's influence will result in the return of some fullback running plays?  It's funny if you think about it that in West Virginia's spread offense the fullback is used so effectively.  I consider TO the master of fullback iso plays and creative uses for the fullback, so I am cautiously optimistic we'll see a run from that position more than one time in the next 4 years.  I will also be the first to admit that BC tried to use the fullback as a receiver, but dropped balls put a damper on that.

I don't know, but I almost cried as I watched that play.  A fullback breaking away from the field... A thing of beauty.

[FeelLikeAStranger]

nm

[GAHusker72]

just saw Owen Schmidt's TD from the fullback position for West Virginia.
do people think that TO's influence will result in the return of some fullback running plays?  It's funny if you think about it that in West Virginia's spread offense the fullback is used so effectively.  I consider TO the master of fullback iso plays and creative uses for the fullback, so I am cautiously optimistic we'll see a run from that position more than one time in the next 4 years.  I will also be the first to admit that BC tried to use the fullback as a receiver, but dropped balls put a damper on that.

I don't know, but I almost cried as I watched that play.  A fullback breaking away from the field... A thing of beauty.

[jd]

A walk-on (at least originally) to boot.   8O

[njmcm]

Awesome player.  He's also been laying the wood to people on run blocks.

[Daniel]

I hope we run WV's offense.  WE need a running qb that can run a lot and throw some. They have speed at qb,rb,wr.  That is the key.  I didn't realize OU had that many starters out for the game aswell.

[cm husker]

I hope we run WV's offense.  WE need a running qb that can run a lot and throw some. They have speed at qb,rb,wr.  That is the key.  I didn't realize OU had that many starters out for the game aswell.

WVU's O's not a whole heck of a lot different than what Tom was running with Frost under center, both in form and result (NU ran a lot of shotgun/spread type stuff for Frost and many QB designed runs; you'll notice that WVU runs a ton of straight I formation as well as their more signature shotgun "spread").

WVU finished #4 in rushing and #113 is passing this year.

Rushing yards accounted for 65% of their total offense.  For NU '97, 75% of their offense was gained on the ground (this is understandable considering how prolific NU's O was that year, racking up more than 500 yards and almost 50 points per game).

Coming into the Fiesta, White was averaging a little more than 16 pass attempts per game.
Frost averaged a little more than 13.

Each averaged the same number of carries (just under 15 per game).

In the game tonight, White accounted for more than half of his team's rush attempts (20 of 39) and put the ball up only 19 times.

Also an interesting side note after pursuing the stats, in terms of passing, almost every Solich led offense threw more than TO's championship teams.

[lpbaby]

Yes, allot of those plays last night I had seen before-in the 80's and 90's-at NEBRASKA-but that isn't possible cuz the option just doesn't work anymore and the kids don't want to run it :roll:

[sporrer17]

That offense and the ones that are becoming oh so popular around the country aren't all that different from anything we're used to seeing...just a few different wrinkles and maybe a little more passing flexibility.

I'd still want to see a guy that can pass AND throw...not a guy that can "run a lot and throw some". We had that guy with Jammal Lord, Eric Crouch, etc. Those guys were great runners, but teams can focus on the run if they don't have the capability of passing well. That's the point of the SPREAD option offense...not allowing teams to stack the box against the run because of the fact that there's 3-4 WRs on the field.

[helenahusker]

I hope we run WV's offense.  WE need a running qb that can run a lot and throw some. They have speed at qb,rb,wr.  That is the key.  I didn't realize OU had that many starters out for the game aswell.

Disagree.

 Once WVU lost Pat White, they were done against a horrible Pitt team.  Check little Mattie Turman in 94.  Too much danger, too hard to recruit guys who are great runners and very good throwers.  Solich ruined Crouch by forcing him to take so much contact.  The guy was an absolute stud and a good thrower until midway throught the season his should was done from contact.  Once Oregon lost Dixon, same thing.  

We need a QB who throws a lot, runs a little but well when necessary or called upon, and hands off to good RB's the most.  Much easier to stock pile good running backs than star duel threat QB's . . .

[RedDenver]

I hope we run WV's offense.  WE need a running qb that can run a lot and throw some. They have speed at qb,rb,wr.  That is the key.  I didn't realize OU had that many starters out for the game aswell.

Disagree.

 Once WVU lost Pat White, they were done against a horrible Pitt team.  Check little Mattie Turman in 94.  Too much danger, too hard to recruit guys who are great runners and very good throwers.  Solich ruined Crouch by forcing him to take so much contact.  The guy was an absolute stud and a good thrower until midway throught the season his should was done from contact.  Once Oregon lost Dixon, same thing.  

We need a QB who throws a lot, runs a little but well when necessary or called upon, and hands off to good RB's the most.  Much easier to stock pile good running backs than star duel threat QB's . . .

I agree, the spread offenses seem too inconsistent - especially when the QB is injured. Ohio St. and Texas have used elements of the spread without making it their base offense and have done well. Of course, they're also stock piled with talent.

[DieHard]

i thought it was cool how the guy nearly started crying talking about how difficult it was this last few weeks, how much he loved his state, and what it meant to him to play for WVU ....

that kid could have been a nebraska boy for sure ... 'cept for the crying of course  :wink:

[glaserjo]

I hope we run WV's offense.  WE need a running qb that can run a lot and throw some. They have speed at qb,rb,wr.  That is the key.  I didn't realize OU had that many starters out for the game aswell.

we won't be running their offense as long as Watson is here. Although it does look like mobility for our qb's will be stressed to a greater extent.

[DieHard]

I hope we run WV's offense.  WE need a running qb that can run a lot and throw some. They have speed at qb,rb,wr.  That is the key.  I didn't realize OU had that many starters out for the game aswell.

we won't be running their offense as long as Watson is here. Although it does look like mobility for our qb's will be stressed to a greater extent.

i agree ... SW likes balance the pro way ... but balance does not exclude a mobile QB ...

John Elway anyone?