I have been reading a lot of previews and looking at stats for all of Utah's previous opponents and I think all the previews so far are overestimating Utah's run defense. The only team Utah really kicked in the run game was UNLV who tried 42 runs with very little success. Everyone else (even Pitt) had mild success or better running the ball New Mexico and San Jose St. starting backs had great averages against Utah. And sacks along with the lack of a long run (30+ yards kept the Pittsburgh backs for looking good)
If Iowa State can leverage its size advantage to hold positions in one on one blocking and let the backs to get to the linebackers I think we have a great shoot at this game. We have a size advantage inside and Franklin is not a terrible blocker. Utah keeps going off about how there line demands double teams and has all these quick stunts etc, but when it comes down to it we still like to run the football and a run play has designed double teams and quick stunts open huge holes in the run game as often as they let someone come free.
I think if we line up in the pistol and motion Franklin inside like we often do Robinson,Johnson, and Woody can have a field day IF they run smart and don't dance. Take advantage of the formation, by that I mean the pistol is designed to give the running back a head start to the line like an under center formation, but still allow the QB to read the defense. Utah's line is to good to dance with run straight to the whole or the cutback lane and hit it. Once they are through put the pressure on there inexperienced middle. New backers starting and a true freshman at safety. We need to make them be the ones responsible for making the plays.
If we start off with the option read I will be very disappointed if Arnaud is not a 100% healthy as we need him to keep the ends honest and be a legitimate threat to run the ball. I think we also need to up the pace just a hair against Utah to not let them sub on the line. They talk about all this depth they have, but that means nothing if we don't let them sub.
Work off the run, but keep them very honest with play action slip plays where Franklin motions just like a run and slips to the flats or up the seam and throw two deep balls in the first quarter to keep the linebackers watching instead of moving and to have that freshman safety thinking.
Just my two cents I am by no means an expert, but I have been around a lot of football for a long time.
If Iowa State can leverage its size advantage to hold positions in one on one blocking and let the backs to get to the linebackers I think we have a great shoot at this game. We have a size advantage inside and Franklin is not a terrible blocker. Utah keeps going off about how there line demands double teams and has all these quick stunts etc, but when it comes down to it we still like to run the football and a run play has designed double teams and quick stunts open huge holes in the run game as often as they let someone come free.
I think if we line up in the pistol and motion Franklin inside like we often do Robinson,Johnson, and Woody can have a field day IF they run smart and don't dance. Take advantage of the formation, by that I mean the pistol is designed to give the running back a head start to the line like an under center formation, but still allow the QB to read the defense. Utah's line is to good to dance with run straight to the whole or the cutback lane and hit it. Once they are through put the pressure on there inexperienced middle. New backers starting and a true freshman at safety. We need to make them be the ones responsible for making the plays.
If we start off with the option read I will be very disappointed if Arnaud is not a 100% healthy as we need him to keep the ends honest and be a legitimate threat to run the ball. I think we also need to up the pace just a hair against Utah to not let them sub on the line. They talk about all this depth they have, but that means nothing if we don't let them sub.
Work off the run, but keep them very honest with play action slip plays where Franklin motions just like a run and slips to the flats or up the seam and throw two deep balls in the first quarter to keep the linebackers watching instead of moving and to have that freshman safety thinking.
Just my two cents I am by no means an expert, but I have been around a lot of football for a long time.