In the wishbone that Belfry runs, the FB dive only needs to be successful to the point that opposing LB's commit early to stopping it.

 

Put another way...if opposing teams aren't forced to defend that particular play FIRST, the rest of the wishbone's options will have problems.

I was waiting for CFJ's answer so we could examine why he thinks the FB give has not been successful, but you are hitting around where I would have been going.

 

Cam, the beauty of it is it doesn't matter if he gets 1 or 10, as long as the linebackers and tackles are respecting him and committing to stopping him. Then you will see something big happen somewhere else.

 

The next time Epling takes the Counter play to the house, or Chapman takes the option pitch and busts a big gain, then look at May and count how many tacklers he has laying on top of him at the line of scrimmage. Or when a play action pass results in the tailback being open in the flat or the TE open coming across the middle, ask the linebackers what froze them in place the first 2 seconds of the play and I know what the answer will be. #20.

 

Those things won't show up in May's game stats, but they work because he is so good at doing his job. Even if he is getting 1 or 2 yards per carry, the entire offense revolves around making the defense respect him. Now, throw in his yardage (135+ agaisnt Sheldon Clark) and it makes him all that much more effective because he is so much more than a decoy that can get the 3 or 4 tough yards on 3rd down.

 

IMO, he is probably the most effective offensive weapon we have had.

 

 

BTW, oneijoe, that game at Prestonsburg, Coach Roddy had Belfry's linebackers both keying on the near back on their side. Coach Haywood picked up on it and was having his two backs just flare out at the snap, and Belfry's linebackers would do the same. All the guards had to do was kick out the tackles and the center just led the way for the QB.

 

LOL, that's probably the most successful QB sneak game in history. If any of you knew Coach Roddy, you know he was not one to scrap a game plan just because it wasn't working. He would however make it known to the players that they weren't executing to the best of their abilities (in a very animated way )

^ I agree with what you are saying, Toots, and I understand the importance of him being there.

 

But sometimes I'd like to say Coach get Dustin the ball off-tackle, perhaps say a veer play. But that's just me.

I was waiting for CFJ's answer so we could examine why he thinks the FB give has not been successful, but you are hitting around where I would have been going.

 

Cam, the beauty of it is it doesn't matter if he gets 1 or 10, as long as the linebackers and tackles are respecting him and committing to stopping him. Then you will see something big happen somewhere else.

 

The next time Epling takes the Counter play to the house, or Chapman takes the option pitch and busts a big gain, then look at May and count how many tacklers he has laying on top of him at the line of scrimmage. Or when a play action pass results in the tailback being open in the flat or the TE open coming across the middle, ask the linebackers what froze them in place the first 2 seconds of the play and I know what the answer will be. #20.

 

Those things won't show up in May's game stats, but they work because he is so good at doing his job. Even if he is getting 1 or 2 yards per carry, the entire offense revolves around making the defense respect him. Now, throw in his yardage (135+ agaisnt Sheldon Clark) and it makes him all that much more effective because he is so much more than a decoy that can get the 3 or 4 tough yards on 3rd down.

 

IMO, he is probably the most effective offensive weapon we have had.

 

 

BTW, oneijoe, that game at Prestonsburg, Coach Roddy had Belfry's linebackers both keying on the near back on their side. Coach Haywood picked up on it and was having his two backs just flare out at the snap, and Belfry's linebackers would do the same. All the guards had to do was kick out the tackles and the center just led the way for the QB.

 

LOL, that's probably the most successful QB sneak game in history. If any of you knew Coach Roddy, you know he was not one to scrap a game plan just because it wasn't working. He would however make it known to the players that they weren't executing to the best of their abilities (in a very animated way )

 

 

It was very unfortunate that Roddy's last few years were as dicey as they ended up being. Roddy was a good man...good coach...who simply wouldn't make adjustment based on personnel. One trick pony on offense and for some inexplicable reason, was in love with the 44 Defense. P-burg wasn't the only team who punished his defense up the middle.

...

 

BTW, oneijoe, that game at Prestonsburg, Coach Roddy had Belfry's linebackers both keying on the near back on their side. Coach Haywood picked up on it and was having his two backs just flare out at the snap, and Belfry's linebackers would do the same. All the guards had to do was kick out the tackles and the center just led the way for the QB.

 

...

 

Thanks for that piece of information. That makes more sense than what I had thought I was seeing at the time. I watched that game from field level and couldn't judge the lateral position of Belfry's two MLBs.

 

That's the best I've ever seen football's simplest play work. :lol:

 

:thumb:

^ I agree with what you are saying, Toots, and I understand the importance of him being there.

 

But sometimes I'd like to say Coach get Dustin the ball off-tackle, perhaps say a veer play. But that's just me.

 

I hear you and I've wondered if we may see more of that in the future. I'm not saying its the only way for him to be effective, but I am saying that he has been very effective in what he has done. Every week you hear people groan when the fullback runs for a 1 or 2 yard gain and then cheer like crazy when the option is run for 20 without ever seeing the correlation between the two.

 

I swear at Sheldon Clark, on the first play from scrimmage the fullback give was run and the guy in front of me started griping right then. "You're not going to get anywhere running up the middle, Haywood". I just laughed it off but that stuff gets on your nerves after while.

 

BTW, I remember a couple of RBs making a pretty good living on the outside veer just a couple of years ago.

I hear you and I've wondered if we may see more of that in the future. I'm not saying its the only way for him to be effective, but I am saying that he has been very effective in what he has done. Every week you hear people groan when the fullback runs for a 1 or 2 yard gain and then cheer like crazy when the option is run for 20 without ever seeing the correlation between the two.

 

I swear at Sheldon Clark, on the first play from scrimmage the fullback give was run and the guy in front of me started griping right then. "You're not going to get anywhere running up the middle, Haywood". I just laughed it off but that stuff gets on your nerves after while.

 

BTW, I remember a couple of RBs making a pretty good living on the outside veer just a couple of years ago.

 

And every now & then #20 bust a big play up the middle that causes the D to have to focus on him even more. I totally know what you are saying, and the fans griping does become a little nerve-racking for sure.

 

But Dustin is so big & strong at the middle of end of games I find myself just dying for him to get about a 5-yard ahead of steam before he meets any contact.

By the way, who are those "veer backs" you are refering to?

Great breakdown Toots and I totally agree with everything you said. Cam pretty much sad it himself when he said that Pburg committed to shut down the FB dive.... yet every time we ran that counter it was pretty much Sally bar the door!

 

The sheer fact that Dustin is going to gain over 1000 yards basically on one play is pretty amazing and speaks volumes for the quality of back he is. I, too, have a feeling that their are a couple other May options that we will be seeing as the playoffs play out.

 

One play, that we ran against Pburg, that I would LOVE to see some more was the middle screen we ran with Dustin. Granted you can't necessarily run it out of the bone... but with Elkins ability to get deep enough to drop it in, and the fact that teams naturally are programmed to try to get as many players in Belfry's backfield as possible... that play can be devastating.

 

Right now I don't have any fears with our playcalling...it's our execution on offense that scares me. The passes are on the money, but catches are being dropped. Still an occasional missed assignment on the line resulting in the play getting blown up in the backfield. Poor spacing when the option comes to the short side of the field.

 

We are very fortunate to have a top notch fullback, two gritty halfbacks that are elusive and hit the hole hard, and a QB that playfakes beautifully and can throw a pretty ball when needed. Lets just hope that all the small details coem together.

By the way, who are those "veer backs" you are refering to?

Thunder n' Lightnin perhaps..... anytime they took that quit hitter between the guard and tackle there was a good chance that it was a throughbred race!

I agree that the offense is built around the fullback and completely understand its importance. Certainly a good defense does have to commit to stop the fullback and thus it opens up other plays.

 

I guess I just feel the fullback on 1st down has become a little too predictable and its making it easier to stuff.

 

I may be out offbase as I have only been able to listen to the games on the webcast as of late.

 

Call me crazy, but I bet that "make em respect the fullback and it will open everything else up" attitude MIGHT be utilized just as effectively if the carries and playcalls were spread around a bit more. May's ability alone should count for force other teams to prepare to stop him. If they didn't, then let him pack it 45 times

Just want to point out, I don't intend this post as criticism of Haywood or the staff. Their method is proven. I'm just thinking aloud I suppose.

Thats what this forum is for, Cam. :thumb:

Great breakdown Toots and I totally agree with everything you said. Cam pretty much sad it himself when he said that Pburg committed to shut down the FB dive.... yet every time we ran that counter it was pretty much Sally bar the door!

 

The sheer fact that Dustin is going to gain over 1000 yards basically on one play is pretty amazing and speaks volumes for the quality of back he is. I, too, have a feeling that their are a couple other May options that we will be seeing as the playoffs play out.

 

One play, that we ran against Pburg, that I would LOVE to see some more was the middle screen we ran with Dustin. Granted you can't necessarily run it out of the bone... but with Elkins ability to get deep enough to drop it in, and the fact that teams naturally are programmed to try to get as many players in Belfry's backfield as possible... that play can be devastating.

 

Right now I don't have any fears with our playcalling...it's our execution on offense that scares me. The passes are on the money, but catches are being dropped. Still an occasional missed assignment on the line resulting in the play getting blown up in the backfield. Poor spacing when the option comes to the short side of the field.

 

We are very fortunate to have a top notch fullback, two gritty halfbacks that are elusive and hit the hole hard, and a QB that playfakes beautifully and can throw a pretty ball when needed. Lets just hope that all the small details coem together.

 

 

That scares you more than the fact that we don't tackle very well???:sssh:

That scares you more than the fact that we don't tackle very well???:sssh:

I was referring to offense...

 

My Belfry fears in order of significance would be:

1. Tackling

2. Special Teams

3. Half of our secondary's mindset and assignment missing

4. Offensive Execution

I was referring to offense...

 

My Belfry fears in order of significance would be:

1. Tackling

2. Special Teams

3. Half of our secondary's mindset and assignment missing

4. Offensive Execution

 

 

I concur!!!