Comments on: Oklahoma football: Running game better than ever?

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:22:36 +0000

I agree with Rodney. Diminished recruiting/evaluation to blame for decline. Does anyone think it’ll get better after canning Jackie Shipp? Best in-state recruiter over the past 20 yrs IMHO.

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:51:34 +0000

I’ve always wondered if the median, instead of the average, might be more meaningful to the rushing game. You can get great average numbers with a few big runs, but you need consistent gains to use the rushing game to sustain drives and impose will. Too bad no one has those stats.

By: Randall

Randall — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 01:14:29 +0000

Several of the Sooner RBs had fine years.

But, when you need one yard to keep possession and retain a chance to win the game, and you have to throw the ball to get that yard, you don’t have an effective rushing game.

By: Will

Will — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 21:21:47 +0000

Surely getting the Tight End more involved will improve the short yardage running game. He will employ a linebacker; whether that’s blocking or forcing that backer to cover down field. Can’t wait until that position is once again utilized in the OU offense. Man what an under-appreciated position.

By: Rodney

Rodney — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:51:52 +0000

Agree with all the other comments . Barry Tramel is quickly turning into that loser John Hoover . They just speak out both sides of their mouth all the time trying to stir up trouble .

OU’s run game was non existant when it mattered once . Don’t know if that was because Hueple made it clear what we were going to do and therefor is was unsuccessful or he never ran when we neeeded it because he knew it wasn’t going to work.

The problem is recruiting .

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:02:34 +0000

I agree with Isaiah. When OU needed to run they couldn’t. How many times on third down did an OU running back get the ball except as a pass? When OU needed a yard they didn’t hand the ball to a running back with a fullback blocking. They knew they would get stuffed. So, Berry, you are looking at one aspect of an effective running game, but it is only one aspect. Also, one reason the running backs seem to have a better yards per carry this year is because they didn’t get the ball on 3rd and 1 when they would only get 1 or 2 yards. If you don’t carry the ball on short yardage when they know you are going to run your yards per carry will be inflated. You have to add in the Belldozer package into your computation in order to compare with prior years.

By: Galileo, Houston

Galileo, Houston — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 07:31:43 +0000

Sometimes I wonder if Berry just prints kooky stuff to get a rise out of people. OU couldn’t run the ball when they needed to. Zero committment to the run game. Enough said.

By: Oldtimer

Oldtimer — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:51:33 +0000

Another example of stats being deceiving.

Couldn’t run it when you had to. Couldn’t count on it when you realyneee it.

By: kentwhitwerth

kentwhitwerth — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:42:40 +0000

From the same cat who criticized OU’s running game

By: Isaiah

Isaiah — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:29:42 +0000

Here’s just one argument to the running game numbers. Just like in baseball, timely execution is key to success. When the OU football team found themselves in critical down and distance situations, where a strong run game was essential, they came up short. For example, the last national title game OU played made it clear that OU didn’t have the type of running game that forced their will upon opponents. The whole Belldozer package came about because of this specific fact. Bell would have been sitting the bench quite a bit more had the OU run game been more effective in critical situations rather than pad stats in games against inferior opponents.