Absence of Toussaint vs. Notre Dame
Forgive me, but I don't believe I saw any similar topics during searches of the board, but here goes...
One glaring item that I saw missing from the ND game was Toussaint. I believe I saw him in on a couple plays, but am not 100% sure of that. I am sure that he didn't record a carry or catch though. After a solid week (and a start for that matter) against WMU, I thought for sure he would be playing a decent bit.
This past week felt eerily like last year in regards to the running game against decent defenses. Basically, if it isn't Denard, it isn't working. The difference I felt this year was Toussaint.
Smith = Loss or 2-3 yard gain
Shaw = running sideways or backward when he should have hit that hole a while ago
Hopkins = 1-2 yard gain or fumble
Anyone have any insight as to why Toussaint wasn't even given the ball once? Was there an injury that I missed?
September 13th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
Them windmills ain't gonna tilt themselves.
September 13th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
September 13th, 2011 at 8:53 PM ^
I dont think that there is one guy who stands out above the rest in this mediocre bunch of running backs that we have. In the game against western both Toussaint and Shaw had one big run each. That made their numbers look good. But now we are back to the same place we were last year with inconsistant line play for run blocking as we are unable to get anyone free but Denard. Or we just have a mediocre offensive line and some mediocre backs. I know our line is one of our strong points but on run plays they were just getting beat. I dont think that Toussaint would have had any effect on the outcome of the ND game. We need a big time running back period. Maybe Rawls will fill that someday or we land a Dunn in this recruiting class. So for now I think it is going to be running back by committee and Denard. I hope that someone steps up though if for no other reason than to keep Denard as healthy as possible.
September 14th, 2011 at 8:57 AM ^
So you just finish saying our line isn't run blocking is inconsistant, and then you say we need a new running back. Which is it?
Me, I am going to wait and see. In the Western game I saw a running game with some solid short yardage gains when we needed them, and a few bigs plays as well. In the ND game, nothing doing, unless you count blocking, a screen pass, some option play, and the pass to the full back (which I count). Bottom line though is they got behind early, and needed to revert to the Denard show to win, so they did.
I actually liked Al Borges' presser better than Greg Mattison's. he basically said ND learned what not to do from last year. (Which everybody we played after ND last year had already figured out.) He comes across as a flexible, inventive realist. With Western Denard looked more poised and the offense was more balanced. ND was a big test which we barely passed. The loss of Fitz, the time of day, the excitement of the game, and the defense ND showed all may have contributed. I think growth comes from both, and our next three games. Hopefully five is enough to get settled in the new hybrid system and move ahead.