Stopping the Run

[johnnyzip84]

I was thinking about this during the week, and does anyone else find it strange that the one game that sticks out this year in which the defense did a pretty nice job in stopping the run just happened to be against a team that focuses almost solely on the run? Now perhaps because the Zips didn't have to worry too much about Army's passing game, this may have made the job easier. On the other hand, other Army opponents didn't have to worry too much about the pass (against EMU, the Knights failed to complete a single pass) either, and they have still managed to run the ball pretty effectively.One other thing I remembered about the Army game. It was the ONLY game this year in which Wally Pendleton was forced into a starting role. In fact it's the only game this year in which he really saw the field very much at all. Now if you look at the game stats, I don't think he had many tackles, but that really isn't the NT's job. Am I oversimplifying this by concluding that the big guy is very effective in stopping the run?

[ziptrumpet87]

IIRC, they put a fourth guy on the line part way through the game to help stop the run against Army.

[johnnyzip84]

IIRC, they put a fourth guy on the line part way through the game to help stop the run against Army.

That's true and it was Lemon who was the "extra" lineman. It was sort of his break out game coming off the edge. But I think Army had some trouble running it up the gut too.

[Dr Z]

Bad Army football + 4 DL = run stop 3-3-5 =

[Zipmeister]

I was thinking about this during the week, and does anyone else find it strange that the one game that sticks out this year in which the defense did a pretty nice job in stopping the run just happened to be against a team that focuses almost solely on the run? Now perhaps because the Zips didn't have to worry too much about Army's passing game, this may have made the job easier. On the other hand, other Army opponents didn't have to worry too much about the pass (against EMU, the Knights failed to complete a single pass) either, and they have still managed to run the ball pretty effectively.One other thing I remembered about the Army game. It was the ONLY game this year in which Wally Pendleton was forced into a starting role. In fact it's the only game this year in which he really saw the field very much at all. Now if you look at the game stats, I don't think he had many tackles, but that really isn't the NT's job. Am I oversimplifying this by concluding that the big guy is very effective in stopping the run?

Yes

[HELLOZIPS]

JohnnyZip - I agree with you. The best defensive game thus far has been against Army. That's when the big guy was in the middle. Where is he now? I've been told he's at the game, but getting no playing time. Just standing on the sideline, like he's not even a part of the team.