Does anyone else think Dak might have more

[Ifyouonlyknew]

Not questioning his success running up the middle. It is running Dak excessively knowing that he doesn't have a knack for avoiding the hard hits. The key in my mind is monitoring / limiting the number of runs / hits he is taking each game and understand that he cannot make it through 12 games in the SEC running as much as he did last year. It is not practical. We need to be smarter at getting the benefits of his running the ball - but also utilizing our wealth of other offensive weapons so that he can come out fresh each week - especially those critical last 3 or 4 games.

I understand what you're saying but those last 3-4 games won't be important if we don't handle business the 1st 5 games. He has to come out of the gate being ready to carry the load. We can do a better job of monitoring carries but Dak running is what makes him & our offense special.

[bulldawg28]

No team will be able to stack the box with the WR'S we have no matter the down or yardage. Dak will be able to do what he wants.

[archdog]

Correct me if I am wrong, but most of the qb runs were off the option and the back is not lead blocking for Dak. So the original question, I would say no. Our running backs are used to force a decision on the defensive end on the majority of all option plays. RB goes up the middle, Dak pulls and runs behind the crashing de. RB runs off tackle or sweep, Qb pulls to go up the middle. Either scenario, dak is running without a lead blocker to take an initial hit.

Dak will probably average slightly less runs than last year. He will still have to do the typical run into the pile and fall down options just to keep the defense honest on accounting for him, but games like our OOC, Kentucky, aTm and Missouri we should limit his contact as much as possible. We need him with fresh legs for Alabama and UNM. The optimal situation is that Dak does not run a single time against our OOC opponents, unless its a scramble and he protects himself instead of taking the hit. Johnny manzeil made a living off of running when the play broke down. Heck it won him the heisman. Plus its easier to protect yourself when you are running to daylight and you don't have 7 guys taking shots at you as you fight to fall forward instead of backwards. I believe we can beat anyone with that strategy. Only run when your internal clock tells you to pull the icons down and go. I bet he would have more rushing yards as well.

All of that to say, less designed runs for Dak. Option at 30% keeper adjusted for defensive end decisions and talent. Most games should look for him to get the bulk of his yards after the play breaks down. I would rather see him run 10 times on broken plays than 5 times on designed runs.

[archdog]

No team will be able to stack the box with the WR'S we have no matter the down or yardage. Dak will be able to do what he wants.

Boom.

[LC Dawg]

If Dak runs the ball and gets hurt then we lose ball games.
If Dak doesn't run the ball then we lose ball games.
The qb is going to take some hits in our offense. I think its pointless to try to analyze how many time Dak runs. If he never runs the ball up the middle then he never will score the multiple touchdowns he scores up the middle.
Our offense is going to be phenomenal. I'm looking forward to just sitting back and enjoying it.

[SallyStansbury]

Not questioning his success running up the middle. It is running Dak excessively knowing that he doesn't have a knack for avoiding the hard hits. The key in my mind is monitoring / limiting the number of runs / hits he is taking each game and understand that he cannot make it through 12 games in the SEC running as much as he did last year. It is not practical. We need to be smarter at getting the benefits of his running the ball - but also utilizing our wealth of other offensive weapons so that he can come out fresh each week - especially those critical last 3 or 4 games.

I am really starting to think Ifyouonlyknew is actually Dan Mullen messing with us, because when he continues to defend that practice and restates, "That is what makes the offense go...didn't you see those examples of Dak scoring?" Until we are ineffective with Shump/Lee/Williams taking those runs instead of Dak (especially against bullshit teams early in our schedule) or us alternatively using screens like C34 suggested, to run Dak repeatedly up the middle is BONEHEADED. Just to clarify....a coach who wins 10 games for MSU gets to be as boneheaded as he chooses, but to get Dak hurt early in the year doing dumb shit limits our chances of a special season.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

I am really starting to think Ifyouonlyknew is actually Dan Mullen messing with us, because when he continues to defend that practice and restates, "That is what makes the offense go...didn't you see those examples of Dak scoring?" Until we are ineffective with Shump/Lee/Williams taking those runs instead of Dak (especially against bullshit teams early in our schedule) or us alternatively using screens like C34 suggested, to run Dak repeatedly up the middle is BONEHEADED. Just to clarify....a coach who wins 10 games for MSU gets to be as boneheaded as he chooses, but to get Dak hurt early in the year doing dumb shit limits our chances of a special season.

Dak is a power runner who's not going to outrun a lot of people so running between the tackles or up the middle is where he's going to be most effective. Asking Dak to get to the perimeter like say a Nick Marshall won't be as successful because he doesn't have the speed. Him slimming up may change that some. My point was that you're not going to see a big change in 1 of the most prolific offenses in SEC history. We didn't lose to Bama or OM because Dak was run down & physically limited IMO. He shouldn't run as much against the non conference opponents but we're not about to abandon what has worked for us.

[SallyStansbury]

Dak is a power runner who's not going to outrun a lot of people so running between the tackles or up the middle is where he's going to be most effective. Asking Dak to get to the perimeter like say a Nick Marshall won't be as successful because he doesn't have the speed. Him slimming up may change that some. My point was that you're not going to see a big change in 1 of the most prolific offenses in SEC history. We didn't lose to Bama or OM because Dak was run down & physically limited IMO. He shouldn't run as much against the non conference opponents but we're not about to abandon what has worked for us.

Dude, you are missing it AGAIN........

1. nobody suggests Dak isn't going to score up the middle, what you say is true, he is good at that. We are suggesting to only do it when needed. Like not against USM or other terrible teams like I and others suggested.

2. nobody is suggesting running Dak off the perimeter. That is stupid for the reasons you mentioned, but again, nobody is suggesting that.

3. I love you and you get to coach here as long as you want however you want....but I reserve the right to complain about boneheaded shit you do if you don't make smart adjustments. I think you CAN do it. The difference between our 10 wins last year and 11-12 wins is a small tweak, make that tweak, pretty please.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

Dude, you are missing it AGAIN........

1. nobody suggests Dak isn't going to score up the middle, what you say is true, he is good at that. We are suggesting to only do it when needed. Like not against USM or other terrible teams like I and others suggested.

2. nobody is suggesting running Dak off the perimeter. That is stupid for the reasons you mentioned, but again, nobody is suggesting that.

3. I love you and you get to coach here as long as you want however you want....but I reserve the right to complain about boneheaded shit you do if you don't make smart adjustments. I think you CAN do it. The difference between our 10 wins last year and 11-12 wins is a small tweak, make that tweak, pretty please.

How am I missing it when I just said at the end of my post that he shouldn't run as much against the non conference opponents?

[mstatefan91]

Sally, Ifyouonlyknew is not Dan... lol

I believe that he or she is someone connected to our athletics department but certainly not our head coach..

[Homedawg]

His long TD run vs LSU was up the middle. TD's against Auburn, A&M, & KY all came up the middle. Do you want to run him up the middle all the time? No but a lot of his best runs last year were up the middle.

Yea but those were great play calls because they worked! That's the logic here. If it works good call. If it doesn't, all we do is run up the middle!!

[SallyStansbury]

How am I missing it when I just said at the end of my post that he shouldn't run as much against the non conference opponents?

Just wanted to be sure you were not rationalizing running Dak up the middle with #2 I listed above.

-I appreciate your acknowledgement of what we are saying.

now if next year we can pull in 1 or two highly talented, can't miss O-linemen, work on kickoff return strategy and personnel usage, get with a statistican to evaluate play calling tendencies(ours) late in the season, incorporate some risk into play calling at key times and go for it, and leave the field goal kickers alone, we will be in business. Baby steps....I am pleased with not overworking Dak against crap teams, that is a start.

[SallyStansbury]

Sally, Ifyouonlyknew is not Dan... lol

I believe that he or she is someone connected to our athletics department but certainly not our head coach..

dude, I totally know that. I am just joking. I appreciate the perspective this poster provides, he is sharp as shit and has legit info I respect. I am just giving him a hard time. All good.

[MSUDawg99]

Sally, Ifyouonlyknew is not Dan... lol

I believe that he or she is someone connected to our athletics department but certainly not our head coach..

Agreed

[Really Clark?]

I am really starting to think Ifyouonlyknew is actually Dan Mullen messing with us, because when he continues to defend that practice and restates, "That is what makes the offense go...didn't you see those examples of Dak scoring?" Until we are ineffective with Shump/Lee/Williams taking those runs instead of Dak (especially against bullshit teams early in our schedule) or us alternatively using screens like C34 suggested, to run Dak repeatedly up the middle is BONEHEADED. Just to clarify....a coach who wins 10 games for MSU gets to be as boneheaded as he chooses, but to get Dak hurt early in the year doing dumb shit limits our chances of a special season.

You do understand that when people say that the QB runs is what makes this offense go they are not just talking about Mullen and State. This is the offense that he and Urban have had for years and has won multiple national titles at two different schools. And every QB, when this offense is at its best, has rushed for over 170+ times a season.

And to clear up some things Dak's rushes, he had 6 runs against Tenn-Martin and Vanderbilt and 8 runs against USM. Limited his running while still able to run the offense effectively against weak compitetion. Not many people had problems with his 22, 23, and 21 rushes against LSU, A & M, and Auburn in back to back to back games on our way to #1 and him becoming a Heisman candidate. His Alabama and UM rushing numbers 22 and 24. Same as those wins. And the running too much at the end of the year? 67 rushes in the last 4 games (22, 6, 24, 15) vs his first 4 games of 62 against 3 OOC and LSU. We only rushed him 13 times in a tough game against a defensively tough Arkansas team. Now that is concerning the number of rushes that several have alluded to not the play calling. But he will have runs in the middle.

Also concerning the idea of 3rd down runs of 4+ yards, he ran the ball 36 times all year and picked up 14 first downs in those rushes. Close the same percentage when throwing the ball and converting the first down. 60 att and 26 first downs. On 4th down he ran for 3 first downs on just 5 att all year.

What sticks in everybody's mind really boils down to the last 2 games and some play calling that seemed predictable. Even in the Alabama game it really wasn't his rushing it was his bad first half throwing the ball and our defense collapsing in the second half.

[Ifyouonlyknew]

Just wanted to be sure you were not rationalizing running Dak up the middle with #2 I listed above.

-I appreciate your acknowledgement of what we are saying.

now if next year we can pull in 1 or two highly talented, can't miss O-linemen, work on kickoff return strategy and personnel usage, get with a statistican to evaluate play calling tendencies(ours) late in the season, incorporate some risk into play calling at key times and go for it, and leave the field goal kickers alone, we will be in business. Baby steps....I am pleased with not overworking Dak against crap teams, that is a start.

Yea I understand totally what you're saying & don't disagree with a lot of it. I was just saying you're not going to change what got us to this point. Should we tweek & add new wrinkles of course but I'm not doing much different. We were a few bad throws from Dak in Tuscaloosa & some 2nd half defensive collapses in Oxford from being undefeated. I don't want the coaches going overboard with changes.

[Pollodawg]

Yea I understand totally what you're saying & don't disagree with a lot of it. I was just saying you're not going to change what got us to this point. Should we tweek & add new wrinkles of course but I'm not doing much different. We were a few bad throws from Dak in Tuscaloosa & some 2nd half defensive collapses in Oxford from being undefeated. I don't want the coaches going overboard with changes.

Exactly. We were a bad second half in Oxford and a shaky Dak on the road in Tuscaloosa from finishing the season the best team in college football. You don't go tweaking stuff that there is nothing wrong with.

[War Machine Dawg]

Only if Shump doesn't keep a firm hold on the starting job. Prescott is going to run the ball 150+ times and have at least 800 yards- so to top that- one of our RB's needs a firm grasp on the starting job.

We aren't changing our offense- the QB is going to run the football. That's what makes our offense successful

I don't know how many more times you will have to post this before it sinks in, but I'm guessing at least one more. Don't know why some of our fans can't grasp or refuse to grasp this fact. This offense is pretty shitty when the QB doesn't/can't run the football - look at the Tyler Russell years.

[Really Clark?]

I don't know how many more times you will have to post this before it sinks in, but I'm guessing at least one more. Don't know why some of our fans can't grasp or refuse to grasp this fact. This offense is pretty shitty when the QB doesn't/can't run the football - look at the Tyler Russell years.

Some must have an agenda or trolling. Of course they are right, you can't possible win a national title running the QB that many times a game. I mean look at OSU last year. Jones ran the ball 17 and 22 times in the playoff games and that's why they got beat. Right?*** Its the offense we run and did it at an historic SEC level last year. But our coach is too dumb to see it wont work. I mean it didn't work at Utah...well Florida...uh well our offense was horrible last...I mean OSU could not be effective running the QB that much. It works, yes there is a definite risk and we would all hate to see Dak hurt. But of all these QB's that Mullen and Urban have had, isn't JT Barrette the only one really injured running the ball during the game. I guess you could say Dak the year before last as well but he wasn't injured last year.

[Homedawg]

Some must have an agenda or trolling. Of course they are right, you can't possible win a national title running the QB that many times a game. I mean look at OSU last year. Jones ran the ball 17 and 22 times in the playoff games and that's why they got beat. Right?*** Its the offense we run and did it at an historic SEC level last year. But our coach is too dumb to see it wont work. I mean it didn't work at Utah...well Florida...uh well our offense was horrible last...I mean OSU could not be effective running the QB that much. It works, yes there is a definite risk and we would all hate to see Dak hurt. But of all these QB's that Mullen and Urban have had, isn't JT Barrette the only one really injured running the ball during the game. I guess you could say Dak the year before last as well but he wasn't injured last year.

So true. Could he get hurt running the football? Sure. But it's way more likely he has a season ending injury getting plastered into the ground when we miss a pass block. I never understand why he is so likely to get hurt running it more so than a back? He's 230 freaking pounds. I understand we can't afford to lose him part, that's easy to see. But if he can't and doesn't run, his value is half of what it is when we do run him. He's a mobile quarterback, THAT is what makes us hard to defend. It isn't hard to figure out.