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Running details
Little things lead to big success
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-08-19
For Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson, success is in the details.
Memorizing the playbook isn’t enough. To gain maximum yardage, Robinson must delve deeper.
“Knowing how to read plays helps, where things are going to happen and when they are going to happen,†Robinson said. “It allows you to hit the hole at full speed.â€
And carry the Cyclone offense in the process.
With ISU breaking in two new quarterbacks, the Cyclone running game, which returns its top three running backs, may be forced to do some heavy lifting as the signal callers get adjusted to Division I football.
And if that’s the case, the details could make all the difference.
“(Coaches) aren’t teaching us the plays,†Robinson said. “They are teaching us how to run the plays. We understand it better and the running game is starting to get better.â€
It needs to.
Yes, the Cyclones had three running backs, seniors Jason Scales and J.J. Bass and Robinson, who each rushed for over 100 yards in a game last year. But the rushing attack sputtered far too often for coach Gene Chizik’s liking.
ISU ranked 10th in the Big 12 in yards a game (123.7) and tied for last in yards per carry (3.1). The Cyclones only scored 16 rushing touchdowns, second worst in the conference.
To turn the ground game into the offenses’ backbone, Chizik has emphasized Cyclone yards, or yards after initial contact. ISU was unable to generate more than a few Cyclone yards per game last year and never approached team goal of 100 per game.
And the closer ISU gets to that mark, the easier it could be for the offense to get into the red zone.
“We talked about finishing runs and talk about going north and south with the football and being physical,†Chizik said. “They get it better than they did last year. Now they just have to do it.â€
So far, that’s what the running backs have done.
Running back coach Jay Boulware and Chizik have both been impressed with their progress in camp. And while Boulware calls the competition for the starting spot “hot and heavyâ€, he’s not too concerned with who gets the first carry of the year.
He’s just trying to ensure that on every carry there after, his stable or backs will be able to gain the maximum number of yards possible.
“We are just looking forward to those guys getting out there in the first game and seeing if we can pick up where we left off and improve significantly from last year to this year,†Boulware said. “I didn’t feel like we were a significant threat in the offense last year. We are looking for those guys to make their presence felt this year on this football team.â€
The more details Robinson picks up, the bigger his presence will be.
“The running game is going to be a huge part of our offense,†Robinson said. “We just have to go out there and contribute every game, every week as much as we can for the offense.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com
Little things lead to big success
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-08-19
Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson runs with the ball during practice at ISU Football practice field Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008, in ames, Iowa.
Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar
Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar
For Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson, success is in the details.
Memorizing the playbook isn’t enough. To gain maximum yardage, Robinson must delve deeper.
“Knowing how to read plays helps, where things are going to happen and when they are going to happen,†Robinson said. “It allows you to hit the hole at full speed.â€
And carry the Cyclone offense in the process.
With ISU breaking in two new quarterbacks, the Cyclone running game, which returns its top three running backs, may be forced to do some heavy lifting as the signal callers get adjusted to Division I football.
And if that’s the case, the details could make all the difference.
“(Coaches) aren’t teaching us the plays,†Robinson said. “They are teaching us how to run the plays. We understand it better and the running game is starting to get better.â€
It needs to.
Yes, the Cyclones had three running backs, seniors Jason Scales and J.J. Bass and Robinson, who each rushed for over 100 yards in a game last year. But the rushing attack sputtered far too often for coach Gene Chizik’s liking.
ISU ranked 10th in the Big 12 in yards a game (123.7) and tied for last in yards per carry (3.1). The Cyclones only scored 16 rushing touchdowns, second worst in the conference.
To turn the ground game into the offenses’ backbone, Chizik has emphasized Cyclone yards, or yards after initial contact. ISU was unable to generate more than a few Cyclone yards per game last year and never approached team goal of 100 per game.
And the closer ISU gets to that mark, the easier it could be for the offense to get into the red zone.
“We talked about finishing runs and talk about going north and south with the football and being physical,†Chizik said. “They get it better than they did last year. Now they just have to do it.â€
So far, that’s what the running backs have done.
Running back coach Jay Boulware and Chizik have both been impressed with their progress in camp. And while Boulware calls the competition for the starting spot “hot and heavyâ€, he’s not too concerned with who gets the first carry of the year.
He’s just trying to ensure that on every carry there after, his stable or backs will be able to gain the maximum number of yards possible.
“We are just looking forward to those guys getting out there in the first game and seeing if we can pick up where we left off and improve significantly from last year to this year,†Boulware said. “I didn’t feel like we were a significant threat in the offense last year. We are looking for those guys to make their presence felt this year on this football team.â€
The more details Robinson picks up, the bigger his presence will be.
“The running game is going to be a huge part of our offense,†Robinson said. “We just have to go out there and contribute every game, every week as much as we can for the offense.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at 232-2161, Ext. 358, or rlagesse@amestrib.com
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