Was having a discussion with a few friends while watching the game this past weekend that I wanted to get some informed opinions on.
We were discussing the impact of some of the early-season vanilla playcalling and how that may be positively impacting the results we're seeing now.
Specifically we were talking about the marked improvement of the run game and our ability to close out games and pick up necessary yards/first downs late in games. The improvement we saw against both Wisky and Sparty these last few weeks probably would've been completely unbelievable earlier this year. Even if we can admit those two teams aren't the typical versions of themselves defensively (although State was #1 in the nation against the run coming into that game), the results are still impressive. This wasn't the Akrons and Ball State's of the world we were dominating.
So I'm just wondering if the playcalling we saw earlier this year might be paying dividends now. In other words, did pounding the run game (unsuccessfully in some cases) against some of our over-matched opponents earlier this year set the tone for the success we're seeing now? If so, then I owe the staff a massive apology for questioning the approach time and time again prior to the last few weeks.
I guess what I'm hoping for is the annual in-season improvement Beilein teams have become known for on the football side moving forward. If that's the case, I'll be fine with taking the lumps earlier in the season knowing the team is building on itself and will be peaking at the right time.
Is that what I'm witnessing here these last few weeks?
We were discussing the impact of some of the early-season vanilla playcalling and how that may be positively impacting the results we're seeing now.
Specifically we were talking about the marked improvement of the run game and our ability to close out games and pick up necessary yards/first downs late in games. The improvement we saw against both Wisky and Sparty these last few weeks probably would've been completely unbelievable earlier this year. Even if we can admit those two teams aren't the typical versions of themselves defensively (although State was #1 in the nation against the run coming into that game), the results are still impressive. This wasn't the Akrons and Ball State's of the world we were dominating.
So I'm just wondering if the playcalling we saw earlier this year might be paying dividends now. In other words, did pounding the run game (unsuccessfully in some cases) against some of our over-matched opponents earlier this year set the tone for the success we're seeing now? If so, then I owe the staff a massive apology for questioning the approach time and time again prior to the last few weeks.
I guess what I'm hoping for is the annual in-season improvement Beilein teams have become known for on the football side moving forward. If that's the case, I'll be fine with taking the lumps earlier in the season knowing the team is building on itself and will be peaking at the right time.
Is that what I'm witnessing here these last few weeks?
