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50 yard gain. We rush to the line of scrimmage just to lose a yard to a stacked box because every being in the universe knows we will run up the middle. How is this putting pressure on the defense? Why are we facing 2nd and 11 after every big gain? Please learn another play to run after braking a big one.

The concept is that the 280-300 lb defensive linemen have just sprinted down the field and get into position and are tired. Even if you get stopped on that running play for a 1 yard loss, on second down you are going to have all day to throw the ball if you don't let them sub.

So the defense lineman don't have to move on first down so that tires them out more?

JasonB wrote:The concept is that the 280-300 lb defensive linemen have just sprinted down the field and get into position and are tired. Even if you get stopped on that running play for a 1 yard loss, on second down you are going to have all day to throw the ball if you don't let them sub.

Agree. It's not about the play being run at that point. It is just about the fact that any play is being run as quickly as possible. Those little bursts add up over the course of the game. That's why we generally run the ball so well in the second half. It's also how you run 109 snaps in a game like we did against Temple. It puts defenses in a panic, if only for a moment, and it wears defensive linemen out.

SMU#92 wrote:

JasonB wrote:The concept is that the 280-300 lb defensive linemen have just sprinted down the field and get into position and are tired. Even if you get stopped on that running play for a 1 yard loss, on second down you are going to have all day to throw the ball if you don't let them sub.

Agree. It's not about the play being run at that point. It is just about the fact that any play is being run as quickly as possible. Those little bursts add up over the course of the game. That's why we generally run the ball so well in the second half. It's also how you run 109 snaps in a game like we did against Temple. It puts defenses in a panic, if only for a moment, and it wears defensive linemen out.

And results in a lot of flopping which we can expect to see from Memphis. Will not draw the usual booing from their home crowd.

Wouldn't it put them more in a panic if they didn't know what is coming and that they may have to run?