re: Does throwing long loosen up things for the run even without a high completion %

quote:

---

Does throwing long loosen up things for the run even without a high completion %

---

Depends on the team you are playing. You have to look at it from the other teams perspective first so you can understand the coaches choices.

TAMU coaches knew there was no way they could hope to stop LSU's running game with only 7 or 8 in the box, they knew this for a FACT.

They had also seen our struggles in the pass game so it was a no brainer for them to "sell out" to stop the run and gamble with so much zero coverage. I haven't seen very many games when a coaching staff took such big risks with their defense. There were several times during the game that they literally had all 11 defensive players within 6 yards of the line of scrimmage!

Alabama won't take those same chances because they don't have to. If you ever watch much NFL football you will see the type of cat and mouse game that LSU/Bama always play with each other. When two teams are fairly equally talented one defender either way can make a big difference.

In the NFL its simple, if they give you a 7 man box you run it, if they give you an 8 man box you throw it. Its up to your running game to force the 8 man box or your passing game to force the 7 man box.

Thats how LSU and Bama tend to parry back and forth. If Saban can stop your running game with a 7 man box...he's got you. If you can force him to commit 8...you got a chance...providing your pass game can produce. Its the same choice for Chavis and our defense.