We started the year on our typical zone run scheme, but the line just didn't gel for whatever reason. So they were leaving guys unblocked or got stuck in a bad angle, which shouldn't happen in zone. But they were successful when they were in position.Here was my super condensed, elementary view of the offense last year:
1) First 3 games - we went run heavy, TE sets with the majority of plays in the first half and most of games. Going run heavy and tipping our hand to the other team, our offense sucked.
2) Big 12 Conference games last year (excludes bowl game) - we were unpredictable, dynamic, and we THREW THE BALL FIRST TO OPEN THE RUN. When we have a weaker O line, this just has to be what we do.. and this isn't rocket science.
The St Louis Rams of '99 to '01 threw the ball a ton because they had stud receivers and a great quarterback. In a similar way, we have two bona fide NFL receivers on this roster (Higgins and Noel) and a future NFL guy in Rocco Becht (you can debate it, but I feel he is). With the talent at WR and QB, we should be throwing more early to open the run. Campbell sometimes coaches in the non conference like he is still in the MAC with a superior OL. Yes i'm thankful for Campbell, yes he's the best coach in ISU history, but I want to see a different philosophy in the non conference. Iowa's game planning against us for scouting our offense has been way too easy the last several years. We need to play Iowa with the same balls and unpredictability we have historically played OU and Texas with. I cannot be convinced those bozos have better talent than OU and TX, and our record is much better against OU and TX than Iowa.
In the non conference - let's use some short passes to the TE, bubble screens to Noel / Higgins, short passes in general to spread them out. Then it's Abu Sama time..
We switched to more man blocking and running to specific holes and the run game got better. Late in the year I think we tried to add the zone stuff back in and it worked better too. But passing more helped a lot too.
I suspect we'll see more zone run again now that Clanton has had a full year to work on it and all the OL are returning.