Running the football with pride

By Brian Rock
Offensive Coordinator

Our guys are taking pride in running the football.

At this point of camp, we are certainly not a finished product. We do have a long way to go. But the message that we are sending that it is important to be able to run the football is getting through to our guys. They are taking pride in that, and I mean from offensive linemen to tight ends, to running backs, to quarterbacks, to blocking on the outside with our wide receivers.

We are starting to understand the message across the board. I like that.

There are some things we need to shore up, however, in the passing game. I think that reps and experience wills tart to help that.

We are relatively inexperienced on the offensive line. Everywhere else, with the exception of quarterback, we have some experience. And because of that, we have some things we have to shore up in terms of overall efficiency. Really what it comes down to is that we are pretty sure we are going to be able to run the football. Our guys have to develop that same confidence and that same attitude that when we need to throw it, we will do it with a high percentage of efficiency.

To me, that efficiency is more of a confidence issue of this is what we are going to do, now let's go do it.

Last year we were pretty confident that we had seven or eight players on the offensive line who were ready if called upon on game day. We are not there yet, but we are getting there. I think by the time game one rolls around we will have at least seven and maybe eight.