Retro Football

[Frank Lee]

Those counter traps and other running plays out of the I or split backfield back in the day sprung guys like Warner, Dozier, and Johnson for big gains. Quick hitters with no delays or "mesh points". And FBs like Manoa helped make them successful. Question: Would these types of formations and plays work today?

 

[m.knox]

Great question. As a fan of the Redskins back in the 80's, I often wonder if the "counter trey" would still work.

I think it would work. It would be a matter of execution and personnel as one may expect.

 

[Administrator]

I think you could still run it, and with the right personnel it would work reasonably well. But it would probably hurt recruiting. Nebraska got away from it for that reason.

 

[m.knox]

I think you could still run it, and with the right personnel it would work reasonably well. But it would probably hurt recruiting. Nebraska got away from it for that reason.

Nebraska also got away from winning

 

[Lazy Dave]

Michigan ran it. They had success with it.

They also knew their opponent calls.

 

[LionDeNittany]

Those counter traps and other running plays out of the I or split backfield back in the day sprung guys like Warner, Dozier, and Johnson for big gains. Quick hitters with no delays or "mesh points". And FBs like Manoa helped make them successful. Question: Would these types of formations and plays work today?

Linebackers are both faster and heavier today.

The LB can chase down the RB slowed up by the pulling linemen.

The DE and LB will also blow up the play

 

[Roar More]

Nebraska also got away from winning

Their mistake was joining a conference with more than one team for competition.