Tony Dixon

[gsb315]

All the preseason hype about Dixon's return has been just that, HYPE! While he doesn't hurt the offense in terms of penalties, busted plays, etc., he is not near the gamebreaker like a healthy Little. Why not give Alphonso Smith a legitimate shot? He can't do any worse than Dixon. Any thoughts??

[boomdaddy]

I have yet to see the O line give any running back a good head of steam, before they get hit at the line of scrimmage. I don't blame Dixon, for not putting up big numbers.The O line needs to open up some holes, so they don't have to rely soley on the passing game. As for giving Smith a shot, I'm all for playing any player that gives a team a chance to win.My exception to that rule isruining a kid's redshirt by using him at the end of a season, like one former coach did.

[ridgecat78]

boomdaddy wrote: I have yet to see the O line give any running back a good head of steam, before they get hit at the line of scrimmage. I don't blame Dixon, for not putting up big numbers.The O line needs to open up some holes, so they don't have to rely soley on the passing game. As for giving Smith a shot, I'm all for playing any player that gives a team a chance to win.My exception to that rule isruining a kid's redshirt by using him at the end of a season, like one former coach did.
I like Dixon and Smith too and I believe that Smith deserves a chance. However, the running game is on the O-line. They have not produced as we had expected and opened holes for anyone to this point.

[fatcat]

It is much harder to run successfully out of the shotgun than it is the I-formation. Thus it is not really fair to compare Little's production last year to Dixon's this year. Little has not had the huge performance this year that he had last yeareither.

[gsb315]

Little has also been playing hurt.

Also, this isn't necessarily a knock on Dixon. Sure, if the O-line were opening holes his production would look better. However, any average back would look better. What I haven't seen from Dixon is the ability to make plays when there are none. Running or receiving. Little was/is capable of doing this.

[gsb315]

fatcat wrote: It is much harder to run successfully out of the shotgun than it is the I-formation. Thus it is not really fair to compare Little's production last year to Dixon's this year. Little has not had the huge performance this year that he had last yeareither.
Not necessarily. If you're talking about the blocking aspect, your match-ups are more even in terms of defensive players in "the box" vs. blockers. If you're talking about plays, there are many designed for the shotgun. The draw play isn't the only. Counter trey, speed option, sweeps, etc. Also, look at old Florida teams when Spurrier was the coach, including Oklahoma currently under Stoops. They did and do a great job of running out of the shot-gun.

[Brian McCat]

gsb315 wrote: fatcat wrote: It is much harder to run successfully out of the shotgun than it is the I-formation. Thus it is not really fair to compare Little's production last year to Dixon's this year. Little has not had the huge performance this year that he had last yeareither.
Not necessarily. If you're talking about the blocking aspect, your match-ups are more even in terms of defensive players in "the box" vs. blockers. If you're talking about plays, there are many designed for the shotgun. The draw play isn't the only. Counter trey, speed option, sweeps, etc. Also, look at old Florida teams when Spurrier was the coach, including Oklahoma currently under Stoops. They did and do a great job of running out of the shot-gun.
Those teams also had some incredible o-lines.

[gerntz]

ridgecat78 wrote: boomdaddy wrote: I have yet to see the O line give any running back a good head of steam, before they get hit at the line of scrimmage. I don't blame Dixon, for not putting up big numbers.The O line needs to open up some holes, so they don't have to rely soley on the passing game. As for giving Smith a shot, I'm all for playing any player that gives a team a chance to win.My exception to that rule isruining a kid's redshirt by using him at the end of a season, like one former coach did.
I like Dixon and Smith too and I believe that Smith deserves a chance. However, the running game is on the O-line. They have not produced as we had expected and opened holes for anyone to this point.
The OL has run blocked about as I expected.