This is not because our many RBs were not capable. Most have been very raw and inexperienced and not physically mature. Revolving door of 1st and 2nd year guys, none of which have had many carries in a short period to get in a flow or rhythm of the game. It takes reps for most RBs to learn to recognize the wheres and whens and hows of picking holes, running low, taking hits, balance, steps, cuts, etc. We have had few veteran RBs. So much shuffling and reloading, etc. Lots of full contact practice helps.
Combine this with the type of run game schemes being employed as a part of this offense. It’s not a surprise the RBs have not seemingly lived up to the billing.
It’s game 1. Let’s see after games 4 and 5. The offense may gel and a run game could still emerge. The next two games should be ‘practice’ type games so time to get the offense more finely tuned. Offense was not bad, for first game, against a very smart, wise old owl coach. Fitzgerald had a great plan and stuck with it. This team will improve as will other teams but NW played like a mid year team. Experienced and prepared. There are finer points of execution to fix. We had plays that could have much better with minor tweaks. Imo.
I know on paper Neb is not young age wise but there aren’t many veteran guys either. There are a lot of new pieces playing under extreme pressure. Most teams make a big jump game 1 to 2. Neb should be a perfect example. Pressure is off in the sense that the team knows a great season is out the window. Set sights on the doable, not the dream.