AUFAMILY Forums: Scot Loeffler - Running Game - AUFAMILY Forums

During the 2010 season, Temple's offense finished the season ranked No. 67 in run-offense and No. 65 in pass-efficiency. Under Scot Loeffler, the run-offense improved to No. 7 in run-offense and No. 33 in pass-efficiency during the 2011 campaign. Loeffler took advantage of his two returning running backs and tightend position to make the Temple offense more consistent and efficient. Temple went form 94th nationally in 3rd down offense in 2010 to No. 20 in 2011.

Coach Loeffler built his offense around a strong running game, which involved two running backs and a mobile quarterback late in the season. He combined a power running game with elements of the spread but Temple became a very "physical" offense. The Owls averaged 4.73 yards per rush in 3rd down situations of 3-yards or less in 2010, improving to 5.71 yards per rush in 2011.

The play...


On this play, the Temple offense faces a 3rd & 2 situation. The Owls line up in a power-I formation with 2-TE's to the right of the formation. At the snap, the FB kicks out the OLB as the LG pulls to his right behind the 2 TE's. Bernard Pierce (RB) drives behind the pulling guard and gains 15-yards and a Temple first down. During the season, Pierce gained 1481-yards rushing, complimented by Matt Brown's 914 yards rushing. The two RB's totaled fourteen 100-yard performances.

Bernard Pierce had 39 run plays of 10-yards or more, Matt Brown had 22 and quarterback Chris Coyer added 19. The combination of the three players resulted in 227-yards rushing per game and 36 rushing TD's. Chris Coyer did not become the starting quarterback until late in the season, averaging over 70-yards rushing in the 8 games he appeared in.

Though Auburn has lost the services of Michael Dyer, the Tigers will still field plenty of talent at the running back position. Onterio McCalebb, Tre Mason and Mike Blakely return for 2012, not to mention Corey Grant and Jovon Robinson. With Auburn's depth at TE and the addition of All-American Jay Prosch at fullback, Loeffler should have no problem fielding a solid running game in 2012.