Your definition of abandoned is different than mine - at least at the start of 2Q. Here’s the play calls in the quarter:We abandoned the run at the start of the 2nd quarter when we still had the lead. I think Lubick looked at what the D was willing to give us and thought we should try to take advantage of that. The problem was that IMO Illinois had us scouted and were well prepared. With the TV views you really can't see the field very well but it appeared to me that for much of the game it was taking too long for our guys to get open and AMart is not a QB who can throw a guy open. He waits until they have a step and then throws it which given his inaccuracy probably isn't a bad thing.
IF we could protect a second longer maybe he could get comfortable but he's not a guy who takes hits and responds well to it. He's not Zac Taylor. He needs to be in a run first offense. I am NOT against a pass first offense but damn when you're struggling to protect your QB and you're struggling to complete passes you HAVE to run the ball. I don't care if RB carries are only getting you 3 yards per attempt.
Run, Run (TD Stepp), Pass (Martin deep ball), Run, Run, Run, Pass (overthrow Liewer), Run, Pass (overthrow Allen). At this point, there’s 9:18 left in the Qtr. Next possession we get the ball with 2:51 left. Run, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Pass, Run, Pass. End of half. Looks to me like he abandoned the run late in the Qtr. Probably should have stuck with the run a little more late but they stayed with the run for much of the half. The score & time got away in the 2nd half. I don’t see a pass first offense. Perception is different than reality.