This year we are #16 in rushing. We have averaged 28.2 rushes for 107 yards, and a 3.8 average per game. Last season we averaged 31.6 rushes for 140 yards, and a 4.4 average. This is a HUGE difference, and I don't get it. The attempts are about the same, Henne is better, our WR's are MUCH better, Fasano is catching passes, Long and Carey are better, and the interior OL has to be considered as good or a bit better than last year. Top that off with Ronnie being healthy. I've seen a ton of posts on play calling and Henne being a problem. I have not seen any asking "Where The Hell Is The R & R Express?" We all expected much more than we are getting, at least I did. What is the problem?
Teams we played and their Defensive Rush Defense yards allowed per attempt. Loss - Steelers, #1 Loss - Jets, #4 Loss - New England, #9 Win - Minnesota, #11 Win - Green Bay, #25 Win - Buffalo, #27 Didn't really notice the trend at first, but yeah... all of our losses come from teams within the top 10 on run defense. Seems to be a pretty obvious disparity. I think it's a combination of O Line not being as good, and the defenses we've played.
Our OL was a revolving door last year. Long, Carey, and Berger were all there. Not buying it. Our "leading rusher" this year was Ronnie with 65 vs Buff, 80 vs Minny (one for 51), 54 vs Jets, 56 by Rickey vs Pats, Ronnie for 73 vs GB, and 48 from Rickey vs Pitt. That's not getting it done.
I do not know the real answer but I do know, after attending the game Sunday and then watching the one I dvr'd and the one on NFL replay, there were HUGE, I mean HUGE holes constantly between Long and Incognito WITHOUT any defenders for at least 5 to 7 yards downfield and both Ricky and Ronnie chose to run right. I mean HUGE holes guys. On one play even the commentators commented the RB picked the wrong hole. Anyone that has it was it, its clear. I counted at least 4 times you could have literally driven a 20 box truck thru the hole that Incognito and Long created and for one reason or another, both Ronnie and Ricky chose to go straight then cut right. Even if the play was designed to go right, a good RB sees a hole like the size we had, he takes it there. If we had a Steven Jackson or Adrian Peterson type RB, I am sure it would have been 4 to 5 HUGE gainers. Ricky and Ronnie both chose to run into the pile up called the Right side of our Oline. Not knowing all there is to know, I admit, but its plain as the light of day. Half a Queen Mary cruise ship could have gone left and gained 10 to 15 yards. I may be wrong on the yardage gained but I am surely not wrong on the size of the holes that were available on the Left side between our Guard and Tackle. We need an every down bang em up type RB on this team with a very good backup. I would have to say Ronnie Brown is not going to be re signed unless its not for a lot of money because no way are they or any other team, going to give him a big contract.
Somewhere along the line Henning convinced himself that we are a passing team. He has tried to change our style and it hasn't worked. Go back to what you do best. We are a running team. That is the identity.
I think it is more the quality of the rush defenses we play. There is also something to be said for the staff calling the number of the guy with the hot hand on a given day as well. For instance, this past weekend, I felt the running game was more suited to Ricky's one cut and go style rather than Ronnie's more patient style. Ricky was clearly gaining more yardage than Ronnie was, so if it was me, I would have given more carries to Ricky and found other roles for Ronnie in that game.
So far, we are running the ball a few times less a game, and throwing it a few times more. That is hardly a big difference. Henne, last year was 61%, 6.4 per completion, 193 yards per game, with a rating of 75.2 This season, he is 63%, 7 yards per completion, 232 yards per game, and a rating of 86.9. Hell Yea, he should be throwing a bit more. R&R need to step up.
From week #10, Rickey had 102, 119, 115, 75, 108, 80, and then 35 and 31. The door was revolving at that time, and Ronnie was not playing.
I do not agree with that at all. Miami was running the ball decent at best. The numbers would be similar this year if miami used Ricky or Ronnie on a main basis.
3 carries per game is not the same. I do think Garner played better than either guard for the last three games. Incongito has been pretty crappy.
Well ive watched a little film and have seen something pretty obvious....Ronnie and ricky run subpar routes for running backs....