It's not an explanation or even an excuse. It was an observation. The run game was horrid yesterday. Nobody argued that it wasn't. But looking around the league and seeing that just about every team was in the exact same boat, nobody can reasonably jump to the conclusion that we're doomed b/c it was horrid. People can't claim, like Hyde did in his article, that the Dolphins can't be a playoff team with such a weakness since that would mean that there would be no playoff teams this year.
I didn't care for much of the play calling. I said before the game that I felt the team would probably have to use more read option to help the run game. When I watched the Indy/Cleveland preseason game, the Browns similarly stuffed their run game. Nothing opened up until Luck broke free on a few runs. I see using the QB as a run threat as one of the easier ways to get an extra blocker and to get the DL hesitating before they attack. I also think they can use counter action or flairs and screens to get the D to slow down. I was critical of Sherman not using Bush in that capacity enough last season. The explanation last season was that they didn't want to throw too much on RT's plate. I don't think that explanation should fly this year.
So every team ran for under 1 yard per carry this weekend? Because when I checked, the league average this weekend was about 3.5 yards per carry. The Dolphins averaged 0.9 yards per carry. Are we glossing over that very large disparity?
The games I watched so far showed run games that were largely ineffective. For example, AP had a nice average, but if you watch the game, he had one run for almost 80 yards and then had about 15 yards on his other 17 carries. I noticed that trend throughout the league.
Considering they didn't show much in the way of running the ball in the pre-season either, I think there are definitely issues there, with both the line and the backs. The question this season may hinge on is how much better can they make it?
Which means we conveniently lump a team that averaged 0.9 yards per carry in with teams that averaged 3.5 yards per carry? Does that mean we also lump in teams that average 3.0 yards per carry with teams that average 5.6 yards per carry? Basically the same, right?
No, we lump ineffective run games together. Whether a run game is effective or not has a great deal more importance on the outcome of the game than a stat like YPC.
I disagree AP had 2 rushing tds and 1 receiving td I'm sticking with tds while points still win a football game
So then we also lump effective ground games in with one another? No difference between 4.0 yards per carry and 6.6 yards per carry? Sorry. That's a load of horse poop. Callin it like I see it.
I think you guys are both right, the disparity between Miami's run game and other teams maybe large, but week 1 contained nothing but shoddy running games.
I'm calling it as I see it as well, but I'm talking about seeing it on the field rather than basing it on stats.
1/3 of the teams had a decent/effective run game (QB included). I didn't take the talk of a bad running day by the league as a reason for our dismal effort. I took it as, miserly loves company. Maybe an attempt to whitewash/gloss over our horrendous effort. NE was effective running the ball, even with Ridley's fumble. Atlanta did ok. Any ypc over 4.0 is usually pretty good. We were 0.9 and the next lowest was 2.1. There were a bunch of teams that were bad. We were worse and it wasn't close. We were lapping the other teams in ineffectiveness.
Of course they do. I think that's the way Miller can be effective. We need him to break a few long ones. But focusing on the average from a small sample of attempts is silly. What makes more sense is to look at how effective the overall game plan was. Reality is that the run games around the league were largely ineffective.
You're separating things that aren't separated. Positive runs are positive. They help the team win the game. They help create the effectiveness you want. They also create higher averages. You dismiss Adrian Peterson's big run. Excluding that run, you say they were just as effective on the ground as the Dolphins. Guess those 7 points produced on that one play don't matter then.
Peterson had a 77 yard run for a touchdown but his other 17 carries netted him a total 16 yards. Less than 1 yard per carry. I wouldn't call it an effective run game.
Touchdown drive produced on one play that puts 7 points on a scoreboard? Meh. Take it or leave it. Not important.
The highlight of the Running Game was Daniel Thomas diving over the goal line from a yard out !! That play was pretty and something positive to take away from an otherwise forgettable day running the football. I'm with the lets wait and see next week against Indy. Jerry will get better, once he achieves optimal football shape/condition and Cogs can run block, we have seen it out of him already. I'd like to see more screens and shovel passes to keep those D-lines off balance rushing the QB versus Indy. Oakland and their rookie QB pushed Indy to the limit yesterday, this is another winable game, and I believe you gotta bag those when you get them. GO DOLPHINS! For the record - I'm not sure Adrian Peterson could have achieved a 2.0 average behind that O-line yesterday. Most of the fault lies with the O-line, not the backs. I can't count the number of times we saw multiple defenders behind the LOS playing havoc to any/all running lanes.
It was his first run and it gave them seven points... but it sure as hell didn't help their success later in the game where they lost by ten points. I'm not taking it away from him but I won't say he had an effective running game for 4 quarters.
He had a far more effective day than our ground game. How many points did our ground game single handedly put on the scoreboard? None. Our tailbacks got a total of 17 yards.
I am not arguing that he had a far more effective ground game than we did... nor did I ever suggest it.
It fooled them several times, as was shown in replays and spoken about by the announcers/analysts, wondering why they kept biting on the PA with no running game established. Don't see how it was pointless.
How many W's did we get and how many did they get? In the end, the running game of BOTH didn't factor into the team's success, in different directions, but still a non-factor. Ya he had a 77 yard run...yay...highlight reel...good stuff. BUT...the rest of his day sure as hell didn't help the team WIN...and I thought winning was the goal? Not saying ours did either, but isn't that the point? They both sucked. However...my 2013-14 concerns are really focused on just this one area of the team's game. Run blocking was atrocious. I wish I had the answer on how to quickly turn it around, but I know FAR too little about that kinda stuff to even try and project it. Serious question, because I don't know...can this be fixed with coaching/scheming in a relatively short amount of time? Shovel passes, keepers, any of that help? I know Cleveland's D line has been touted as much improved, but they can't be THAT good...if we can't get this fixed in somewhat of a short manner it could help derail the rest of the positives we have going. We won in spite of the run blocking this week, and it seems to me it's easier to scheme around sub-par pass pro, but there's no hiding bad run blocking in my opinion. Anybody have some serious, constructive answers? I don't wanna hear "Fire Ireland, he sucks at O" for the millionth time.
Interesting quote from Barry Jackson's Sports Buzz I would love to see us sign John Conner...the Terminator... I was surprised Cincy cut him. He is a fearless fullback who I think would be worth a look
Fair enough, disagree away but who won the TOP and why? Detroit had the ball over 12 minutes longer than Minn. and why? Because of a more consistant running game. And you are right, points win the football games..how many did Detroit have compared to Minn.? 34-24 Det. Sorry I'll take wins over WHO scored the points. Fact is Reggie had the better day because he and the offense did what it took to WIN the game.
The answer to the running game is to work on it. The Dolphins have to take more chances beyond 5-10 yards passing. Keep taking those short passes if they're there but I'm pretty sure something also has to be open in the more intermediate 20 yard plus range more often than Tannehill is throwing it. If we're clicking on the short and mid range passes, they will back off a little and that's when Lamar Miller will get holes up the middle. We have to have better tight end blocking because the edges just collapsed last week. Mostly from Martin and Incognito's side. I'm a bit disappointed in Pouncey as well. On the positive side, Nice leap by Thomas and good lead block by Clutts. I noticed that Clutts picked Thomas up after the TD. I'd like to see him more involved with some two back sets. We just have to have some different looks on offense. Maybe try some of what Philadelphia did with the read option.
I think both points are valid. Yes.. Many teams managed a better run game then Miami. Yes, there is cause for concern, I don't think many dispute that fact. But Raf's observation merit as well. You can't ignore that in general.. Teams had a more difficult time running the ball yesterday. I think we will all have a better idea of what degree of problems we have running the ball after this week. Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
