Running Game Struggles

9 carries for 37 yards....That a shade over 4.o a carry! Pretty good for a rookie behind this O Line. I think Drake should definitely get more touches as soon as possible. If we can create some sort of semblance of a run game, it will make life a lot easier for us. I think Drake should continue to get the start with Ajayi as his backup.

 

I think its a factor though it could also be missing Pouncey. In terms of the running backs I would also like to see more Drake. He is the only one with a burst of speed and though that won't help running up the middle it allows us to test the edges with the run. Offensive lines need to work as units. It may be that we are playing as five individuals on the line and not a cohesive unit. Bottom line is its a problem that hopefully will be fixed by week eight

 

To me, the drafting of Laremy Tunsil put the team in a weird position. While he was a great LT prospect and should anchor the position for a decade or more in Miami, his selection meant passing on other significant talent. It also gave the team justification to postpone the selection of a real interior player to fill one of the Guard spots while they selected Kenyan Drake, Leonte Carroo and Jakeem Grant in the middle rounds.

I suppose you can’t be mad when you land a top player if you truly feel you’re a rebuilding team, which I think Miami is. But the facts remain that Miami has a very expensive C that is prone to missing time and two holes to fill at the Guard positions. To piggy-back off of that sentiment, I think we can all agree that the running game we want requires not only a better line but an investment of some kind at RB as well.

So by how it appears, Miami will need to give attention to:
(1) Filling the LG position
(2) Filling the RG position
(3) Finding a feature RB
(4) Watching for a cheaper alternative at C.

I’d say Miami needs to move on from Albert this year (while he’s still looking solid and can be traded). Thus far, both Albert and Tunsil have been adequate in pass protection while disappointing in run blocking. If the pass pro was that good or the run blocking was more reliable, I’d be inclined to stick on these positions for another year while the team focused on the right side of the line but to be quite frank, I don’t think we’d see much drop-off if the team moved Albert in the offseason, slid Tunsil to LT and pursued a LG who better fit the description of what is needed to aptly play that interior position.

On the other side, we’re stuck with James, who is unspectacular. He’s average in pass protection and underwhelming in run blocking. Unfortunately there’s nothing the team can do to upgrade that position right now. While I suspect we’ll see later picks used to provide depth, the team is simply not going to draft a starting caliber replacement for James.

So the question comes down to the Guards. Knowing you want to upgrade RG as soon as you can, do you slide Tunsil over this year or keep him in place and make it a two-year job finding reliable Guards?


I’d seriously look at the possibility of trading both Albert and Pouncey. I have Tunsil, Steen and James to build around. This has several advantages:

(1) You can slide Tunsil to his natural position immediately
(2) You obtain mid-round picks to strengthen your 2017 rebuild
(3) You rid yourself of a big contract at Center
(4) You rid yourself of a big contract at LT
(5) You can move towards a younger (healthier) line
(6) You will gain resources to spend on a qualified Guard in FA
(7) You can draft/start a single prospect to fill the other Guard position

That’s enough of a list that I’d be thinking about it. I’d be watching Steen closely as a potential replacement for Pouncey and I’d be monitoring the market for Guards that will become available with an eye towards how much they’ll cost. This would be an aggressive strategy but its proponents would point out that expensive contracts and missed time matter along with playing a franchise LT out of position and clutching to a list of guys that simply can’t move anyone off the line to open holes for the RBs.

If you tell me we can’t even think about losing Pouncey I’d be blunt. Why not? What’s he doing from the C position that’s so irreplaceable that the team needs to commit big money? And how’s it still worthwhile if/when he’s missing games on a regular basis?

And if you tell me we can’t think about moving Albert right now I’d be blunt. Why not? Tunsil projects to be every bit as good (and a lot cheaper) at that position. And Tunsil is not so impressive as a Guard that he needs to be kept there. He’s doing nothing as a run blocker and his incredible height, feet and wingspan (all those things that make him such a wonderful LT prospect) are being wasted.

Lastly, I’d say this…what exactly are you scared of losing by making these changes? How good do you honestly think Miami’s line is right now? They can’t move anyone off the ball so you’re not losing anything there. And if you like what you see in pass protection from Bushrod and Steen, hell, I’m giving you a plan that allows both if you wish.

There’s almost no downside other than you’d be taking a slight risk letting Pouncey go. And to be perfectly honest, I don’t want to hear about some 1[SUP]st[/SUP] round, big money player if his only job is snapping the ball to my QB and helping the Guards block.

 

I wish we could pass to set up the draw plays, like every other team does to us.

Every game I see the offensive linemen for the opponent, locking down our DTs mere inches from the RB, as he slices up the middle. That must be a special skill set that our guards and centers don't have.

 

I think DolphinGreg is correct. We need to think about rebuilding our OL. You can't be successful in the NFL with no legitimate threat to run the ball. Additionally, it puts more pressure on Tannehill and our passing game.

The overhaul needs to happen over a couple of years but I think it looks something like this:
1) start drafting interior OL in the 3-6 rounds and develop them. Every other team finds good linemen here, we should be able to as well. This will allow us to focus our top picks on impact players on defense and/or RB/TE
2) cut or trade Albert in the next two years. Not dependable and very expensive. Move Tunsil to LT and keep him there long term.
3) sign a stop gap LG. Not the guy looking for the big payday but rather a solid starter who is a value.
4) Cut Pouncey or trade him if you can get value in the next year or two. Draft his replacement in this years draft in the 2nd round or later.
5) Move Bushrod to RT or see it Turner can develop. James has never been anything but average. A complete waste of a 1st friend draft pick.

easier said than done but we have to shore up our OL. When you look at some of the best teams in the NFL, it all starts up front. We also have to stop wasting 1st round draft picks on this position and get some return on our middle round guys.

 

if Pouncey comebacks, the results could be different.. what you say??

 

Didn't pouncey just get resigned? I agree on moving on from Albert but I think we're stuck with pouncey for another three years. If Albert goes though that's 10 mil per year we're saving. For ten million you can get two realm good guards in free agency

 

We don't have a real bellcow RB this year, so we'll have to stitch together a running game through committee. So each game..

- 1-2 Jarvis Landry end arounds.

- 1-2 Ryan Tannehill read option runs.

- Foster, Ajayi, Drake, D.Williams, Pead, all rotating through, running various plays based on each strength.

And hopefully, that will create enough misdirection that we'll cobble together some yards on the ground.