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Common attribute with top offenses since 2013

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by dirtylandry, Jun 20, 2017.

  1. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    So I did some research. Since 2013, the #1 offenses in passing all had something in common. Can you guess?

    2013 Denver
    2014 Indy
    2015 New Orleans
    2016 New Orleans.

    Their Running Backs were major points in the passing game. In 2013, Denver had 60 receptions for 548 yards, In 2014, Indy had 65 for 529, and in 2015-2016, Saints had 84 for 644 and 68 for 579. By comparison, Miami last year had 43 for 281.

    We have been hearing a lot about Ajayi looking smoother in practice catching the ball. Between Williams, Drake and Ajayi, do you all think we can be around 70 catches for 600 yards. That only averages to 40 yards a game over 4-5 catches. Doesn't seem a lot, but it makes things flow, and you can't argue stats.

    Also, to add from above:
    2013 Denver was #1 overall
    Indy was #3
    Saints were 2 and 1.

    Not that it matters, James White had 60 for 551 in regular season and in the SB had 14 for 110.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2017
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  2. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    I remember an article about Gase looking at the tape of the Atlanta Falcons on how they use their running backs in the passing game.
     
  3. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I think you're taking that stat somewhat out of context due to team make-ups. Denver had that little guy back in 2013 that was quick as lightning and slippery as grease...I forget his name but Peyton went to him a whole lot. However, if his primary receiver was open down the sidelines then you'd better believe that he was letting the ball fly.

    I think the check-downs or designed RB plays are just one aspect of a balanced passing team. I don't think it's a pre-requisite though because we do the same thing with Landry- he's basically a RB who lines up to the outside on passing downs. I'm guessing if you counted his yardage with catches within 2 yards of the LOS, we're probably near the top of the league for those types of plays.
     
  4. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yup.

    I find it odd that people were talking about Ajayi improving as a receiver out of the backfield, as if he was awful. I seem to remember watching highlight videos of him in college where he made a lot of huge plays catching the ball out of the backfield on screens, or just regular passes. Maybe I'm thinking of someone else. I'm pretty sure it was Jay I was thinking of though, because I remember wondering to myself why we weren't doing more of that last year.

    We tried to do it on several occasions with Damien Williams too. He made a couple nice plays out of the backfield last year, and they left a couple out on the field too with missed opportunities.

    I wouldn't be surprised to see more of an emphasis on it this year.
     
  5. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    was it Knowshon Moreno?

    I think it is actually a factor of keeping defenses out of balance. They were dual threats by just being in the backfield. In my stats I gave you, only in 2015 was the running back held for less than 1,000 yards. If the back is a threat, there is less in the box and a LB covering the back. It is a mismatch dream come through
     
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  6. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    Ajayi was sick in 2014. He had something like 350 carries for 1800 yards and 28 TD's and 50 catches or so for 500 yards and a few TD's.
     
  7. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Yup, that was him. I was thinking Megget and I knew that was wrong. Moreno was a nightmare match-up for everyone on D...I loved watching that little fella dancing thru traffic. Way more agile than Grant but a good comparison.
     
  8. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    dude, Dave Megget was like in the 1980's. lol
     
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  9. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I knew it was wrong so I didn't share it....I kept going through the M's though and that's the only thing that kept coming up. That's the joys of being overworked I guess.
     
  10. Bpk

    Bpk Premium Member Luxury Box

    Oh no, DirtyLandry... won't that take even more targets away from Landry?

    Just buggin' ya.

    I hope we use Ajayi more in the passing game this year. Not sure our Guards can executes screens, so maybe other types of passes.
     
  11. miamiron

    miamiron There's always next year

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    Jay led all running backs his last year in college
    in total receptions, total yards receiving, and yards after catch

    Don't be shocked if he blows up to become one of the best
    all around running backs in the NFL
     
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  12. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    I get your point, but I think the biggest reason those teams were #1 offenses?

    Manning, Luck, Brees, Brees.

    I also would be willing to bet all these teams were up there in attempts. I lean to an offense that is balanced well and doesn't HAVE TO pass for 4 quarters while playing catch up. Ball control and limited turnovers are what makes an offense great imo.
     
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  13. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Yeah, those rankings are by yards. By attempts Denver was #2 in 2013, Indy was #1 in 2014, Saints were #2 in both 2015 and 2016, so efficiency-wise they weren't the best necessarily.

    Just for comparison, by Y/A the top teams from 2013-2016 are: Eagles, Cowboys, Cardinals and Falcons.

    Anyway, you can sort them the way you want to by scrolling down to the passing offense table here (change the "2013" in the URL for another year):
    http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/#all_passing
     
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  14. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    I've thoroughly looked through this site and team rankings.com.....I'm a heavy sports bettor so I tread lightly with volume stats.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    He was a great receiving running back in college. I read an article just a couple of days ago talking about this very thing, I'll try to find it and add a link, but basically the part he struggled with has been the route running aspect of the pro game. Being at the spot he is supposed to be. That's where most of his work has gone in the off season.He doesn't have problems with his hands or physically catching the ball.
     
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  16. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    I hope they use Landry less but get more out of him. I'd trade in some recepts for TD's. The bubble screen is a waste and if he has a LB covering him, he can do more intermediate routes.
     
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  17. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    that is interesting to know. BTW, I believe you, don't need the article lol

    Parker had route running issues too. If these guys clean this up.....
     
  18. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    LOL! Probably shouldn't go there!
     
  19. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    there were games, where he was barely targeted (Ajayi). Compare that to backs like Freeman, Bell or Johnson, and you realize that you have to have a back that you have to use both ways. Ajayi, if by force, will have to get targets. Johnson and Bell were only backs in top 40, with 80/75 grabs. There are enough situational downs for Ajayi to average 4-5 catches a game for 4-40 yards. Eliminate the bubble screen, that's 2-3 plays a game there
     
  20. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    I have been hunting for that article and I just cant find it. It was a link in my Bleacher Report feed a couple of days ago. It spoke about how he was a greaat pass catching back in college and the adjustments he was making to the pro game, especially route running.
     
  21. jdang307

    jdang307 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I also believe he had issues with pass blocking, but I may be misremembering that.
     
  22. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

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    No, I think you are right.
     
  23. KeyFin

    KeyFin Well-Known Member

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    I think the bubble screen is awesome....if you run it about 20 times per season. It's definitely not bread and butter play though and I don't think we ever busted one for huge gains (which I'm probably wrong about since I said it out loud). Maybe he did break one but it was never a consistent weapon when we used it 10+ times a game.
     
  24. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    I agree, it has not created a big gain as far as I recall. Moreover, teams film for this and I think Miami doesn't disguise it well. It doesn't seem there is enough open space when he catches it.
     
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  25. Rickysabeast

    Rickysabeast Royale With Cheese

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    I agree. I don't remember Ajayi missing all these catches. I do remember us not throwing to him very often. I seem to remember Williams being in there more as the RB we targeted on throws and that guy was money. Do I remember wrong?
     
  26. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    You are right. I am hoping the 2nd year of this offense opens things up
     
  27. Rickysabeast

    Rickysabeast Royale With Cheese

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    Thanks. Yeah. I'm a very bad zero gravity safe cracker as well as a horrendous giraffe chiropractor. Now of course I've never been asked to do either. Kinda like Ajayi being poor at receiving when no one has thrown any balls to him.
     
  28. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

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    I've touched on Gase's effect on backs receiving in Denver, but his year in Chic also reflected the same numbers between Forte and Langford:
    66 catches for 668 yards. Again, 4-5 catches and 30-40 yards. It keeps drives alive, keeps defenses out of balance and saves the back from brutal hits inside the LOC. We need to get this production whether by one back or committee
     
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