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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.....
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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