http://bleacherreport.com/articles/253834-run-down -breaking-down-miamis-week-1-run-game?utm_source=n ewsletter Grade: D How things went: The running game vs. Atlanta was a microcosm of how the Dolphins' offense looked all day: non-existent. Ronnie Brown registered 43 rushing yards on 10 carries in the game, while Ricky Williams wasn't far behind, racking up only 39 yards on seven carries. The underlying story? The Dolphins didn't run the ball enough. They had a total of 22 carries in an offense that is known for executing the Wild Cat (or Pat) offense. I understand that when a team is behind, they are forced to throw the ball, but the bread and butter of this Dolphin team lies in the legs of Brown, Williams, and Pat White, not in the arm of QB Chad Pennington. Standing Pat? You know what stood out the most to me with the running game? Miami ran a play out of the Wild Cat offense only TWO times, with both being ineffective. Fans and media have heard so much about the Dolphins using Pat White in the "Wild Pat" formation and Miami only used him out of it once? Miami will need to use White's skills in the next game against the Colts to spread out the defense and give Pennington more time in the pocket. What needs to change? The entire game plan. Brown needs to see more carries. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry in the game, but only ran the ball 10 times. If he see's more carries, the Dolphins will be able to throw the ball down the field more effectively. The Dolphins need the combination of Williams and Brown to spread out the opposing defense and be able to throw the ball down the field. Miami will also need to just run the ball more, period. They had only 22 carries for a team that revolves around it's running game. What Miami will need to do next week vs. Indy: Actually run the football. The Colts have a very physical defense and they will need to tire them out as well as keep Peyton Manning and that offense off the field. Brown and Williams will need to see 30+ carries and Miami will need to run out of the Wild Pat offense in the game. Expect to see the Dolphins pound the running game early in the game to try to set up the play action game. ........................................................................................................................................... This lack on running the ball and staying with the run is freaking killing me. It seems like our running backs are so easily breakable that we can't ever run them over 20 times a game. Every other NFL team has running backs that can be counted on, but here in Miami they are fragile like porcelain dolls. For once I'd like a defense that we play to know it was in a football game and got the crap beat out of them. We have a better chance of Ronnie or Ricky breaking a 4 yard run 40 yards then we do Ginn or Bess taking a 6 yard pass 20 yards. POUND the Football! (now everyone can explain why we cannot wear out our weak little running backs by running them to much)
great post. i agree one hundred percent that we have to run, run, run this game. we didnt build a team to pass we built one to run and we need to start being true to our nature. we should be the baltimore ravens
Im really still waiting for this oline to develop. We should be able to open a hole at least once a game for a long run with these backs. Until this happens teams will not respect our run game JMO. Until they see us as a threat to take it to the house every play we are just still a dink and dunk offense.
Why did the Falcons keep running even though we held Turner to 3 yards a carry? Because we were working so hard to hold him to 3 yards a carry. That is a huge part of why their WRs were running routes without our safeties covering them deep. They were up to stop the run. That is why we had to single cover their WRs. So it is not always about the YPC, it is more about what you are making their defense do to keep your YPC down. When the other team knows you can run and you are going to run, they have to line up to stop the run. And that is when we should be able to hurt them with a play action pass.
