MoLewisrocks

It's really neither. BB isn't running the offense any moreso than he was in 2005 when Josh was the unnamed OC or in 2001 when Charlie found himself OC'ing a 6th round draft pick QB in week 3. The gameplan changes every week based on matchups and personnel availability and it adjusts based on what the defense is giving and how well or not the offense is executing.

The running game wasn't clicking in weeks 1 and 2. Part of that was matchup and part was lack of execution - and in week 2 a good deal of it was situational with multiple drive killing penalties. Bill pointed out on Monday that the OL did a much better job against Atlanta coming off the ball and opening holes for the RB than they had in weeks 1 and 2. How much of that was matchup vs. improved overall performance remains to be seen. The passing game wasn't clicking either but they had no choice but to lean on Tom in week 1 since you can't run your way out of an 11 point deficit with 5 minutes remaining in a game. Ditto in the JETS game when you can't run your way out of penalty induced long yardage on 3 crucial drives, for openers, let alone when your running game already failed to move the chains twice in 3rd and short situations...

This is a pass first or pass to run offense and it will remain that as long as it has a HOF QB at the helm. The rust issue is overstated although the entire unit continues to execute erratically due moreso to protection and timing issues with unfamiliar receivers. Hopefully most of those will work themselves out and fewer matchups going forward will challenge the OL as much either because they can't bring the requisite pressure consistently or the coaching staff has figured out a scheme to limit it's effectiveness. Sunday should provide a good test of whether they are gaining ground on the latter.

Pats726

I think C is the answer....an dit should be that way...no reason to plan to run and run against a D that stops the run...and one should not keep passing against a tough D against the pass...this week definitely more passing than running...how many games have the Ravens not allowed a 100 yard runner?? They will run some, to keep those safeties from moving up in the box...but more to set up passes than running like last week.
And it's never really 6-/40 over a season...more like 55/45 or closer to 50/50...

Reckedtrek

I often forget that they did in fact run a bit in 2007! So in that case... I'll amend my response to:
C. based on the game plan for the team they play that week X 16.

__________________
Full Tilt, Full Time! Thanks Tedy!!


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



... I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, That's technical talk. ~ Stevie Ray Vaughan
.

wdkantro2

I know it's because they are dominating TOP and are running a ton of plays, but Brady has still thrown the ball more than any other QB in football; I'd hardly call that conservative or balanced. In 225 offensive plays, they have thrown the ball 142 times, which is 63%. Sure, they were almost 50-50 against Atlanta (42 out of 81, although I think it's really 79 because of 2 kneel downs), but Atlanta has consistently been bad against the run, had just lost their starting DT and it was raining. If you can't be balanced under those conditions, you'll never be balanced.
I think it totally depends on the matchups, but I believe this team would rather throw than run.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

mgteich

We're asking whether we are now a balanced offense now that Brady passed ONLY 42 times?

This is a passing team.

We call ourselves a balanced team when we can kill some clock and we can actually consider running (other than a draw) on 3rd and 2. That is NOT a balanced team. That is a passing team that can run a bit when needed.

Hopefully, the team is able to run when needed as a permanent part of situational football and depending on the opposition and its game plan.

That being said, this week is not really a test. BALT's opponents have averaged under 100 yards a game running for 5 years or so. I don't expect that to change with our new-found balanced offense.

TruthSeeker

I'm expecting very little balance on Sunday.

Think Patriots @ Vikings a few years back when the Vikings were killers against the run but had one of the weakest secondaries in the NFL. The Patriots picked them apart with passes and practically every run (of which there were few) was stuffed. The Patriots won handily. Other teams followed the Patriots offensive model and the Vikings went from hyped Super Bowl contender to a middle of the pack team.

Now, I don't know if the Patriots can win handily because the Ravens offense is coming alive and Brady has clearly not returned to '07 form. But I fully expect the game plan to be the same as it was then. The Ravens are very weak at the corners and, apart from the phenomenal Ed Reed, are ripe for the picking through the air (if Brady gets half-decent protection). The blueprint is there; the Patriots just need to follow it.

Who knows; balance may return next week.

mayoclinic

Very nice comparison. I remember that Minnesota game - it was supposed to be a big showdown, and TB destroyed them.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

BradyManny

Josh ran this balanced offense with McDaniels last year.

I think a lot of people forget how balanced our offense was in 2007 a) when we had Sammy Morris b) when Maroney was on a roll at the end of the year.

This offense is better and harder to stop when its balanced, no doubt.

BradyManny

The blueprint we used to beat Minnesota (don't bother w the run, spread them out, pick them apart) recently failed against the NYJ. We'll see if the coaching staff thought it was a matter of execution or gameplanning, b/c if its the former, I expect we'll see that gameplan again this week against a team that is so stout against the run in Baltimore.

On NFL Network, they were breaking down the Ravens D, and Brian Baldinger was basically calling out Ed Reed for gambling and the reason the Chargers threw all over them (he backed it up w some tape). The Ravens CBs aren't super, that's their one potential weakness, Reed maybe is trying to make up for it, and we should exploit it.

The only team who has beaten Brady with not-so-amazing corners in the last few years is the Giants in the SB, and they did so by creating a pass rush without blitzing. The Jets beat us by having great corners and blitzing.

klinefan

I think BB could very easily run the offense and that is why it looked better against Atlanta.

McDaniels used to have this play where Maroney would be single back. EVERY time he would run up the middle. That's why he'd dance and get -2 yards, becuase the MLB would always know it's Maroney up the middle. It had zero imagination, complete predictability.

How did Ernie Adams not see this? WTF? Whatever, BB is in charge now and is smart enough to change it up. Have maroney catch some passes, play action, whatever.