TMQ on Pats running game - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

primetime · 11-27-2007, 02:52 PM

Maybe because if Laurence Maroney carries the ball all of 100 times in the regular season, he'll be running on super-fresh legs in the playoffs?

Oswlek · 11-27-2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brownfan80

I don't think they did. But then they were handicapped by the defense knowing what to attack over and over and over.

Our pass protection is not going to be helped by defenses being able to tee off on play after play.

Brady paid the price vs Philly, IMO.

But NE passed a lot to open the Buffalo game as well.

I don't think it is that much of an issue. I just think they didn't play as well as they have most of the year.

FrontSeven · 11-27-2007, 03:02 PM

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Originally Posted by patsox23

People need to wake up.

Don't hold yer breath.

RayClay · 11-27-2007, 03:18 PM

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If my average pass gains twice as much as my average rush, why not call pass after pass after pass? Of course, you need a magnificent offensive line for this strategy.

I can't believe this guy actually gets paid to write about sports.

Fencer · 11-27-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGodInAGreyHoodie

Yes, the Pats have the 11th best ypc avg. But how much of that is because of a great RB and o-line and how much of that is because nobody defends NE rush? Other teams def coordinators know that the Pats throw the ball a lot more than they run and also know the Pats get a lot more yards on passes than runs.

So they triple team Moss and double team Welker, that doesn't leave many folks left to defend the rush.

... Getting a few yards rushing when the entire defense is focused on the pass is not the hallmark of a great rushing offense.

Well-argued. And 11th isn't that great anyway.

Although -- it they're higher in total yards than in YPC, then the percentage of their plays that are runs is HIGHER than the league norm. Weird ... I guess it comes from being ahead big so much. But then many of their runs are when teams know the run is coming, so that DEPRESSES their YPC.

It's all connected.

apricissimus · 11-27-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SVN

f my average pass gains twice as much as my average rush, why not call pass after pass after pass?

You need some kind of running threat to keep the defense honest. Football 101. Even the Patriots offense isn't good enough to throw on every down.

bbabin · 11-27-2007, 04:11 PM

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Originally Posted by apricissimus

You need some kind of running threat to keep the defense honest. Football 101. Even the Patriots offense isn't good enough to throw on every down.

Except we did that and won. Maybe our offense is good enough for that. I don't really understand the complaints about our lack of running. In what football tome does it say that there must be a balance between running and passing. I understand that running keeps defenses honest, but we ran very few times in the first half, and scored on all three possessions.

VJCPatriot · 11-27-2007, 04:23 PM

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Originally Posted by bbabin

Except we did that and won.

Barely. Unless you define a 3 point win as complete domination.
A balanced attack keeps the defense honest.
I think the Pats will try to go back to a more balanced attack against Baltimore.
The only question is can Maroney step up and answer the call?

Denzera · 11-27-2007, 05:22 PM

Just for grins, TMQ's note about needing a magnificent offensive line was a follow-up to the immediately preceding paragraph, also splooging about New England:

Quote:

The Patriots defense seemed to relax a little with Donovan McNabb out, so the Flying Elvii are not totally, absolutely perfect. Philadelphia was the first team this season to do what TMQ keeps calling for -- jamming Randy Moss -- and the tactic worked, with Moss looking human and making no big catch. Philadelphia blitzed the Patriots far more than any team has in 2007, sending six on perhaps two-thirds of New England downs, and this tactic somewhat rattled Tom Brady, who was sacked three times. Though note the magnificent New England offensive line mostly handled the heavy blitzing, and guard Stephen Neal -- an undrafted perennial first-teamer on TMQ's All-Unwanted All-Pros -- had a perfect downfield block on a third-and-long screen pass to Wes Welker. What was the New England offensive line's secret for handling the blitz? Each lineman just picked the guy directly in front of him and blocked like crazy. New England offensive linemen never take a down off or brush their guys then stand around passively watching, which is common among offensive lines of many NFL teams. That New England offensive linemen always maintain contact till the whistle is one of the keys to the Patriots' success.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie · 11-27-2007, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fencer

Well-argued. And 11th isn't that great anyway.

Although -- it they're higher in total yards than in YPC, then the percentage of their plays that are runs is HIGHER than the league norm. Weird ... I guess it comes from being ahead big so much. But then many of their runs are when teams know the run is coming, so that DEPRESSES their YPC.

It's all connected.

Well, that part doesn't naturally follow because the Pats have a total of more offensive plays than any other team. So above avg number of total running plays doesn't automatically translate into a higher than league norm of the Pats plays being run vs. pass.

So I did some number crunching, 55% of all plays are passing plays. 18th highest in the league so slightly less than avg. The most was the Lions who throw 64% of the time, the least Steelers 44%.

I would dispute you claim that teams know the run is coming when we are up. See multiple discussions on "running up the score" the Pat continue to throw the ball when they are up by a large lead.