Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first drive?

[UofApatsfan]

Week 1 against Cinci, they averaged as a team over 5 yards a carry, with Fred Taylor getting the majority of those carries (14 for 71 yards).

This week, first drive of the game, we all remember that it was for the most part a good drive. It ate a bunch of clock, drove down the field, had good balance, and would have amounted to 3 points if not for a penalty that clearly messed with Gostkowski.

1st and 10 at NE 28 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short right to W.Welker pushed ob at NE 39 for 11 yards.
1st and 10 at NE 39 F.Taylor right tackle to NYJ 23 for 38 yards (J.Leonhard). PENALTY on NE-B.Tate, Illegal Formation, 5 yards, enforced at NE 39 - No Play.
1st and 15 at NE 34 T.Brady pass short right to R.Gronkowski to NE 48 for 14 yards (B.Thomas).
2nd and 1 at NE 48 F.Taylor left guard to NYJ 46 for 6 yards (S.Pouha, D.Harris).
1st and 10 at NYJ 46 T.Brady pass incomplete deep right to R.Moss (J.Leonhard).
2nd and 10 at NYJ 46 K.Faulk left end to NYJ 45 for 1 yard (K.Wilson).
3rd and 9 at NYJ 45 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short right to K.Faulk to NYJ 37 for 8 yards (D.Harris).
4th and 1 at NYJ 37 F.Taylor right tackle to NYJ 35 for 2 yards (B.Thomas).
1st and 10 at NYJ 35 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to A.Hernandez to NYJ 26 for 9 yards (D.Harris).
2nd and 1 at NYJ 26 F.Taylor left tackle to NYJ 23 for 3 yards (S.Pouha).
1st and 10 at NYJ 23 F.Taylor right guard to NYJ 22 for 1 yard (S.Pouha, B.Scott).
2nd and 9 at NYJ 22 T.Brady pass incomplete short right to K.Faulk (B.Scott).
3rd and 9 at NYJ 22 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short left to W.Welker to NYJ 14 for 8 yards (D.Revis, E.Smith).
4th and 1 at NYJ 14 (Field Goal formation) PENALTY on NE-Z.Mesko, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at NYJ 14 - No Play.
4th and 6 at NYJ 19 S.Gostkowski 37 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-J.Ingram, Holder-Z.Mesko.

So in this drive Taylor has a long run negated by a penalty, 3 more runs that all pick up first downs (one on a 4th down), and his last run being a bad gain on first down. After the drive, he gets a grand total of 1 carry the rest of the game, and for no good reason why. Did anyone else find this extremely frustrating? How does the team plan on ever establishing a running game when it randomly decides to keep him on the sidelines after Taylor had been giving them a reliable running game that picks up yards when it needs to and is enough of a threat to keep the defense honest.

Say what you want about halftime adjustments/play calling/Brady's accuracy, but the decision to give all of Taylor's carries to BJGE, and then just stop running the ball entirely because BJGE sucks was moronic and played a huge role in the offense stagnating and becoming one dimensional.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

I think he was suffering form a toe injury this week.

He got the injury towards the end of last weeks game I believe.

My guess is he tried to tough it out but it was no go.

 

[JMarr]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

I REALLY hope Taylor is not hurt. If he is, it's Sammy Morris or bust. Speaking of so-called busts, regarding trading our most talented back for a future pick--this would qualify as an example of the definition of "insanity."

How long is it going to take the powers that be to realize this team will not win squat without at least threat of a rushing attack?

 

[UofApatsfan]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

I think he was suffering form a toe injury this week.

He got the injury towards the end of last weeks game I believe.

If that's the case then he wouldn't have been used so much in the first drive, so far I haven't found anything about him aggravating the toe injury, it seemed like they just randomly decided to replace him with BJGE as dumb as that sounds.

 

[UofApatsfan]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

How long is it going to take BB to realize this team will not win squat without at least threat of a rushing attack?

If he hasn't figured it out by now who knows. It's not like they need to be a run first team, if they can be effective running the ball 40-45% of the time, as in enough where they can use play action and prevent the defense from dropping into zone every play. In the first half they had 13 running plays and 18 passing plays (so 42% running), and it was a great mix that kept drives going and moved the ball down field. Then they pass the ball 73% of the time in the 2nd half and the offense stagnates. It doesn't seem very hard to realize what the big difference was.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

IMO Woodhead needs to be activated and given a couple of carries. He's the fastest rb this team has by FAR. If he hits a hole he'll be gone.

Just a thought. It would be worth trying since all we have is old slow guys and the 3-4 yard BJGE....

 

[SuperPatsFan]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

IMO Woodhead needs to be activated and given a couple of carries. He's the fastest rb this team has by FAR. If he hits a hole he'll be gone.

Just a thought. It would be worth trying since all we have is old slow guys and the 3-4 yard BJGE....

Maybe Woodhead can pick up 10+ carries against the Bills this Sunday.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

This afternoon, Taylor said that he experienced no health-related issues in the game.

His limited time was a result of a rotation as well as game situations that called for a change-up (e.g. two-minute offense).

Following up on status of Fred Taylor - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

If he hasn't figured it out by now who knows. It's not like they need to be a run first team, if they can be effective running the ball 40-45% of the time, as in enough where they can use play action and prevent the defense from dropping into zone every play. In the first half they had 13 running plays and 18 passing plays (so 42% running), and it was a great mix that kept drives going and moved the ball down field. Then they pass the ball 73% of the time in the 2nd half and the offense stagnates. It doesn't seem very hard to realize what the big difference was.

Don't confuse correlation with causation. Perhaps the running game was less successful, so they ran less. One dimensional teams are easier to beat, but their even worse off if they don't take advantage of their one good dimension.

That being said, while I'm not going to spend any more time in the Maroney camp, it will be interesting seeing how the BJGE camp reacts over the next few weeks, because he's not that good.

 

[fumbrunner]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

Can we reserve judgment on the RBBC until they play a team that is not in the top 5 run defenses in the league?

 

[ScrewDrvr]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

Can we reserve judgment on the RBBC until they play a team that is not in the top 5 run defenses in the league?

its dumb that they didn't have the best RUNNING back running the ball against a "top 5 run defense".

It was stupid for BB to take Taylor out. He is a better runner, blocker, and receiver then Green-Ellis. Not to mention he commands attention just from him being on the field. Not so much with Green-Ellis.

And the "toe injury" thing was just a sham, we all know it was just a vet getting the day off. He was out in full pads/participation the next day.

 

[mr3putt]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

If true that Taylor did not reinjure himself then his absence in the second half is inexcusable
We will never know for sure
I for one was screaming for him all day

 

[catsteevens]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

Not using Freddie more, especially in the 2nd half, makes no sense to me. Maybe there's more to his toe injury that's being let on? Or somebody is in love with the law firm.

 

[skinnydog]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

its dumb that they didn't have the best RUNNING back running the ball against a "top 5 run defense".

It was stupid for BB to take Taylor out. He is a better runner, blocker, and receiver then Green-Ellis. Not to mention he commands attention just from him being on the field. Not so much with Green-Ellis.

That's a good point. Teams respect Taylor and they're thinking I've got to watch the run at least a little. With BJGE, they aren't really worried about the run.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

Well if he has an injury we sure as hell not gonna get any information on it or anyone admitting to it.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Re: Another Coaching Thread: Why was Taylor only given one carry after the first driv

its dumb that they didn't have the best RUNNING back running the ball against a "top 5 run defense".

It was stupid for BB to take Taylor out. He is a better runner, blocker, and receiver then Green-Ellis. Not to mention he commands attention just from him being on the field. Not so much with Green-Ellis.

... Bill = Stupid ....