Our Rushing Offense Is Just Fine

[mgteich]

We ran for 183 yards Sunday with our 3 3rd down backs injured.
We are #9 in rushing yardage.
We are #5 in yards per carry.
We are #5 in 3rd down conversions.
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Our OL has allowed only one sack and at the same time blocked for a top 10 running offense.
Belichick game plans for each team. He can count on our running backs and OL to execute.
We now have Green-Ellis and Ridley, a solid tandem.
We have 3 3rd down backs who could provide even more punch when they come back.
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BOTTOM LINE
The Offense is fine.
The passing game is fine (and will be even better when Hernandez is back).
The running game is fine.
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[Mountain_Commando]

Our rushing offense was never a problem, especially since we drafted two additional RB's despite having law-firm and Woody. The problem is not using it enough.

 

[mgteich]

We're 9th in rushing yardage in the league. That's not bad for the best or second best offense and passing games in the nfl.

The percentage of running plays depends on game plan, which also depends on weather. For me, the critical issue is that we have a running game that we can count on available to Belichick's game planning when the snow flies.

We now know that we have three running backs we can count on. It remains to be seen whether we have any significant production from Faulk or Vareen this season.

But, yes, I do believe that we should have run more in the first three games. Yesterday was unusually well balanced.

Our rushing offense was never a problem, especially since we drafted two additional RB's despite having law-firm and Woody. The problem is not using it enough.

 

[Mainefan]

Is Vereen injured? If so, I somehow missed the announcement. I'm eager to see him at work. But at the moment, we have an embarrassment of riches at running back, assuming Woodhead is ok.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Did anyone think that it wasn't? It was, at worst, a secondary part of the offense that could keep D's a little honest, but couldn't win games by itself. That's why the Jets beat us last year, and that's why we drafted a couple of RBs. With the emergence of Ridley, I think it's pretty clear that it's now better than that, even if Vereen doesn't contribute anything.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Is Vereen injured? If so, I somehow missed the announcement. I'm eager to see him at work. But at the moment, we have an embarrassment of riches at running back, assuming Woodhead is ok.

I don't think that he's hurt, could be wrong though. If I had to guess, I'd bet that he hasn't seen the field because there's no reason to have him on the field over BJGE and Ridley on running downs (yet), and he might not be trusted to block on passing downs.

 

[Deus Irae]

The rushing offense is fine if Ridley's the real deal. If the team has to rely on BJGE as the playoff RB1.... not so much

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

The rushing offense is fine if Ridley's the real deal. If the team has to rely on BJGE as the playoff RB1.... not so much

Ellis did have 1,000 yards last year. Still a good back in this league

 

[mgteich]

Certainly, there were question marks about our running backs coming into the season. We had lots of questions about the OL. We certainly HOPED that one of the two rookies would be a significant contributors this year. To be clear, I think many of us questioned whether we'd be one of the top 10 running teams in the leagues at this point in the season.

I guess I'm fine that we take our solid running game for granted, This certainly is a change from last year or the year before.

Did anyone think that it wasn't? It was, at worst, a secondary part of the offense that could keep D's a little honest, but couldn't win games by itself. That's why the Jets beat us last year, and that's why we drafted a couple of RBs. With the emergence of Ridley, I think it's pretty clear that it's now better than that, even if Vereen doesn't contribute anything.

 

[patfanken]

Is Vereen injured? If so, I somehow missed the announcement. I'm eager to see him at work. But at the moment, we have an embarrassment of riches at running back, assuming Woodhead is ok.

No he's health AND active playing special teams Sunday. But you are right there IS an embarrassment of riches at RB right now. It could be the best set we've ever had here during the BB era, anyway

If Ridley is the big power back, I can hardly what the see the who is supposedly faster and quicker than him

 

[Deus Irae]

Ellis did have 1,000 yards last year. Still a good back in this league

Ellis is what he is. He's a rotational back who should be no more than the #2 or #3 man in that rotation. Last year, in 229 carries, he had a long of 33 yards. That's his career longest run, with 379 attempts total. Ridley's tied that, in 18 carries.

 

[mgteich]

Fair enough. You would like to see what our future 3rd down back has to offer. Perhaps, Belichick will give him a bunch of 3rd down reps this week, or not.

No he's health AND active playing special teams Sunday. But you are right there IS an embarrassment of riches at RB right now. It could be the best set we've ever had here during the BB era, anyway

If Ridley is the big power back, I can hardly what the see the who is supposedly faster and quicker than him

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Is Vereen supposed to be an every down feature back or is he mostly a 3rd down/change of pace back?

I understand why he hasn't been in on offense. But why hasn't he been tried out on KR isn't he supposedly a home run threat? We've had no success in that department with others.

 

[patfanken]

The rushing offense is fine if Ridley's the real deal. If the team has to rely on BJGE as the playoff RB1.... not so much

Oh gloomy one. I bet you couldn't wait to post this.

A rushing offense that had BJGE AND Woodhead would be adequate as long as the Pats remain committed to the run - BJGE is very good a getting what is given. His next fumble will be his first, and he's reliable in protection AND can catch a pass. He'll never make a pro bowl, but there are a lot of teams who make do with worse. Woodhead DOES give the run game more of a big play potential, as well as a first class pair of hands out of the backfield. The combination of both would make for a decent run game, in an offense that is the best pass offense in the league.

That being said, if Ridley proves he can hold on to the ball, and pass protect well, the I have no doubt that by the end of the season, BJGE for all the things I just mentioned, will likely be reduced to GL duty, and injury insurance,
.

 

[Triumph]

Is Vereen supposed to be an every down feature back or is he mostly a 3rd down/change of pace back?

I understand why he hasn't been in on offense. But why hasn't he been tried out on KR isn't he supposedly a home run threat? We've had no success in that department with others.

Every down from what Ive read.

 

[patsfan-1982]

once Sebastian Vollmer gets back i think it will get even better i think he's one of the best run blockers on the team, Waters was the best pickup this year he has been great at run and pass blocking so far i still dont know why KC cut him but im happy he's a Patriot

 

[Deus Irae]

Oh gloomy one. I bet you couldn't wait to post this.

A rushing offense that had BJGE AND Woodhead would be adequate as long as the Pats remain committed to the run - BJGE is very good a getting what is given. His next fumble will be his first, and he's reliable in protection AND can catch a pass. He'll never make a pro bowl, but there are a lot of teams who make do with worse. Woodhead DOES give the run game more of a big play potential, as well as a first class pair of hands out of the backfield. The combination of both would make for a decent run game, in an offense that is the best pass offense in the league.

That being said, if Ridley proves he can hold on to the ball, and pass protect well, the I have no doubt that by the end of the season, BJGE for all the things I just mentioned, will likely be reduced to GL duty, and injury insurance,
.

If you want to take this team from a pass first, pass last team to a balanced team, you're going to need Ridley to be the catalyst, because teams don't have to dedicate players to stopping BJGE, and Woodhead's mostly a 3rd down/draw RB.

As for making do with worse, go look over the entire AFC and make a list of teams that clearly go with "worse" than BJGE as their RB1.

 

[mgteich]

If we want to take this team from a pass first team to a a balanced team, then we should trade Brady and secure one the top running backs in the game. As long as Brady is here, we will be, and should be, a pass-first team. We have one of the top 10 running games (and one likely to improve). That's plenty good enough for our offense. And yes, I would like to have a fullback and/or a blocking TE.

If you want to take this team from a pass first, pass last team to a balanced team, you're going to need Ridley to be the catalyst, because teams don't have to dedicate players to stopping BJGE, and Woodhead's mostly a 3rd down/draw RB.

As for making do with worse, go look over the entire AFC and make a list of teams that clearly go with "worse" than BJGE as their RB1.

 

[Deus Irae]

If we want to take this team from a pass first team to a a balanced team, then we should trade Brady and secure one the top running backs in the game. As long as Brady is here, we will be, and should be, a pass-first team. We have one of the top 10 running games (and one likely to improve). That's plenty good enough for our offense. And yes, I would like to have a fullback and/or a blocking TE.

Brady himself wants a balanced attack, unless you think he's lying.

 

[patsinthesnow]

If you want to take this team from a pass first, pass last team to a balanced team, you're going to need Ridley to be the catalyst, because teams don't have to dedicate players to stopping BJGE, and Woodhead's mostly a 3rd down/draw RB.

As for making do with worse, go look over the entire AFC and make a list of teams that clearly go with "worse" than BJGE as their RB1.

You've always had a negative opinion of BJGE, and I understand why. I still feel the Pats should make BJGE/Ridley 1a and 1b rather than giving Ridley the majority for now.

As for the AFC, BJGE hasn't been doing good with 3.9ypc, (still 3 TDs and 0 fumbles), but there have been some terrible runners to start the season, why, look over to the rival JESTS

BJGE's still the man for short yardage, goaline, and pass protection. Ridley should do the rest as the season progresses.