An unfortunate trend: offensive points scored is steadily declining

[Snake Eyes]

So far the points scored by the offense has been consistently declining, point totals are as follows:

wk1 38
wk2 35
wk3 31
wk4 31
wk5 30
wk6 20
wk8 17

What looked like an offensive juggernaut early on seems to be rapidly losing steam, why? Are we addicted to passing the ball and defense are not playing the run that much? Is it the lack of a deep threat not keeping the defense honest, which allows them to flood the short-intermediate parts of the field?

Most importantly, how do we fix this?

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: An unfortunate trend

So far the points scored by the offense has been consistently declining, point totals are as follows:

wk1 38
wk2 35
wk3 31
wk4 31
wk5 30
wk6 20
wk8 17

What looked like an offensive juggernaut early on seems to be rapidly losing steam, why? Are we addicted to passing the ball and defense are not playing the run that much? Is it the lack of a deep threat not keeping the defense honest, which allows them to flood the short-intermediate parts of the field?

Most importantly, how do we fix this?

It's just coincidence, having as much to do with the opponent and game situations as anything.

 

[RodThePat]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Don't see any trend here, honestly. They sputtered against the Cowboys and had a bad day against the best passing defense in the league. A trend would indicate that they are more likely to average under 20 points than 30 in the following weeks, which I don't think is accurate.

 

[Jangles]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Too much passing?

The awesome offense last year was because of so much passing. Running the ball takes the ball away from our two best offensive players. I don't know why so many people are hell bent on establishing the run.

 

[RodThePat]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Too much passing?

The awesome offense last year was because of so much passing. Running the ball takes the ball away from our two best offensive players. I don't know why so many people are hell bent on establishing the run.

Agreed. Even the Steelers throw the football like 65% of the time. That's just how the NFL is, these days.

 

[Ian]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Too much passing?

The awesome offense last year was because of so much passing. Running the ball takes the ball away from our two best offensive players. I don't know why so many people are hell bent on establishing the run.

Because when you become one-dimensional it makes it easier for defenses to tee off and come after Brady. Running the ball allows them the ability to set up play-action passes and potential big plays. The big problem yesterday is they barely had the ball, so it was tough to establish much of anything.

Watching the game now and I'm surprised they didn't go to a hurry up sooner to try and stop Pittsburgh's ability to substitute. I'm sure this will be one of those games that hopefully spurs some changes in the coming weeks to correct a lot of what we saw yesterday.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Stop worrying so much about how many points the offense is scoring and worry more about how many points the defense is allowing.

If the defense plays continuously bad like yesterday and our JAGcondary remains putrid,it won't matter if the offense scores 30 every game...you are going to lose a majority of those games.

For a while we were talking about HFA.....now its about just GETTING to the playoffs.

 

[Jangles]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Because when you become one-dimensional it makes it easier for defenses to tee off and come after Brady. Running the ball allows them the ability to set up play-action passes and potential big plays. The big problem yesterday is they barely had the ball, so it was tough to establish much of anything.

Watching the game now and I'm surprised they didn't go to a hurry up sooner to try and stop Pittsburgh's ability to substitute. I'm sure this will be one of those games that hopefully spurs some changes in the coming weeks to correct a lot of what we saw yesterday.

I'm not suggesting we cut all the RBs and go 5 wide every play. Just that this team excels at passing the ball, and they should stick with it. To my untrained eye it looks like the Pats have been forcing the run, at the expense of getting into any sort of passing rhythm. Could explain why the offense has looked less than stellar in the last few outings.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Just to note,it seems the offense abandons the screen pass which used to be effective against Pitt

 

[Elijah T.]

Re: An unfortunate trend

The offense is as good as our tight ends and protection.

If you can cover our tight ends then you can stop the offense. Welker runs the same 3 or 4 routes a game, and his size and strength limit his ability to get downfield. The same can be said for Branch to a lesser degree.

Teams are finding ways to slow down Gronk and Hernandez with combination coverage and picks across the middle. Dallas did a a decent job and Pitt did well with it.

Ochocinco was supposed to give us the ability to challenge the outside better with the deep post (his best route in cin) and the deep curl-ins. But it hasn't worked out.

Woodhead was reliable on the swings and screen passes last season, we need to refind that option in the passing game. I know Faulk is back, but I'm not sure how much yardage he's going to produce after the catch.

Something tells me the sooner Shane Vereen gets on the field the better off we'll be.

 

[Dagg]

Re: An unfortunate trend

The only way to minimize our defensive woes is to run more, and keep that hot mess off the field.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: An unfortunate trend

I don't know why so many people are hell bent on establishing the run.

Hmm. Probably because the one-dimensional offense becomes quite easy to stop for teams who have the horses to do it.

How this is not readily apparent by now is beyond me.

 

[Jangles]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Hmm. Probably because the one-dimensional offense becomes quite easy to stop for teams who have the horses to do it.

How this is not readily apparent by now is beyond me.

And now the passing game is struggling

Awesome strategy

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Re: An unfortunate trend

So far the points scored by the offense has been consistently declining, point totals are as follows:

wk1 38
wk2 35
wk3 31
wk4 31
wk5 30
wk6 20
wk8 17

What looked like an offensive juggernaut early on seems to be rapidly losing steam, why? Are we addicted to passing the ball and defense are not playing the run that much? Is it the lack of a deep threat not keeping the defense honest, which allows them to flood the short-intermediate parts of the field?

Most importantly, how do we fix this?

Why? I don't have the stats here so correct me if I am wrong experts but I believe it is Brady's completion percentage (either he isn't as accurate, the receivers can't get open, or most likely both).

The past few weeks he has been around the high 50s/low 60s, started the season off at a hot 70ish. I now cringe any time we need more than 5-8 yds, especially when there is pressure (not from the opp. defense but from not having a huge lead like last season)

 

[NEPatriot]

Re: An unfortunate trend

I feel that it's typical for the point totals to go down, not just as we're playing better teams but also as the weather turns. Play calling didn't help.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Eli to Cruz is going to be hard to stop

Its up to the offense to wake up because this game could be in the 30s on both sides.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

Re: An unfortunate trend

Stop worrying so much about how many points the offense is scoring and worry more about how many points the defense is allowing.

The defense is what it is, if we are content with scoring in the 20s then we are content with not winning jack.

The 9ers and Lions are probably putting up more points than us at this point, we should be no lower than 2nd, if not 1st in scoring the way our team is built (and the releases/injuries we are having).

We are seeing way too many third downs, not only that but we are not confident in converting them either, that is the worry to me, we could be 7-0 with this defense.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: An unfortunate trend

And now the passing game is struggling

Awesome strategy

Is it your contention that the struggles of the passing game are due to an attempt to establish a consistent running game?

You might want to think that one through a bit more, chief.

 

[Jangles]

Re: An unfortunate trend

the struggles of the passing game are due to an attempt to establish a consistent running game

Yes that is correct

 

[folamzz]

Re: An unfortunate trend

The offense has not looked good in a while. Even when we scored 30 against the jets, we struggled to move the ball on them. Teams paying special attention to welker has slowed down the offense.

The probelm with the 2 TE offense is defenses can put one of their starting corner-backs on welker. Welker works better against zone defense than man to man.