Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack Thereof?

[PatsDeb]

The Chargers are in my rear-view mirror. What happened to our running game yesterday? It seemed like we couldn't get anything going, and then just abandoned it for the 2nd half. Don't we need it to keep Manning off the field? How are we going to neutralize Bob Sanders, who apparently has been able to transform Indy's running D from worst to first?

 

[Lansdowne]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

Jamal Williams is one of the premiere run stopping nose tackles in the NFL. I didn't expect much from the running game against San Diego. I expect it a LOT more against Indianapolis.

 

[Mack Herron]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

I agree. It seems that they believed they could do better just throwing but in the process took Dillon and Maroney completely off the field. As long as they win, they get a bye on this, but I do not think this team can win a super bowl without these two playmakers carrying a big share of the load. I also believe when you run you accomplish more than just getting the yards; you create an attitude in the offense and the defense. Running builds momentum. With the Colts defense playing well, it will be interesting to see if JM gets Maroney and Dillon back in the game.

 

[patsox23]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

We didn't really have much success running against a pretty stout front 7 and made an adjustment that few teams dare to make or are capable of making. We'll run the ball a LOT next week.

 

[Dank Franklin]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

Jamal Williams is one of the premiere run stopping nose tackles in the NFL.

That's right... I too was wondering where the run game went. But many of the "experts" consider Williams one of - if not the - best young nose tackles in the game.

I'm hoping for this game to be the one that Maroney really, really breaks out.

That turf should help.

 

[carolinatony]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

I too agree the Turf should help the running next week

 

[Remix 6]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

BB said it wasnt the gameplan..its just the way the game went..they did whatever gives them the best chance to win


i can see us running more this week

 

[carolinatony]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

I too agree the Turf should help the running next week

 

[Mack Herron]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

Our least effective inside runner was the only one who really got a chance and he ran it pretty well between the tackles. And that is where they ran on with the game on the line for the 2 pt conversion. Jamal Williams and the Chargers gave up nearly 5 yards per rush during the season. I think they would have done better by staying with the run on Sunday. Brady is the security blanket, and JM gives up too easily on the run IMO. The Colts, with a superior passing game, do a much better job of mixing it up.

 

[Grizzafted]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

I do have to say that I'm a little worried that all the post-game drama is going to be a distraction for this week. The way I feel right now, I can't imagine an AFC championship or SB win would feel quite as amazing as the san diego win did, but I sure hope the guys aren't feeling that way.

I feel like some of the excessive celebrating that happened yesterday, which, even though it wasn't enough to piss and whine about the way that the Chargers did, was a little out of character for the Patriots. It does make me feel like maybe the win was a little bit unexpected. The Chargers might actually have been the best team that the Patriots played in this whole run, but of course, we're still 120 minutes away from the final goal here.

Indy is going to be TOUGH. They're at home, they're hungry, there's not a lot of national attention being focused on them right now (everybody's talking about the Bolts game), and if the Pats spend too much time on yesterday they're going to be in trouble.

There's enough vets on the team that I think they'll get the younger guys on program, but they really have to move on at this point. Fast. There's no time to waste, and Indy at home is every bit as tough a game as the Bolts at home. Remember, Manning's been killing us the last two years, and Hobbs on Wayne is going to be a bad matchup for us, regardless of how well he played yesterday (and he did play very, very well).

Ohh boy ohh boy....is it Sunday yet!?

 

[PatsDeb]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

I don't understand running Maroney up the middle. He gets his yards when he runs off tackle or on the side line. I hope to see more of this against Indy. Did other rushers have problems against SD? I didn't know they were considered such good run stuffers.

 

[Remix 6]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

OL really needs to step it up. its not the RBs or calls at times..its just we cant block properly or open holes up. outside is best for Maroney..let him use his speed more instead of his power

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

yeah, i wouldn't worry about the lack of a running game yesterday.

The Patriots are one of the few teams which can run and pass off of it, pass and run off of it, or just pass. Against the jets we saw them pass and run off of it. against sd we saw them just pass.

i expect the Colts to continue what has been working for them, bringing Sanders up to stop the run. going run-first against this would be a mistake and I expect to see an offense similar to the jets game.

also, bringing Sanders up to stop the run worked against NE earlier in the year. the pass game wasn't nearly as good then, though.

maybe if indy adjusts NE will focus on the run more. also, NE runs better later in the game when the defense is tired. we didn't see much of this last night because they were behind.

unfortunately the colts are one of the other teams which excel at both running and passing. this should be fun.

 

[stinkypete]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

That's right... I too was wondering where the run game went. But many of the "experts" consider Williams one of - if not the - best young nose tackles in the game.

I'm hoping for this game to be the one that Maroney really, really breaks out.

That turf should help.

Actually he's not that young, Williams was drafted in the supplementary draft way back in 1998. He is probably the best nose tackle in the game right now, and has been for the past 3 or so years. Castillo is a pro bowler in the making as well, kind of a Warren type player.

I wouldn't put too much stock in our lack of running game. Dillon and Maroney were shut down early, then we spend most of the last 3 quarters playing from behind, with a "the other shoe is about to drop" feeling given all those SD drives that started around the 50.

Compound that with the San Diego front 7, which, IMO, is the only front seven in the league on par with our own (if not a step better), and it is clear that we were not going to dominate on the ground.

Even in our romp against Pittsburgh in the AFC championship 2 years ago, Dillon was hardly able to break 80.

I expect the run game to be back with a vengance next Sunday.

 

[hwc]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

The Chargers are in my rear-view mirror. What happened to our running game yesterday? It seemed like we couldn't get anything going, and then just abandoned it for the 2nd half.

Belichick answered that on EEI.

He said that they could NOT get the Chargers to come out of their base run-stopping defense -- which is very difficult to run against. So, as long as Marty wouldn't go to a nickle or dime package, they figured that spreading the field and throwing the ball was the best way to win.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

I do have to say that I'm a little worried that all the post-game drama is going to be a distraction for this week. The way I feel right now, I can't imagine an AFC championship or SB win would feel quite as amazing as the san diego win did, but I sure hope the guys aren't feeling that way.

I feel like some of the excessive celebrating that happened yesterday, which, even though it wasn't enough to piss and whine about the way that the Chargers did, was a little out of character for the Patriots. It does make me feel like maybe the win was a little bit unexpected. The Chargers might actually have been the best team that the Patriots played in this whole run, but of course, we're still 120 minutes away from the final goal here.

Indy is going to be TOUGH. They're at home, they're hungry, there's not a lot of national attention being focused on them right now (everybody's talking about the Bolts game), and if the Pats spend too much time on yesterday they're going to be in trouble.

There's enough vets on the team that I think they'll get the younger guys on program, but they really have to move on at this point. Fast. There's no time to waste, and Indy at home is every bit as tough a game as the Bolts at home. Remember, Manning's been killing us the last two years, and Hobbs on Wayne is going to be a bad matchup for us, regardless of how well he played yesterday (and he did play very, very well).

Ohh boy ohh boy....is it Sunday yet!?

Only the media and fans are talking about the Bolts game. I can see BB shutting down any questions/interviews pertaining to that and not allowing his players to be itnerviewed about that.

Maybe it distract the Colts too.

Remember Marvin Harrison spiking the ball when he scored on the Pats in November?

Now on the running game. If the pats go 3 wr set and pass first then set up the run I think this will be productive. If Bob Sanders want to come down into the box I welcome to then that means there will be one less safety to help in coverage. Someone will get one on one coverage.

This could be a Dave Thomas game with the middle being open in cover 2.

Once the Colts get spread out I think they will get pushed around and they will wear down in the 2nd half.

 

[marty]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

Bump this post to the top. Time to move on! Lets stop feeding the charger trolls.

 

[PatsDeb]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

Only the media and fans are talking about the Bolts game. I can see BB shutting down any questions/interviews pertaining to that and not allowing his players to be itnerviewed about that.

Maybe it distract the Colts too.

Remember Marvin Harrison spiking the ball when he scored on the Pats in November?

Now on the running game. If the pats go 3 wr set and pass first then set up the run I think this will be productive. If Bob Sanders want to come down into the box I welcome to then that means there will be one less safety to help in coverage. Someone will get one on one coverage.

This could be a Dave Thomas game with the middle being open in cover 2.

Once the Colts get spread out I think they will get pushed around and they will wear down in the 2nd half.

I thought Bob Sanders was back for our game against Indy, and we ran pretty well on them then, but abandoned it too early. I guess I can't argue with the three receiver set though, which has been working pretty well for us over the past few weeks. Did anyone notice by the way, that on Brady's first two interceptions, it appears on both Ben Watson either ran the wrong way, or (euphamistically) at least Brady thought he was going to run a different way. After that, they went away from the two tight end sets.

 

[ATippett56]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

You are the weakest link!

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Article.php?Page=1263

NEW ENGLAND: RT Nick Kaczur
The Patriots don’t have many statistical holes in their game. In addition to owning the No. 7 scoring offense and No. 2 scoring defense, the Patriots are:
2nd in defensive passer rating (88.3)
10th in rush defense (3.88 yards allowed)
6th in time of possession
7th in passer rating (88.3)

Their only significant deficiency is the statistically average running game (3.9 YPC, 18th in the NFL). Some of that is due to a disproportionate number of short runs by Tom Brady (49 rushes, more than Steve McNair), because New England’s three tailbacks (Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk and Laurence Maroney) collectively had a bang-up season.

Their final numbers: 1,680 yards, 4.21 YPA, and 19 rushing TDs, to go with 80 catches, 697 yards and three receiving TDs.

But the Patriots did struggle a bit trying to run from sets with a single tight end. Dill-Faulk-Roney ran 65 percent of the time from two- or three-TE sets and averaged 4.31 YPA; from zero- and one-TE sets, they averaged 4.06 YPA.

New England plays to its strengths (strong tight ends), but they also have needed the help on the right side of the line. New England tailbacks averaged just 3.36 on runs to the right (150 for 502 yards), where their weakest link resides.

A second-year man, Kaczur was beaten out by rookie Ryan O’Callaghan after an injury-marred camp and didn’t regain his job until Week 9. Shawne Merriman is likely to spend at least 50 percent of his snaps on Kaczur’s side, lining up next to run-stopping DE Luis Castillo.

The Patriots will need to protect their right tackle because you, Mr. Kaczur, are the weakest link.

 

[Maroney]

Re: Forget the Chargers - On to Indy - What is UP With Our Running Game Or Lack There

IMO the CHiefs blew the Indy game with predictaable play calling on offense right from the beginning. They came out and ran the ball the first 2 times after all week the Colts heard about how the Chiefs would run all over them. If Sanders is up in the box to start the game then I say we need to go play action over the top to Jackson right off tha bat (if Brady feels Jackson can be trusted, if he can he is our fastest reciever and could score on a streak). It could give us a real easy 7 right away in a game where we will need points.