Yes, we disagree.
1) Dante is working with a 2nd and 1st round draft pick on the left side, and a 3rd and 5th as backups. I think that he is doing fine. I am fine with performance of Light, Kaycur, Britt and Mankins. You are not. If dante cannot perform acceptably with group, he is NOT the great coach we make him out to be. Gorin and Ashworth were not successes. Yates is a backup. Neal is a great success (but with several to-be-expected injuries). Koppen and Hochstein are also great sucesses. If these OL's are so bad, the team was deliquent (negligent?) in not drafting Joe Staley at 28.
2) Bettis was a short yardage player for the last two years of his career, and yes, I would love to use a roster spot for a player like Crockett. And yes, the #5 running back needs to play special teams.
3) What do I think we should say if Maroney was continually running up the middle and getting stuffed? You're right. Perhaps bb would protect the sensibilities of the his first round draft choice. And yes, he would berate the line for not allowing the designated play to work. Surely if they did their job, a RB could waltz in.
HOWEVER, bb just might question whether Maroney is the right RB to be running on 4th and one. If he's the best we have, then the coaches have made their decision. That means that we change the blocking schemes, and do all we can to have Maroney run toward the line instead of sideways.
My opinion, with which you seem to disagree, is that there exist running backs, MANY running backs, who are more able than others to get that crucial yard, BECAUSE OF THEIR OWN LEVEL SKILL. There are indeed running backs that are better than others in short down situations.
In the past few years, give to Bettis, to Crockett, to Alstott and you would be much more likely to get the one yard than if you were to give it to a player like Maroney. This is NOT a dis on Maroney. He, as Addai, were great picks. I just don't think he should be depended on to be a short yardage back.
BOTTOM LINE
We disagree. I would expect my RB to gain one yard with our OL against almost any defense, presuming that any blitz was picked up and the defense didn't overload the line. I strongly believe that our OL is more than adequate for short yardage and any situations. Personally, I find it sad that dante and the FO put together a line for the next five years, only to have to change the blocking scheme to accomodate the chosen running back. ANd finally, I do indeed believe that Dante is best position coach in the NFL.
Let's stop there for now. Untrue. Light should be cut if he can be improved, and if it makes financial sense to do so. Number two is just way out there. The Patriots don't use (many) high draft picks on O-lineman. Dante does a phenomenal job of preparing low-round picks/free agents into passable performers. Guys like Gorin, Ashworth, Neal, Yates, etc.
I'd like to think Bettis, he of the #5 or so all-time rushing yardage, was more than a short yardage specialist. Would you be happy if the Patriots blew a roster spot on Zack Crockett? or any other player in the league who only comes in on short yardage? I sure wouldn't. Although to be fair, I believe Crockett is also a valuable special teamer. In sum, yes, I believe it is a waste of a roster spot to carry a guy who is only used to carry the ball in short yardage situations. But you'll have a hard time convincing me that describes any player in the league.
The two sides of #4 are not mutually exclusive. You should absolutely celebrate the DL stuffing a 4th and 1 rush. It means they overcame the odds and there was a great play involved. The head coach on the other side probably doesn't see it that way. Do you think if Belichick called Maroney up the middle on 4th and 1 and he got stuffed that he would shrug his shoulders and say, "Oh well, that was a great play by the defense?" I'm willing to bit he'd rip the O-lineman who missed/failed his assignment a new one. Like I said my last post, nobody wins every battle, nor should they be expected to. However, on any given play where the offense has a clear advantage, they SHOULD win.
I give up. My ENTIRE POINT, if you go back to the beginning of this part, was that if Maroney gets hit in the backfield on a 4th and 1 play, that the Offensive Linemen should get the blame. (the poster whom I was responding to said that he would blame Maroney in that situation, and not the line). If you disagree with that, then fine, we disagree.