luuked
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They played a month ago when SD was missing even more players while the Dolphins were still mostly untouched by injuries. Completely different ballgame.
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I had previously compared Vereen unfavorably to Faulk (and received the usual reflexive tantrums). The fact remains he has become a nonfactor as a runner (12 rushes/19 yards in the last three games), but his declining rushing production needs to be viewed in the context of overall offensive trends. Tim Wright has disappeared from the stat sheet the the past couple of weeks as well, along with Gray and Tyms. Still, Vereen sees plenty of snaps as our primary backfield option on passing downs, although this could change (did you see Amendola in the backfield last night?). Now when Vereen enters the game defenses focus on the pass, knowing that he is ineffective as a rusher. This lack of any type of rushing threat on third downs is starting to impact the passing game as well. Although Vereen has produced 134 yards receiving in the last three games, the DL can pin their ears back and rush the QB, and coverage can concentrate on primary targets (Gronk and Edelman). As a result, the OL is struggling, primary targets are having more trouble getting open, and Brady is increasingly getting harassed before he can find secondary targets (and making uncharacteristic mistakes). All these things are inter-related, but my view is the the primary cause is the OL. As Bruschi said this morning:
While Solder had a rough go of it, it wasn't just Solder. In addition to resembling a sieve on pass protection, they are opening few holes in the running game for Blount as well as Vereen (3.1 yds/carry as a team). To a certain extent, the OL's struggles last night were masked by the most dominant defensive performance of the year. Still, getting the OL back to the level they were performing at a month ago is for me the team's major issue heading into the playoffs.
My view is that it is not so much Vereen being personally inconsistent but more the lack of openings he has. If it were just Vereen, they could plug in James White, who is a virtual copy in terms of skills. Both can see and get through creases, but neither runner possesses good yards-after-contact capability, and they are constantly getting hit in the backfield. That wasn't happening a month ago, and I think that could be the main reason they have not yet replaced Vereen.
I would agree that Vereen has grown more tentative, but running into a lot of brick walls will do that.Up until the last month or so, I'd have scoffed at comparing Vereen and White. I'm not sure I've ever seen an NFL running back as easy to tackle as James White has been to date. If he doesn't improve tremendously in this offseason, he'll be out of the league by 2017.
Regrettably, the gap has narrowed. And it isn't because of anything White has done.
Good point. We know little about player health and lots of guys are banged up this time of year. I have wondered the same about Solder and the OL. One indirect clue though is that they have a player on the roster who could sub for Vereen, and they have not used him. (I was thinking that an injury to Arrington may have been the reason they used Ryan so much last week.) They could also feel that an injured Vereen is still preferable to a healthy White (who they nevertheless seem to feel is worth keeping around).
I think Vereens vision is average at best. Which in the NFL is a real killer for running backs. Compare him to Woodhead who can find the smallest little crease to get a couple of extra yards. Vereen just doesn't seem to find the holes and the ways to get past defenders. What Vereen brings is being faster than a linebacker. So if he has a swing or wheel route then linebackers won't be able to keep up with him in man coverage. But he isn't one of the running backs you can throw to and hope he can break a tackle or too.
