Are the Patriots relying too much on Tom Brady? Do we need a better running game?

Dagg said:

McD hates the run Im convinced of it. I would love to see us get back to the days where we had a Dillon (even Antoine Smith to a degree) pounding it and every game wasnt 95% dependant on Bradys arm....

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First, the days of pounding the ball like the Pats did in 2004 are over. Teams aren't winning Super Bowl running the ball unless they have really dominant defenses.

Second, if you look at the last few years, the Pats have been a far more balanced offense than you are giving the credit for.

It's gotta be better than what we had this year wich was non existent, but people clamoring for an elite running back are nuts. Especially the Lynch crowd. We just need someone to punch it in the red zone and someone to get a first down on 3rd and 2.

didn't they just draft a couple OL in the most recent draft?
one of which, shaq mason, being known basically just as a run blocker from a school that just runs the ball?
who had to fill in at FB cuz develin's been out the entire year?
and we had to sign steven jackson out of retirement to fill in due to injuries?

what's the complaint -- have less injuries next year?

This team current style is only an issue on the road. At home the pats can throw as many time as they want and still beat anybody. That being said, he needs a running game to preserve his body and extend his career.

We had a decent running game until they got injured. I think if Dion Lewis (and Blount) had stayed healthy you would have seen a well balanced attack.

I still don't know WTF happened with the offensive line, I know the injuries but they were holding their own early in the year. Dion was incredible, but was he that good to make them look serviceable?

I think the firing of the offensive line coach points to more than just talent issues.

I like all the pieces on the current RB group, but I don't like the group as a whole. Blount can't catch, White's not much of a runner, Boldin is a core STer and we have no idea if Lewis can stay healthy. The Oline is the biggest need in this offense, but I think part of the late season failures came from the Pats having to rely on predictable, one dimensional players.

A stud isn't needed here, but I'd love to see someone who can get 3 - 4 yards per, catch some passes, pick up the blitz and make defenses guess for 12 - 15 touches a game.

Are the Patriots relying too much on Tom Brady? Do we need a better running game?

This question is obviously looking ahead to whether or not changes should be made in both philosophy and personnel for the 2016 season. The evidence basing that decision is the effectiveness of the running game in 2015.

With that in mind, one first must remember that the Patriots were without both their starting running back as well as their 'change of pace', third down running back when they finished the season. The team was also without their starting left tackle, which had the snowball effect of weakening the team at both left tackle and right tackle. And since the focus of this conversation is naturally going to be on the most recent game, one cannot overlook the fact that the opponent had the best defense and best rush defense in the league.

On top of that the team's executives have made the decision to let the offensive line coach depart. It is not a reach to assume that the brain trust is comfortable in believing that a replacement will not only do a better job in coaching the unit to do a better job in pass protection, but in run blocking as well.

It is at minimum extremely difficult and highly unrealistic to expect any team to have a 'viable running threat' under those circumstances.

Is it too much to ask that we have a running game like in 2010/2011? BJGE was nothing special but he kept defenses honest. Can't we find someone like him?

OLine
OLine
OLine
OLine
That's what our offense needs. That is it. We have all the other pieces.

jmt57 said:

Are the Patriots relying too much on Tom Brady? Do we need a better running game?

This question is obviously looking ahead to whether or not changes should be made in both philosophy and personnel for the 2016 season. The evidence basing that decision is the effectiveness of the running game in 2015.

With that in mind, one first must remember that the Patriots were without both their starting running back as well as their 'change of pace', third down running back when they finished the season. The team was also without their starting left tackle, which had the snowball effect of weakening the team at both left tackle and right tackle. And since the focus of this conversation is naturally going to be on the most recent game, one cannot overlook the fact that the opponent had the best defense and best rush defense in the league.

On top of that the team's executives have made the decision to let the offensive line coach depart. It is not a reach to assume that the brain trust is comfortable in believing that a replacement will not only do a better job in coaching the unit to do a better job in pass protection, but in run blocking as well.

It is at minimum extremely difficult and highly unrealistic to expect any team to have a 'viable running threat' under those circumstances.

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We clearly need a run game that at least forces a defense to play honest.

Denver did not play honest, one bit. They played pass defense every single snap.

There are two questions in the Thread title. The answers are:
No.
Yes.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Sunday's loss to the Broncos showed just how important the quick passing game is to the Patriots offense. But defenses can scheme to shut it down. And without a running game, our offense becomes virtually nonexistent.

The Broncos defense barely had to pay attention to the Patriots running backs, instead rushing only three or four and flooding the middle of the field with everyone else. With how ineffective the running game was, the Broncos didn't need to respect it and they could just attack Brady at will. A viable running threat could have forced the Broncos to dedicate more of his scheme to the run, instead of selling out to stop Brady.

(Note: Over the last four games the Patriots ran for 215 yards on 80 carries, an average of 2.69 yards per carry. By way of comparison, over the course of the season the Chargers had the fewest rushing yards per attempt in the league at 3.5 yards.)

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Brady will be another year older. I think it only makes practical sense to protect him as much as possible by building a more "classic" offense around him. It'll be great to watch Belichick flip the script again on everybody who's gone the Patriots way of throwing the ball 45 times a game while the Patriots go to a balanced attack.

We actually had a good running game and then Dion/Blount got injured. It happens. BB and McDaniels tried to establish the run with Bolden/White but it ddn't work. Injuries suck and it hurt us this year.

The offense relies entirely on Brady.

Def need an OL than can block for run/pass in at least mostly equal measure. As many have said, I think the talent at RB was acceptable and actually above par for most of the league...it's just that the best two RBs and two would-be-starting-OL guys we had went down for the year. That doesn't mean just bring those guys back and hope they're healthier though...if there's someone better out there, go get 'em! I'm on board for Forte in like 3 other threads so, again, I think that should be the main target. He's not Dillon, but he can run between the tackles, get tough yards, run outside pass block, catch the ball, play out wide, all of it. He is not just "best available", he is "BEAST available" and for that you find the money somewhere.

Otherwise, if they don't want to commit to the run as a concept, the only running plays NE should have are short-yardage or goal-line sneaks by Brady. They already took it mostly off the table in the playoffs. No more half-measures. Just stop running. Go all the way. Have 6 linemen. Throw it 900 times. Seriously.