Is the NFL's Pendulum Swinging Back to the Running Game?

Is the NFL's Pendulum Swinging Back to the Running Game?

Steve Balestrieri

A quick look at the final eight teams that rounded out the NFL’s season from the Divisional Round thru the Super Bowl shows that for the most part, teams that ran the ball well were the ones standing in the end.

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BB is all about value. He went to the 3-4 because smaller defensive ends and tweeners were undervalued in the draft and free agency. Today, running backs are similarly undervalued. Dion Lewis was a street free agent. The make-up of the Patriots' OL may also be a factor. You can't pass block a Von Miller or Demarcus Ware with a 6'7" 300+ pound tackle, but you can push them down the field.

Spiral said:

BB is all about value. He went to the 3-4 because smaller defensive ends and tweeners were undervalued in the draft and free agency. Today, running backs are similarly undervalued. Dion Lewis was a street free agent. The make-up of the Patriots' OL may also be a factor. You can't pass block a Von Miller or Demarcus Ware with a 6'7" 300+ pound tackle, but you can push them down the field.

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I don't think the pendulum is fully swinging back to the running game (given the way the rules are now with regard to illegal contact, DPI, etc.), but it's more than likely going to become more and more featured in NFL offenses again. In response to offenses going pass-heavy, defenses have become smaller, lighter, and faster. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. So you've seen some of the more productive offenses of late become bigger and stronger up front with road graders and downhill runners (both backs and quarterbacks) to take advantage of this. If defenses respond in kind by becoming more stout up front while sacrificing speed, the opposite will happen and on and on we will go.

It's all cyclical but it looks different every time around.

It's like electricity ... which always takes the path of least reluctance ...
As defenses change to adapt offenses change to take advantage of new weak spots.

For several years I predicted Belichick would draft to employ a double SS defense ... and he finally did.
So big nickel and big dime are the ways to go now but they both still leave some holes to a decent run game.

A better run game with another TE who can block and help in the red zone is the way to go for the Patriots.

Other teams may run a lot because they have to. There is a shortage of quality quarterbacks.

There is a systemic shortage of good QBs coming out of college. So running backs might be coming back in a big way for the many teams that don't have a QB. But once they face a team that does they are screwed.

VectorPrime said:

There is a systemic shortage of good QBs coming out of college. So running backs might be coming back in a big way for the many teams that don't have a QB. But once they face a team that does they are screwed.

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Exactly. The pendulum for our favorite team did in fact swing too far so I am sure it is an agenda item to fix that aspect of the team.

Hopefully, the linemen come back in better shape under Dante, ready to effectively run the ball consistently and pass protect better in the bargain.

I could see a better RB even if we keep Blount. With Lewis and Bolden on special teams, it's a pretty good committee. White could be kept as long as there's a spot, then dropped once his rookie deal is up, or not. Also, Dion probably is less effective 1st year off surgery.

Just need a RB who hits the hole quick and an OLine that is crisp and aggressive. Devlin would be a help. No more game plan only running games, we need to be ready when teams are just sitting in the way of our crossing patterns and rushing little 240 lb DEs every play. Run them over - over and over. that's what Von Miller needs. A faceful of Devlin and Shaq and others.

Linebackers have got smaller as well, because they have to be able to run sideline-to-sideline to keep up with the spread and the read-option. Means they can't stack/shed as well as they used to, making it easier to run against them.

It will take quite a bit more than this article to convince me that the pendulum has swung, the Pats lost Bount and Lewis their best two running backs, thus the article begs the issue. Being a student of this team, pretty confident that BB would have chosen to use more run plays, but injuries to the backfield and line were great equalizers.

BTW is Dante back, last I heard they were negotiating??

The fact that College Football is a **** fest of scores with some teams that don't even have a RB, their RB is the QB is having an impact in the quality of football in the NFL.

Yes, passing teams need a complementary running game.

News at 11.