dryheat44
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2004
- Messages
- 6,351
- Reaction score
- 78
Well, the Pats could run the ball, but there was a cost involved.
Just to be clear, I think BGE is a fine, straight-ahead, one-cut runner with very good vision for the developing hole and the decisiveness to hit it with good timing. He runs squared up, with very good pad-level and better than average low-gear power, and he plays with exceptional ball-security. In short, a near perfect between the tackles guy.
However, he doesn't have the speed to get around the end more than once in awhile. He doesn't really have a second cut to escape the LB level or the extra gear to do much when he does escape. Most important, he doesn't get very deep into the LB level without a dedicated blocker - a TE (Crumpler, mostly) or a FB (Morris).
And that's the cost. In order for BGE to run effectively with any consistency, the Pats have to take one of their more effective pass-catchers off the field. Because the Jets, with their strong D-line, knew that the Pats couldn't run effectively with any consistency out of, say, a 4-WR/1-RB set, they could afford to keep 7-8 guys in coverage (5-6 of them between the numbers in the short/intermediate areas where virtually all of our pass-catchers do their best work). When the Pats took a pass-catcher off the field for the extra blocker, the Jets simply cheated up with a safety and/or LB and could afford to do so since there was at least one less target to cover.
In short, without a between the tackles RB who is a legit threat to break off several good runs on his own even without extra blocking help, and without any pass-catchers who can work the sidelines and deep zones effectively with any consistency, the Pats offense can be thoroughly stymied by a well-executed defense that has decent coverage LBs.
I'm usually banging the drum that drafting a running back is a waste of a 1st round pick...but this is some excellent analysis of the Jets game.
I'm of the mindset that a successful running game is about 70% offensive line, 25% threat of getting killed in passing game, and 5% running back inherent talent. That being said, in order to get a back who is likely to succeed in the NFL as a traditional lead back, we're looking at guys who are 5'10 - 6'0, 220-230 lbs, who have a measure of speed and elusiveness, can catch and block, and don't put the ball on the ground. That's a fairly limited resource pool among major conference athletes.
I think for what the Patriots ask their RBs to do, Green Ellis is a great back. He runs to where the hole is supposed to be, gets the yardage that is there, and doesn't fumble. Maroney had all the talent you look for in a running back, except he didn't run to where the hole was supposed to be and wanted to cut everything back.
Notice the use of the word "traditional" two paragraphs back. Given the dynamics of the offense, I'm not sure it wouldn't be better to go the Andy Reid route -- an undersized (not tiny) guy like Westbrook or McCoy would kick ass in this offense.
Last edited: