Pats running game on pace to be the worst in the NFL in the last 10 years

[Thelonious]

Rham's problems go back to the preseason. He doesn't seem like the sort of guy who would dog it to make a point or out of a snit or to get advantage re his contract. So I have assumed all along that there is some physical problem which makes him so tentative, almost shy of contact. It is true that the Pats are often behind, thus inclined to pass (sorta!) and that the OL is bad, but I think the the problem antedates that fact's becoming so obvious. It would be nice if the team would be a little more open about such things, but Bill is insistent on working his Cold Warrior, if-I-told-you-I'd-have-to-kill-you shtick.

 

[Pats1971]

2003. Pats rushing were ranked 27th. 3.4 ypc.....They won the superbowl. Overcome issues with leaders.

 

[Real fan 02]

I miss Harris. Wish he wasn't so freaking injury prone....

Me as well. He's not as featured like he was here but he's being used in thier goal line situations. I'm sure he'll be scoring a few TDs next week. From now on out unless an epiphany happens and we win 6,7 straight. For me as a fan it's all on seeing whch young guys are going to be part of the new regime next season.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Good third down back:

-Good hands
-Good blocker
-Fast acceleration
-Quick/shifty

On fourth point, it’s rare that a more classic power back (better between tackles) excels at juking linebackers in space after catch. No one can say with any shred of honesty that Stevenson or Elliott are even close to as effective as Faulk, Woodhead, Vereen, Lewis, or White, even if they’re technically proficient on the first two or three traits.

 

[Real fan 02]

Good third down back:

-Good hands
-Good blocker
-Fast acceleration
-Quick/shifty

On fourth point, it’s rare that a more classic power back (better between tackles) excels at juking linebackers in space after catch. No one can say with any shred of honesty that Stevenson or Elliott are even close to as effective as Faulk, Woodhead, Vereen, Lewis, or White, even if they are technically proficient on the first two traits.

The offenses best showing was the 2nd quarter against the eagles. It gave us hope. Mac was making completions left and right. I thought that was the offense we'd see this season. It was all a mirage.. no 3rd down back or slot WR in this offense. It's mind blowing why that doesn't exist. At this point it doesn't matter about how much cap space for next season. No FAs are going to want to come here. The damage done this season is far more than just win/loss. Agreed with your post.

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

So you named 6 starters as the evidence we need an additional rb to play only on 3rd downs?

no you asked captain who is a better third down rb than our starters at rb and i gave you examples, nothing more, not as an evidence we need more rb although i would like an additional 3 third down rb specialist

 

[Hyped]

This is the thing that gives me a semblance of hope...

Our offense is HISTORICALLY bad and we know that these guys, while not supremely talented, just don't suck this bad.

If Strange/Onwenu get healthy....and we get some consistency at RT...then Rham and EE will get going...and Mac will only see 3rd and shorts....

It's the little things that are alarming wrong right now....we have 11 guys lining up on offense and it only takes 1 guy to whiff on a block, run the wrong route, not beat his man, turn over the ball, etc...to screw up this offense. Our margin of error is thin...because of the talent level, but we don't suck this badly, IMO. I mean a "bad offense" should be good for about 100 points scored over 5 games....not 55!

 

[Chevy]

It’s not the number of carries that’s the problem it’s is the yards. Seems like Rham is getting stopped for a bunch of negative plays per game. Dude has become a slow Maroney. No idea why. Feels like they might have hitched their wagon to the wrong back, as injury prone as Harris was.

Sure ... it couldn't be an issue with the lack of offensive cohesion, poor blocking, and total loss of faith. Nah ... couldn't be that. Comparing Rham to Maroney is disingenuous at best. Maroney was a hot/cold runner (to the extreme) who had trouble behind a very good (and consistent) OL. His poor runs stood out as a lack of effort, not ability. Rham is seeing everything collapse in front of him at the hand-off.

Everyone, whether at fault or not, has to be down so low right now that it will take a miracle to get even 80% out of them all consistently.

 

[Ring 6]

no you asked captain who is a better third down rb than our starters at rb and i gave you examples, nothing more, not as an evidence we need more rb although i would like an additional 3 third down rb specialist

Well that was the discussion. Go ahead and name the “3rd down specialists” you think are better if you like.

 

[Ring 6]

Good third down back:

-Good hands
-Good blocker
-Fast acceleration
-Quick/shifty

On fourth point, it’s rare that a more classic power back (better between tackles) excels at juking linebackers in space after catch. No one can say with any shred of honesty that Stevenson or Elliott are even close to as effective as Faulk, Woodhead, Vereen, Lewis, or White, even if they’re technically proficient on the first two or three traits.

You don’t sacrifice the first 3 for the luxury of the 4th.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

You don’t sacrifice the first 3 for the luxury of the 4th.

False dilemma - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Ring 6]

False dilemma - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

No, real life.

 

[TheRainMaker]

So we want an updated offense, yet want something that is antiquated like a "3rd down back"? As Darelle Revis said, throwing to your RB's was only a Tom Brady thing.

 

[Ian]

Says a former QB. What a shock.

Orlovsky sometimes just isn't worth reading... Though clown takes like these have their value I suppose in the laughs they provide...

Hard not to agree with him. As I said, it’s not like both Mac and Zappe each suddenly forgot how to play quarterback.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

The offensive line has a 37 percent win rate!!!! The offensive line is a dumpster fire on the order of the new York jets franchise!!!!!!

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

Well that was the discussion. Go ahead and name the “3rd down specialists” you think are better if you like.

you compared third down specialists to our starting every down rb with stevenson and zeke

 

[Ring 6]

you compared third down specialists to our starting every down rb with stevenson and zeke

huh? I said they fill the 3rd down back role so a 3rd down only back isn’t necessary.
Then asked who would you add as a 3rd down back that would be better.
You listed starters.

Let me ask it differently. Who was available as a RB who would be more likely to be on the field on 3rd down than them if we had acquired him.

 

[TheBeers]

Other than Miami we've gone against some very tough teams to run on. It's going to get better in the next bunch of games. They need to throw to it to Rhamondre more too

 

[patsfanfromoversea]

huh? I said they fill the 3rd down back role so a 3rd down only back isn’t necessary.

with the names i gave you a third down specialist isn't necessary as well

Then asked who would you add as a 3rd down back that would be better.
You listed starters.

yes i compared starters who can fill the third down role as well and are better than our starters who are filling the third down role

Let me ask it differently. Who was available as a RB who would be more likely to be on the field on 3rd down than them if we had acquired him.

i would have tried to get swift.. i think he could fill a james white type role here and he reminds me a bit of him

 

[Ring 6]

with the names i gave you a third down specialist isn't necessary as well


yes i compared starters who can fill the third down role as well and are better than our starters who are filling the third down role

i would have tried to get swift.. i think he could fill a james white type role here and he reminds me a bit of him

So we are making an issue over 1 guy we could have gotten that you think would improve an area that isn’t deficient?
Many teams use starters or #2 RB as 3rd down backs and only a few have better ones.