Anyone else tired of the run getting abandoned?

[jmt57]

So you disagree that it was bad play calling to throw it twice from the 4?

Considering the amount of time left on the clock (plus factoring in all the points Deus made in his post) and no timeouts remaining, I would say that two passes rather than runs was the right play call.

Three of the four previous running plays went for only two yards, it's not as if a run play was a sure thing.

 

[supafly]

I said many times in last few days and will say it again. If they want to use ridley for 5-7 snaps a game to give others a breather, they might as well bench him .Or they need to turn to him to be feature back to get some more explosive plays from the running game esp in the RZ.

My concern is that if they don't turn to Ridley as a lead back again, we won't be going too far at all. The run game is an absolute must, and Ridley obviously provides our best shot at explosive plays, up-tempo runs, and picking up larger chunks of yardage.

I fear that Blount is almost a mirage of sorts, showing that he can be more effective in a small sample than he actually is over the course of the entire game; if that makes any sense whatsoever. Either way, they need to get Ridley more involved in my opinion, and soon.

 

[supafly]

Considering the amount of time left on the clock (plus factoring in all the points Deus made in his post) and no timeouts remaining, I would say that two passes rather than runs was the right play call.

Three of the four previous running plays went for only two yards, it's not as if a run play was a sure thing.

If we're speaking of the final plays then I don't think there was much debate to what they could do there. There just wasn't enough time for a run, a re-grouping of the line, and then a spike to stop the clock.

I think they certainly made the right choice in passing. Unfortunately we didn't get the call on Hooman's DPI, or the catch by Amendola or this would be a moot point.

 

[IcyPatriot]

They don't commit to the run for more than 1 drive a game ... I think they would have an excellent run game if they would just commit to it more ... and more than just calling off tackle.

Sure ... I am sure all the stats point to Brady throwing the ball ... but they can be more than that if they would just commit more than the run and Brady would take less pounding.

 

[Deus Irae]

A lot of people here are overthinking this, IMO.

 

[patsfan-1982]

I think they need to be a lil more balanced on offense when they have a lead it will help the defense out but with all the OL injuries I don't think they could just line up and run the ball at lest not vs the ravens this week, and the way the defense is playing they need to score 25 plus to have a shot vs anyone so brady and the passing game give them the best shot at scoring

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I hope ridley fixes his fumbling issues..he really has explosive bursts. Would love to see more of him.

 

[jsull87]

When it seems like it is working in a game?

The problem in this game was and I know the pass was working was McDaniels just abandoning the run.

55 passes to 22 runs and they only ran it 9 times in the 2nd half.

There was a clear weakness in their run defense. Ya they sniffed out a few runs but I think most every team in the league has a few every game.

You've driven 13 plays, 83 yards and are 2nd and goal from the 4 and you throw it twice. You're telling me you can't give it to Vereen, Blount, Ridley, Bolden with Develin lead blocking two straight times? And if they stop you 2nd and goal and 3rd and goal from the 4 you tip you cap to them and kick the FG.

And if it's me i'm actually considering a 4th down run there if one of the runs gets the ball inside the 1.

Potentially 3 cracks from the inside the 5 to get 7 and McDaniels forgets he's got a stable of RBs that probably fall forward and get into the end zone.

IMO this was where the game was lost.

You take 4 points off the board because you want to throw it on 2nd and goal and 3rd and goal from the 4 yard line. For what? To try and prove a point?

The problems in the red zone without Gronk is because there has been more than a few times where McDaniels has avoided running like the plague.

A better poster than myself refuted this on Game day. Basically we aere killing them running the ball so they basically dropped 8 into the box and manned up on pass d. That is ideal conditions to pass and poor conditions to run.

Therefore we passed a lot and moved the ball well. We just didn't convert in the end zone when necessary (personally us being held in man coverage all game didn't help).

IMO if Mcdaniels stuck with the run against 8 man boxes it would have been stupid when you have TB and 1 on 1 covearge across most of the field.

 

[SVN]

But do the Pats have a Calvin Johnson? Having a big EZ threat (1) pulls a safety out of the box and (2) pulls a linebacker out of a blitz in order to fill that pass zone.

Pats don't have that, so that's one more guy to block, and it seems like that one extra guy tackles the running back behind the line of scrimmage more often than not.

From what BB and McDaniels said at least in the fins game, they disguised well to make brady think it was run defense but checked out making the pass play even harder. A lot of this 'run abandanding' thing is also brady changing the plays depending on what he sees and McDaniels said that clearly today.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I am really liking Blount's consistency and the yards after contact he is bringing to the table. I want more Blount and I want more carries to go to Vereen(10 a game). Ridley should continue to be used sparingly until we are in the redzone.

As I have said in the past, Ridley is good but not great and he has worn out his welcome with me to a certain degree. I love when he runs straight up the gut with pure explosion, but when it isn't there he costs us valuable yards trying and often failing to bounce it out.

Another thing I have noticed is that our offense is more productive when Devlin is on the field. He obviously helps the run game but after re-watching a few games I have noticed that he is open a lot when he flexes out.

 

[olschool]

A lot of people here are overthinking this, IMO.

Brady calls his own number whenever he needs a big play. I don't think BB is going to take his play calling ability away to focus on the running game.

Personally, I want a QB that has the confidence to take the heat when the chips are down.

 

[Don_the_patfan]

Brady calls his own number whenever he needs a big play. I don't think BB is going to take his play calling ability away to focus on the running game.

Bingo. Here's part of McDaniel's answer on running the ball more:

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

We certainly don't want to take the freedom away from our quarterback to get us into a good play and we don't want to become just a call-it-on-the-sideline team when we have a quarterback that's capable of doing a lot of good things with our offense at the line of scrimmage.

Call out McDaniels all you want but I think this one falls on Brady.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Call out McDaniels all you want but I think this one falls on Brady.

Perhaps, but the offense is different than with O'Brien. It isn't like Brady is audibling to pass a lot more than he did under O'Brien. This sounds a bit like McDaniels is deflecting and not taking responsibility.

 

[Don_the_patfan]

Perhaps, but the offense is different than with O'Brien. It isn't like Brady is audibling to pass a lot more than he did under O'Brien. This sounds a bit like McDaniels is deflecting and not taking responsibility.

No I don't think that's it. It goes back to the thinking that the more Tom Brady handles the ball on O the better for the offense. When you have a great QB you let him throw the ball because most of the time good things happen. So I understand it.

With that said I am all for running the ball especially when it's working. Let the other team stop you, don't stop yourself.

 

[SVN]

Perhaps, but the offense is different than with O'Brien. It isn't like Brady is audibling to pass a lot more than he did under O'Brien. This sounds a bit like McDaniels is deflecting and not taking responsibility.

No.Its just easy to blame McDaniels thats all. BB also answered this question a bit this week
Bill Belichick on red zone, key plays on D - ESPN Boston

1. Struggles in the red zone: Belichick detailed what unfolded on the two red-zone drives that ended in field goals. On the first drive, a 6-yard connection to Julian Edelman set up a second-and-4, but the Patriots couldn't finish. Then on their fourth-quarter drive, an incomplete pass on first down was followed by an 8-yard run by LeGarrette Blount before an incomplete pass brought out the field-goal unit. Belichick said the Dolphins were showing pressure looks in the red zone.

"That was basically their game plan in the red area, was to put everybody up pretty close to the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they came, sometimes they didn’t come; sometimes a couple guys came, so they had a couple different combinations there," he said.

"On that particular play, we were kind of one short on the protection based on the blitz that they ran. The pressure came from the right side there and we weren’t really able to get, obviously, get into the whole pattern. That was the one where [Derrick] Shelby came free. But that’s part of the chess match down there in the red area. When they show pressure, to be able to block it but then they don’t always come so you don’t want to be keeping everybody in and have two of your three guys get doubled out there, so it’s a little bit of a back-and-forth game."

So reading this it seems pats thought miami was playing run but backed out. Seems like simply a case of them winning some battles.
People wanted O'Brien also gone his first 2 yrs .

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

More than anything I want the run game to come back....I say we go as Ridley goes from here on out...and mix in a little Vareen, Edelperson and Amendola...

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I really like what blount brings on most runs. But his lack of explosion can hurt. What is the pats longest rush of year and by who? Is it Blount or ridley?

 

[Deus Irae]

I really like what blount brings on most runs. But his lack of explosion can hurt. What is the pats longest rush of year and by who? Is it Blount or ridley?

Ridley's long this season is 26 yards.
Bolden's long is 46 yards.
Blount's long is 47 yards.

 

[IcyPatriot]

A lot of people here are overthinking this, IMO.

Actually Deus I'm not one to bash McDaniels ... I like him.

But sometimes I think he over thinks himself.

I think sometimes a coach can be too stats driven for their own good.

The stats certainly must show you win by the Brady pass.

But there are other intangibles to running more.

Defense gets more rest, O Linemen love it over pass blocking, it keeps Brady from getting hit, it eats up the clock ...

I think our runners are good enough to give them a chance to run more ... unless we fall behind by more than 10. It looks like Josh thinks one drive of runs is a commitment. I also think we're good enough to do more than run off tackle all the time.

It's a preference ... certainly debatable.

 

[Deus Irae]

Actually Deus I'm not one to bash McDaniels ... I like him.

But sometimes I think he over thinks himself.

I think sometimes a coach can be too stats driven for their own good.

The stats certainly must show you win by the Brady pass.

But there are other intangibles to running more.

Defense gets more rest, O Linemen love it over pass blocking, it keeps Brady from getting hit, it eats up the clock ...

I think our runners are good enough to give them a chance to run more ... unless we fall behind by more than 10. It looks like Josh thinks one drive of runs is a commitment. I also think we're good enough to do more than run off tackle all the time.

It's a preference ... certainly debatable.

1.) You wildly overrate these running backs, IMO

2.) You underappreciate the input Brady has, IMO

3.) The team doesn't have power at center, and Connolly is much better pulling than at the point of attack. This limits the running game.

4.) This team's two best run blocking OL are Mankins and Vollmer. Vollmer's on the shelf.


We get these same complaints every week. They've been lousy arguments since the beginning. That's not likely to change any time soon.