Bill the GM/HC

[TheRainMaker]

Maybe going from one of the worst coaches in the league to one of the best offensive minded coaches in the league helped Gurley out. Not really sure how you can equate that to blocking.

This was the exact reason for his resurgence. He criticized the Rams offense during Jeff Fisher's last year stating they were running a "high school offense".

Gurley and Michel are bad comparisons.

 

[Wozzy]

Blocking makes a difference in the NFL? You don't say?! Aside from Newhouse at left tackle for half the year the blocking wasn't anywhere near as bad as it is portrayed to be when it comes to Sony's ineffectiveness. Burkhead and James White, granted while with far less carries, didn't look as bad as Sony. Maybe because Sony's crappiness as a pass catcher telegraphs what the team is going to do when he is in the game.

BGJE could pass block. Blount couldn't and both were JAGs who will likely have comparable career numbers to Sony.

Maybe going from one of the worst coaches in the league to one of the best offensive minded coaches in the league helped Gurley out. Not really sure how you can equate that to blocking.

The O-Line wasn't horrible, Newhouse and Ferentz were horrible, but they only made spot starts all year. TE play was horrible to start the year, TE's block... they aren't only there to catch balls.

They didn't bring Ben Watson in immediately because they spent his money to sign AB. Lacosse and Izzo were both injured to start the year. Izzo came back first and was horrible, Develin also got hurt.

When they brought Watson back, TE play immediately improved, when Lacosse got healthy (bye week) the level of TE play wasn't amazing but like the WR's was adequate to good. You can actually see the improvement in rushing statistics which walk lockstep with personnel upgrades.

First six games: No TE's, beat up O-Line = Sony averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

The final 6 games of the season they got Wynn back (Cowboys game), had two healthy TE's (Watson, Lacosse) and also had Elandon Roberts giving them quality experienced snaps at fullback = Sony averaged 4.3 yards per carry.

Blocking matters, this isn't singles tennis.

 

[Wozzy]

This was the exact reason for his resurgence. He criticized the Rams offense during Jeff Fisher's last year stating they were running a "high school offense".

Gurley and Michel are bad comparisons.

The Rams also had Lance Kendricks (poor blocker/oversized WR) as their leading snap getter at TE that year.

The following year their offensive line improved dramatically and they used their first pick to draft Gerald Everett and played Tyler Higbee max snaps at TE... blocking matters.

It's actually a great comparison.

 

[Uptown]

Bad RB blocking mangled Alex Smith's leg like a pretzel... casual fans only understand fantasy stats.

Same for Sammy Morris regarding Brady in ‘08..

 

[TheRainMaker]

Gurley two subsequent years after Jeff Fisher got fired:

Player Year Gms Att Yds TDs Avg
Todd Gurley 2017 15 279 1305 13 4.7
Todd Gurley 2018 14 256 1251 17 4.9

He made the All Pro Team, Pro Bowl and led the NFL in rushing TD's both years.

And he did this without having a FB paving the way along with a very good duo of blocking TE's (Gronk being the best and Allen very solid) as extra tackles.

Sony needs to show he can be effective with just an effective O-line and at least average FB and/TE help as that's the norm.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Same for Sammy Morris regarding Brady in ‘08..

Yep, he fell asleep on Pollard which I'm still mad at. Pats would've easily won the Super Bowl that year.

When I saw him crawl and then get up enough to dive at Brady, I was like "oh s***"!

 

[Wozzy]

And he did this without having a FB paving the way along with a very good duo of blocking TE's (Gronk being the best and Allen very solid) as extra tackles.

Sony needs to show he can be effective with just an effective O-line and at least average FB and/TE help as that's the norm.

The Pat's TE's in 2019 were an abomination for the first half of they year... they simply didn't have any. Develin got hurt and they had a LB playing FB, they also had injuries along the OL.

Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee along with a revamped offensive line is why Gurley improved... not magical talent that comes and goes like power levels on a video game.

 

[TheRainMaker]

The TE's in 2019 were an abomination for the first half of they year... they simply didn't have any. Develin got hurt and they had a LB playing FB.

Well, they drafted two TE's who hopefully aren't terrible and signed a FB who says he's not exactly a "road grader" but should be an improvement over having a LB in there.

Sony can't expect to have everyone healthy all the time and elite blocking at every position. That's what most of us are arguing.

 

[Wozzy]

Well, they drafted two TE's who hopefully aren't terrible and signed a FB who says he's not exactly a "road grader" but should be an improvement over having a LB in there.

Sony can't expect to have everyone healthy all the time and elite blocking at every position. That's what most of us are arguing.

His blocking in the first half of 2019 was terrible, not even close to elite... it was downright crappy.

When the TE's improved and OL got healthy midseason you can see a huge improvement in Sony's rush stats. He still wasn't getting "elite" blocking, but he averaged 4.3 yards per carry despite the fact they were playing better teams and defense's.

Bad blocking led to Sony's reduced output (his coaches echoed this) and is visible in the stats, he literally improved as the personnel around him improved. It's a TEAM sport. That's all I'm saying.

 

[captain stone]

Matt Miller is absolutely correct on the first count...and, save for 2015 minus his gutless SB "performance", not that far off on the second one (as was Nolan Nawrocki).

To be more specific, Bill's a bad Drafter...his draft-day trades were usually OK, mainly his trade-downs and player-for-pick-switches, but this year's trade-ups were flat-out Horrible, and the Jesters trade in particular was nothing less than raw, unlubricated anal rape...not to mention whom he chose with those trade-ups...

 

[luuked]

I love that blocking is considered something arbitrary or doesn't matter... just a total fan take. Blocking allows QB's the time to throw, it allows RB's the ability to run, blocking and tackling is football. Football is won at the line of scrimmage.

To quote Mike Lombardi:

Remember how we have to evaluate running backs – it’s block, catch, run. It isn’t run, catch, block.

People can get annoyed about some of his pure opinion-based takes all they want but he understands scouting and has worked closely with BB during the formative years of his drafting system in Cleveland.

 

[Captain Cliche]

I always wondered why Lombardi and BB parted ways.

I blame it on the Dominique Easley pick.

 

[203Pat]

The O-Line wasn't horrible, Newhouse and Ferentz were horrible, but they only made spot starts all year. TE play was horrible to start the year, TE's block... they aren't only there to catch balls.

They didn't bring Ben Watson in immediately because they spent his money to sign AB. Lacosse and Izzo were both injured to start the year. Izzo came back first and was horrible, Develin also got hurt.

When they brought Watson back, TE play immediately improved, when Lacosse got healthy (bye week) the level of TE play wasn't amazing but like the WR's was adequate to good. You can actually see the improvement in rushing statistics which walk lockstep with personnel upgrades.

First six games: No TE's, beat up O-Line = Sony averaged 3.5 yards per carry.

The final 6 games of the season they got Wynn back (Cowboys game), had two healthy TE's (Watson, Lacosse) and also had Elandon Roberts giving them quality experienced snaps at fullback = Sony averaged 4.3 yards per carry.

Blocking matters, this isn't singles tennis.

So if the pieces surrounding our first round running back are good then he can put up average ypc. Man what a special back.

 

[luuked]

I always wondered why Lombardi and BB parted ways.

I blame it on the Dominique Easley pick.

He was working as an consultant for BB while still being paid by the Browns. When that ended him and Kraft couldn't reach a financially satisfying deal and Lombardi transitioned to media which offered a much better money/work balance.

There was an article on that a couple years ago. Unfortunately I didn't save it.

 

[sb1]

Yep, he fell asleep on Pollard which I'm still mad at. Pats would've easily won the Super Bowl that year.

When I saw him crawl and then get up enough to dive at Brady, I was like "oh s***"!

They weren't even getting to the Super Bowl that year with Brady never mind winning it.

 

[203Pat]

They weren't even getting to the Super Bowl that year with Brady never mind winning it.

Lol you’re ridiculous.

 

[Wozzy]

So if the pieces surrounding our first round running back are good then he can put up average ypc. Man what a special back.

Saquon Barkley and David Johnson are about as special as a RB can be, they've had poor blocking and zero passing threat around them so they are less productive, they get hurt because they get slammed behind the line of scrimmage. When they had better blocking they were better, it's really simple. No RB produces in a vacuum, they need blocking.

 

[sb1]

Lol you’re ridiculous.

Why is that ridiculous?

 

[TheRainMaker]

They weren't even getting to the Super Bowl that year with Brady never mind winning it.

Why is that ridiculous?

Because 2008 was the worst season in the last 25 years and not because of TB's injury. The teams were beyond bad.

In the AFC, the Titans were horrible despite their 13-3 record. Arizona joined both NY Giants teams as the worst teams to come out of the NFC in the last 20 years. However, the 2008 Giants were tearing through their schedule until Burress got injured and that was a massive loss. I do think the Giants beat the Pats had they both been healthy and made the Super Bowl.

Pats with Brady easily go 13-3 and maybe get HFA. Would've been the difference in Indy and would've easily beaten the Steelers where they have lost at Gillette EVERY TIME when Brady plays.

In the NFC, two 9 win teams battle it out for the AFCCG. Pathetic. The NFC needed a guy on the Giants (Burress) to shoot himself in the leg to have a chance.

Pats easily beat the Cardinals if they met in the Super Bowl.

 

[203Pat]

Why is that ridiculous?

They managed to go 11-5 with a QB who hadn’t played since high school. Granted the schedule was somewhat soft but all the more reason the reigning league MVP probably would be worth a few more wins putting them in position for a top seed. They were far from a lock but to dismiss their chances with a healthy Brady is laughable.