Why establishing our run game could lead to continued success down the stretch of the season:

[Ring 6]

I didnt say he was a step down, we all had high expectations of what he would do this year and that hasn't panned out yet. I think he has played better (good) or been utilized better in the last two games. He did not play well in the Saints game 9 carries for 27 yards is not good and was a non-factor in the Tennesse game 2 carries for 5 yards. But with Rham going down and Josh being forced to focus on utilizing him more it seems to be trending in the right direction. I just want to see more of him in space where he can do damage.

I’m just pointing out it wasn’t that he was not playing well it was that he wasn’t getting opportunities. A RB can’t produce many yards if there isn’t blocking. It appears he has improved because he is getting more opportunities but really he has been very consistent all along. Numbers don’t always show that when you are limited or elevated by blocking.

 

[Ring 6]

I dont disagree with what your saying but they did not know in preseason Drake would be playing to this level and that the ability to move the ball passing would be far better than how they run the ball.

Not sure I agree with that. They knew what they had. He didn’t surprise them by suddenly becoming incredibly accurate when games started. They knew. You are conflating media and fans uninformed expectations with informed coaches.

 

[Ring 6]

Even Buffalo has Cook who DC's need to really worry about. Patriots don't have a receiver or te keeping DC's up at night. No true game changers. Receiver and te need to be upgraded.

Drake Maye keeps DCs up night far more than any wr or rb would.

 

[Ring 6]

What is balanced to you? Almost all teams have a 4% edge of passing over running plays. Only BUD and SEA are really balanced.

Only BUF runs more than it passes.

Only BUF, SEA, and PHI run more than we do.

You forgot about a team. The New England Patriots. 257 pass 262 run.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

He played at THE Ohio State University.

I know, but it’s still a major adjustment.
NFL rookies have talked about this for years, how the adjustment was harder than they expected.
In college most these guys dominate physically, and that is not true for almost every rookie in the NFL.
Additionally, the mental rigors of an NFL schedule off the field is far different than college, yes even including The Ohio State University.
It’s more a mental challenge than anything else that wears on these guys.
So we agree, physically the rookie wall is somewhat of a myth nowadays. I do however believe the mental fatigue is real.

 

[TommyD4207]

I know, but it’s still a major adjustment.
NFL rookies have talked about this for years, how the adjustment was harder than they expected.
In college most these guys dominate physically, and that is not true for almost every rookie in the NFL.
Additionally, the mental rigors of an NFL schedule off the field is far different than college, yes even including The Ohio State University.
It’s more a mental challenge than anything else that wears on these guys.
So we agree, physically the rookie wall is somewhat of a myth nowadays. I do however believe the mental fatigue is real.

I think the rookie wall used to be a real thing.
I think the mental fatigue is probably true to some degree, but then again, so is learning gameplans along with going to class on your downtime.

These kids, if they play in the championship (like Ohio State typically does), it's a 16 game season for them. I don't know how much it really factors in anymore, the rookie wall. It used to be 10, 11 game, 12 if you made a bowl game.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I think the rookie wall used to be a real thing.
I think the mental fatigue is probably true to some degree, but then again, so is learning gameplans along with going to class on your downtime.

These kids, if they play in the championship (like Ohio State typically does), it's a 16 game season for them. I don't know how much it really factors in anymore, the rookie wall. It used to be 10, 11 game, 12 if you made a bowl game.

I agree from a pure number of games standpoint.
That said, I have seen countless interviews with rooks over the years and the common theme was the most difficult thing for them was just adjusting to the rigors of NFL life. Coupled with the fact that don’t dominate like they did in college. Add it all together and it wears them out mentally.
These aren’t my words, these are countless accounts of young guys who went from college to the NFL.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Worthy
Rice
Brown

You've got to be kidding.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Drake Maye keeps DCs up night far more than any wr or rb would.

Again, no QB is going to win a SB alone.

And it would be malpractice to pin everything on a very young QB.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Not sure I agree with that. They knew what they had. He didn’t surprise them by suddenly becoming incredibly accurate when games started. They knew. You are conflating media and fans uninformed expectations with informed coaches.

I disagree....There is no way they thought he would be playing at an MVP level mid-season. Sorry not buying that.

 

[Thelonious]

Henderson has been a disappointment both as a pass blocker, alleged when he was drafted to be a forte, and in his running, which he seems to do for the most part with his eyes closed. It's good to have Jennings, but I suspect he's stuck at useful mediocrity. Rhamondre is a terrific pass blocker, but now has a firmly established record of fumbling and he is, in my mind, FAR too inconsistent for a "lead back" on whom one must depend to gain enough yards on 1st or 2nd that success on 3rd is more likely. His stats, and I think an objective watch of the games, suggest that he is not even average in this regard. Because he is as mediocre as he is, he is obviously overpaid. I wish we had traded him either fr a JAG pass rusher or for some other player actually of use, or for a draft pick. I don't understand why there is such support for this sub-par player.

If you look at the numbers, or watch the game, though the O-line is not top-flight in its run blocking, it is good enough that we should be a better run team than we are. The main problem is that we have a bunch of backs who, more often than would be the case on a team with a decent run game, sort of just run into somebody and fall down. I am aware that on occasion Rhamondre can run through a few people, but such runs are absolutely far more the exception than the rule. Time to move on.

 

[Ring 6]

I know, but it’s still a major adjustment.
NFL rookies have talked about this for years, how the adjustment was harder than they expected.
In college most these guys dominate physically, and that is not true for almost every rookie in the NFL.
Additionally, the mental rigors of an NFL schedule off the field is far different than college, yes even including The Ohio State University.
It’s more a mental challenge than anything else that wears on these guys.
So we agree, physically the rookie wall is somewhat of a myth nowadays. I do however believe the mental fatigue is real.

Yeah I just don’t agree. 22 year old kids don’t have mental fatigue playing a game. The rookie wall was always adapting to a longer season. Mentally competing for a national championship in a situation where anything less than a perfect season is a level of failure is at least as challenging as getting paid millions to play.

 

[Ring 6]

I disagree....There is no way they thought he would be playing at an MVP level mid-season. Sorry not buying that.

You don’t have to expect MVP play to recognize you have a qb with immense arm talent, and the right makeup to know that you can compete by throwing the ball which is a much preferred way to compete over ground and pound.
You throw if you can, you run if you can’t. There is no doubt they knew what they had.

 

[Ring 6]

Again, no QB is going to win a SB alone.

And it would be malpractice to pin everything on a very young QB.

Neither is a RB or WR.

I don’t understand your logic. They are asking him to be the QB. They are
running the offense to get the most out of the talent they have and the greatest talent they have is the QB.

Hoe is that “malpractice”? Are you one of those “ pressure is scary give everyone a participation trophy” dudes?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Yeah I just don’t agree. 22 year old kids don’t have mental fatigue playing a game. The rookie wall was always adapting to a longer season. Mentally competing for a national championship in a situation where anything less than a perfect season is a level of failure is at least as challenging as getting paid millions to play.

That’s fine.
For the record I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you, just reiterating what I’ve heard countless rookies say over the years.
I’ve heard it so many times from so many players over the years, I have to give it some credence.

 

[Patsfan1645]

You don’t have to expect MVP play to recognize you have a qb with immense arm talent, and the right makeup to know that you can compete by throwing the ball which is a much preferred way to compete over ground and pound.
You throw if you can, you run if you can’t. There is no doubt they knew what they had.

Of course they knew they had talent....no way they knew it would mature at this rate.

His passer rating for 2024 was 88.1 and currently its at 116.9. There is no way they anticipated this kind of jump so soon. In fact his passer rating was below average last year as average was 92-94. This year he sits at second only behind Lamar (which is suprising).

 

[Triumph]

To be fair Ring, it’s just not the number of games.
NFL rookies have said for years how it’s an adjustment to football everyday all day, practice, film room, meetings. It’s the live, breath sleep football 24 hrs a day that is the real adjustment. It’s more a mental grind than physical.

Talent too.

Henderson was supposedly the best blocking RB in the draft.

I have watched him get blown up this season a few times facing NFL talent.

Heres the number of 2024 NFL defensive draft picks that Henderson faced.

Akron - 0
W Michigan - 1 Marshawn Kneeland (RIP)
Marshall - 2
Michigan ST - 0
Iowa - 2
Oregon - 3
Nebraska - 0
Penn ST - 2
Purdue - 1
Northwestern - 0
Indiana - 0
Michigan - 5 Henderson's worst game of 2024. 10 carries - 21 yds - 2.1 ypc. OSU was held to 10 points.
Tennessee - 1
Oregon - 3
Texas - 4
Notre Dame - 4

25 players that made the NFL Draft over the course of 16 games. Whereas Henderson easily faces 25 NFL players in 2 NFL games. The same people trying to suggest that the leagues are comparable are same Yahoos that wanted Hollins cut to keep Baker and Polk.

Foolish talk.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Of course they knew they had talent....no way they knew it would mature at this rate.

His passer rating for 2024 was 88.1 and currently its at 116.9. There is no way they anticipated this kind of jump so soon. In fact his passer rating was below average last year as average was 92-94. This year he sits at second only behind Lamar (which is suprising).

Because he misses games which also help protect his stats. He has a history of this.

 

[Ring 6]

Of course they knew they had talent....no way they knew it would mature at this rate.

His passer rating for 2024 was 88.1 and currently its at 116.9. There is no way they anticipated this kind of jump so soon. In fact his passer rating was below average last year as average was 92-94. This year he sits at second only behind Lamar (which is suprising).

You keep moving the goal posts. I’m big taking about passer ratings or “jumps”. I am saying when they came into this season they were aware that the best thing this team had was its qb and that to win this year they would do it by cutting him looose and throwing the ball.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Because he misses games which also help protect his stats. He has a history of this.

No doubt...but I still would not have expected him at the top.