Evolution to a Power Running Offense

Im telling you guys, BB is a scholar of NFL history and the Kentucky Derby. Everything is lining up.

Triumph said:

Im telling you guys, BB is a scholar of NFL history and the Kentucky Derby. Everything is lining up.

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Game winner

Patriot Missile said:

Right, there’s gonna be days where the other team will stop the run and Brady will air it out. Or they will game plan specific to throw first with sprinkled runs or 50/50.

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Yep. Plus when I think of a true power football running team, the 3rd and shorts and goal to go are academic

Well this is BB being true to form. The league zigs, BB zags.

League gets smaller and faster on D BB creates the ability to play smash mouth, see the Charger playoff game.

The emphasis is till thge same overall thourh have an "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome" team that is a Chameleon from week to week based on opponent, the same thing on Defense. Williams will take on #2 Wr's and pass catching TE's leaving Gilmore to play the #1 WR.

The fun in watch BB build a roster is to try to see where he sees the league going and how he wants to exploit the opportunities that change represents. He has seen it all over hte past 42 years and uses that knowledge to morph the team to create problems for the "New" Trends in the NFL.

Looking forward to camp. The problems we see as fans are so minuscule compared to other franchises it is funny.

SBLIII said:

Last 5 games

183 passing attempts
191 rushing attempts

We already moved to a 50/50 pass/run offense and probably even more towards run in 2019.

The reason is probably a combination between keeping TB12 relatively fresh and the opponents defense not being able to defend us.

I think it's an extremely smart transition. TB can still be very effective for another 3-4 years that way.

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Fantastic stat to back this up. Evolution happened starting last year.


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Teams are adjusting their defense to stop 3 wr sets and the Patriots are going power. It is brilliant, ahead of the curve.

DropKickFlutie said:

Fantastic stat to back this up. Evolution happened starting last year.


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It showed up last year, but it started when they drafted Shaq Mason. It will still always be determined by opponent, but when they can inflict their will on their opponent they are going to do so.

Nunchucks said:

Teams are adjusting their defense to stop 3 wr sets and the Patriots are going power. It is brilliant, ahead of the curve.

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And if they go big to stop it they can air it out. They aren’t finished creating this offense, but it will still be really good.

SBLIII said:

Last 5 games

183 passing attempts
191 rushing attempts

We already moved to a 50/50 pass/run offense and probably even more towards run in 2019.

The reason is probably a combination between keeping TB12 relatively fresh and the opponents defense not being able to defend us.

I think it's an extremely smart transition. TB can still be very effective for another 3-4 years that way.

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I don’t think 5 games is a big enough sample size to indicate a philosophical change.
When you consider the weather, and opponent in the last 2 games and playing from ahead, it’s not that unusual.

robertweathers said:

Yep. Plus when I think of a true power football running team, the 3rd and shorts and goal to go are academic

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Interestingly, none of our RBs are big power backs (like Hill at 230) and our OL picks are distinguished by their pass blocking. Where they are getting bigger is WR, where Harry is actually bigger than any of our RBs.

Mack Herron said:

Interestingly, none of our RBs are big power backs (like Hill at 230) and our OL picks are distinguished by their pass blocking. Where they are getting bigger is WR, where Harry is actually bigger than any of our RBs.

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They could be evolving into a 80s 49ers type team. Not a power running team but in a few of those years ran more than they passed and had big WRs who could block downfield

I guess that I disagree.

We need to be able to have the best possible game plan. Sometimes, we'll be run focused, sometimes pass focused, sometimes balanced.

Let's look at the two sides

RUN GAME
We drafted a companion for Michel. We now can comfortably run a powerful 2 RB set. Also, Harris can simply be a change of pace, and/or allow Michel to be more rested.
We do continue to have our fine fullback.

For me, we have 2 "starting" RB's, a 3rd down RB and a backup. We also have a Ster and a FB. We shouldn't be wanting to go into the season with less.

PASSING GAME
We have one of the very best passing games in the NFL. We have Brady and a fine OL. As we know, Brady can work his magic WITHOUT a top set of receivers.

Let's look. Our RB's are good receivers. Until we know otherwise, we expect to have Edelman-DT/Gordon-Harry-Dorsett-Ellington/Harris/Berrios/Patterson/UDFA.

I'm fine going into the season with Edelman, DT, Harry and Dorsett. Among these, we also have a couple of PR's.

We will definitely pick up a veteran TE.

So, OK, our top receiving threats are our top 3 WR's, and 2 RB's. We also will have our veteran TE. These six may have 95% of our receptions.

I'll be fine with our passing game. Obviously, we don't need to fine with it until the second half of the season.

SBLIII said:

Last 5 games

183 passing attempts
191 rushing attempts

We already moved to a 50/50 pass/run offense and probably even more towards run in 2019.

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DropKickFlutie said:

I'm not following how you conclude we will have a no-TE offense because they didn't draft a tight end ?

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I don't really expect it, but I'm wishing that the Pats not drafting a tight end was a signal that Gronk will be coming back mid-season.

woolster22 said:

What better way to manage any decline in a 40+ QB than lean on the run game?

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Patriot Missile said:

I like the direction, BB is turning the clock back.

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SBLIII said:

Last 5 games

183 passing attempts
191 rushing attempts

We already moved to a 50/50 pass/run offense and probably even more towards run in 2019.

Click to expand...

patsfan13 said:

Well this is BB being true to form. The league zigs, BB zags.

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DropKickFlutie said:

Fantastic stat to back this up. Evolution happened starting last year.

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Ivan said:

It showed up last year, but it started when they drafted Shaq Mason.

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Belichick has had plenty of balanced attacks. It’s just a question of having the right backs and being able to run the ball successfully.

In 2010, with BJGE and Woodhead, they were rushing at a 48 percent clip.

In 2016, it was 47 percent.

In 2004, they ran the ball at a 51 percent clip, actually taking the majority of the offensive snaps.

In 2003, it was about 48-49 percent.

It’s no coincidence that 3 of these teams were SB winners, and the one that wasn’t went 14-2 that year.

It’s great to see a dedication to the RBs, and adding the draft pick gives them even more options. As we all know, there are plenty of ways to attack an opponent, so this should guarantee a balanced offense. Prior to the draft pick, we were all talking about signing a guy like Jeremy Hill again in case Sony Michel went down, so it’s really no surprise that they added a player who is younger, with more talent, less injury history, and a comparable cost which is quite reasonable. The fact that he’s under contract for 4 years is a bonus.

fightingirish595 said:

Difference between Power running and Heavy running

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Power running is sprinting after I've taken some warm up laps, properly hydrated, with ample rest. Heavy running is what our drill sergeants used to make us do after we had a full hot meal at dinner chow.

Rushing as a percentage of total plays:

- 2016: 1056 plays, 482 rushes, 45.6% rushing
- 2017: 1070 plays, 448 rushes, 41.9% rushing
- 2018 (1st 14 games): 936 plays, 401 rushes, 42.8% rushing
TOT: 3062 plays, 1331 rushes, 43.5% rushing
- 2018 (last 2 games + playoffs): 377 plays, 191 rushes, 50.7% rushing

So it may have just been about the matchups and what worked *in those particular games* (which would be completely consistent with BB's MO), OR it could have been a shift in philosophy to more running. But clearly there was a difference in approach.

I'm sure in any given game, BB will do what he thinks is best to win. If spreading teams out and throwing 45 times is it, then that's what they'll do. If pounding it is the best idea, then that's what they'll do. But as an overall philosophy, I wouldn't at all be surprised if they look to run more. There are several reasons why this would make sense:

(1) They have a stable of excellent running backs now.
(2) They have a road grading offensive line.
(3) Brady will be 42. They're going to want to reduce his exposure to big hits.

They can do this knowing that if they NEED to have Brady throw a ton, he can still get the job done. This isn't Baltimore that cannot rely on their QB to throw 45 times in a game if they have to. They can play the power running game, keeping fresh guys behind a powerful offensive line, and if they need to open it up, Brady can still wing it with the best of them.

But I predict that on the whole, we see more running this year than in years past. But that's not really a bold prediction or a hot take...that seems like a pretty safe bet.

AndyJohnson said:

I don’t think 5 games is a big enough sample size to indicate a philosophical change.
When you consider the weather, and opponent in the last 2 games and playing from ahead, it’s not that unusual.

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True. I ran the numbers on all the post seasons from 2001-now. This was the first year since the 01,03,04 run that they ran more than they passed in the post season. (* in one of those one and done losses to the Jets- 2011 (?), they ran it more but that was one game) There were individual games that the game plan was to run it ( 2 post season games versus Indy where they ran all over them). Part of the pass first offense was playing from behind where they had to go pass , SB 49, SB 51, 2014 game versus Balt negating the chance to run. By and large, the Pats were a pass first team in the post season but this year it changed...
By and large it looks like BB is trying to create a solid competent powerful running game that will keep defenses honest and keeping them off guard as to whether it is a run, play action or pass.... and the net effect is to hopefully minimize the hits and prolong the career of pick #199....

Just keep tacking on plays to Brady's career. Please and thank you.

Patsfanin Philly said:

True. I ran the numbers on all the post seasons from 2001-now. This was the first year since the 01,03,04 run that they ran more than they passed in the post season. (* in one of those one and done losses to the Jets- 2011 (?), they ran it more but that was one game) There were individual games that the game plan was to run it ( 2 post season games versus Indy where they ran all over them). Part of the pass first offense was playing from behind where they had to go pass , SB 49, SB 51, 2014 game versus Balt negating the chance to run. By and large, the Pats were a pass first team in the post season but this year it changed...
By and large it looks like BB is trying to create a solid competent powerful running game that will keep defenses honest and keeping them off guard as to whether it is a run, play action or pass.... and the net effect is to hopefully minimize the hits and prolong the career of pick #199....

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They didn’t run more than they passed in the post season. The numbers posted earlier included the last 2 games and were skewed by the 47 runs vs Buffalo when they couldn’t stop the rim to save their lives.

Not much difference between a 6-4 250 pound tight end who benches 17 reps, and a 6-3 230 pound wide receiver who benches 27 reps. I think sometimes we get a little caught up in set positions rather than what they are actually doing on the field.

TE, RB, and WR's, at times seemed to be doing the same exact thing from play to play/game to game.

DB's played DB and safety and vise versa from play to play, game to game.

I think Bill is trying to develop a team that can take advantage of other teams weaknesses. Play a team that goes small on D and gives your passing game a fit, run it down their throat. Play a team that doesn't allow any rushing yards, put in a pass happy offense. Other teams almost always are one dimensional, the Patriots win because they aren't.