Running game concerns

Many had assumed coming into the season that the Pats would continue their winning formula from the end of last season and postseason of a run heavy team with Tom mostly under center, winning time of possession, and passing game slowly opening under play action. The first game was a bit discouraging but I understand it’s early days.

It seems the loss of Gronkowski and Allen as well as 2-3 changes in the OL will in aggregate significantly impact the potency of the run game from end of last year. Michel’s 15 yards on 14 carries quickly led to him being shelved in favour of doses of White and Burkhead for the rest of the game. Despite offseason and preseason attempts to integrate Michel into the passing game, it seems we are still a bit too predictable about our run intention with Michel in and have to heavily rely on strong execution which appears harder with the personnel changes. Michel did go 3/3 on 3rd and 1 carries so that was encouraging.

For those who have broken down the film or watched the game again, can someone elaborate how much of us putting the run game aside after the first quarter was the Steelers’ stacking the box and overplaying the run versus our own execution challenges with the drop off from Izzo and Karras etc.

I guess we’ll try and find the identity of this team as the season progresses and I am sure Josh will do whatever is best for the team and certainly we were very successful with the 20 personnel we deployed. I am just curious what that identity will be since I certainly was a bit surprised to see Tom throwing for 350 yards in a blowout win.

Fantastic win guys. Let’s see how Michel’s role evolves this season.

Everyone but Michel had good games/good rush per attempts. It’s a stingy run defense. No one cares how they win in terms of pass vs. rush. They’ll do whatever works best. There will be times when one aspect of the offense is shut down, and McD will adapt and go the other way.

If Sony is too predictable, they’ll do a better job of getting him some screen passes. Give it time.

The pats went to a running game out of sheer necessity. You don’t draft a wide receiver in the first round, bring back Gordon, and sign Antonio brown cause you plan on being a run first team. Translation Brady is fine. It was more about his lack of weapons last year.

Not concerned yet but losing Gronk and Allen in the running game was a concern of mine going in.

I think they'll be ok.

Difficult to make this assessment after one game; Steelers had the 6th best run defense in 2018 & Michel may be working his way back from his knee surgery in June..

Lets see how future game plans evolve before making assessments..

Belichick and the Pats will adjust on a game by game basis. Steelers have a solid run defense so they leaned pass, where the steelers are not as good. Others games will be different.

But the Pats passing game is much better now and you cant expect them to ignore that in any game. That would be like asking someone that owns a Lear jet to take a ferry across the ocean.

It's one game like other stated and honestly with the next 6 games on the schedule what would that tell us. If the run wild the excuse will be the competition

Biffins said:

... The first game was a bit discouraging but I understand it’s early days.
....
Fantastic win guys. ....

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Cognitive dissonance?

I'd advise to stay away forming any opinions about what the offense will be or look like for another handful of games. You will not be able to tell this team's identity for a while as even the coaches usually need a while to figure that out.

Add in the fact how much of chameleon we are in terms of changing from week to week and it is a fools errand to predict anything based on the season opener. I mean speculate away if you wanna kill time but it seems kinda pointless with the lack of data points for now. Maybe in 2-3 weeks we will be able to see some early patterns.

If they can't gain over 100yds on the ground against that Expansion Team in Florida next Sunday then I'd worry.

The Steelers were expecting a lot of Sony ...thinking Tom starts off slow at the beginning of a new season...and were ready for his patient / waiting for blockers style. Burkhead on the other hand just runs to the hole and jump cuts which the Steelers were not game planning for. IMO that was part of the reason for the low Sony yardage. Also with the Burkhead receptions...that kept them on their heels. I expect that to change against the Dolphins.

OL in flux
Run schemes require OL choreography
Give it time

Biffins said:

The first game was a bit discouraging but I understand it’s early days.

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Never too early to find something to be discouraged by though...

First drive was run heavy, didn’t go so well. Second drive went pass heavy, marched down the field. So Partially it was due to adjustments based on opponent . I understand the concern though because even in clock killing mode Michel was not effective. I don’t think the run game is ready to take it to the next level so there will be down games like this but i still expect some games like last year with 150+ yards on the ground. Gonna depend on matchups too

until they start throwing the ball to michel or going to more passing plays on the field, it will always feel like there's an extra defender on the field.....the steelers packed in the box when michel was out there

IllegalContact said:

until they start throwing the ball to michel or going to more passing plays on the field, it will always feel like there's an extra defender on the field.....the steelers packed in the box when michel was out there

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This is it, they packed the box. They managed to stop Sony, but TB killed them with play action throws. My guess is BB hopes to be able to put bigs on bigs and run it down their throats if he wants, but they aren't there yet. So bigs on bigs play action kills them. The Steelers watched the playoffs and saw us just run it down everyone's throat, so they sold out to stop that, which opened them up to everything else.

Given the problems on the OL and at the TE position, plus the embarrassment of riches at WR, we're going to throw a lot more this year.

I'm fine with that.

I want to see 3 WRs out there at all times.

I suspect they are going to keep James White cloaked and healthy until later in the year when he becomes a hue weapon in the offense.

They keyed on the run especially when Michel was in there. That's why our play-action worked great.

Michel better have a big year, i f#ck!ng drafted him in the 2nd round

Trent Brown 6'8 343 Lbs
Isaiah Wynn 6'2 310 Lbs
No Gronk

That has a lot to do with it.

Again we take what the defense gives us. I think rushing results will vary greatly based on opponent. I do also agree no Gronk will hurt us in the rushing game to some degree, well that and Oline needing time to jell.