Running game concerns

Teej said:

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Brown and Gronk are top shelf NFL blockers, Wynn and Izzo are not currently in that class and that has to affect the running game as opposed to last year. We'll see how it improves with time.

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Wynn is as good a run blocker as Trent Brown was.

I'll give you the statement on Izzo but that's true. But not regarding Wynn/Brown.

DaBruinz said:

Sorry, but unless you compared the actual run calls, saying that they ran behind the same line is a ridiculous. It's not even a true comparison. Fact is that 13 of 15 of Michel's runs were between the tackles. I think Burkhead had 2 that were between the tackles and one of them was only because the blocking got blown up and he had to juke away from the Pitt DT.

As for you saying that Sony didn't run hard or with decisiveness, please. He ran hard on every single play. It's how he was able to sell the play-action passes later one.

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I know I’m sure I don’t have a good grasp the X’s and O’s of the run blocking and such BUT what I saw was Michel not running with decisiveness and a guy who has more carries than yards. Calling it as I see it, it’s just one game obviously.

Bfanlc said:

Any chance Damien Harris gets a look? Last I heard he possibly had an injury?

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If we go by the Steelers game, then Harris is 5th behind Michel, White, Burkhead and Bolden. I'd say we'd only see him if there is an injury to one of the 4 ahead of him.

Kdo5 said:

I know I’m sure I don’t have a good grasp the X’s and O’s of the run blocking and such BUT what I saw was Michel not running with decisiveness and a guy who has more carries than yards. Calling it as I see it, it’s just one game obviously.

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Not sure I saw the same thing. What I was seeing was Michel maximizing what was given by the OL. When Burkhead was out there, he was able to exploit creases created by the OL...and when Michel was in...there were no creases nor much daylight....

DaBruinz said:

If we go by the Steelers game, then Harris is 5th behind Michel, White, Burkhead and Bolden. I'd say we'd only see him if there is an injury to one of the 4 ahead of him.

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White is reportedly not traveling due to wife’s expected delivery. Bolden dresses for STs as well. Should see Harris debut.

Kdo5 said:

I know I’m sure I don’t have a good grasp the X’s and O’s of the run blocking and such BUT what I saw was Michel not running with decisiveness and a guy who has more carries than yards. Calling it as I see it, it’s just one game obviously.

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How can you say he wasn't running with decisiveness? He was running to where the holes were supposed to be. There was minimal if any "dancing" the way Maroney did.

Again, unless you take a look at what the blocking was and what the opposing team was doing, focusing on "more carries than yards" means you don't understand what you are seeing. Especially when you ignore what was happening with the Play-Action Pass.

Mack Herron said:

White is reportedly not traveling due to wife’s expected delivery. Bolden dresses for STs as well. Should see Harris debut.

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Hadn't heard that White won't be there. That sucks really really bad. Though we shouldn't need him.

You're right. We should see Harris' debut.

DaBruinz said:

How can you say he wasn't running with decisiveness? He was running to where the holes were supposed to be. There was minimal if any "dancing" the way Maroney did.

Again, unless you take a look at what the blocking was and what the opposing team was doing, focusing on "more carries than yards" means you don't understand what you are seeing. Especially when you ignore what was happening with the Play-Action Pass.

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If you say so. Hopefully you are correct.

DaBruinz said:

Hadn't heard that White won't be there. That sucks really really bad. Though we shouldn't need him.

You're right. We should see Harris' debut.

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I posted an unconfirmed report in the Miami thread. Waiting for confirmation.

pats_premi said:

I wonder if the Patriots would sign Dwayne Allen when he is healthy.

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That would be fantastic. My only issue was price but he’d be cheap now

I love skipping every page to post my own opinion, which probably parrots some response that's already been posted!

But I feel it's a combo of adjustments and what this team can do best. Running didn't work great at first, so we relied on pass afterwards. Also, given the offensive makeup, it's definitely a bit stronger in the pass category now. Losing Gronk as a blocker makes it difficult to run on run-telegraphed plays. However, we do have big ass WR's who can throw a block at a corner any day of the week. Just seems to be more opportunities for the passing game atm.

I think Damien Harris inactivity is just a classic case of a rookie paying his dues. I really think the Pats think highly of him. He is such a luxury to have for Sony insurance. Save the treads on his tires this year while getting him completely entrenched in the playbook, bring him out this year when/if needed. Burkhead is on the team for a reason.

The Patriots have the perfect RB setup

#1 Versatile workhorse on rookie contract
#2 Receiving back on fair contract who elevates his game during the most important time
#3 Completely versatile back who can carry the load if needed, or be split out wide, or punch it in on the 1.
#4 Special teams ace who can be relied upon in an emergency

......#5 Stud versatile back with great vision and power who can be called upon when/if needed while refining his knowledge of the playbook

DaBruinz said:

Hadn't heard that White won't be there. That sucks really really bad. Though we shouldn't need him.

You're right. We should see Harris' debut.

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We should also see a good dose of Third Down Sony.

kurtinelson said:

I think its reasonable to be concerned that our O line minus Brown, Andrews and Cannon is not going to be as effective as last year's unit.

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The word of the day is cohesion. I would suspect that the hardest part of playing the OL is the ability to perform as a unit. Know what the other guy is going to do. That's been a good luxury past couple years - pretty steady "same dudes every week" especially across the interior even if the LT/RT has been in flux.

This year its all flux so there's less comfort, less cohesion. Time...it's going to take time.

If anything, I'd say our line is a concern in the running game. Didn't love what I saw week one. Doesn't mean much this early though. Historically they figure it out fairly quickly.

DaBruinz said:

If we go by the Steelers game, then Harris is 5th behind Michel, White, Burkhead and Bolden. I'd say we'd only see him if there is an injury to one of the 4 ahead of him.

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He should move ahead of Bolden soon.

Some games the run will carry the day and so on. No one can shut us down. We ‘re stealthy able.

I was worried in the other thread but not in this one.

Not too much ... replacing Gronk's blocking will take some time.

There is no one than can replace Gronk's blocking. Gronk saved a position on the field. it was like playing 12 men. On every play, Gronk was a top blocker and a top pass option.

IcyPatriot said:

Not too much ... replacing Gronk's blocking will take some time.

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