PFT: "The Patriots quietly have the NFL’s most efficient running game"

[Soul_Survivor88]

PFT: "The Patriots quietly have the NFL’s most efficient running game"


Thanks in large part to Dion Lewis, one of the most promising RBs in the league

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ly-have-the-nfls-most-effective-running-game/

The Patriots’ running offense is so good that they’ve picked up first downs on 27.7 percent of their running plays, the best percentage in the NFL. The Patriots are tied for fifth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns, with six, even though they rank 30th in the NFL in total rushing attempts. The Patriots are one of only five teams in the league that hasn’t fumbled on a running play this year. According to the advanced stats at FootballOutsiders.com, the Patriots are the most efficient team in the NFL at running the ball.

Although the Patriots’ average of 3.9 yards a carry doesn’t look great, the Patriots’ stats are skewed a bit because they’ve had eight quarterback kneeldowns for negative-10 yards. Remove the quarterback kneeldowns, and the Patriots are averaging 4.4 yards a carry — a very healthy average for a team that usually runs in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

PFT: Pats have most efficient running game


http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ly-have-the-nfls-most-effective-running-game/

nice article.

 

[Oswlek]

Laurence Maroney used to get favorable FO ratings as well. I think this is a case of a good running team looking great due to scheme and teams being more worried about the pass.

 

[captain stone]

I still would've liked them (i.e.: Blunt) to convert those short-yardage runs v Dallas.
The play-calling/formations were rather unimaginative, they took too long to snap the ball,
and Blunt is so damn slooowww.

 

[pctronics0072]

Didnt lewis cough it up in week two. Article says we have no running fumbles.

 

[NormZauchin]

Thanks in large part to Dion Lewis, one of the most promising RBs in the league

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ly-have-the-nfls-most-effective-running-game/

The Patriots’ running offense is so good that they’ve picked up first downs on 27.7 percent of their running plays, the best percentage in the NFL. The Patriots are tied for fifth in the NFL in rushing touchdowns, with six, even though they rank 30th in the NFL in total rushing attempts. The Patriots are one of only five teams in the league that hasn’t fumbled on a running play this year. According to the advanced stats at FootballOutsiders.com, the Patriots are the most efficient team in the NFL at running the ball.

Although the Patriots’ average of 3.9 yards a carry doesn’t look great, the Patriots’ stats are skewed a bit because they’ve had eight quarterback kneeldowns for negative-10 yards. Remove the quarterback kneeldowns, and the Patriots are averaging 4.4 yards a carry — a very healthy average for a team that usually runs in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

It's interesting how the kneel downs affect the yards per carry. The Patriots, because they win more than any other team and rarely have to attempt to score on their last possession, probably lead the league in kneel downs every year. This probably has some minor effect on their year end, yards per carry. And as for poor Brady, it absolutely destroys his yards per carry!

 

[oldrover]

Didnt lewis cough it up in week two. Article says we have no running fumbles.

Lewis's fumbles were off passes.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I still would've liked them (i.e.: Blunt) to convert those short-yardage runs v Dallas.
The play-calling/formations were rather unimaginative, they took too long to snap the ball,
and Blunt is so damn slooowww.

Might just be my perception but they seem to get stuffed a lot on those short yardage plays.

Except for TB12 who is like 192 for 193 in converting 3rd and inches.

 

[oldrover]

My perception these days is that a LOT of teams get stuffed running on 3rd and 1.

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

You would think Blount would be an effective short yardage guy, but he doesn't seem to be. You would think he wouldn't be a big threat to break long runs either, but he does that almost every game.

Lynch is another guy you intuitively think is good for short yardage because he's physical, but the numbers I've seen show he's pretty average.

I guess short yards is probably more about the O-line.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I guess short yards is probably more about the O-line.

Yes and the Pats are not a blow ya off the ball OL although they seem to have the pieces in Shaq, Jackson, Stork and Vollmer. Even Cannon is 350 or so. They liked running behind Solder so who know what the deal is now running on that side.

 

[PatsFan2]

Can we start using Dion Lewis on 3rd on 1 instead of Blount who instead of running straight ahead goes sideways. We are waaay more dangerous with Lewis in every way.

 

[DarrylS]

I think Football Outsiders agrees with this, but sometimes they have a tendency to overthink (0vercomplicate) this stuff...

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamoff

 

[Fencer]

It's really tough to judge a running game on simple stats (although the lack of fumbles is nice, and is especially nice because of the Framegate tangent about PSI vs. fumble rates). As the article sort of points out, there are at least 3 kinds of true rushing scenario, or 4 if you include kneeldowns:

• Short yardage/(run is the base case).
• Passing down/(run stats are likely inflated by the defense's pass focus).
• Generic down/(generic run play).

YPC should be the top metric only in the third scenario.

 

[Deus Irae]

I still would've liked them (i.e.: Blunt) to convert those short-yardage runs v Dallas.
The play-calling/formations were rather unimaginative, they took too long to snap the ball,
and Blunt is so damn slooowww.

Blount's not slow. Blount needs 2 steps to get up to speed, which is not the same thing. Those plays generally fail because of penetration, not a RB issue.

 

[bbobbo]

It's interesting how the kneel downs affect the yards per carry. The Patriots, because they win more than any other team and rarely have to attempt to score on their last possession, probably lead the league in kneel downs every year. This probably has some minor effect on their year end, yards per carry. And as for poor Brady, it absolutely destroys his yards per carry!

in both the jaguars game and the cowboys game, garoppolo came in for the kneeldowns. stats preserved!

 

[Deus Irae]

The reason the Patriots running game sucks:

Jimmy Garoppolo: 4 carries, -4 yards

Time to cut that guy

 

[BobDigital]

I think Mason is an underrated part of this equation. He might be up to this point the best guard taken in the draft so far. His pass blocking has overall been solid and though he has lost on a few run plays at other times he has blown guys off the line.

 

[PatsFanInLondon]

Hold on a minute - ESPN's "RBR" rating has the Pats running game as the second worst in the league..?

(It would have if such a thing existed...)

 

[oldrover]

The reason the Patriots running game sucks:

Jimmy Garoppolo: 4 carries, -4 yards

Time to cut that guy

LOL... hey, Jimmy...



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