Lewis and the running game!

[drewskie]

The run blocking has allowed all our runners to run between the tackles/up the gut much better than last year. Having said that, Dion looked a little more explosive last year which was absolutely necessary given how instable the OL was in 2015, meaning more runs on the outside or catches in the flat.

 

[doesntmatter1]

That was a fair criticism last year, but I don't think that's totally accurate anymore.

Last year, Lewis averaged 4.8 YPC, this year 4.4.

Last year, White averaged 2.5 YPC, this year 4.2.

White is also averaging more yards per catch, although Lewis has a very small sample size to work with so far.

Lewis has been more consistent in terms of production. He's rushed 53 times, and only 2 of those were for negative yards compared to 3 of 37 rushes for White. Lewis has also kept drives moving, as 40 of those 53 runs went for 3 yards or more (75%) compared to White's 23 of 37 (62%). However White has been productive in the run game.

Not saying White is better than Lewis. I love Dion, glad he's on the team. But I think the White bashing about the running is no longer valid. It came up a lot last year, and quite a bit early on this season. It's time to let it go.

White's rushing stats are ridiculously misleading. Lewis is churning out tough yards while White has many gifted to him on draws ran on 3rd and 20. White is a great receiver but the bashing he receives for running up the gut is still valid. Do you think White could have ran against the Broncos, who easily shut down Blount btw, like Lewis did?

 

[PF_SU]

White's rushing stats are ridiculously misleading. Lewis is churning out tough yards while White has many gifted to him on draws ran on 3rd and 20. White is a great receiver but the bashing he receives for running up the gut is still valid. Do you think White could have ran against the Broncos, who easily shut down Blount btw, like Lewis did?

Not counting yesterday White has rushed:

12 times on 1st Down: 57 yards (4.8 ypc) - average to go 9.6 yards
18 times on 2nd Down: 70 yards (3.9 ypc) - average to go 8.6 yards
6 times on 3rd Down: 28 yards (4.7 ypc) - average to go 13.7 yards (14 of those 28 yards were gained on the 3rd and 20 against the Jets last week)
1 time on 4th Down: 2 yards on a 4th and 1

Dion Lewis prior to yesterday has rushed:

28 times on 1st Down: 119 yards (4.3 ypc) - average to go 9.3 yards
22 times on 2nd Down: 94 yards (4.3 ypc) - average to go 8.1 yards
5 times on 3rd Down: 22 yards (4.4 ypc) - average to go 4.4 yards

James White has been great for us this year, but Dion Lewis in the running game is used very differently, especially on 1st Down.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

White's rushing stats are ridiculously misleading. Lewis is churning out tough yards while White has many gifted to him on draws ran on 3rd and 20. White is a great receiver but the bashing he receives for running up the gut is still valid. Do you think White could have ran against the Broncos, who easily shut down Blount btw, like Lewis did?

I'm not arguing that White is a better rusher than Lewis. But White is definitely better than last year, while Lewis is less effective than last year. To proclaim White's stats are "ridiculously misleading" is ridiculously misleading. White has absolutely improved as a runner, though Lewis is still the better option.

In terms of 3rd and long (let's say 8+ as the NFL defines it), White has had 5 rushes for 32 yards, but this is over the course of a 16-game season so it's not a significant amount of rushes. If you remove those rushes, his average drops to 3.95 YPC, still significantly better than his 2.5 YPC last year, though not as good as Lewis's average of 4.3 YPC when removing his 2 3rd and long runs.

On average, White has 9.72 yards to go when he runs while Lewis has 8.89. White averages 4.26 yards, while Lewis averages 4.42 yards. White gets a 1st down on 20.5% of his runs, Lewis gets a 1st down on 21.9% of his runs.

Lewis is the superior player, make no mistake about it. But bashing White because he can't run the ball is just plain wrong. He's done a much better job this season, and you don't lose nearly as much as you did compared to last season.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm not arguing that White is a better rusher than Lewis. But White is definitely better than last year, while Lewis is less effective than last year. To proclaim White's stats are "ridiculously misleading" is ridiculously misleading. White has absolutely improved as a runner, though Lewis is still the better option.

In terms of 3rd and long (let's say 8+ as the NFL defines it), White has had 5 rushes for 32 yards, but this is over the course of a 16-game season so it's not a significant amount of rushes. If you remove those rushes, his average drops to 3.95 YPC, still significantly better than his 2.5 YPC last year, though not as good as Lewis's average of 4.3 YPC when removing his 2 3rd and long runs.

On average, White has 9.72 yards to go when he runs while Lewis has 8.89. White averages 4.26 yards, while Lewis averages 4.42 yards. White gets a 1st down on 20.5% of his runs, Lewis gets a 1st down on 21.9% of his runs.

Lewis is the superior player, make no mistake about it. But bashing White because he can't run the ball is just plain wrong. He's done a much better job this season, and you don't lose nearly as much as you did compared to last season.

White is improved. There is no doubt.

By saying Lewis is less effective as a runner compared to 2015 is splitting hairs in a major way.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

White is improved. There is no doubt.

By saying Lewis is less effective as a runner compared to 2015 is splitting hairs in a major way.

I just meant in terms of average (4.8 YPC last year vs. 4.4 YPC this year), although I suspect some of that comes from the rust associated with coming back from his injury.

For example, over 30% of Lewis's runs last year resulted in a 1st down. This year, it's down to 21%. There are times he's like one move or one shift or one jump cut away from picking it up, he's getting closer and I expect him to emerge in the playoffs.

 

[scott99]

That was a fair criticism last year, but I don't think that's totally accurate anymore.

Last year, Lewis averaged 4.8 YPC, this year 4.4.

Last year, White averaged 2.5 YPC, this year 4.2.

White is also averaging more yards per catch, although Lewis has a very small sample size to work with so far.

Lewis has been more consistent in terms of production. He's rushed 53 times, and only 2 of those were for negative yards compared to 3 of 37 rushes for White. Lewis has also kept drives moving, as 40 of those 53 runs went for 3 yards or more (75%) compared to White's 23 of 37 (62%). However White has been productive in the run game.

Not saying White is better than Lewis. I love Dion, glad he's on the team. But I think the White bashing about the running is no longer valid. It came up a lot last year, and quite a bit early on this season. It's time to let it go.

Oh, I'm not bashing White at all, in fact, I think he's a very good receiving back, one if the best. I don't think McDaniels uses him like he uses Lewis. White is being used as a true 3rd down back. Lewis is being used on all 3 downs as a change of pace when Blount needs a breather.

I like the fact that they had Lewis and White in the backfield at the same time, that could be devastating for a defense.

 

[ChessToCheckers]

Having White AND Lewis AND Blount is special. Having a consistent O-Line in front of them is amazing, given where they were last year. That they ALL appear healthy heading into the playoffs is a thing of beauty!

Brady usually doesn't have this kind of running game to balance the attack.

Good luck to any team who can stop our Offense!

Go Pats!

 

[RobertWeathers]

I just meant in terms of average (4.8 YPC last year vs. 4.4 YPC this year), although I suspect some of that comes from the rust associated with coming back from his injury.

For example, over 30% of Lewis's runs last year resulted in a 1st down. This year, it's down to 21%. There are times he's like one move or one shift or one jump cut away from picking it up, he's getting closer and I expect him to emerge in the playoffs.

The violent jump cut is absent from his game. That's where he picked up his yardage in the passing game.

But guy he has emerged.