Patriots Running Game Completely Shut Down by the Lions

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots Running Game Completely Shut Down by the Lions
By: Ian Logue

The Patriots running game had a tough night against the Lions defense....

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[mgteich]

The Lions have a top DL. The decided to take away our running game. This opened many opportunities. We failed to execute in the passing game. And, our player couldn't hold on to the ball.

We didn't lose because we couldn't run.

 

[VrabelJr]

We lost because we lost 5 versus 4 at the line of scrimmage. It's a common theme among our losses. That said, it's the preseason and it wasn't our entire starting OLine.

 

[Tunescribe]

I don't understand this offensive line sometimes. It's either really good or alarmingly putrid. There doesn't seem to be much in-between with these guys.

 

[Ozymandias]

I don't understand this offensive line sometimes. It's either really good or alarmingly putrid. There doesn't seem to be much in-between with these guys.

I'm concerned about that too. Something that stuck out to me when Patriots' opponents talked about the Patriots offense as a gimmick and not a flat-out beat you down straight-up by punching them in the face.

While the offense is obviously not a gimmick and is the very best at what it does, I think there could be some truth to that second part. Sometimes they often have issues just flat out mauling physical defenses that try to bully them around. It affects the whole offense because the running game can't get going and that makes them one dimensional. It also affects the hurry up and play action too.

I'm really starting to wonder if the running game is the real strength of their offense because in all their losses last season the running game was largely ineffective, and not the passing game. Teams like Seattle, and Detriot last night really sold out to shut down the run game and almost dared the Patriots to win through the air. Obviously getting Gronkowski back will change this dynamic, but the theme is recurring now it's fair to wonder if it's more than just a coincidence.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I don't understand this offensive line sometimes. It's either really good or alarmingly putrid. There doesn't seem to be much in-between with these guys.

there is never a in between...it's either a great week and brady has all day...or they decide to take a game off and the running game can't get going and brady has to run around sometimes.

One drive might be horrific..the next great

 

[zipster9]

The Lions have a top DL. The decided to take away our running game. This opened many opportunities. We failed to execute in the passing game. And, our player couldn't hold on to the ball.

We didn't lose because we couldn't run.

It was not just stopping the run. Lions' DL pushed the Patriots' OL back towards Brady. Lion's effectively reduced Bradys time to throw.

Patriots did not came to Detroit to play...

 

[Sciz]

I wasn't watching the OL too closely, but I don't remember seeing any trap plays. If the goal was to actually have success, then they'd do that against the aggressive Lions DTs. They've had a ton of success doing that in the games that actually matter. Unless I just missed it, it seems to me like the coaches specifically wanted to see the OL go against the Lions' DL straight up to see who could win individual matchups, which wasn't too many guys.

 

[JDot]

The running game was shut down by awful play calling. I don't want to ***** to much about it. B/c I thought the same thing last year in game 3 of the preseason againts Tampa last year.

But still, it was awful, that 4th down play call to Devlin was atrocious in the Pats Lions game. It was up there with the awfulness of the Seattle game 4th down last year..