Why have most Patriot teams had mediocre running games?

[maineman209]

If one considers that most of those rushing TDs start inside the 5-yard line (if not inside the 2), then those "rankings" don't look nearly as impressive as you make them out to be.
What those numbers firstly tell me is that Brady hasn't vultured nearly as many passing TDs from that distance as PayaTon Manning did. (He probably made up his mind never to depend on rushing TDs ever again after witnessing the Pats' goal-line stand in Indy in 2003.)

First of all, I'm not "making them out to be" anything. They are what they are.

I never said they were "impressive,", but they certainly seem to challenge the claim that the "Pats' running game has been mediocre in most years."

Also, what difference does it make where a TD run starts from? Do the majority of rushing TDs need to be from 15+ yards out to make the TDs and the running game less mediocre? If most of Brady's TD throws came from inside the 20 or inside the ten, does that somehow make them less impressive? Do they not count the same?

 

[AzPatsFan]

Where Bill took Tre Jackson in 2015, he could've had Jay Ajayi.

Tre Jackson was a power running Guard and was drafted relatively high and meant to buttress the Running game. But he got injured and never played. Later they also took Shaq Mason another running Guard but with pulling ability.

 

[DarrylS]

The answer to the question posed..

(F) Because they do not have to..

The off season seems longer and longer every year..

 

[stinkypete]

It's a matter of offensive philosophy and team build.

The Patriots are best when Brady releases the ball ASAP. You need well rounded backs that are willing and able to block, and to be targets of short passes, more than your average back. The player profile for this role is certainly not a superstar type.

 

[zoostation]

3 letters. TFB

 

[Wax Frog]

Well I don't feel like doing your math but that looks like the definition of mediocre lol. If you added up all those numbers your probably right around the middle of the pack in fact maybe like 18th per year on average. If I am right then that is well.. less than average.

I just had to go there. I just had to work it out to 13.1. God I'm such a nerd

Oh, and the median is 10.5

 

[brdmaverick]

A couple things:

1.) The Pats have Tom Brady, Gronk, Edelman, Hogan, and Cooks.........no need to invest too much at RB since they are already loaded in the passing game.

2.) Today's rules/game favor the passing game.

3.) Sure, the Pats would like to have a top 5 back, but again why waste resources (draft picks and/or money) to get something that is not a huge part of their offense?

 

[maineman209]

The bottom line here is that it doesn't really matter where the Pats have ranked statistically, or how useful and productive (especially in terms of scoring) their ground game has been most of the time, the fact is that they've never had an Adrian Peterson or Zeke Elliot - an RB who matches Brady in "elite-ness", who regularly takes games over and who's capable of carrying a team on his back.

That's really why the ground game is considered "mediocre".

 

[dafoe2016]

Bill, like any coach, values certain positions over others. RB is clearly not a priority for him. He has spent one first round pick on the position- Maroney. That was in the low teens if I remember rightly. And he was arguably the biggest bust of the Belichick Patriots era. Outside of Dillon for a very short period they have never had an elite back. Their only other notable lead backs have been Blount and Smith. Everyone else has either been a JAG or previously good backs who are way past their prime like Fred Taylor or Stephen Jackson.

Like another poster said our short passing game is our running game. Which makes a certain amount of sense given that we have the GOAT QB. I think not having a threat back there that the defense has to respect has cost us some playoff games. But all in all, you can't argue with the results. Five titles in 15 years is impressive.

 

[mgteich]

He has spent one first round pick on the position- Maroney. That was in the low teens if I remember rightly. And he was arguably the biggest bust of the Belichick Patriots era.

This shows just how little you understand about football, and about evaluating players.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Food for thought: Patriots rushing yards rank, 2007–2016:

2007: 13
2008: 6
2009: 12
2010: 9
2011: 20
2012: 7
2013: 9
2014: 18
2015: 30
2016: 7

That's not exactly "mediocre."

Right - and then add into that the obvious notion that in New England, the run is generally used to set up passing plays (except perhaps in goal line situations - a la Blount's 18 TDs) and you then just look at a "successful" running game as one that allows the Offense to excel in general

So much in the running game is situational these days, that the 3 headed RB by committee - one short yardarge bulldozer, one speedy, one a pass catching specialist - is common place with Belichick of course paving the way on that

When you have a multi-talented RB that's great - but for the most part you'll see 3 guys with mediocre stats - which, when added together usually account for one pretty fantastic RB! It's just that aside from perhaps a lot of short yardage TDs, New England isn't going to be a place for RBs to pad their stats

 

[dafoe2016]

This shows just how little you understand about football, and about evaluating players.

Your post shows how little you know about presenting a cogent argument.

 

[captain stone]

3 letters: TFB

But do you really want to see TFB throw 40+ passes per game, at age 40? I don't.

 

[zydecochris]

But do you really want to see TFB throw 40+ passes per game, at age 40? I don't.

And taking the resulting hits. He has really been beat up in recent playoff games, it is one of the most remarkable things about him that he has been able to stay largely injury free when being pounded that way. However, with him in his 40's I don't want him to continue to push his luck, I would love to see him hand off more (behind a strong running game) and hit the deck less.

 

[Simpelton]

If you can beat the best pass defenses with passing, why run?

 

[neuronet]

It sure seems reasonable to say if you are consistently ranked between 12 and 20 in something, you are mediocre. If you are 1-10 you are decent (10 is decent, not great by any means), if you are 21-32 you need help.

Let's put the numbers away and be reasonable here. Use your damned eyes. Anyone that has watched the Pats in the last 10 years, you can't say they are a powerful running team. Multiply that by 10 in the playoffs (ok, the Colts are an exception). They use the run largely as bait to keep other teams honest. They haven't built this offense to be an elite running offense, and this is obvious to anyone that watches them consistently. They are an OK running offense, they are just good enough to make other teams have to plan to play against it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

But do you really want to see TFB throw 40+ passes per game, at age 40? I don't.

Agree and it's the number and type of throws. If he's doing a ton of 3 step drops or dumpoffs and not getting hit then that's ok. If he's doing a lot of 5 and 7 step drops that's a different concern as the hit rate will be higher.

I think they have Tom on a pitch count during the week so they really manage his arm and health well.

 

[RayClay]

Agree and it's the number and type of throws. If he's doing a ton of 3 step drops or dumpoffs and not getting hit then that's ok. If he's doing a lot of 5 and 7 step drops that's a different concern as the hit rate will be higher.

I think they have Tom on a pitch count during the week so they really manage his arm and health well.

Agree. With White Lewis and the new guys he'll have lots of light work.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agree. With White Lewis and the new guys he'll have lots of light work.

If healthy those two could be over 50 catches each. They make people miss and are so high percentage.

 

[zoostation]

But do you really want to see TFB throw 40+ passes per game, at age 40? I don't.

I don't either. But with play action off the run the passing game will open up and keep the pass rush in check. Clean looks with time to throw. This will be a fun season to say the least.