What is hindering the running game?

[Khyber53]

Here are my top 4 reasons the running game isn't so hot this year:

 

1. We're not a smashmouth running team anymore. We don't batter down the opponent's shield wall and push the pile forward anymore. We're not a passing team, either. We're a mobile quarterback/option team. Our playbook leans very heavily on "What can we do with Cam on every down?"

Our rushing game doesn't open up because of the threat of passing, our passing doesn't open up because of play action. It is all based on the defense trying to figure out Cam's prestidigitation before the snap. Will Cam keep the ball in the option or will he let Stewie take off with it? Will he pass it downfield or will he dart through the defense for 10 yards?

Really, if Cam wasn't such an amazing athlete, we'd be incredibly one dimensional. We just have to be very careful not to tip our hand by setting up tendencies in each situation. 2 and 8, Cam always does this. 3 and 1, Cam always keeps it. The good teams watch this like a hawk to pick apart teams like ours. We used to do it to shut down Mike Vick. We had him dead to rights and Thomas Davis spied him for the whole game to keep him pretty much in handcuffs.

2. An O-line typically either pass blocks or run blocks on a down. But if you rely on the read option a lot, the line has to hybridize its blocking to provide a bit of each or the play is lost. The problem is, you really can't do both well at the same time. Our read option plays are becoming less and less effective, partly because of this and partly because Stewie doesn't get the full benefit of dedicated run blocking. And let's face it, Cam keeps it most of the time.

3. No one fears our passing game too much. A bit, but most teams figure watch out for Olsen and you should be able to cover the rest with basic defensive play calling. They can afford to stack the box. We're stronger on this than our opponents think (check that 4-0 record), but the better teams will be able to handle our receivers without too much stress.

4. Stewie really, really benefited from DeAngelo Williams. It's not popular to say it, but we've gone from giving defenses Double Trouble to giving them Not Much Trouble At All. Those two guys didn't just feed off of each other, but they punished defenders. The defenders' legs would tire out chasing DWill down the line and then Stewie would just beat the crap out of them. DWill could lay a good hit on a defender, almost as good as Stewart. Now, Cam is the guy they have to chase, but none us want to see him duck his helmet and deliver a blow like an RB does. DWill got too expensive, and there was obviously some stuff behind the scenes, so he wasn't going to stay. This year, Stewie is mighty expensive, and he's not exactly putting up stats worthy of those paychecks. And don't get me started on why Fozzy hasn't been even close to a DWill replacement.

 

 

[TN05]

I'm assuming KB being missing plays a part in terms of how teams are playing against us? 

Also, does Stew need to play his way into the season?  His average yards per carry has gone up every game this season...

JAX  3.1, 

HOU  3.6, 

NO   3.7,

Tampa  5.0

It would be interesting to see how Stewart's yards per carry figures evolved last season.  I know he was a beast at season's end...

He always tend to get better as the season goes. I looked at the stats in an older thread and he improves by an average of 1 or 1.5 YPC in the second half of seasons as compared to the first.

[Hoenheim]

I find it strange that we almost never do toss plays , if its not the occasional read option ish thing, then its a very straitforward run up the gut with stewart. Sometimes RBs can break big runs when they have more space to maneuver in the toss plays.

I don't think Stewart is running particularly badly, I think he has A) Really shitty blocking, always see him having to fight through multiple defenders  B) repetitive and predictable run play calls.

[Hammerin'Cameron34]

I'm not worried at all about the run game, it will be a well oiled machine come December ... this is going to stay the same guys, late developing run game ...  yet despite that were 4-0 right now, we aren't even close to peaking yet

[AceBoogie]

Ginn on one side and Brown on the other

[KB_fan]

Was looking at some of Football Outsiders' stats and their table re: our OLine.   Our run blocking ranks 21st by their calculations.  Our POWER run game (which includes Cam) is however, ranked 4th.  Interesting....

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

 

[Khyber53]

Was looking at some of Football Outsiders' stats and their table re: our OLine.   Our run blocking ranks 21st by their calculations.  Our POWER run game (which includes Cam) is however, ranked 4th.  Interesting....

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

 

The problem is that with offensive line stats, there are so many subjective factors that the stats don't really reflect the truth sometimes.

[KB_fan]

The problem is that with offensive line stats, there are so many subjective factors that the stats don't really reflect the truth sometimes.

That makes sense, after all, PFF ranks our OLine 2nd at the moment... so obviously, it's not an exact science!