importance of Hartsock for our running game...

[nosuchthingasapanther]

I mention this in another thread...something as small as being able to sell the run in the backfield would really benefit the offense. as it stands right now, the overall clumsy exchanges and blatantly obvious fake hand offs between newton and the backs scream run or pass play right from the beginning.

[the_philosopher]

I think Hartsock might have made a difference. If the oline isn't blocking well, a tight end or fullback can make a big difference. We should probably run some I-formation.

[tjmurray]

Our run gets shut down pretty easy these days when good teams dial in on it. Virtually disappears..

Yea, but i thought you said #28 was going to remedy that. You said he would have made a difference in that Arizona game. I mean, that is what you led everyone in this forum to believe..

[tjmurray]

Our run gets shut down pretty easy these days when good teams dial in on it. Virtually disappears.

Our rushing numbers have more to do with an OC committed to it and a QB that aids it.....than being very good at lining up and running the ball.

It hurts us greatly on a day the pass isn't clicking...

Let me let you in on a secret in todays NFL. When a good team wants to take the running game away, they do it. How did Peterson do against this club? How did Marshawn Lynch do against this club? I'm sure Stewart or DeAngelo could have found room if they were forcefed the ball but why do that and take touches and plays away from arguably the most dynamic player in the league. If a team locks in on it, Shula devises a way to make them pay for it. It is a team game. Even when we were winning you were so hung up on #28, as if we would magically start running for over 200 yards a game. Truth is, the running game is worse because nobody can get in a rythym. But who cares, because the gamechanger plays under center and he is the reason why we will win games and hopefully championships.

[xerxes]

Just wanted to comment about NE's defensive gameplan.  I didnt hear but the tail end of Rivera's comments on Panther talk but he said something about NE commited to stopping the run by loading the box with 8 all game and held back one safety for mostly man coverage.  You guys act like our RBs should put up epic rushing stats every game.  We were still very effective this game.  8 for 11 on third down conversions??  Thats awesome, and 6 first downs (out of 20) were made on running plays.  Guys need to lay off somewhat.  The reason, imo, that Williams and Stewart are good still is because they've basically been worked half as much as AP, Gore, Lynch, etc.  Think Morris, Stacy, or Lacy will be as good in 4 years as they are now?

 

Edit: But, I do agree they are being overpaid, which is no one's fault that is currently affiliated with the team other than JR.

This is what NE does. They decide one thing they want to take away, and for us they wanted to take away the run game. They basically said, can Cam beat us? Well we got our answer on Monday.

 

I'd also like the point out that the weakness of NE's run defense is right up the middle due to the injuries to DT's. Unfortunately, our strength in running is not the middle because of our average to below average guards. Our best running is off tackle, but NE has solid DE's and good run stuffing LB's. 

 

Personally I find it very encouraging that we were able to win (and look good doing it) when someone threw us off our typical gameplan.

[smash_n_dash]

Glad we won too but our defense looked pretty bad doing it. Offensively I'm glad we were successful

[cbully]

Other than Cam it was atrocious considering their depleted defensive line. Not only this, but they ran over us the entire game.

 

Weird.

i see our total defense played off nearly the whole game. like we were planning to allow small yards rather than chunks. seemed like we were expecting a deep threat the entire game. we certainly didn't use our usual tactics.