Where Was The Running Game?

[JoeCool#5]

Where was that dominant running game we saw in the first 2 weeks? We couldn't get anything established on the ground. 103 yards on the ground.. a far cry from the 190 yards average before the game. Looked one deminsional at times, with Steelers pinning there ears back and getting after the QB. Looking at that COSTLY fumble, Gaither just got beat, the defensive line man just ran around him unevaded to Joe. Flacco didnt see him. Gaither shouldnt get all the blame for Joe still needs hold on ball.-sigh-

Anyways maybe I am just accustom to seeing the Ravens kill the defense with the running game. The Ravens just need to pound the rock, for everything should evolve around the run. With the solid ground game, opens up play action and shots down the field.

[Troy SmiTH Xx]

The running game was there. But Pittsburgh is a much better run defense than Cleveland and Cincinnatti

[bossman419]

[quote name='Troy SmiTH Xx' post='70800' date='Sep 30 2008, 07:51 AM']The running game was there. But Pittsburgh is a much better run defense than Cleveland and Cincinnatti[/quote]
Yeah and it didnt help that our star running back still cant see and kept getting the wind knocked out of him

[JoeCool#5]

True, just would have been nice to run the ball down the Steelers throats and keep pounding them all game. Especially in OT.

[Ravens52]

Our running game was there and it was physical. Just ask that Steelers linebacker that Leron McClain plowed over for the touchdown

109 yds isn't bad against the NFL's [u]2ND[/u] best defense

[PuRock]

[quote name='JoeCool#5' post='70790' date='Sep 30 2008, 06:22 AM']Where was that dominant running game we saw in the first 2 weeks? We couldn't get anything established on the ground. 103 yards on the ground.. a far cry from the 190 yards average before the game. Looked one deminsional at times, with Steelers pinning there ears back and getting after the QB. Looking at that COSTLY fumble, Gaither just got beat, the defensive line man just ran around him unevaded to Joe. Flacco didnt see him. Gaither shouldnt get all the blame for Joe still needs hold on ball.-sigh-

Anyways maybe I am just accustom to seeing the Ravens kill the defense with the running game. The Ravens just need to pound the rock, for everything should evolve around the run. With the solid ground game, opens up play action and shots down the field.[/quote]

Unlike what everybody thought on here. We were facing the #2 defense. Just because we ran all over the Browns and Bengals, didn't mean we were going to roll.

We aren't in Kansas anymore Toto. Now we get the Titans.

[Shadowalker]

Your saying what McClain did against the second best defense in the nfl wasn't impressive. I was impressed, I dont know about you guys

[PIG 20]

No complaints here. You knew you weren't going to run all over them but we were still effective when we needed to be.

[ravensgirlx88]

You must be forgetting, we have a good running game YEA.. but we havent put it up against a decent defense in this league yet.. i think willis was still a little injured.. his eye has to hurt...

[PuRock]

[quote name='Shadowalker' post='70855' date='Sep 30 2008, 08:31 AM']Your saying what McClain did against the second best defense in the nfl wasn't impressive. I was impressed, I dont know about you guys[/quote]

Our running game was good. We did post a combine 100+ yards on the Steelers. But it wasn't as dependable as usual. We picked up a lot of running yards on 2nd/3rd and longs, were Steelers were playing the pass, and dropping in coverage, and we'd hand it off.

When the Steelers were defending the run, they did so pretty effectiviely.

[Shadowalker]

[quote name='ravensgirlx88' post='70858' date='Sep 30 2008, 09:39 AM']You must be forgetting, we have a good running game YEA.. but we havent put it up against a decent defense in this league yet.. i think willis was still a little injured.. his eye has to hurt...[/quote]

I dont think Willis has an excuse. Bottom line hes out of shape and always has some sort of complaint. 'Til midseason im hoping he will wise up, grow a pair and run like we know he can run.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Shadowalker' post='70860' date='Sep 30 2008, 09:43 AM']I dont think Willis has an excuse. Bottom line hes out of shape and always has some sort of complaint. 'Til midseason im hoping he will wise up, grow a pair and run like we know he can run.[/quote]

The man's knee is still clearly bothering him, he took a major blow to his sternum (chest) last night, and if you saw him on the sideline with his helmet off, you'd see his eye still looks pretty bad.

And the man still came back into the game after he got x-rays on his chest, and tried to play.

I'm certainly not complaining, and for a while there, he was the team's leading rusher, until McClain got more carries while McGahee was being looked at.

For the record, as other people said above, there's certainly nothing wrong with posting 100+ yards rushing on a defense as tough as Pittsburgh's, especially with a [u]fullback[/u] as the leading rusher...

[neepo13]

I think we are seeing the results of McGahee's poor offseason conditioning take its toll on him right now. I have to think that maybe if he was in better shape coming into camp and able to particapte in camp, we wouldnt be seeing him on the sideline so much.

On the other hand, I am not worried about our running game. Ravens fans should know from years past that if you cant pass the ball teams will focus in on the running game and take it away. Simply put we have to pass the ball more often and do it more effectively. A big wr that can win some jump balls would help a lot.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='neepo13' post='70889' date='Sep 30 2008, 11:19 AM']I think we are seeing the results of McGahee's poor offseason conditioning take its toll on him right now. I have to think that maybe if he was in better shape coming into camp and able to particapte in camp, we wouldnt be seeing him on the sideline so much.[/quote]

I'll agree with that as well, though you can't fault him for the eye problem, obviously. I'm not sure how much it's hampering his vision, but you have to believe he's still a bit delicate about it since he's probably risking permanent damage if someone were to intentionally poke him again.

And to an extent, I guess I can give him a partial pass for his knee -- but you're right, we'd probably see him on the field more if his conditioning was better, even before this past offseason.

[neepo13]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='70891' date='Sep 30 2008, 10:23 AM']I'll agree with that as well, though you can't fault him for the eye problem, obviously. I'm not sure how much it's hampering his vision, but you have to believe he's still a bit delicate about it since he's probably risking permanent damage if someone were to intentionally poke him again.

And to an extent, I guess I can give him a partial pass for his knee -- but you're right, we'd probably see him on the field more if his conditioning was better, even before this past offseason.[/quote]

Obviously, the eye wasnt his fault. I wouldnt even try to argue that. But McGahee came off the field twice last night. His conditioning has made him very fragile. I dont really blame him for the knee itself because he has no control over it. But there are things he should have been doing that would have allowed our training staff to find that injury earlier.

[tctony]

I think we should sit Willis out for a week, I'd much rather have him healthy down the stretch than beat up the whole season. You can't blame a guy for getting injuried. I think he showed he has a big committment to the team by even trying to come back and help out.

I don't remember seeing much (or any) of Ray Rice last night. I think Ray is competent enough to be the #2 guy behind McClain (who, I think should split carries w/ Willis even when Willis is healthy).

And while we got might have done okay yardage-wise, our running game and run blocking wasn't really there when we needed it.

[slugz]

[quote name='JoeCool#5' post='70790' date='Sep 30 2008, 07:22 AM']Where was that dominant running game we saw in the first 2 weeks? We couldn't get anything established on the ground. 103 yards on the ground.. a far cry from the 190 yards average before the game. Looked one deminsional at times, with Steelers pinning there ears back and getting after the QB. Looking at that COSTLY fumble, Gaither just got beat, the defensive line man just ran around him unevaded to Joe. Flacco didnt see him. Gaither shouldnt get all the blame for Joe still needs hold on ball.-sigh-

Anyways maybe I am just accustom to seeing the Ravens kill the defense with the running game. The Ravens just need to pound the rock, for everything should evolve around the run. With the solid ground game, opens up play action and shots down the field.[/quote]
the running game was poked in the eye last game when Gahee eye get backthen our running game is back we cant see that well

[Ravens52]

Take into account that before Willis injured his chest, he was starting to get into a groove. He was picking up 5-6 chucks on yards

[BloodRaven]

Bench Adam Terry for Willie Anderson?

[Ravens52]

[quote name='BloodRaven' post='71042' date='Sep 30 2008, 06:36 PM']Bench Adam Terry for Willie Anderson?[/quote]

If Willie has learned the playbook then I'm all for it

[Black&Purple]

Rushing ATT YDS TD LG
L. McClain 16 63 1 11
W. McGahee 13 42 0 12

My question is... why wasn't Larenzo Neal used more?

[CARavensFan]

[quote name='Black&Purple' post='71054' date='Sep 30 2008, 02:51 PM']Rushing ATT YDS TD LG
L. McClain 16 63 1 11
W. McGahee 13 42 0 12

My question is... why wasn't Larenzo Neal used more?[/quote]

Neal was plowing the way for Willis and McClain to get those yards, taking the Steelers LBs out of the equation or helping keep the pass rush out of the backfield.