1st Down play calling breakdown

[jdynamite]

1st Quarter
5 - 1st down runs, (5,3,7,3 fumble,4)
1 - 1st down pass to leach

2nd quarter
5 - 1st down runs ( 1,0,2,4,-2)
1- 1st down pass to rice

3rd quarter
9 - 1st down runs ( 4,4,2 TD,2,6,3,28,0,1)
3 - 1st down passes ( 0,5,12)

4th quarter
7- 1st down runs (3,3 TD,-1,1,3,6,2)
2- 1st down passes (0, 14)

Totals: 27 - 1st down runs , 93yds avg 3.444 ypc

As a Team we had 40 Rushing Attempts total

 

So - 27/40 runs, 67.5% of our runs occurred  on 1st down.

If we took out pierce's 28 yard run it would look like this 26 car for 65 yards ( 2.5 ypc)

So while we ran much better today and weren't stuffed for no gains and 1-2 yard gains as often this week it still shows a lack of diversity in play calling making us more predictable.

I'm glad we stuck with the run game this week, I'm only saying I'd like to see some screens, slants, short crossing routes , quick outs occasionally on first downs to keep the defense guessing and pick up quick yardage to setup 2nd and short.

[jdynamite]

I made this because I felt like maybe I was exaggerating 1st down play calling in my head lol.

[arnie_uk]

Ur maths is wrong, we ur total first down plays don't equal 40. Edit sorry I see what u mean there. Add In The percentage of first down plays that were runs, it's like 26 out of 33 I think, 78 percent

[Bobby]

I am glad you did this as I was feeling the same way! Would love to see more quick slants - they work well for almost every team and would add some balance to first down play calling. Glad we stuck with the run yesterday, and hope it can keep getting better!

[beanfigger]

72% of the first down plays were runs.  Am I the only one who doesn't think that's outrageous?  I'd like to see us open it up from time to time, but that percentage isn't that alarming in my eyes.  It would be one thing if you stated that on those few passing first downs we averaged 8 or 9 yards per play and it led to scoring drives every time.  Doing something 72% of the time is still low enough to keep the defense honest.

[callahan09]

72% of the first down plays were runs.  Am I the only one who doesn't think that's outrageous?  I'd like to see us open it up from time to time, but that percentage isn't that alarming in my eyes.  It would be one thing if you stated that on those few passing first downs we averaged 8 or 9 yards per play and it led to scoring drives every time.  Doing something 72% of the time is still low enough to keep the defense honest.

Actually it was 79.4% of first down plays that were runs.  7 passes vs 27 rushes on first down.

 

We gained 3.91 yards per play on first down, which was the 4th worst out of every team that played yesterday.  The average yards earned per play on first down yesterday was 5.78.

 

That 79.4% of first down plays that were runs is a little outrageous when you think about the results it led to, being very few yards per play on first down, and when you consider that the average percentage of run plays on first downs in the NFL yesterday was 50.7%.

 

If you take the Ravens out of that equation, the other teams besides the Ravens yesterday ran 328 times on first down, out of 666 plays, which makes for a 49.2% average.

 

So the NFL average runs about half the time on first down, while we run closer to 80% of the time?  And the NFL average gains far more yards per play on first down than we do.

 

To me, these numbers are absolutely outrageous.

[beanfigger]

Actually it was 79.4% of first down plays that were runs. 7 passes vs 27 rushes on first down.

We gained 3.91 yards per play on first down, which was the 4th worst out of every team that played yesterday. The average yards earned per play on first down yesterday was 5.78.

That 79.4% of first down plays that were runs is a little outrageous when you think about the results it led to, being very few yards per play on first down, and when you consider that the average percentage of run plays on first downs in the NFL yesterday was 50.7%.

If you take the Ravens out of that equation, the other teams besides the Ravens yesterday ran 328 times on first down, out of 666 plays, which makes for a 49.2% average.

So the NFL average runs about half the time on first down, while we run closer to 80% of the time? And the NFL average gains far more yards per play on first down than we do.

To me, these numbers are absolutely outrageous.

Trusting someone else's numbers who isn't you was my mistake. 80% is a lot worse than the numbers I read above, and it is too much. What were our average yards per first down pass? We were very short handed in the passing game yesterday, which might be a reason for the numbers looking like that in this game.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

There are many factors that influence whether or not your running game will be effective.  Naturally, a huge part of it comes from the personnel you have on the field - if they suck, then you aren't going to run well.  Another part comes from smart play calling.  If you are running 4/5 of the time on 1st down, then the defense you are playing against is going to favor the run.  They are going to stuff the line and will likely be very effective in stopping you.

 

We saw it last year in the playoffs - especially against New England in the first half of the AFCCG.  We didn't look great that first half - then all of a sudden we came out in the second half and were throwing on 1st downs and lit up the Pats.

 

Does Caldwell not learn from his mistakes?  I cannot understand how he doesn't see what his playcalling is doing...yet almost every game, we come out and do the same thing.

 

It's kind of embarrassing.  I'm a huge Caldwell fan - but he really needs to make some adjustments to allow our offense to flourish.

[callahan09]

Trusting someone else's numbers who isn't you was my mistake. 80% is a lot worse than the numbers I read above, and it is too much. What were our average yards per first down pass? We were very short handed in the passing game yesterday, which might be a reason for the numbers looking like that in this game.

5.71 yards per pass attempt, 3.44 yards per rush attempt on first downs yesterday.

[jdynamite]

Ur maths is wrong, we ur total first down plays don't equal 40. Edit sorry I see what u mean there. Add In The percentage of first down plays that were runs, it's like 26 out of 33 I think, 78 percent

 

No as a team we had 40 rushing attempts in the game of the 40 rushing attempts 26 came on first down. Sorry for not being more clear

[jdynamite]

Actually it was 79.4% of first down plays that were runs.  7 passes vs 27 rushes on first down.

 

We gained 3.91 yards per play on first down, which was the 4th worst out of every team that played yesterday.  The average yards earned per play on first down yesterday was 5.78.

 

That 79.4% of first down plays that were runs is a little outrageous when you think about the results it led to, being very few yards per play on first down, and when you consider that the average percentage of run plays on first downs in the NFL yesterday was 50.7%.

 

If you take the Ravens out of that equation, the other teams besides the Ravens yesterday ran 328 times on first down, out of 666 plays, which makes for a 49.2% average.

 

So the NFL average runs about half the time on first down, while we run closer to 80% of the time?  And the NFL average gains far more yards per play on first down than we do.

 

To me, these numbers are absolutely outrageous.

 

I didn't count Flacco's kneel down in my 1st down runs but it counts against the attempts my mistake, early morning thought lol.

 

I started to inbox you to start this for me lol because I'm too lazy then I actually went to play by play and counted those but I didn't count Flacco's kneel down

[jdynamite]

Actually it was 79.4% of first down plays that were runs.  7 passes vs 27 rushes on first down.

 

We gained 3.91 yards per play on first down, which was the 4th worst out of every team that played yesterday.  The average yards earned per play on first down yesterday was 5.78.

 

That 79.4% of first down plays that were runs is a little outrageous when you think about the results it led to, being very few yards per play on first down, and when you consider that the average percentage of run plays on first downs in the NFL yesterday was 50.7%.

 

If you take the Ravens out of that equation, the other teams besides the Ravens yesterday ran 328 times on first down, out of 666 plays, which makes for a 49.2% average.

 

So the NFL average runs about half the time on first down, while we run closer to 80% of the time?  And the NFL average gains far more yards per play on first down than we do.

 

To me, these numbers are absolutely outrageous.

 

That's why I wanted to see your comments on this I knew you would bring up some Statistics I wouldn't know where to find lol.

How on Earth did you find what all other teams did wow. Thanks much appreciated. 

[runamuk]

Statistical beast mode . Predictable play calling is the understatement of the year . every team in the league knows what we will do on first down

[jdynamite]

Originally I was just wondering how many times we ran on 1st down because it seemed like we ran nearly every first down. Next I wondered well how many our total runs happen on first down. So I figured I'd might as well count those up, while counting I thought to myself it be stupid to not include the number of 1st down pass attempts just for comparison to show we are running it a lot on first down ( just as we all have expressed during the Game Threads each week lol).

 

The predictable play-calling isn't helping the struggling Oline.

[gabefergy]

I thought we fired Cam Cameron.

[berad]

This is a Caldwell staple it seems, it didn't just start yesterday unfortunately.

[hawkprey]

It may not have worked at first, but running the ball is what we have to do. You run on first down because it's better than an incomplete pass, which forces you to pass again. Look what happened when we abandoned the run against the Bills. Our O-line isn't good enough to get too pass happy. Not to mention we only dressed 3 receivers, and two of them were doing returns.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

It may not have worked at first, but running the ball is what we have to do. You run on first down because it's better than an incomplete pass, which forces you to pass again. Look what happened when we abandoned the run against the Bills. Our O-line isn't good enough to get too pass happy. Not to mention we only dressed 3 receivers, and two of them were doing returns.

Sadly, our offense was actually better when we abandoned the run against the Bills.

[Tank 92]

It may not have worked at first, but running the ball is what we have to do. You run on first down because it's better than an incomplete pass, which forces you to pass again. Look what happened when we abandoned the run against the Bills. Our O-line isn't good enough to get too pass happy. Not to mention we only dressed 3 receivers, and two of them were doing returns.

 

 

I think this, and the fact that prior to yesterday if your name is not Torrey and you are a receiver for the Ravens you have board hands, has forced the predictable first down run. As we get healthy and better at catching the ball we'll see much more passes on first down.

[hawkprey]

Sadly, our offense was actually better when we abandoned the run against the Bills.

Well, you're talking about a game where Rice and Pierce were banged up even worse. But sticking with the run pays off. We didn't get that payoff because we abandoned it. We really screwed ourselves there.

[izvoodoo]

It's because we're so bad at running the ball.  If we passed we'd be giving up pressure.  

Doesn't matter what we call.  We just suck.

[jaege]

72% of the first down plays were runs.  Am I the only one who doesn't think that's outrageous?  I'd like to see us open it up from time to time, but that percentage isn't that alarming in my eyes.  It would be one thing if you stated that on those few passing first downs we averaged 8 or 9 yards per play and it led to scoring drives every time.  Doing something 72% of the time is still low enough to keep the defense honest.

Yeah, that is WAY to high a percentage. It should not be more than 50-60%. Nearly 80 percent means that the other team can set up for a 1st down run and be correct 8 out of 10 times. Could be why they are stuffing our runs so easily. If you know the offense is going to usually run, then it is easy to stop.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

Well, you're talking about a game where Rice and Pierce were banged up even worse. But sticking with the run pays off. We didn't get that payoff because we abandoned it. We really screwed ourselves there.

 

I agree that Rice and Pierce were banged up in the game.  We couldn't stick to the run during that game because it was so hideously inefficient.  I believe that our offense would have continued to sputter if we had kept the same gameplan...however towards the 4th quarter, I think we should have thrown some runs in there once our passing game started to generate yards.

 

I do agree, in principle, that you have to have a balanced attack on offense to have success in the NFL.

[The_11th_Raven]

I trust that the coaches will sort this all out and fix this. But yeah I agree. Predictable on 1st is the understatement of the year so far.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

I trust that the coaches will sort this all out and fix this. But yeah I agree. Predictable on 1st is the understatement of the year so far.

 

The sad part is - we say this crap every week, and every week the same crap happens.

[The_11th_Raven]

The sad part is - we say this crap every week, and every week the same crap happens.

Right. We need to stretch the field and attack with our speed on the outside more on first down. That would keep the opposing defense honest and open up our run game more.

[Purple Punishment]

One week we pass too much the next week we run too much? Will you guys ever be happy about anything? We won a game

[The Raven]

One week we pass too much the next week we run too much? Will you guys ever be happy about anything? We won a game

 

Did we really? I'm shocked

[arnie_uk]

One week we pass too much the next week we run too much? Will you guys ever be happy about anything? We won a game

we aren't complaining about running to much, in fact I think it was almost perfect, almost.

We are complaining that 72 percent of our first down plays are runs. Add In the fact we average under three is it any wonder we have so many third downs?

We are too predictable. 1st down play calling needs to be closer to 50 50. Even if those passes are screens or just quick slanta for 4 5 6 yards. That opens literally the whole play book on second dowb. Can run call short quick pass get the first attack middle field or take a shot. Call playaction cause they might think run or even a draw.

The options on 2nd and 5 or so are plentiful and it will really help the offense if we were in that situation more instead of 2 and 8 or 9 as it always seems to be.

[jdynamite]

It may not have worked at first, but running the ball is what we have to do. You run on first down because it's better than an incomplete pass, which forces you to pass again. Look what happened when we abandoned the run against the Bills. Our O-line isn't good enough to get too pass happy. Not to mention we only dressed 3 receivers, and two of them were doing returns.

Running on first down isn't necessarily better than an incomplete pass, example a run of no gain or 1-2 yard gain still leaves the offense in 2nd & long. Mixing up play-calling with a complimentary short passing game, would limit defenses stacking the box so often on 1st down.

I certainly didn't agree with play calling from the Buffalo game either but once again even in that game the runs were mainly runs on 1st down and straight up the middle for little gain. Nothing surprising for a defense.