Run, Joe! Run!

[Tenacious Faulker]

Is anyone interested in seeing Joe tuck and run with the football more?  Doing so should draw more coverage back toward the line and possibly help his receivers get more separation, but allow him to gain ground more.

 

Joe is clearly athletic enough to do it and has been since his rookie season (180 yds).  He's averaged about 2.4 yards over his career but that's likely because of Cam Cameron drilling into him to be a pocket-passer and that running is verboten!  Sacks and failed 3rd/4th and short attempts factor into that.

 

In his rookie season and 2013 (when the receivers fell flat on him) he averaged 3.5 and 4.9 yds/att which are getting into Aaron Rodgers-territory.  He's proven to be faster than he looks almost chasing down Denver CB Chris Harris (4.48 40-time) and he can baseball-slide with the best in the league.

 

This season his average is down, but the TDs and 3rd/4th down conversions are promising. 

 

It certainly is more risky with injury and fumbles, but that's football.  As long as he's smart about when to go down he should mitigate the risks.  If there is a threat of him running it should keep defenses off base more.  

 

Given all that should Joe be running with the ball more?  Any compelling reason to not run it?

[Mt. Crushmore]

He has always been an underrated runner.  I still remember his rushing touchdown in his first career game against Cincinnati. 

[BirdWatcher]

I think he should stick to only when necessary. We've all seen the injury reports on QBs who run a lot. I'd like to keep Joe healthy.

[Alexir]

He needs to run more....just so I can see that Slide. Best slide in the NFL.

[bMore Heathen]

I think he should stick to only when necessary. We've all seen the injury reports on QBs who run a lot. I'd like to keep Joe healthy.

Agreed. Joe is tough as nails, but there is no reason to expose him to more hits. His best weapon is still his right arm!!!!

[Sami84]

i agree

[757RavensFan]

In my opinion, the only design rushing play call that I'm comfortable w/ for Joe is the QB sneek.   I'm a firm believer in protecting your QB by all means and limiting his exposure to hits.  Just b/c Joe knows how to slide, doesn't mean a defender won't take a cheap shot at him when given the opportunity.  That being said, Joe doing a fake handoff w/ a QB keeper for a TD would be sweet.  If Payton Manning can pull that off and score, I know Joe can.

[I AM LEGEND]

I've always thought he should run more. I've always thought the run has been there for him a lot more then he uses it.

I think Joe is smart enough to use it to his advantage and not get to Vick'like.

[Tenacious Faulker]

I think he should stick to only when necessary. We've all seen the injury reports on QBs who run a lot. I'd like to keep Joe healthy.

Yeah, I'm not advocating either way but defeinitely not saying he should be some Vick-esque running QB.  I'm just noticing (especially in Kubiak) that he has opening in fromt o him that he doesn;t always take.  Some of that may just be Cam's conservative voice in the back of his head but the best QBs can improvise when the play breaks down.  Players like Rogers, Wilson, Alex Smith and even Dalton can hurt you with their legs but ONLY go as far as getting a chunk of yardage or new set of downs.

 

Joe's asset is his arm, but I think he might have more success if team at least thought he was going to run rather than knowing he won't like now. 

[Tenacious Faulker]

In my opinion, the only design rushing play call that I'm comfortable w/ for Joe is the QB sneek.   I'm a firm believer in protecting your QB by all means and limiting his exposure to hits.  Just b/c Joe knows how to slide, doesn't mean a defender won't take a cheap shot at him when given the opportunity.  That being said, Joe doing a fake handoff w/ a QB keeper for a TD would be sweet.  If Payton Manning can pull that off and score, I know Joe can.

What's to stop a defender from taking a cheap shot on him in the pocket?  

 

I wouldn't expect him to be like Cam Newton, but more like Rogers or Wilson playing it smart.

[1/28/01]

He needs to run more....just so I can see that Slide. Best slide in the NFL.

Its a thing of beauty!

[redrum52]

He needs to run more....just so I can see that Slide. Best slide in the NFL.

He makes it look as easy as it should be. The slide just seems to come to him naturally.

[Ravenslifer]

When it's there, take it, but only in situations like Miami where he can slide and avoid a full-on contact at the end of the run.  If his arm or leg gets injured and he can't plant and throw, that's basically the end of our season.

[hawkprey]

Every positive play opens you up for something else. I prefer our positive passing plays to be the result of a pass. Keep the receivers happy and don't be quick to give up on a play.

[codizzle]

I think he should stick to only when necessary. We've all seen the injury reports on QBs who run a lot. I'd like to keep Joe healthy.

Yup.. Definitely this

[Alexir]

He makes it look as easy as it should be. The slide just seems to come to him naturally.

Whereas RG3 looks like the albatross from the rescuers down under crash landing.

[redrum52]

Whereas RG3 looks like the albatross from the rescuers down under crash landing.

When he slides it makes me think of girls running in horror movies

[Tank 92]

He needs to run more....just so I can see that Slide. Best slide in the NFL.

 

 

You can tell he's a baseball player.

[Tank 92]

I think he should stick to only when necessary. We've all seen the injury reports on QBs who run a lot. I'd like to keep Joe healthy.

 

 

this

[beanfigger]

I'd like him to run a bit more, but not much. His average per is low due to a lot of kneel downs that comes when your team wins most of the time, so that's just fine with me.

[PurpleCity5]

Joe and Aaron Rodgers are very underrated runners. I can see Joe doing it, I think defenses won't be prepared for it. 

[Fear_the_Raven]

If he clearly has some room to run, and he can pick up an easy five yards and then slide, then why not?  He's pretty damn good at avoiding the big hit, and as has been pointed out, his slide really is a thing of beauty.  I don't think you meant designed runs, which I've seen Smith, Newton, Dalton, and others use this season, but I'd rather not see that other than sneaks.

[The Mom Gene]

I think he should stick to only when necessary. We've all seen the injury reports on QBs who run a lot. I'd like to keep Joe healthy.

Absolutely... and his durability has been one of the pluses we have seen...  Why risk that when we are scoring points without doing it?  It makes no sense to me...  We have 3 multi purpose backs; 4 if you count Juice.  We have a scheme and enough weapons that we shouldn't have to do that... unless necessary.

[The Mom Gene]

Agreed. Joe is tough as nails, but there is no reason to expose him to more hits. His best weapon is still his right arm!!!!

Yup... ding ding ding.....  hit it right on the head.

[Militant X 1]

I think he should stick to only when necessary. We've all seen the injury reports on QBs who run a lot. I'd like to keep Joe healthy.

 

I agree!  While it is good to see Joe run for those first downs or extra yards...when need be; he is not a "natural" runner as such with all of the elusiveness and juke moves like a Wilson etc.  Just keep him safe in the pocket and let him pick his opponents apart through the air.

[K-Dog]

The fact that Joe almost never runs is what makes him a dangerous runner.

[JoeyFlex5]

if the field is open enough for him to safely get a first down, he should do it, the dude has some wheels that nobody gives him credit for. bellichick mentioned one time how he hates his underrated and unpredictable running ability and that everytime he plays him he gets 1 or 2 crucial first downs with his legs. 

 

oh and he has the prettiest slide in the league, i mean he just looks like a such a baller when he slides lol.

[beanfigger]

He's the best QB-sneaker in the league, too, according to ESPN. 13-14 the last two seasons.

[Tenacious Faulker]

If he clearly has some room to run, and he can pick up an easy five yards and then slide, then why not?  He's pretty damn good at avoiding the big hit, and as has been pointed out, his slide really is a thing of beauty.  I don't think you meant designed runs, which I've seen Smith, Newton, Dalton, and others use this season, but I'd rather not see that other than sneaks.

More just when the opportunity arises and safely grab a chunk of real estate.  Designed runs is what gets QBs hurt and Cam Newton is the most recent example (minus the hit from the SUV).  They had some desgined runs for him in his first two seasons and he was dinged up then too depsite continuing to start.  Not interested in reliving those days.

 

When I see Roger or Big Ben seize an opportunity, I think "why not Joe?"  He can do it and after 7 seassons he has enough awareness and agility to avoid the hits...like Rogers at least.     

[beanfigger]

One big scramble every two or three games that sparks a drive or kills a defense like he had last week should be enough to make defenses respect it, but not too much to cause those opportunities to disappear.