Whats the story with the Run Game?

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Is it scheme? Talent? Lack of commitment to the run? What gives?

[AsianRice]

Penalties killed us and took away 50yd or something run from West. 

 

Our starters are back and as long as we cut down all the rookie penalties, our run game will be in good shape...

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

It would seem to me, that given Joes coming back from knee surgery, that the running game would be this teams #1 TOP PRIORITY for a couple of reasons.

1) It takes pressure off Joe, gives your rookie lineman the opportunity to crack some skulls, and eats minutes off the clock, which will:

2) Give the Defense a much needed break, to be able to regroup and not bleed out game losing plays every week.

 

So, I am baffled, that we keep throwing it a bazillion times every week. Its a given that we have some good backs in our stable, why the heck are they not the direction we are going? 

 

On another note, if I have to hear another Ravens fan cheering for Lavion Bell cause hes on their fantasy team, hes getting a knuckle sandwich right to the kisser!

[AsianRice]

Last Sunday game, we have pretty balance offense on both pass and run.

 

Joe still looks scared out there, probably from his knee injury.  He needs to put that scare away and steps into the ball more; however, the ACL/MCL injury affects his mental game more or so than his physical game.  He's been making lots of rookie mistakes like decision making under pressure.

On the second half against the Steelers, Joe did stepped into the ball more and threw a blazing pass to Smith SR for the first down.  I guess it's the trust issue as well; he knows Steve would get the fast tight window throw; same goes to Ben with Brown.

Yes, I agree that we need to balance our attacks, but our WR guys need to beat one on one match up in order to open up for the running game too.

 

Cut down the penalty is the #1 fix right now....

[Jonah DeVito]

Please just let West handle the bulk of the carries. He almost split them with Dixon and he has said and proven that he plays better when he is the feature back. I understand Dixon has a bright future, but while West is running well I really don't understand why you run with a committee. But if we are going by committee I'd love to see Tali getting some more reps so we can see what he's got. 

[redrum52]

The story is short.  it's not very good at the moment.

[rmcjacket23]

4 minutes ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

It would seem to me, that given Joes coming back from knee surgery, that the running game would be this teams #1 TOP PRIORITY for a couple of reasons.

1) It takes pressure off Joe, gives your rookie lineman the opportunity to crack some skulls, and eats minutes off the clock, which will:

2) Give the Defense a much needed break, to be able to regroup and not bleed out game losing plays every week.

 

So, I am baffled, that we keep throwing it a bazillion times every week. Its a given that we have some good backs in our stable, why the heck are they not the direction we are going? 

 

On another note, if I have to hear another Ravens fan cheering for Lavion Bell cause hes on their fantasy team, hes getting a knuckle sandwich right to the kisser!

So in the Trestman era, I agree completely with the notion that we didn't run the ball enough.

However, its been 3 weeks since he was let go. Lets look at whats going on...

1. Against the Giants, we ran it 26 times. That's a good number. Still at less than 4 YPC (3.8), and that includes a 33 yard run from West, so far from efficient. Lets dig deeper...

In that Giants game, we had 13 rushing attempts (50% of our attempts) where we rushed for less than 2 yards on that play. Those 13 attempts landed us a NET TOTAL of just 3 yards rushing.

We had the notorious 4 play stretch where we had 1st and goal from the 3, ran it 4 times, and didn't score. We netted 1 total yard gained on 4 rushing attempts.

There's even some key problems that you'll see soon in regards to running the ball on 2nd and short... we had four rushing attempts on 2nd and 4 yards to go or less, and we never gained a single yard on any of them (lost a yard on two of them).

2. I'm not even sure I need to walk through the stats on the Jets game. But I will point out that the Jets have a dominant front, and the way to beat their defense is clearly through the air and by going deep. Now we sucked overall offensively in this game, and we probably should have ran it more, but 1 yard per carry isn't going to get it done. I don't care if you run it 5 times... you better be getting more than 5 YPC. If you're getting double digit carries and you're only averaging 1 YPC, I'd abandon the run immediately. Its not happening, and its not like the defense is going to start "respecting you for running it". If nothing else, they know they can stop you with a normal front and don't need to dedicate any more resources to do it. They may even dedicate less.

3. Steelers game is basically the same thing as the Giants. 29 rushing attempts... a big number in today's NFL. 1.7 YPC. Just horrendous. Digging deeper...

18 of the 29 rush attempts went for 2 yards or less (62%). Those 18 attempts netted us 8 total yards. 6 of those attempts were for negative yardage.

We had five attempts where we had 2nd and "short" (within 5 yards for first down). On those five attempts, we netted a 6 yard loss, and had three of those runs that lost yardage.

So I'll make this as clear as I can... in the two games where Marty has been the OC and we actually should have run the ball a lot in terms of quantity, we did it. When you're up in the 25-30 rushing attempt range, that's more than sufficient. 

For me, in the last three games, its 100% about execution. 

 

[The Raven]

Same as it's been... Jeremy Zuttah is a complete liability, Alex Lewis isn't ready, and Wagner isn't as good a run blocker as we need him to be. Stanley is overall fine but still has bad moments. 

Edited November 7, 2016 by The Raven

[JoeyFlex5]

Lewis and zuttah just aren't good for pushing upfield.

Shazier was playing like a madman.

Heyward was back.

For most of the other games we just abandoned it. I think the steelers run defense is misleading because Heyward is a wrecking ball against the run and he's been out for a while

[usmccharles]

25 minutes ago, JoeyFlex5 said:

Lewis and zuttah just aren't good for pushing upfield.

Shazier was playing like a madman.

Heyward was back.

For most of the other games we just abandoned it. I think the steelers run defense is misleading because Heyward is a wrecking ball against the run and he's been out for a while

I really liked that pick for them, good sideline to sideline speed.  I think he ran around a 4.3 40

[BmoreBird22]

For the Steelers game, I wouldn't look at execution of the offense too much. 

It was fairly clear the Steelers sold out to stop the run and dared the Ravens to beat them through the air, similar to what the Ravens did. The Steelers mostly played single high, and even zero coverage, coverage looks. They often had loaded fronts that just beat up on the Ravens.

[RaineV1]

6 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

I really liked that pick for them, good sideline to sideline speed.  I think he ran around a 4.3 40

Yeah, when healthy he is a great linebacker.

As for the run game, Lewis and Zutta just aren't good run blockers. The o line is usually being pushed back, or prevented from opening any holes. During the offseason the interior line is something the Ravens will have to upgrade.

[K-Dog]

6 minutes ago, BmoreBird22 said:

For the Steelers game, I wouldn't look at execution of the offense too much. 

It was fairly clear the Steelers sold out to stop the run and dared the Ravens to beat them through the air, similar to what the Ravens did. The Steelers mostly played single high, and even zero coverage, coverage looks. They often had loaded fronts that just beat up on the Ravens.

Yup.

A average run game against a stout defense . 

[JoeyFlex5]

33 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

I really liked that pick for them, good sideline to sideline speed.  I think he ran around a 4.3 40

I think he may be better than Mosley when healthy... I hate to say it but that guy is an incredible playmaker.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

I think with our O-line core starters returning last week and Pittsburgh having 2 weeks to prepare for it knowing our strong desire to commit to the run - they schemed perfectly for it. They overloaded the strong side of run formations and provided an extra defender that could not be accounted for every time. We didn't audible-out or make any adjustments to compensate for it. It's understandable, because no one has done that to us thus far.

I don't think it will be a problem going forward because adjustments should and will be made. We've had some success running the ball against fronts equal to theirs (when we chose to), so it's only reasonable to think that we will adjust, not telegraph those same scheme alignments and get back on track.

I'm confident adjustments are being made.

We have the talent, we've shaken-off the rust after returning from injury and now we need to just commit to balancing our offense for the 2nd-half of the season.

[terrynjulia03]

You're going to have problems when you're C and LG get pushed into the backfield every play, and you're RT can't seal a edge. As for the previous we were playing backups. They're 2nd and 3rd stringers for a reason.

And if you want a overall opinion you simply cannot have 5 Yanda's out there that are great at both pass blocking and running. No team has that because well you just couldn't afford it. So you create a mix, and even that isn't going to have cream of the crop at even one thing at each position. So you run to your strength side and the other team puts their best at that point. Sometimes you're better, sometimes the defenders are better. And than it also comes to scheme and a RB that fits into x scheme, some guys are stretch zone, some need a FB and are downhill guys, some have the vision and can get up to speed quickly and thrive running out of the gun(Rice was like that and Cam was too incompetent to use it more). Etc....

[ALPHA]

KO leaving is whats wrong with the run game, alongside Yanda he helped cover Zuttahs deficiencies and propel a journeyman like Forsett to the pro bowl.

I said last year that in three years he would be better than Yanda who is ageing, thats already starting to happen with KO named to every midseason AP list.

[Davesta]

We need a new center and LG. Then maybe we'll get the push we need for a run game

[PurpleHorseman]

It is really hard for a ravens player to anger me. But I do not like Zuttah and Lewis very much. Lewis and Zuttah are hurting our run game. And have our franchise QB who is returning from injury, play like he is not sure of himself. If KO and Jensen were in the lineup and Stanley did not get hurt we would be talking bout Joe having a career year. I don't believe There would not be debates across the state regarding replacing Joe Flacco

[PurpleCity5]

Sometimes you're just going to have to win by the pass. You're going to have games where you're only going to get 2.0 YPC and won't be able to run it at all. I think the Steelers game was a prime example of that. 

[terrynjulia03]

Lewis was never projected to be a LG. Every expert said that he would be much better on the right side as a RT, and could develop into a swing guy if needed. Honestly I think they made the pick expecting not to resign Wagner and moving Lewis over there.  Figuring Urschel, and Jensen along with a draft pick this year battling it out for C and LG next season. Don't think even the coaching staff foresaw those 2 playing so badly in their brief amount of times. Maybe a new line coach can figure it out 

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

On 11/7/2016 at 5:00 PM, rmcjacket23 said:

So in the Trestman era, I agree completely with the notion that we didn't run the ball enough.

However, its been 3 weeks since he was let go. Lets look at whats going on...

1. Against the Giants, we ran it 26 times. That's a good number. Still at less than 4 YPC (3.8), and that includes a 33 yard run from West, so far from efficient. Lets dig deeper...

In that Giants game, we had 13 rushing attempts (50% of our attempts) where we rushed for less than 2 yards on that play. Those 13 attempts landed us a NET TOTAL of just 3 yards rushing.

We had the notorious 4 play stretch where we had 1st and goal from the 3, ran it 4 times, and didn't score. We netted 1 total yard gained on 4 rushing attempts.

There's even some key problems that you'll see soon in regards to running the ball on 2nd and short... we had four rushing attempts on 2nd and 4 yards to go or less, and we never gained a single yard on any of them (lost a yard on two of them).

2. I'm not even sure I need to walk through the stats on the Jets game. But I will point out that the Jets have a dominant front, and the way to beat their defense is clearly through the air and by going deep. Now we sucked overall offensively in this game, and we probably should have ran it more, but 1 yard per carry isn't going to get it done. I don't care if you run it 5 times... you better be getting more than 5 YPC. If you're getting double digit carries and you're only averaging 1 YPC, I'd abandon the run immediately. Its not happening, and its not like the defense is going to start "respecting you for running it". If nothing else, they know they can stop you with a normal front and don't need to dedicate any more resources to do it. They may even dedicate less.

3. Steelers game is basically the same thing as the Giants. 29 rushing attempts... a big number in today's NFL. 1.7 YPC. Just horrendous. Digging deeper...

18 of the 29 rush attempts went for 2 yards or less (62%). Those 18 attempts netted us 8 total yards. 6 of those attempts were for negative yardage.

We had five attempts where we had 2nd and "short" (within 5 yards for first down). On those five attempts, we netted a 6 yard loss, and had three of those runs that lost yardage.

So I'll make this as clear as I can... in the two games where Marty has been the OC and we actually should have run the ball a lot in terms of quantity, we did it. When you're up in the 25-30 rushing attempt range, that's more than sufficient. 

For me, in the last three games, its 100% about execution. 

 

So it sounds like the backs are good, maybe its the blocking scheme, or the lineman just suck

[The Raven]

24 minutes ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

So it sounds like the backs are good, maybe its the blocking scheme, or the lineman just suck

Hey, wow, thanks for catching up to the rest of us.

[redrum52]

On 11/7/2016 at 6:01 PM, JoeyFlex5 said:

Lewis and zuttah just aren't good for pushing upfield.

Shazier was playing like a madman.

Heyward was back.

For most of the other games we just abandoned it. I think the steelers run defense is misleading because Heyward is a wrecking ball against the run and he's been out for a while

The Steelers front 7 when healthy is a pretty good run defense.

[redrum52]

1 hour ago, The Raven said:

Hey, wow, thanks for catching up to the rest of us.

Watching that Raiders Broncos game made me sad.