Running Teams in the NFL

[pstall]

Of the top of my head, I'm gonna say that the Saints and Colts lead the league in time of poss and 3rd downs converted on offense in the 2nd half.

But, that's a wild guess.

[MHS831]

I would take 5 yards a pop over a 250 yards per game passing ave. Less risk, more control of the game. However, if you can't pass, get used to a lot of 8-man fronts. Balance is the key, as Kinderfelt says.

[SuperXMSat]

Delhome was 32nd in passing too. Our defense wasn't even that great.

The Jets had the #1 defense with that formula and went to the championship.

Actually I'm pretty sure the 08 season was the 12-4 season. But our running game was awesome balls last year too.

[Davidson Deac II]

Of the top of my head, I'm gonna say that the Saints and Colts lead the league in time of poss and 3rd downs converted on offense in the 2nd half.

But, that's a wild guess.

Regarding time of possession and Saints I agree. Not so sure about the Colts.

[boo7382]

Its easier to win consistently if you can do both.

agreed. obviously we cant win the entire season with just our running game (even tho last year we technically had our qb scoring for the other team). we sure can dominate with doubletrouble tho...but everyones already expecting that now...we need to get a passing game back and have a #2 wr step up!

[panthers55]

We do have to have a good passing game. We averaged 5 yards a pop but led the league in long runs. That means we also had a bunch of runs for losses and little to no gain. Our power running game was not in the top 10. Passing moves the sticks and makes you more unpredictable. Without it you can't keep picking up first downs and move the ball consistently. Especially against teams that are tough against the run or in short yardage situations.

[SorthNarolina]

Actually I'm pretty sure the 08 season was the 12-4 season. But our running game was awesome balls last year too.

I'm pretty sure both me and the guy I was responding too knew that so we all in agreement.

Really though the fact that we had some of that horrible QB play in 09 too does prove how valuable a run game can be.

But also as a counterpoint Williams/Stewart are a very unique combination.

[marcopolo]

The way you win football is by controlling the line of scrimmage, not by how many fantasy players you have. You start by building your lines and then go from there.

[CatMan72]

The Jets only won 9 games, but they got one game away from the SB with a run-first offense.

Here's the other thing... as teams continue to re-tool their defense to combat the increase in the passing game (lighter and faster players) the running game will become more and more effective.

[ed bell]

Here is what I don't understand...

Unlimited access to players, coaches, GMs.

Yet this is the drivel that the sports hacks out there are writing about.

And look at the response it got. Someone made a thread about it and now everyone is talking about it.

Well, it's fun to jump in and contradict someone who is referred to as an "expert analyst". What I don't get is the notion that having an effective running game is actually a detriment to winning games. Someone mentioned "balance" earlier and I couldn't agree more. Not only is it a balance on offense, but the defensive side of the ball adds to it.

High flying offenses can put big points on the board, but they can also lose control of the clock, sputter and back themselves in a corner. The best thing a team can do against them is to have solid coverage and the ability to control the clock. The run game does that and more. I remember plenty of times our first drive eating nearly 3/4 of the first quarter. Then the opposing defense gets demoralized, overplays the run and gets burned by the pass. That's the blueprint we operate with, IMO, but the interceptions/turnovers last year KILLED that.

Turnovers are the real killer for the running teams. The field position battle gets out of whack, ball control gets trumped and scoring deficits get out of reach. Everything falls apart after that. Prime example- the Eagles game last year. Watch the highlights again....the Eagles had 1 TD scoring drive and all the rest was directly from turnovers and the BLATANT block in the back on the punt return TD. Worst lopsided defeat of the year, yet we played well in most of the other aspects of the game. The deficit was too big and the gameplan was destroyed.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009091302/2009/REG1/eagles@panthers/analyze#tab:watch

LOL at the announcer calling Jake "Jake O'Donnell" after the last of four picks, on top of that the fumble6 in the first half looked absolutely terrible. He coughed the ball up quite a few times while getting sacked last year.

[ed bell]

We do have to have a good passing game. We averaged 5 yards a pop but led the league in long runs. That means we also had a bunch of runs for losses and little to no gain. Our power running game was not in the top 10. Passing moves the sticks and makes you more unpredictable. Without it you can't keep picking up first downs and move the ball consistently. Especially against teams that are tough against the run or in short yardage situations.

I hear what you are saying, but I gotta be honest, I never felt unsure when we got down to 3rd and short last year. Not last year, hell, not since D'angelo broke out from 2007 going into 2008. It seemed like that wasn't a problem area for us.

[Chaos]

Man, I miss the good ol days when Sean Salisbury would torment John Clayton on air. Called him the crypt keeper.

[Mother Grabber]

I believe the Jets were the most 'unbalanced' team last year with 58% run to 42% pass. If that's the worst case, then I think it's fair to say that just about everyone is basically balanced. It's just a matter of which you use to set up the other.

[panthers55]

I hear what you are saying, but I gotta be honest, I never felt unsure when we got down to 3rd and short last year. Not last year, hell, not since D'angelo broke out from 2007 going into 2008. It seemed like that wasn't a problem area for us.

IN 2008 we were very good in converting 3rd and short but last year we weren't nearly as good. Especially to the right side which is why we got rid of Vincent.