Can The Dolphins Run Block This Year?

[Dolphin North]

No one knows, OP.

You're absolutely right that Albert and James were not brought in here to run block. And there's a lot of change on the O line for anyone to be comfortable about our ability to consistently block for the RB's. So I think the success of the run game is going to depend a lot on the scheme, and if we can stretch out defenses.

I think that's a good point about scheme. Plus with zone blocking, it is more important that they can get that first step laterally before laying into their assigned guy...often 1 man down the line. The pass can help us set up the run if it works well and we stretch them out, but it has to work and we aren't even sure about that.

For me, not knowing most of our linemen, I think I would ask not so much how their run blocking was in the past but if they played in a zone blocking system or were they maybe miscast in their previous teams? I know Pouncey has good quick lateral movement. In the very few snaps I have seen of James it looks like he does but he doesn't get to the second level and block down field as much as you'd like a tackle to. Other than that I am at a loss. Do these guys have that good lateral first step that allows us to even set up a good zone blocking play? That might give us a hint as to how well they can run block for us this year, regardless of the past. I actually think Sam Brenner was better at this one thing (lateral movement) than Incognito last year, unless it was just a case of better communication and team work with him and McKinnie as opposed to the dysfunction of Cogs and Martin.

 

[So Be]

The other concern is that our TE's cannot run block worth a damn, and we will not have a FB.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Run the ball at least 28 times per game and don't fall for the idiocy that screen passes are a substitute for runs. If we do that, the personnel issues should take care of themselves.

The Eagles' screen game doesn't matter. Decades of results is markedly more significant than isolating one particular team and pretending we're a near perfect match. Screen passes are a proven failure, particularly on 3rd down, even if the 2013 leaguewide numbers were slightly more positive than typical.

I'm not convinced that Moreno is enough of an addition to inspire Philbin and Lazor to run the ball a sufficient number of times. Sherman, by all accounts, wanted to run the ball more often but backed down to Philbin's biases. My primary hope for Lazor has little to do with the passing game. Ignore Philbin and run the ball sufficiently. It's a natural cleanser, especially for a quarterback on Tannehill's current level.

If Tannehill blooms, then we can abuse the forward pass. These days were are doing it the opposite...throwing the ball as frequently as if we already have a premier quarterback. It virtually guarantees mediocrity.

 

[Zounds]

Sherman, by all accounts, wanted to run the ball more often but backed down to Philbin's biases.

This statement couldn't be further from the truth.