Good defense reason for lowing rushing output

[burger13]

A lot of people around here seem intent on finding someone or something to "blame" for the lackluster rushing output thus far in the preseason.....either the line stinks or Ronnie isn't seeing these gaping holes, etc.

But here's a something to consider....perhaps the Dolphins opponents (the other guys on the field who tend to have an effect on the outcome) have a little something to do with it. So far, we've played Carolina, Jacksonville and Tampa. 3 really good defenses.......3 defenses who have not allowed any preseason opponent thus far to rush for more than 3.6 yards per carry in the first half (except for rushing challenged Miami averaging 4.4 in the first half against Tampa).

Here's what each team has given up per carry in the first half of each preseason game so far:

Tampa Bay
Jags 3.6
Jets 3.2
Dolphins 4.4

Jacksonville
Bucs 1.1
Panthers 3.5
Dolphins - 3.6

Panthers
Bills 2.5
Jags 2.9
Dolphins 2.5

So before everyone starts damning the Dolphins to the bottom of the NFL rushing rankings....realize that they have played some very good defenses who aren't letting anyone run on them....but that won't be the case every week....the line, and of course Ronnie will be just fine overall.

 

[thecoordinator]

maybe you should study the film before making a post like this. if you do, you will see that it hasn't been the defenses we've faced as much as it's been very poor execution not only by our 2 guards and center but by mc and chambers who arent blocking worth a crap either. the only 2 guys ive seen play with any consistency and do a pretty good job are shelton and carey.

 

[Slim]

maybe you should study the film before making a post like this. if you do, you will see that it hasn't been the defenses we've faced as much as it's been very poor execution not only by our 2 guards and center but by mc and chambers who arent blocking worth a crap either. the only 2 guys ive seen play with any consistency and do a pretty good job are shelton and carey.

Yeah but if players aren't meeting their assignments, this is quite possibly because the player on the other side of the ball is prohibiting them from not meeting their assignment.
Therefore, you are providing us with the same info as burger13.

 

[Dol-Fan Dupree]

maybe you should study the film before making a post like this. if you do, you will see that it hasn't been the defenses we've faced as much as it's been very poor execution not only by our 2 guards and center but by mc and chambers who arent blocking worth a crap either. the only 2 guys ive seen play with any consistency and do a pretty good job are shelton and carey.

so the defense they are playing have nothing to do with it?

 

[Kansasdolfan]

good post we'll be fine

 

[burger13]

maybe you should study the film before making a post like this. if you do, you will see that it hasn't been the defenses we've faced as much as it's been very poor execution not only by our 2 guards and center but by mc and chambers who arent blocking worth a crap either. the only 2 guys ive seen play with any consistency and do a pretty good job are shelton and carey.

I watched every snap.....but thanks for the advice. :wink:

Have you considered at all that absolute stud players like Marcus Stroud, John Henderson, Kris Jenkins (and to a slightly lesser extent Booger McFarland) are main reason that our interior line has looked bad......DT's that good seem to have that effect on a lot of lineman.

You can't fairly evaluate a player without consideration to the talent of the player they are going against. Would you damn a DB for not being able to cover Holt, Moss, Owens 1-on-1? Of course not.

It was a given going into this year that we don't have studs at ANY position on the O-Line.....so when they go against the best D-Lines, weakness' are going to show. But that won't be the case every week.

Let's see what happens week 2 or 3 when play Buffalo and Houston....I bet everyone will think that line played a lot better.

 

[thecoordinator]

Yeah but if players aren't meeting their assignments, this is quite possibly because the player on the other side of the ball is prohibiting them from not meeting their assignment.
Therefore, you are providing us with the same info as burger13.

you wanna have a discussion about the running game then study the film on our game as well as other games from week 3 when the starters played into the 3rd quarter and then we can compare notes. playing the guessing game is a waste of time.

 

[Rich22]

maybe you should study the film before making a post like this. if you do, you will see that it hasn't been the defenses we've faced as much as it's been very poor execution not only by our 2 guards and center but by mc and chambers who arent blocking worth a crap either. the only 2 guys ive seen play with any consistency and do a pretty good job are shelton and carey.

You are right on! The D didn't cause Hadnot and Anderson to false start or to block with their heads staring at the ground so they whif on the block! I know they are a work in progress but c'mon - I thought these guys would be better than this at this point in the offseason. Anyone see the 4th down run at the goal line against Carolina? That was piss poor. Beasley scored a TD - he actually ran through the hole and blocked nobody. If I was RB I'd say put Barnes in front of me because at least I know he will take someone's head off before the rest of the line gets to me.

 

[Slim]

you wanna have a discussion about the running game then study the film on our game as well as other games from week 3 when the starters played into the 3rd quarter and then we can compare notes. playing the guessing game is a waste of time.

Dude, whats your problem?

I've watched every second of all 3 games thus far.
You make it sound like the defense we play has nothing to do with the running game which is absurd.

 

[cnc66]

maybe you should study the film before making a post like this. if you do, you will see that it hasn't been the defenses we've faced as much as it's been very poor execution not only by our 2 guards and center but by mc and chambers who arent blocking worth a crap either. the only 2 guys ive seen play with any consistency and do a pretty good job are shelton and carey.

hmmm, sounds a little harsh bro... I saw the film...maybe lesser players would not have been "as" able to shut us down... I liked his numbers and appreciate the time and effort he put into the post. You too have valid points, but if this was happening to us against Houston NYJ, and Frisco, I'd be REALLY worried.

hey Burger...did we get "minus" yards per carry against Jax?...

nice job, I agree, the problem is not Ronnie Brown. He would have done better if allowed to play longer anyway, all the samples are from the least productive time for running backs but they are fair to each other for this comparison. Even last year, I felt it was more the quality of our running backs not the blocking that had us at 4.4 ypc. Back to the defenses, Carolina allowed what..92 yds rushing a game last year? P-burg allowed less, we will have to improve or beat them with the pass...and they blitz..our line is not yet cohesive and our qb is still fragile....

 

[thecoordinator]

You are right on! The D didn't cause Hadnot and Anderson to false start or to block with their heads staring at the ground so they whif on the block! I know they are a work in progress but c'mon - I thought these guys would be better than this at this point in the offseason. Anyone see the 4th down run at the goal line against Carolina? That was piss poor. Beasley scored a TD - he actually ran through the hole and blocked nobody. If I was RB I'd say put Barnes in front of me because at least I know he will take someone's head off before the rest of the line gets to me.

beasley will be the FB. he does a better job of reading the play than barnes and if the RB follows him more often then not he's going to get positive yards. for example, on the 1st and goal run from the 9, beasely is lead blocking for morris. the play is designed to go in the B gap but there is nothing there from the get go, beasley reads this and breaks his lead off tackle. beautiful. the only problem is sammy didnt follow him and runs right up inside into a brick wall for no gain. if morris follows beasley to the outside on this play it's a TD.

on the 4th and goal, we just got stood up. the only guy who even stalemated was carey. the real problem on this play was too much traffic created by trying to pull james. yes. 4th and goal from the 1 and we are pulling a guard that doesnt pull well and on an inside run no less. bad call imo. anyway, jeno loses his balance then slightly trips over culpeppers feet and basically falls into where the hole was supposed to be and blocks no one. in doing so he got in ronnies way. this was an instance where the defense we were playing defintely had alot to do with it because we had absolutely no push across the board, but i would have rather seen us just power straight ahead and let ronnie decide if he wants to follow the lead, dive over the top or break it outside.

 

[DolfinDave]

Lets calm down about the running game. We have faced some good defensive lines. What star running back has had a good preseason running the ball? LT doesn't even play. Alexander, Johnson, and James barely touch the ball. And when they do, they aren't breaking off 20 yard runs. Chill out guys. Its ok to be concerned, but at least give it one regular season game before we hit the panic button.

 

[Canadi-Phin]

I believe I read a post of an article on this forum that Beasley stated that they were running all kinds of new plays and no to worry about Ronnie. In the regular season we will use what works and the output will be better. IMO

 

[Rich22]

Lets calm down about the running game. We have faced some good defensive lines. What star running back has had a good preseason running the ball? LT doesn't even play. Alexander, Johnson, and James barely touch the ball. And when they do, they aren't breaking off 20 yard runs. Chill out guys. Its ok to be concerned, but at least give it one regular season game before we hit the panic button.

I don't think there should be concern with Ronnie. The concern is with the Oline and how improved or regressed they are. We do have 2 new guys and 1 guy playing a somewhat different position. I'd expect them to take time to get in sync. However, this is Houck's 2nd year and I'd expect more from the middle of the line by now. Running up the gut against a good D team may not be an option. I think RB will get his yards but only after the passing game softens things up. I think a bunch of us were hoping we would be able to run first but I don't see that happening.

 

[Rich22]

beasley will be the FB. he does a better job of reading the play than barnes and if the RB follows him more often then not he's going to get positive yards. for example, on the 1st and goal run from the 9, beasely is lead blocking for morris. the play is designed to go in the B gap but there is nothing there from the get go, beasley reads this and breaks his lead off tackle. beautiful. the only problem is sammy didnt follow him and runs right up inside into a brick wall for no gain. if morris follows beasley to the outside on this play it's a TD.

on the 4th and goal, we just got stood up. the only guy who even stalemated was carey. the real problem on this play was too much traffic created by trying to pull james. yes. 4th and goal from the 1 and we are pulling a guard that doesnt pull well and on an inside run no less. bad call imo. anyway, jeno loses his balance then slightly trips over culpeppers feet and basically falls into where the hole was supposed to be and blocks no one. in doing so he got in ronnies way. this was an instance where the defense we were playing defintely had alot to do with it because we had absolutely no push across the board, but i would have rather seen us just power straight ahead and let ronnie decide if he wants to follow the lead, dive over the top or break it outside.

I disagree - I think Barnes is the better blocker. How important is a pass catching FB versus the better blocker. Barnes is young and works his tail off - he has a bigger upside. Nothing against Beasley but I think Barnes will play a bunch if not start. On that 4th down carry - you are right - the pulling of the guard was a bad call, BUT Beasley didn't touch anyone. You see him going through the hole into the endzone and then all of a sudden 2 guys close it up. I haven't seen the upgrade from him over Barnes but it is just preseason. I'm sure practices tell a bunch more - it will be interesting to see the cuts and the depth chart.