Is Building A Dominant Running Game The Next Trend?

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I have to admit I absolutely loved watching the Monday night game between the Rams and the Chiefs. Big plays everywhere, offense and defense. One of the most exciting games I've ever seen and, yes, I've complained about the current game lacking defense.

Hearing sports radio, Eric Davis formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, talked about how to stop these types of offenses. Win ugly is what he basically said. Run the ball, keep these quarterbacks off the field, your defense fresh, and you've got a chance.

With the rules in play, it's a lot to expect defenses to shut offenses down. At the very most, the better defenses might make a game changing play or two. Watching quarterbacks like Goff and Mahomes consistently fitting passes into tight windows and making big play after big play, I don't think you stop them when they are on. Has Brees made any bad throws this year? The man is completing 77 percent of his passes. It's a different league.

But, defenses are getting quicker to combat the passing game. If you build and offensive line that can absolutely maul these quicker, sometimes smaller players, well that might be the way to go.

 

[Aqua Marino (UK)]

It's a very pass happy league these days. You see a lot of pass plays to set up runs with it being traditionally the other way around.

I like it in some ways but also enjoy watching dominating defenses. Teams like the Bucs and Ravens back in the day were just as enjoyable to see because of how dominant they were. The offense is having it's way right now, but the defense will be back.

Swings and roundabouts as they say here.

 

[ChambersWI]

Its cyclical. Look at defenses going from small and quick to 3-4s back to small and quick. With that you'll likely see power offenses come back in trend. Remember similar trends happened in mid 90's

 

[where's th'fish]

Wow. Is that really what you're getting out of the offensive passing game explosion this year? That you need to establish build a dominating running game? I don't get it.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Teams are running more Nickel and Dime then ever, and the two worst passing teams in the league (Cardinals and Bills) are averaging 5.8 and 5.9 YPA. Only six other teams are averaging worse than 7.0 YPA.

The best rushing averages are 5.2 and 5.1 YPA (Broncos and Packers), and neither team is likely to make the playoffs.

Having a good running game is a good thing, but passing is what wins and loses games, and I don't see that changing in the near future.

 

[ChambersWI]

Teams are running more Nickel and Dime then ever, and the two worst passing teams in the league (Cardinals and Bills) are averaging 5.8 and 5.9 YPA. Only six other teams are averaging worse than 7.0 YPA.

The best rushing averages are 5.2 and 5.1 YPA (Broncos and Packers), and neither team is likely to make the playoffs.

Having a good running game is a good thing, but passing is what wins and loses games, and I don't see that changing in the near future.

But you do need a running game to assist in the passing. The best teams in the league all do have reliable running games as well if we look at the teams likely to make the playoffs they do still run the ball effectively

 

[phinfan40353]

This is why the Patriots and BB have dominated. He does not marry his team to one philosophy. Each year, he adapts to respond to trends. He doesn't always embrace the trends, he tends to play against them. He doesn't just adapt year to year, he also adapts game to game.

Fans still embrace silver bullet thinking. When that is the simplistic way of thinking. What he does takes demanding intelligence week in and week out. He is constantly adapting. And he is constantly winning.

Stop thinking that one way is the answer. Until we get a HC and FO that CAN and WILL adapt constantly, we will continue to be lagging and behind in every facet of the league.

In order to be ahead, you have to think ahead.

I'm sorry, but we still have a HC constantly trying to make the same offensive scheme work week in and week out.

He's not even in the same league. We are so far away from where we need to be that only BB retiring will give us a chance.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Wow. Is that really what you're getting out of the offensive passing game explosion this year? That you need to establish build a dominating running game? I don't get it.

I think if you have the quarterback in place, you build the offense the way KC and the Rams have. If you don't have that type of quarterback and can't match-up that way then you've got to figure out another way to win the game.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

But you do need a running game to assist in the passing. The best teams in the league all do have reliable running games as well if we look at the teams likely to make the playoffs they do still run the ball effectively

I think you need versatility, certainly, and you need the running game for specific situations - short-yardage, etc., but take the Rams for example. Gurley sees the fewest defenders in the box of any RB in the league (last I checked). For the teams with great passing and running games (Rams, Saints, Chiefs being right at the top), the pass sets up the run, rather than the run setting up the pass.

Quick note: all these teams have very good OL's. The Saints and Rams have great OL's. So, that will also translate to a strong running game when it's needed.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

This is why the Patriots and BB have dominated. He does not marry his team to one philosophy. Each year, he adapts to respond to trends. He doesn't always embrace the trends, he tends to play against them. He doesn't just adapt year to year, he also adapts game to game.

Fans still embrace silver bullet thinking. When that is the simplistic way of thinking. What he does takes demanding intelligence week in and week out. He is constantly adapting. And he is constantly winning.

Stop thinking that one way is the answer. Until we get a HC and FO that CAN and WILL adapt constantly, we will continue to be lagging and behind in every facet of the league.

In order to be ahead, you have to think ahead.

I'm sorry, but we still have a HC constantly trying to make the same offensive scheme work week in and week out.

He's not even in the same league. We are so far away from where we need to be that only BB retiring will give us a chance.

Well said. I'm just thinking that most teams can't match the type of offense the Rams, Saints and KC have put out there. Not every team has a top five caliber quarterback either. But, you are right. There will be teams that can take away your running game if that's all you do. You do need to be versatile.

It's also interesting that you mentioned NE. This offseason we saw Miami getting quicker on defense (Baker, Fitzpatrick) and less physical (losing Suh). The Patriots counter by drafting an offensive lineman and running back in the first round. I'm not sure if Bellichick ever drafted a running back that high.

 

[tay0365]

I doubt it, what we will actually need is a very consistent running game to compliment our hopefully consistent and (At the very least) somewhat explosive passing offense.

This is now a passing league, and though a good running game will win you some games, eventually it will not be enough to slow down aggressive pass Offenses with the rules today.

 

[where's th'fish]

I think if you have the quarterback in place, you build the offense the way KC and the Rams have. If you don't have that type of quarterback and can't match-up that way then you've got to figure out another way to win the game.

Yeah, but the reason passing numbers are up is not just a couple of young QBs. The rules favor passing and it's been a trend for many years now. Eventually, as you say, it may reverse, but right now you have to ride the passing trend best way you can.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Yeah, but the reason passing numbers are up is not just a couple of young QBs. The rules favor passing and it's been a trend for many years now. Eventually, as you say, it may reverse, but right now you have to ride the passing trend best way you can.

It's not just the rules. It's a combination of better tools/analytics, better coaches, and more-skilled/developed players. Offenses dictate, and defenses react, so if both are performing at optimal levels, offenses have the advantage.

 

[Jerrysanders]

Passing is much more efficient, The Patriots have realized this for a long time now. Hypothetically it can work with a dominant pass defense like the 2017 Jaguars, but with the current offenses and rules limiting DB play I can't see that happening. The Detroit game is a prime example of how we can be utterly dominated and still be in the game, also the game against the colts in 2009 where they held the ball for less than 15 minutes and still beat us even though we had 239 yards rushing. U will be at a complete disadvantage if u have a heavy emphasis on the run vs a great passing team, Mcvay already knew he had to limit Gurley touches if he wanted to win that shootout vs KC.

 

[Adam Strange]

We’ll know if it’s the hot new trend if the Dolphins institute it about ten years from now.