Next Year our run game needs to improve

[CChambers7284]

I dont know but last year niether ronnie or ricky were that impressivve conssitently running the ball.

There are several reasons why, but I feel the biggest was lack of good interior line play. Thomas injury obviously didnt help, Satele just never seemed to get it right and Smiley was solid but then got hurt.

If we get good interior line play I think we should see a more conventional running approach because 1 through 3 our RBs could be the best in the buisness.

Ronnie- powerful, fast, 2nd year removed from his knee injury
Ricky- still has his speed and im really excited to see ricky in his second year in a row. Remmeber he didnt play in 04 (obviously, 05 he played half a season, 06 wasnt there, 07 5 carries or w/e. game. 08 all year now hofully in 9 he will regain some of that swagger a made him one of best in the league

Cobbs- Very good all around threat when used right and we saw that toward the end of last season. Great on special teams alll season but in the right offesnvie schemes we saw just how good he can be. Now he isn a #1 running back but as a #3 and a guy who receive well, run a little and make some big plays you gotta love it.

The only thing that I think would be better from a RB standpoint would be to involve Ricky, Ronnie and Cobbs more in the passing game coming outta the backfield. When used as recevingg threats all three made some big plays and all have good hands.

Just my 2 cents and lets hope for a more consistent running attack and maybe some more wildcat thrown in there.

 

[Crump]

yeah i believe that is the sole reason we went out and got grove to help with that power running game. i believe the trifecta is putting things in order, not to mention if you read the brandon london article the recievers have a chip on their shoulders and want to scare some teams this year. if the recievers step up play and continue to improve that will open even more up for the running game cause we can get 8 out of the box like we faced most of last season. i know the big part about the 8 in the box is penny's weak throwing arm. but if we have the threat as least the 8 in the box will have to be spread out a hair more

 

[skipp2myloo13]

Our better line will speak volumes for our running game

 

[Dolphins11]

Then ricky needs to be replaced. Ricky gets what the line gives him and nothing more. Go back and look at last season and count the broken tackles he had, btw, you'll only need 1 hand.

 

[SRM]

Then ricky needs to be replaced. Ricky gets what the line gives him and nothing more. Go back and look at last season and count the broken tackles he had, btw, you'll only need 1 hand.

I hate to say it, but you're right.. he was easily brought down 90 percent of the time. But he still produced in a big way for us .. last season wouldn't have been possible without him doing what he did for us

 

[67Stang]

I have a feeling with the way this line is shapping up, we have the potential for two 1000 yard backs, plus another 3-400 from Cobb.

 

[Digital]

It's not a simple answer, but here is the analysis of our problems in the running game.

Synopsis: New blocking scheme, youth along OL, new players = no chemistry, injuries along OL, QB unable to threaten deep keeps 8 in the box.

New Blocking Scheme:
Cam's offense really hummed along until we had a devestating string of injuries. That scheme doesn't place nearly as much of an emphasis on power, but rather technique and quickness are key elements. The new scheme depends heavily on power blockers, and our roster wasn't suited for it aside from Vernon Carey. Any time there is a change you will take 1 step backwards before you take 2 steps forward, but this drastic of a change required wholesale swapping out of personnel.

Youth along the OL:
Any time you have a 2nd year C, it's going to be rough, because that's extremely young for the C position. Having a rookie LT is usually suicide, but Long really proved himself special dominating as a rookie. RG was a huge hole that became the grand canyon when Donald Thomas fell to injury because we were forced to play waiver-wire type players there. Not the best way to sure up your young C. Then when Smiley went down, we were playing without any G talent at all. Satele's injury was a big blow, and flanked by inferior talent, he was never going to shine late in the season, but the torn labrum removed any doubt.

New players = no chemistry:
Let's face it, no player on last years's OL had played with anyone next to him before. It was the absolute worst possible recipe for chemistry.

Injuries along the OL:
We had no talent at RG, but when we lost Donald Thomas, it became glaringly apparent. Then Smiley's injury crippled us as now our young C was flanked by 2 horrible G's. Satele's torn labrum stole from him from any chance of success.

QB Unable to threaten deep:
Ginn has the speed to stretch the field and keep that S out of the box, but if the QB can't get it to him, that S will always cheat forward and plug running lanes. I'm a fan of Pennington too, but his lack of a deep ball meant Miami was facing an 8 man front rather than a 7 man front, and that is a big advantage for the defense.

All in all, most of these factors should improve next season, and I expect a better running game.

One other thing, Ricky has lost a step.

 

[#1dolphinsfan]

the reason they werent good is because our Line was terrible

 

[Elliott 1]

I like Donald Thomas a lot but I don't think it is wise to have high expectatations for a rookie who came in raw and missed pretty much the whole season last year.

I think our RB's are top tier. I think we will draft Rashad Jennings if he slides to the 3rd round but I think it is definitely the line play that will affect the running game this year.

I don't think adding a rookie OG would help us at all this year. It may in the future.

There is one way our OL could go from being good this year to being great this year. There have been many pundits and armchair experts over the years, including Vernon Carey's draft year, who have thought his best position would be OG.

I don't doubt it for a minute; however, Carey has always been needed at OT, and one year so desperately, even at LT.

The Dolphins could sign Orlando Pace to a front loaded 3 year contract and draft a big nasty road grader type RT like Phil Loadholt.

This OL could become legendary.

Don't get me wrong, the OL right now the way it is could get by with just a decent backup tackle, but moving Carey and adding another quality RT would make our OL feared around the league.

 

[Aqua Shadow]

I like Donald Thomas a lot but I don't think it is wise to have high expectatations for a rookie who came in raw and missed pretty much the whole season last year.

I think our RB's are top tier. I think we will draft Rashad Jennings if he slides to the 3rd round but I think it is definitely the line play that will affect the running game this year.

I don't think adding a rookie OG would help us at all this year. It may in the future.

There is one way our OL could go from being good this year to being great this year. There have been many pundits and armchair experts over the years, including Vernon Carey's draft year, who have thought his best position would be OG.

I don't doubt it for a minute; however, Carey has always been needed at OT, and one year so desperately, even at LT.

The Dolphins could sign Orlando Pace to a front loaded 3 year contract and draft a big nasty road grader type RT like Phil Loadholt.

This OL could become legendary.

Don't get me wrong, the OL right now the way it is could get by with just a decent backup tackle, but moving Carey and adding another quality RT would make our OL feared around the league.

Why sign an aging veteran LT when we have what will be a 2nd year stud there. Why draft a Rt when we have Carey who has done what we expected of him. Why move Carey to RG when we have Smiley there... Do we just ignore a solid linemen and let him be 2nd string? The logic is not there.

Drafting a C or G is fine for me because we have a solid starting line IMO but injuries could be devastating. With a rookie interior lineman to serve as a back up in case of injury, we could be set. My other concern is tackle depth. If either of our T go down, I don't want to see Ndukwe starting.

 

[MDFINFAN]

Why sign an aging veteran LT when we have what will be a 2nd year stud there. Why draft a Rt when we have Carey who has done what we expected of him. Why move Carey to RG when we have Smiley there... Do we just ignore a solid linemen and let him be 2nd string? The logic is not there.

Drafting a C or G is fine for me because we have a solid starting line IMO but injuries could be devastating. With a rookie interior lineman to serve as a back up in case of injury, we could be set. My other concern is tackle depth. If either of our T go down, I don't want to see Ndukwe starting.

His point is we're putting all our faith in Thomas at RG, Smiley plays left Guard. If Carey starts at RG and Olando Pace plays RT, then that is an excelllent OL..the interior would be monsters.. You'd have from L to R, Smiley, Grove, and Carey..We could move some DLmen out of the box with that. Then you have Long and Pace manning the outside...that's not really a bad thing.. Then you have Berger, Thomas, and Ndukwe, and upgrade OT as your back up, that's a good overall OL even with not knowing the OT's name at this point. That gives you 3 quality starting OT's plus a rook, and you have 4 capable guys to man the guard position with one who can backup center, and we haven't hit the draft yet..

 

[bone84]

The only thing that I think would be better from a RB standpoint would be to involve Ricky, Ronnie and Cobbs more in the passing game coming outta the backfield. When used as recevingg threats all three made some big plays and all have good hands.

Definetly agree. Need to get them some more swing passes and screens. Allow them to make the plays and stretch the field

 

[Smoke]

Our better line will speak volumes for our running game

Is the line really better though?
RG starter is still a mystery unless you count a 2nd year player coming off a season ending injury and with less than one game experience to come in and impress.
Smiley is also returning from his 2nd consecutive season ending injury and still needs to prove he can stay healthy.
Jake Grove is also kind of a mystery as well. Another injury prone player. I've heard mixed reviews about him so i'm taking the wait and see approach.
Our depth is the same mediocre group except for the addition of Berger. If you think the oline play was bad last season, imagine if we had lost Long or Carey to injury. I can't even name our back-up tackles.
IMO, on paper the oline doesn't seem much better than last season.

 

[Digital]

Definetly agree. Need to get them some more swing passes and screens. Allow them to make the plays and stretch the field

That is a good idea, I agree, but it's a lot easier said than done. Swing passes and especially screens work on aggressive overpursuing defenses that get sucked upfield towards the QB leaving a soft underbelly unprotected where the quick dump pass can reach the RB/WR behind the pass rush and with blockers moving upfield.

When we have a weak-armed QB, defenses routinely play with an 8th man in the box, typically a S. That S provides instant snuffing out of those plays and this makes it significantly harder to get those plays to work because the S is often in an ideal position to make a pick-six, or at the very least a quick tackle of the ball carrier, demanding that he be blocked, and lessening the blockers in position to break the play for big yardage. Having Ginn's speed, these are definitely plays we want in our playbook, but again, Pennington's arm makes them more challenging to pull off because of the S in the box. Fortunately, Pennington's accuracy and low interception rate means that he sould be able to make it work consistently.

The other thing to consider, is who receives the ball on those plays. Ideally it would be Ginn, but if he doesn't have solid blocking to accompany him he is going to take some jarring hits from LB's and S's as he moves accross the middle. He has neither the personality type nor the body type to really do that too often. Using Ronnie or Ricky on those plays though, should prove very effective, and working in Ginn periodically could spring some very big plays.

Another play we need to incorporate that is very similar is the quick slant, for much the same reasons.

 

[phinfan33]

I like Donald Thomas a lot but I don't think it is wise to have high expectatations for a rookie who came in raw and missed pretty much the whole season last year.

I think our RB's are top tier. I think we will draft Rashad Jennings if he slides to the 3rd round but I think it is definitely the line play that will affect the running game this year.

I don't think adding a rookie OG would help us at all this year. It may in the future.

There is one way our OL could go from being good this year to being great this year. There have been many pundits and armchair experts over the years, including Vernon Carey's draft year, who have thought his best position would be OG.

I don't doubt it for a minute; however, Carey has always been needed at OT, and one year so desperately, even at LT.

The Dolphins could sign Orlando Pace to a front loaded 3 year contract and draft a big nasty road grader type RT like Phil Loadholt.

This OL could become legendary.

Don't get me wrong, the OL right now the way it is could get by with just a decent backup tackle, but moving Carey and adding another quality RT would make our OL feared around the league.

why would you want us to sign a vet LT who's on the verge of retirement? not to mention that his last few years have seen him get injured...now i know Grove has been injury prone,but he's also 6-8 years younger than Pace...i personally want us to draft OL and develop them in our system...