This weekend ground-gaining juggernaut Jamal Lewis comes to town with his pack of defensive demons. Baltimore prides itself on a devastating ground game that has the “here we come, try to stop us†approach. On defense, the Raven’s employ linebacker king Ray Lewis, sack artist Peter Boulware, and ball hawking safety Ed Reed. Baltimore’s philosophy is as follows:
Run the ball and play bone-jarring defense. The Ravens have done both all season, yet they find themselves sitting at 5-4 coming into week 11. The Dolphins, 5-4, are also a running, defensive minded team.
My question is, how is it possible that the Ravens, who employ a rookie QB and weak-armed Chris Redman are able to run the ball at a record breaking pace, while the Dolphins yards per carry average is at the lower end of the league?
Surely the Ravens are facing 8 and 9 man fronts just as the Dolphins are. Why are the Ravens still running? How can it happen? If Ricky Williams played for the Ravens would he be having 37-yard games? The Ravens coaching staff has figured a way to make the running game go despite the lack of experience at QB and the stacked lines they have faced this season.
Dolphins offensive coordinator Norv Turner, a noted offensive genius, has not made significant changes in his offensive scheme in order to correct there deficiencies. The Dolphins have continued to attempt to run the ball between the tackles, but to no avail. The have been ineffective in all aspects on the offensive side of the ball. Since teams are stacking the box with 8 and 9 man fronts, it makes the ability to move the ball through the air a necessity. The Dolphins coaching staff has repeatedly stated that the offense will be successful at both running and passing. However, all efforts to do so have resulted in disappointment.
It is of my opinion that this offense lacks creativity and innovation. After watching game after game it is apparent that the same plays are called, and called in similar situations. At this point of the season, TE Randy McMichael has been the most productive and consistent contributor to the offense. On a squad that includes Ricky Williams and Chris Chambers, this is not acceptable.
One way to open up the running game is by utilizing 4 WR sets. This would not allow the opposition to stack the box. The loss of the FB as a blocker may pose a problem, but could be offset by William’s speed and power.
The offensive coordinator and head coach cannot simply stick with what has worked in the past and hope it begins to work. The NFL is a league of innovation which calls for constant thinking and changes on the move. It seems as though not only do the Dolphins fail to make adjustments at half time, but also from game to game.
The Dolphins need a fresh voice. And while I do realize that employing 4 WR formations is not the sole answer, I do believe that we need an innovator. We need someone who is not afraid to make changes, someone who will breath life into this stale offense. I am not a journalist or a coach, just an observer. Watching Oklahoma this weekend, I noticed their ability to run, pass, and score. It seems as though Coach Stoops has analyzed his team’s strength and weaknesses on a week to weak basis and has game planned differently for each opponent. I wonder if he has ever considered coaching in the NFL, in say….Miami.
Run the ball and play bone-jarring defense. The Ravens have done both all season, yet they find themselves sitting at 5-4 coming into week 11. The Dolphins, 5-4, are also a running, defensive minded team.
My question is, how is it possible that the Ravens, who employ a rookie QB and weak-armed Chris Redman are able to run the ball at a record breaking pace, while the Dolphins yards per carry average is at the lower end of the league?
Surely the Ravens are facing 8 and 9 man fronts just as the Dolphins are. Why are the Ravens still running? How can it happen? If Ricky Williams played for the Ravens would he be having 37-yard games? The Ravens coaching staff has figured a way to make the running game go despite the lack of experience at QB and the stacked lines they have faced this season.
Dolphins offensive coordinator Norv Turner, a noted offensive genius, has not made significant changes in his offensive scheme in order to correct there deficiencies. The Dolphins have continued to attempt to run the ball between the tackles, but to no avail. The have been ineffective in all aspects on the offensive side of the ball. Since teams are stacking the box with 8 and 9 man fronts, it makes the ability to move the ball through the air a necessity. The Dolphins coaching staff has repeatedly stated that the offense will be successful at both running and passing. However, all efforts to do so have resulted in disappointment.
It is of my opinion that this offense lacks creativity and innovation. After watching game after game it is apparent that the same plays are called, and called in similar situations. At this point of the season, TE Randy McMichael has been the most productive and consistent contributor to the offense. On a squad that includes Ricky Williams and Chris Chambers, this is not acceptable.
One way to open up the running game is by utilizing 4 WR sets. This would not allow the opposition to stack the box. The loss of the FB as a blocker may pose a problem, but could be offset by William’s speed and power.
The offensive coordinator and head coach cannot simply stick with what has worked in the past and hope it begins to work. The NFL is a league of innovation which calls for constant thinking and changes on the move. It seems as though not only do the Dolphins fail to make adjustments at half time, but also from game to game.
The Dolphins need a fresh voice. And while I do realize that employing 4 WR formations is not the sole answer, I do believe that we need an innovator. We need someone who is not afraid to make changes, someone who will breath life into this stale offense. I am not a journalist or a coach, just an observer. Watching Oklahoma this weekend, I noticed their ability to run, pass, and score. It seems as though Coach Stoops has analyzed his team’s strength and weaknesses on a week to weak basis and has game planned differently for each opponent. I wonder if he has ever considered coaching in the NFL, in say….Miami.
