You can't run it if you don't try.
Look, this isn't any attempt to absolve the quarterback and passing game of their own struggles. There's no arguing that whatsoever. This is pointing out a coordinator who refuses to adjust to that fact.
The best this offense looked yesterday was when they actually made the effort to use the running back more. The question that needs to be asked is why did it take so long?
The answer is one that many of us have known for quite some time. You've got a pass happy coordinator hired by a pass Happy head coach attempting to coach an offense built for the run. Round pegs and square holes.
people often get confused about running attempts. 25 rushing attempts in a game don't come all on first downs. our history with garrett has been about 50/50 run/pass on first downs, which is good. but one has to get first downs to make those attempts. yesterday we were 3 for 13 on third downs. also, we are being stopped pretty much on first downs, which puts us in a 2nd and long and 3rd and long situation, yes some because of penalties and it forces you to pass. also, when you are down late in the game you tend to have to pass to score quickly...we lose some runs there....so this we don't run enough is just looking at one small stat line and coming to a conclusion.
when teams are winning, ala giants game, we run to run out the clock. we didn't do that yesterday in the 4th....
add up all of those and that's about 9 -11 runs a game lost because the offense was inept in the first 3 quarters...that's about the 25 runs a game we want to see from zeke. yesterday, this was 2nd and distance in the game in the first 3 quarters..
2nd and 5 - passed
2nd and 3 - run
2nd and 7 - pass
2nd and 10 - run
2nd and 20 - run
2nd and 7 - pass
2nd and 7 - run
2nd and 12 - pass
2nd and 17 - pass
2nd and 15 - pass
2nd and 8 - pass
2nd and 10 - run
that's an average of 2nd and 10 to go, and we had 5 runs, 6 passes. good mix of run/pass but mixed results.
this was the average and break down for 3rd downs.... what's obvious is that through first 3 quarters we only ran one time on 3rd down. we passed an opportunity on two short yards to run the ball....it also seemed in those cases, they were 8 or 9 in the box and a spy on Dak. the rest of the time we were in 3rd and long situations which dictate offensive call. after failing to convert 1 yard on a 3rd and 1, we abandoned the run on 3rd downs.
3rd and 6 - penalty on seattle
3rd and 1 - run (loss of 1 yard)
3rd and 2 - pass
3rd and 9 - pass
3rd and 9 - pass
3rd and 7 - pass
3rd and 2 - pass
3rd and 17 - pass
3rd and 5 - pass sacked
3rd and 4 - pass
3rd and 6 - pass sacked