Linehan RBs Through the Years

[WestCoastQB]

Perception may not be reality:

SEASON/TEAMSTARTING RBRESULTS
2002 Minnesota Vikings Michael Bennett255 rushes for 1,296 yards, 5 td, & 37 catches for 351 yards and 1 td
2003 Minnesota VikingsMoe Williams174 rushes for 745 yards, 5 td, & 65 catches for 644 yards and 3 td
2004 Minnesota VikingsMichael Bennett70 rushes for 276 yards, 1 td, & 21 catches for 207 yards and 1 td
2005 Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown207 rushes for 907 yards, 4 td, & 32 catches for 232 yards and 1 td
2006 St Louis RamsSteven Jackson346 rushes for 1,528 yards, 13 td, & 90 catches for 806 yards and 3 td
2007 St Louis RamsSteven Jackson237 rushes for 1,002 yards, 5 td, & 38 catches for 271 yards and 1 td
2008 St Louis RamsSteven Jackson253 rushes for 1,042 yards, 7 td, & 40 catches for 379 yards and 1 td
2009 Detroit Lions Kevin Smith217 rushes for 747 yards, 4 td, & 41 catches for 415 yards and 1 td
2010 Detroit LionsJahvid Best171 rushes for 555 yards, 4 td, & 58 catches for 487 yards and 2 td
Maurice Morris90 rushes for 336 yards, 5 td, & 25 catches for 170 yards and 0 td
2011 Detroit LionsJahvid BestStarter lost due to concussions-RB by committee throughout season
2012 Detroit LionsMikal Leshoure215 rushes for 798 yards, 9 td, & 34 catches for 214 yards and 0 td
2013 Detroit LionsReggie Bush223 rushes for 1,006 yards, 4 td, & 54 catches for 506 yards and 3 td

Thanks to: By Dawn Macelli

 

[JoeyBoy718]

A few things I found interesting:

1. 2004 Bennett 276 yards, 2010 Best 555 yards, Morris 336 yards, and three more seasons with about 700 yards. These couldn't possibly have been the team's leading rushers, could they? I didn't think a 276 yard back could ever been a team's leading rusher.

2. Two of Steven Jackson's three seasons were barely over 1,000 yards. For one of the best running backs of the past decade, I find this alarming low.

3. None of this really impresses me. Only four seasons over 1,000 and three came from Steven Jackson, plus one fluke year from Bennett who later went on to for a high of 276 yards.

So what is the point of this thread? To show how Linehan is good or bad with running backs?

 

[perrykemp]

I don't think it's a league secret that Linehan emphasizes the pass -- probably more than just about anybody.

He has averaged 675 pass attempts per season the last three years with Stafford.

For the record, Tony Romo has NEVER exceeded 650 attempts at any point in his career.

If anything, I expect the Cowboys to run MORE empty sets, throw MORE passes, and generally emphasize the draw as his primary running play.

 

[daveferr33]

2006 was Linehan's first as Rams HC. Jackson Got 346 carries that year. I don't think Jackson missed games in 07 and 08, so I'm not sure how to explain the drastic dropoff in the number of carries for those years. Jackson was still averaging around 4 yards a carry in 07 and 08. He averaged 4.4 in 06.

 

[texbumthelife]

2006 was Linehan's first as Rams HC. Jackson Got 346 carries that year. I don't think Jackson missed games in 07 and 08, so I'm not sure how to explain the drastic dropoff in the number of carries for those years. Jackson was still averaging around 4 yards a carry in 07 and 08. He averaged 4.4 in 06.

Didn't they go to more of a split carry system? These numbers don't really even come close to telling the whole story. Almost all of those season, sans maybe a couple by Stephen Jackson were done with a RB by committee. Even this past season, Reggie Bush was off the field for quite a bit as Bell got 166 carries for 650 yards and 8tds. That's 389 carries to running backs.

I know some of you aren't high on this signing, but blatantly skewing stats to meet your agenda.... NM it pretty much fits the mold around here...

edit: I went back another year, in 2012 Leshour had 215 carries, Bell had 88, and Kevin Smith had 37. That is 340 carries to 430 passes by Stafford and I left out a few other guys with <10 carries.

Clearly Linehan relies more on a running back by committee approach which is exactly what this team needs in order to key Murray healthy down the stretch and into December when we really need him.

 

[perrykemp]

edit: I went back another year, in 2012 Leshour had 215 carries, Bell had 88, and Kevin Smith had 37. That is 340 carries to 430 passes by Stafford and I left out a few other guys with <10 carries.

Tex, Stafford threw it 727 times in 2012, not 430. You probably mixed up completions (he had 435) with attempts.

727 pass attempts is the most in NFL history.

727 pass attempts is 36 more than the next closest guy in NFL history.

Stafford threw for the 5th (663) most attempts in NFL history in 2011.

Stafford threw for the 17th (634) most attempts in NFL history in 2013.

I'm not sure yet how I feel about Linehan, however, I don't think anybody should be fooling themselves that he isn't one of the most pass-heavy OCs the league has ever seen -- at least in the last 3-4 years.

 

[Parcells4Life]

I've watched the tape. He's got a great creative mind. Combine his routes with an up tempo scheme and it'd be the Broncos results with the talent on this team.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Tex, Stafford threw it 727 times in 2012, not 430. You probably mixed up completions (he had 435) with attempts.

727 pass attempts is the most in NFL history.

727 pass attempts is 36 more than the next closest guy in NFL history.

Stafford threw for the 5th (663) most attempts in NFL history in 2011.

Stafford threw for the 17th (634) most attempts in NFL history in 2013.

I'm not sure yet how I feel about Linehan, however, I don't think anybody should be fooling themselves that he isn't one of the most pass-heavy OCs the league has ever seen -- at least in the last 3-4 years.

Haha you sure caught him in that one. 727 is a lot more than 430. That's unsettling considering the fact that most of us want Romo to threw less, and odds are he'll throw even more now. And I don't agree that a running back by committee is "exactly what this team needs" when our Pro Bowl running back gets far fewer carries than any of the other elite backs in this league. I really don't understand how switching to the most pass-happy coordinator in NFL history is a sign that this team will run the ball more. I can't really think of any reasons why this is a good move.

 

[perrykemp]

I've watched the tape. He's got a great creative mind. Combine his routes with an up tempo scheme and it'd be the Broncos results with the talent on this team.

Subtract Megatron from the Lions passing game the past three years. Which WRs/TEs/etc were you most impressed with when watching the Lion's passing game?

 

[OhSnap]

I think the idea with him might be to find ways to get Dez the ball more often or in open space.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I think the idea with him might be to find ways to get Dez the ball more often or in open space.

That's a good thing and I think we haven't done a very good job getting the ball to Dez throughout his career. But I also want to see a balanced run game. Like it or not, Demarco Murray is one of the 7-8 best players on this team and one of the 4-5 best players on offense. It's important that we get him more involved. Almost as important as it is getting Dez more involved.

 

[texbumthelife]

Tex, Stafford threw it 727 times in 2012, not 430. You probably mixed up completions (he had 435) with attempts.

727 pass attempts is the most in NFL history.

727 pass attempts is 36 more than the next closest guy in NFL history.

Stafford threw for the 5th (663) most attempts in NFL history in 2011.

Stafford threw for the 17th (634) most attempts in NFL history in 2013.

I'm not sure yet how I feel about Linehan, however, I don't think anybody should be fooling themselves that he isn't one of the most pass-heavy OCs the league has ever seen -- at least in the last 3-4 years.

Damn, you caught me. Wow.... Those are pretty staggering numbers.

I don't think it is any secret I have wanted a more balanced attack for a couple years. I was one of the first and most vocal here about that being our biggest weakness, even when most thought we couldn't run more because of the offensive line.

That said, I am not sure what to think of the Linehan move. All of this seems like posturing for the inevitable by Jerry. I think it is boom or bust for Garrett so Jerry is finally letting him make his own moves. If that is the case, then I am all for it. With any luck, another horribly lopsided year should sell Jerry on this team needing more balance so he will invest in the right kind of guys (Shaw would be my pick if we could get him).

 

[perrykemp]

I think it is boom or bust for Garrett so Jerry is finally letting him make his own moves. If that is the case, then I am all for it.

I agree with you. If JG is going into his make-or-break year (in Jerry's mind), might as well pick the troops he is going into battle with.

 

[Parcells4Life]

Subtract Megatron from the Lions passing game the past three years. Which WRs/TEs/etc were you most impressed with when watching the Lion's passing game?

He gets players like Bush and Megatron the ball in space. Lots of slants which is what some around here have been screaming for.

With the exception of New England, every team needs PLAYERS to make the scheme work. It's the job of the coaches to get your best players the ball the most times which Linehan seems to do.

 

[Alexander]

A few things I found interesting:

1. 2004 Bennett 276 yards, 2010 Best 555 yards, Morris 336 yards, and three more seasons with about 700 yards. These couldn't possibly have been the team's leading rushers, could they? I didn't think a 276 yard back could ever been a team's leading rusher.

Bennett did not lead the team in rushing. He was behind Onterrio Smith (544) and Culpepper (406).

 

[Alexander]

Combine his routes with an up tempo scheme and it'd be the Broncos results with the talent on this team.

Wow. Just wow.

 

[bysbox1]

I've watched the tape. He's got a great creative mind. Combine his routes with an up tempo scheme and it'd be the Broncos results with the talent on this team.

Or maybe not . . . . Gotta factor in that Peyton Manning thing. And as much as people like Romo, he's not Peyton Manning.

 

[Alexander]

Does anyone actually think Linehan is going to come in here with some revolutionary offensive scheme and just make the offense kick in high gear?

He is going to run Garrett's system, which is remarkably similar to his own, practically identical.

It is the main reason he is here, the familiarity and he will be speaking the same language as Garrett--not because he is going to re-invent the wheel.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Does anyone actually think Linehan is going to come in here with some revolutionary offensive scheme and just make the offense kick in high gear?

He is going to run Garrett's system, which is remarkably similar to his own, practically identical.

It is the main reason he is here, the familiarity and he will be speaking the same language as Garrett--not because he is going to re-invent the wheel.

Then what's the point? Couldn't Garrett or Callahan have done the same thing?

 

[jazzcat22]

I know everyone's issue and focus on running the ball. This remains to be seen. And can't say I disagree, it needs to be used more efficiently [as in the GB debacle]. He will use what he has and what is given to him. It will be nice to see some better use of a successful screen pass. Which is basically a run. So if Romo throws for 50 TD's, they actually score more TD's in the red zone rather than kicking a FG. Are you going to complain they didn't run it to try to score?

I read, but can't remember where, that Linehan runs the ball more in the last 6 minutes of a game more than the averages are.
It can be debated all off season, and will be, nothing wrong with that. But all we can do is wait and see, obviously.

It may be JG's system, but he will be calling the plays. If given full authority on this. Maybe he can make this system flourish as expected. I just want more TD's than FG's. That's been the issue with me, not the yardage.

As for the stats given, many factors on some of those low years, injuries, RB by committee, what were the teams pass to rush numbers, yards, not individuals performances.