No big plays in the running game

[wick]

I'm not yet in panic mode, but after three games, Julius Jones' longest run is a whopping 14 yards. I don't have the stats for last year, but my recollection is that he had many explosive running plays (10 yards or more).

Visually, he doesn't look the same as last year, but it doesn't look like he's gained a ton of weight. Still, his cuts don't seem to be as sharp, and he's not breaking tackles like he did last season. He seems overly aware of ball security. In short, he's running a lot like the latter day Emmitt Smith. We need to get him back into last year's form ASAP.

Just as we started off hot in the passing game last season and then rapidly cooled off as the season progressed, I expect something similar to happen this season. I don't see the passing game carrying us all year. The running game has got to get a lot better.

 

[CowboyStar88]

I agree. But you have to remember that we have a whole new rt side. they seem to not like running to Flo's and LA's side for some reason. Also I saw AL get pushed back in the back feild one to many times todays. Also on a side note, why don't we run more draw plays? or some counters or off tackles. we dont have the strength between AL and MARCO. it seems thats where we are running alot of our plays.
I am not sure if there are any stats to support this, because of cut-back etc.. But thats what I see happening. Ya know they seem to give up running on first down way to often.

 

[The30YardSlant]

He has had 2 20+ yard runs called back because of holding, neither of which affected the play.

 

[NickZepp]

I think as long as you are consistant it doesn't matter if you have a ton of long runs. Some of Emmitt's best games he didn't really have any 20 or 30 yard runs. He just always seemed to get atleast 3-6 yards each time we needed em. Jones is the same type back Emmitt was. Maybe a bit bigger and a bit better at taking on hits. But he has that same type gift to get the yards when we need them. The OLine hasn't really gelled completely also. I think Johnson got owned a lot today really hurting some of our runs.

 

[jlust22]

Yeah, the running game has been very inconsistent. JJ is only avg. 3.5 ypc for the year. His numbers in the 1st half of games (36-151 yds.) are solid and his ypc is 4.2. In the 2nd half of games, his numbers are terrible (38-108 yds) as his ypc is 2.8. I see Parcells is following thru on his goal to cut down JJ's carries this year as he is only avg. 25 carries a game and on pace for 394 carries on the year when Parcells wanted him to be under 300 for the year. It wouldn't hurt to give JJ a break every so often to keep him fresh for the 4th quarter.

 

[AdamJT13]

Other than his three big games last year, his results were much like they've been this year. (His longest run in any of the other five games was 15 yards.) He has started 10 games in his career. He has gained fewer than 80 yards in only ONE of those, and he still had 57 in that game. Even during his heyday, Emmitt had frequent games in which he gained less than 80 yards, and occasional games of less than 50 yards. So if Julius gets 80-plus almost every game and sprinkles in a few 140-plus games, that's good enough for me. If we're still waiting for that big game two months from now, then it might be time to be concerned. But I'm not worried after games of 93, 81 and 85 yards.

 

[fairviewfarmer]

I'd like to see Tyson Thompson run a sweep once, just once, to see if the preseason was a fluke.

 

[MapleLeaf]

I'd like to see Tyson Thompson run a sweep once, just once, to see if the preseason was a fluke.

...Tyson would have problems because he has difficulty waiting for his blocking.

 

[bbgun]

He had some nice runs wiped out in SD. Plus, his FB is doing him no favors.

 

[DasTex]

Other than his three big games last year, his results were much like they've been this year. (His longest run in any of the other five games was 15 yards.) He has started 10 games in his career. He has gained fewer than 80 yards in only ONE of those, and he still had 57 in that game. Even during his heyday, Emmitt had frequent games in which he gained less than 80 yards, and occasional games of less than 50 yards. So if Julius gets 80-plus almost every game and sprinkles in a few 140-plus games, that's good enough for me. If we're still waiting for that big game two months from now, then it might be time to be concerned. But I'm not worried after games of 93, 81 and 85 yards.

Consistant games like the first 3 this season are just fine by me - minus the fumble of course. He'll have his big games, and he'll have his long breaks, just give him time. It's only the 3rd game with a new right side of the OL and a new QB.

Teams will have to start respecting Bledsoe and our WR's if they keep having games like today and the SD game. That will open up the run game even more. Just be patient.

 

[Ken]

I'd like to see Tyson Thompson run a sweep once, just once, to see if the preseason was a fluke.

He got one today, didn't do much.

 

[Crown Royal]

He got one today, didn't do much.

Yeah. I wasn't impressed with Thompson in preseason, and I'm not impressed with him now.

His KR is a little better than I expected, but I still felt that Lee was more dangerous there.

Not that I was a Lee fan either.

 

[Crown Royal]

Other than his three big games last year, his results were much like they've been this year. (His longest run in any of the other five games was 15 yards.) He has started 10 games in his career. He has gained fewer than 80 yards in only ONE of those, and he still had 57 in that game. Even during his heyday, Emmitt had frequent games in which he gained less than 80 yards, and occasional games of less than 50 yards. So if Julius gets 80-plus almost every game and sprinkles in a few 140-plus games, that's good enough for me. If we're still waiting for that big game two months from now, then it might be time to be concerned. But I'm not worried after games of 93, 81 and 85 yards.

I'm with you Adam - I actually felt that Jones ran the ball pretty well today, just that we got behind and we couldn't use him much any longer.

Actually, if Bledsoe continues thrashing secondaries as he has been, I expect Jones to get better as defenses loosen in the box a bit.

For instance, I expect a ball control game plan next week, if our defense does it's part.