Run blocking (4 games in)

[percyhoward]

Elliott on 1st down
2016 5.5 ypc
2017 2.8 ypc

Elliott on 1st and 2nd down
2016 5.3 ypc
2017 3.4 ypc

The above stats are mine, from Pro Football Reference. The next two are from Adam Spinks@TheRBScout. In this first one, he determines the point (relative to the LOS) at which a defender is in tackling position. The players on the left have had the most running room. On the right are the players who have gained the most yards after this point.

In this next one, Spinks counts box defenders, but rather than simply listing those times when there was a certain number (8 in the box, for example), he takes offensive personnel into account and only lists those times when there was an extra defender in the box relative to the number of blockers. According to Spinks, on 62% of Elliott's runs in the first four games, Dallas had at least as many blockers as there were box defenders.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Here's the thing.......Leary was good, damn good. Did we really think we replace his performance with a player whose never play G at NFL level and retain the same standards? Green/Cooper is huge drop-off and it's showing. That's on Garrett.....

 

[visionary]

Great data Percy
The OL play has not been great this year

 

[Bullflop]

Here's the thing.......Leary was good, damn good. Did we really think we replace his performance with a player whose never play G at NFL level and retain the same standards? Green/Cooper is huge drop-off and it's showing. That's on Garrett.....

No, it's on the entire organization for either not retaining Leary, or replacing him with another guard of high quality.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Something seems off here. Montgomery with ARod at QB is facing a heavy box on his runs more than anyone in the league? That doesn't make sense. I would've guessed he's facing a light box the majority of the time.

 

[CCBoy]

Percy, that would seem to indicate that the passing game has to dominate a bit more to open it up for the running game. Despite good yardage, Elliott has to deal with a tackler much too soon and regularly.

 

[CyberB0b]

Something seems off here. Montgomery with ARod at QB is facing a heavy box on his runs more than anyone in the league? That doesn't make sense. I would've guessed he's facing a light box the majority of the time.

Maybe due to the quick pass game of the Packers. Lots of slants.

 

[percyhoward]

Something seems off here. Montgomery with ARod at QB is facing a heavy box on his runs more than anyone in the league? That doesn't make sense. I would've guessed he's facing a light box the majority of the time.

Montgomery doesn't get that many carries and the Packers are usually spread out offensively, so when Montgomery does run the ball, it's more likely to be in obvious run situations with an extra defender.

What's more revealing are that guys who do get a lot of carries (Fournette, Ajayi, Miller, Freeman, and McCoy) have been running into more +1 boxes than Zeke has.

 

[AbeBeta]

Here's the thing.......Leary was good, damn good. Did we really think we replace his performance with a player whose never play G at NFL level and retain the same standards? Green/Cooper is huge drop-off and it's showing. That's on Garrett.....

Leary's replacement isn't as good. And that's on Garrett?

 

[pitt33]

Here's the thing.......Leary was good, damn good. Did we really think we replace his performance with a player whose never play G at NFL level and retain the same standards? Green/Cooper is huge drop-off and it's showing. That's on Garrett.....

Yes, this is true, but why did they put Collins out in Free's spot? He is MUCH better at the guard position.

This front office is notorious for taking players out of their regular positions and putting them elsewhere on the field. It's like putting a square peg in a round hole.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Great data Percy
The OL play has not been great this year

That's exactly right.

That's the #1 problem of the offense right now.

 

[percyhoward]

Percy, that would seem to indicate that the passing game has to dominate a bit more to open it up for the running game. Despite good yardage, Elliott has to deal with a tackler much too soon and regularly.

To sum up the two graphics, all those backs except one has had more running room than Zeke -- including several who face an extra defender in the box more often than Zeke does,

 

[MRV52]

I said last year we should sign Leary. This was a huge loss to this team.

 

[Macnalty]

Something seems off here. Montgomery with ARod at QB is facing a heavy box on his runs more than anyone in the league? That doesn't make sense. I would've guessed he's facing a light box the majority of the time.

I agree these are difficult to believe after watching some of these teams play.

 

[visionary]

To sum up the two graphics, all those backs except one has had more running room than Zeke -- including several who face an extra defender in the box more often than Zeke does,

This
It's an OL problem

 

[robjay04]

Here's the thing.......Leary was good, damn good. Did we really think we replace his performance with a player whose never play G at NFL level and retain the same standards? Green/Cooper is huge drop-off and it's showing. That's on Garrett.....

Garrett’s job is not player retention or acquisition.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Combo of the offensive line changes and Zeke being out of Football shape

 

[perrykemp]

Something seems off here. Montgomery with ARod at QB is facing a heavy box on his runs more than anyone in the league? That doesn't make sense. I would've guessed he's facing a light box the majority of the time.

That instantly stood out to me as well.

Why would Ty Montgomery be facing more heavy box than any other RB in the NFL? This just in -- he is a WR masquerading as a RB.....

 

[perrykemp]

Maybe due to the quick pass game of the Packers. Lots of slants.

Ie, lots of people within 5-7 yards of the line of scrimmage because the Packer's passing game is predominantly a short passing game?

Sounds like a plausible explanation.

 

[percyhoward]

Ie, lots of people within 5-7 yards of the line of scrimmage because the Packer's passing game is predominantly a short passing game?

And one that doesn't use 12 personnel much at all, making an unaccounted for defender more likely. Also, these are percentages, not total carries. Montgomery isn't even in the top 20 in total carries.

What got my attention is the backs who do get a lot of carries, and who are running into more +1 boxes.