Running game importance

[Verdict]

I personally believe that our running game is the single most important aspect of the team since Dak appears to be the man at QB. That starts with the OL and if that is the case we must keep the line intact or replace any departing players with a reasonably acceptable substitute.

The other element of that is the running back position. No doubt Zeke is a stud. Morris is DONE. We let our rookie get claimed.

That leaves us with Dunbar, who I think needs to go, and no one else since McFadden is a free agent.

i think we should resign McFadden (and I think he is a decent back) but I do not think that McFadden is good enough to keep this running game going.

Currently, if Zeke went down early in the year we would pretty much be ****ed. I believe we should strive to add a player who can be a 3 down back (not a 3rd down back) who is good enough to play at a level higher than McFadden currently can.

I know I am in the minority here, but we either need to add a veteran, or a draft pick. Since this is a very good draft I would consider using a top 3 round pick on a RB if the value lined up. It is that important.

 

[Zekeats]

Should have kept Darius Jackson. Worst front office move by this team in 2 years.

 

[DogFace]

Yep the Jackson loss seemed extremely short sighted and flat out stupid considering we'll likely let Dunbar walk because he's not that good.

 

[JoeKing]

You almost had it right OP. It all does start with the O-line. So how does drafting another top rated RB help the O-line? Use the draft pick on the O-line and be happy we have Zeke and can re-sign McFadden.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Since this is a very good draft I would consider using a top 3 round pick on a RB if the value lined up. It is that important.

Spending a top 3 pick on a RB would be a horrible waste of resources that need spent on the other side of the ball.

 

[gmoney112]

Just convince AD to come home for cheap.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Spending a top 3 pick on a RB would be a horrible waste of resources that need spent on the other side of the ball.

This.

As has already been proven again and again, quality backs are available well into the 5th round. No need to waste a high draft pick (potentially top 100) on a RB who will not play unless there is an injury.

 

[Kevinicus]

Losing Leary is one of my biggest concerns this offseason. We have Collins, but there has been a significant difference in line play when he is in there compared to Leary. He has all the potential to be great, but until he gets there, I worry about the dropoff.

 

[Teague31]

Getting Hanna and Swaim back will be a huge benefit to the run game. Either is a substantially better blocker than Pablo was

 

[Teague31]

Should have kept Darius Jackson. Worst front office move by this team in 2 years.

Especially considering they put Chaz on IR 24 hours later

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Losing Leary is one of my biggest concerns this offseason. We have Collins, but there has been a significant difference in line play when he is in there compared to Leary. He has all the potential to be great, but until he gets there, I worry about the dropoff.

Can't have 4 OL making $8 mil per season and that's probably about what Leary is going to get.

In addition there's no love in the front office for moving Collins to RT.

On top of that Collins appears to be a talented kid and you don't bench a guy like Leary making the coin he's going to make this offseason.

 

[gmoney112]

Can't have 4 OL making $8 mil per season and that's probably about what Leary is going to get.

In addition there's no love in the front office for moving Collins to RT.

On top of that Collins appears to be a talented kid and you don't bench a guy like Leary making the coin he's going to make this offseason.

Collins will make everyone forget about Leary by the end of the season.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Collins will make everyone forget about Leary by the end of the season.

I think that's distinctly possible.

 

[Kevinicus]

Can't have 4 OL making $8 mil per season and that's probably about what Leary is going to get.

In addition there's no love in the front office for moving Collins to RT.

On top of that Collins appears to be a talented kid and you don't bench a guy like Leary making the coin he's going to make this offseason.

That's all true...but it doesn't alleviate the concern that there will be a dropoff.

 

[DeaconMoss]

Spending a top 3 pick on a RB would be a horrible waste of resources that need spent on the other side of the ball.

Luckily this is probably the deepest RB class ever. Quality backs will be going in rounds 6-7.

 

[KJJ]

Dak wouldn't have been as efficient without the running game. Too much would have been put on his shoulders, leading to more passing and more turnovers. A running game is very important to a rookie QB, they need a running game to lean on or defenses will pin their ears back and come after the QB. The threat Zeke provided required respect from defenses and helped open up the read option that was very effective for us this season.

 

[xwalker]

I personally believe that our running game is the single most important aspect of the team since Dak appears to be the man at QB. That starts with the OL and if that is the case we must keep the line intact or replace any departing players with a reasonably acceptable substitute.

The other element of that is the running back position. No doubt Zeke is a stud. Morris is DONE. We let our rookie get claimed.

That leaves us with Dunbar, who I think needs to go, and no one else since McFadden is a free agent.

i think we should resign McFadden (and I think he is a decent back) but I do not think that McFadden is good enough to keep this running game going.

Currently, if Zeke went down early in the year we would pretty much be ****ed. I believe we should strive to add a player who can be a 3 down back (not a 3rd down back) who is good enough to play at a level higher than McFadden currently can.

I know I am in the minority here, but we either need to add a veteran, or a draft pick. Since this is a very good draft I would consider using a top 3 round pick on a RB if the value lined up. It is that important.

When looking at the season as a whole, yes the running game was the most important aspect of the team; however, we saw the limitations of the running game in the playoff loss. When the got significantly behind on the score board, the running game can't solve that problem. Yes, maybe they should have run the ball a little more in certain situations, but in general all offensive coordinators are going to get away from the running game when they are way down on the scoreboard.

 

[xwalker]

Can't have 4 OL making $8 mil per season and that's probably about what Leary is going to get.

In addition there's no love in the front office for moving Collins to RT.

On top of that Collins appears to be a talented kid and you don't bench a guy like Leary making the coin he's going to make this offseason.

You could if Collins could play RT. Most of the first year would be paid for by cutting Free and his 5M salary.

 

[Verdict]

Spending a top 3 pick on a RB would be a horrible waste of resources that need spent on the other side of the ball.

Not having an acceptable substitute if Zeke gets hurt badly is a piss poor game plan. Without that you can likely kiss advancing in the playoffs good bye and piss off a year of opportunity away with this offensive line.

 

[Verdict]

When looking at the season as a whole, yes the running game was the most important aspect of the team; however, we saw the limitations of the running game in the playoff loss. When the got significantly behind on the score board, the running game can't solve that problem. Yes, maybe they should have run the ball a little more in certain situations, but in general all offensive coordinators are going to get away from the running game when they are way down on the scoreboard.

I don't think we would have been behind as much as we were if we had run Zeke more.