Significance of the running game in today's NFL

[Idgit]

..Again, if a defense does anything in order to stop the run at the expense of pass coverage, then that is a positive impact of the running game that is completely independent of short yardage or goal line situations. That impact cannot be measured with the available statistics.

And again, it doesn't need to be measured. If the running game in part helps a team pass more effectively (and they do), then it's all just part of the passing effectiveness equation. Nobody is trying to take running out of anything, and the equation is not trying to separate rushing from passing. It's simply making the point that you don't need to devote limited resources to rushing more effectively than other teams do. Spend them instead in stopping the pass, which is where this team needs the most help.

 

[AdamJT13]

Yes, our third down conversion rate was unworldly at one time then faded some but a vast vast improvement and one reason for the increase is Sc%. Passing yards per se aren't always important UNLESS Sc% improves.

What in the world is Sc%?

It's not rocket science to understand that effective two dimensional teams are better by far than one dimensional teams. There are games where that is not the case but in general this is true. I don't have anything else to say on this. If you can't understand why teams want to run the ball then there is no use in further discussion.

I understand why teams want to run the ball. The point is that is rarely matters how good they are at it. What matters most is how well they pass and stop the pass.

 

[AdamJT13]

The Cowboys won 4 of 6 games when the opponent had a better passing average.

I'm not sure what "passing average" you are using, but the team that passed more effectively (ANYPA) won all 18 games we played this season. The team with the higher YPC went 9-9.

 

[xwalker]

I'm not sure what "passing average" you are using, but the team that passed more effectively (ANYPA) won all 18 games we played this season. The team with the higher YPC went 9-9.

Let me get this straight, so when you look at correlation in terms of passing you use a convoluted formula similar to this:

ANYPA = (pass yards + 20*(pass TD) - 45*(interceptions thrown) - sack yards) / (passing attempts + sacks)

However, when you look at rushing, you just use YPC with no inclusion of TDs or Turnovers.

 

[AdamJT13]

Let me get this straight, so when you look at correlation in terms of passing you use a convoluted formula similar to this:

ANYPA = (pass yards + 20*(pass TD) - 45*(interceptions thrown) - sack yards) / (passing attempts + sacks)

No, that is not the formula I use. That is a different formula, although it also has a high correlation to winning.

The formula I prefer is ANYPA = (pass yards - sack yards) - (50 * interceptions thrown) / (passing attempts + sacks)

There are multiple ways to measure passing efficiency, including either ANYPA formula, passer rating, net yards per pass, gross yards per pass, PSR and probably others. All of them have a high correlation to winning.

There are multiple ways to measure rushing efficiency, including YPC and PSR. I have yet to find one that has a high correlation to winning. Since you admit that rushing efficiency statistics are virtually meaningless, I doubt that you can come up with one, either.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

The NFL is like building a chair. You can probably use one tool to do it, but using more than one is preferable.

 

[DC Cowboy]

Baltimore Dallas Denver all out rushed their opponents last weekend. They all lost. Baltimore had 140 rushing yards to 14 for New England. Didnt matter. Teams that average 2 more yards rushing per play than their opponent, win 53% of the time. Compared that to teams that average 2 more yards passing per play than their opponent , win 92% of the time.

To me this just shows why teams are moving away from RBs and on to WRs, TEs and QBs. The reason dallas went 13-5 is because tony romo played at an MVP level. If murray prices himself out of town, I think Jerry will let him go. It's just not a position to overpay for anymore.

For the Dallas Cowboys I think the running game is more important than most teams because they have to try to keep the defense off the field. But in that GB game, passing the ball is what put points on the board.

Generally, being able to pass and defend the pass is what wins. Don't get me wrong, a running game helps. But if dallas is going to win in the playoffs, they should emphasize defending the pass this offseason, even if demarco murray is a casualty of that.

Here is a website that really illustrates how much more important passing is in the NFL.

http://thepowerrank.com/2014/01/10/which-nfl-teams-make-and-win-in-the-playoffs/

the main reason, in my opinion, to why we lost was lack of pressure on the QB. Had nothing to do with the running nor passing game!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sign Murray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Idgit]

the main reason, in my opinion, to why we lost was lack of pressure on the QB. Had nothing to do with the running nor passing game!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sign Murray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lack of pressure on the QB *is* the passing game, dude. That's half the equation.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

The NFL is like building a chair. You can probably use one tool to do it, but using more than one is preferable.

Also, the Eagles offense is like building an IKEA chair. It seems worthwhile at first, but once you realize it is what it is, there are actually many better chairs out there.

 

[DC Cowboy]

Lack of pressure on the QB *is* the passing game, dude. That's half the equation.

our passing game, nevamind

 

[BAT]

Baltimore Dallas Denver all out rushed their opponents last weekend. They all lost. Baltimore had 140 rushing yards to 14 for New England. Didnt matter. Teams that average 2 more yards rushing per play than their opponent, win 53% of the time. Compared that to teams that average 2 more yards passing per play than their opponent , win 92% of the time.

To me this just shows why teams are moving away from RBs and on to WRs, TEs and QBs. The reason dallas went 13-5 is because tony romo played at an MVP level. If murray prices himself out of town, I think Jerry will let him go. It's just not a position to overpay for anymore.

For the Dallas Cowboys I think the running game is more important than most teams because they have to try to keep the defense off the field. But in that GB game, passing the ball is what put points on the board.

Generally, being able to pass and defend the pass is what wins. Don't get me wrong, a running game helps. But if dallas is going to win in the playoffs, they should emphasize defending the pass this offseason, even if demarco murray is a casualty of that.

Here is a website that really illustrates how much more important passing is in the NFL.

http://thepowerrank.com/2014/01/10/which-nfl-teams-make-and-win-in-the-playoffs/

So an elite passing attack is why Seattle is in the SB for the 2nd consecutive year? Not Green Bay, not the Pats, not Denver, but Seattle.

 

[Clove]

Those passing teams won because they played better defense. I'm a believer in the running game.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

lol.
run the ball play defense please.

 

[Doomsday101]

I guess the 148 and 3 TD Blount put up vs the Colts were a non factor in pulling away in the 2nd half and winning the game. lol

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think the running game is actually a way to increase your chances of winning the Super Bowl.

More teams are trying to be pass happy offenses and now defenses are designed to stop those pass happy offenses. That means more teams are going after the same player and they are not designed to run the ball or stop the run.

So you can take a team like the Cowboys and they can work hard to find a good running game and use that to gouge these defenses designed to stop the pass. And these other teams are not looking at these players because they are more pass oriented.

We can then use the run to help make Romo's job easier and now we have an efficient and high powered offense that runs the ball and throws the ball well.

The key for Dallas is that they have to continue to improve the pass defense. That's where all of those teams lost...they didn't have the pass defense.







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