The 4th and dive up the middle play needs to go

[glimmerman]

The lack of push in the internal run game is incredibly frustrating, especially when you have Tyler Smith and Zach Martin at your guard position. I have no idea what the problem is - maybe Biadasz just doesn't have NFL strength but the OL is just frustrating on a-gap runs.

They aren’t really running in the gap on Tyler’s side. They seem to go on Martins side and Steele isn’t holding his blocks. When they know it’s up the middle on that side they can fill the gap and Martins not getting help. And he don’t need help just a tackle that’s doing his job. Steele either isn’t strong enough or don’t believe in his knee enough yet. Steele and Gallup had the same injury and got paid. Look at the production we are getting from them. Gallup has an extra year on Steele. Wasn’t till yesterday Gallup finally shows up with 2 big catches. Gallup didn’t show until he saw Cooks getting Gallups passes.

 

[Longboysfan]

We don't have the monster Offensive line that can move anyone out of our path anymore.

 

[ConstantReboot]

McCarthy is one stupid stubborn coach that friggen play has basically result in 0 yards all year. Run some misdirection and run Pollard off tackle or wide. SMH

That is what Pollard does best is to run wide or off tackle. If anything they could done a QB sneak or fake a run to a full back and pitch it to Pollard to run it outside. Anything but that stupid straight dive up the middle would be fine. These coaches get paid millions and still can't get the right calls done when we need them too.

 

[ConstantReboot]

We don't have the monster Offensive line that can move anyone out of our path anymore.

We whiffed on not drafting Torrence. Instead we opted in drafting a developmental blocking TE in the 2nd round.

 

[Blast From The Past]

The run play up the middle with Pollard up the middle on 4th and short needs to be taken out to the shed and be put out of it's misery.

We have failed to convert this most of the times.

It's time that we put more thought into misdirection plays, play action and/or start running off tackle.

I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that this play was going fail if they had it off straight up the middle? What say you?

Well poot to be honest it would work if the oline blocked. Pollard is more than capable. If they can't block then that oline coach ain't earning his keep.

 

[RonnieT24]

The run play up the middle with Pollard up the middle on 4th and short needs to be taken out to the shed and be put out of it's misery.

We have failed to convert this most of the times.

It's time that we put more thought into misdirection plays, play action and/or start running off tackle.

I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that this play was going fail if they had it off straight up the middle? What say you?

It worked when we handed it to Zeke like 95% of the time.

Just sayin..

Still I can't disagree.. since we no longer have a push the pile back (unless they want to use Luepke) there is no point in these middle runs in leveraged situations. We can't get the job done so stop doing it.

 

[ConstantReboot]

It worked when we handed it to Zeke like 95% of the time.

Just sayin..

Still I can't disagree.. since we no longer have a push the pile back (unless they want to use Luepke) there is no point in these middle runs in leveraged situations. We can't get the job done so stop doing it.

I've recall that play many times where Zeke was stuffed. The Denver game a few years back comes to mind.

Then once we started faking to Zeke and running it outside we saw better success.

Regardless, we don't have Zeke anymore and it's a play that we should just completely scrap. If we can get a TD from playing the Giants from that play I can't imagine stronger and more physical defenses being the same outcome.

 

[RonnieT24]

I've recall that play many times where Zeke was stuffed. The Denver game a few years back comes to mind.

Then once we started faking to Zeke and running it outside we saw better success.

Regardless, we don't have Zeke anymore and it's a play that we should just completely scrap. If we can get a TD from playing the Giants from that play I can't imagine stronger and more physical defenses being the same outcome.

"Many" is probably an overstatement. His conversion rate in those situations was #1 or #2 in the league the previous three seasons. Not saying he was never stuffed, just that it was relatively rare. He was strong enough and powerful enough to drag people for the needed yardage more often than not. In 2022 in goal to go situations Zeke scored 11 TDs and got 13 first downs on 26 carries. That's 24 out of 26 times getting the desired result. In 2021 it was 7 TDs and 8 first downs on 17 carries. Or 15 of 17 getting the job done. So 39 for 43 over the two seasons. 90.7%.

Now let's look at TP in that same role so far this year. So far this season TP has 2 TDs and 4 first downs on ... get this.. 21 attempts. That's 6 out of 21. I will leave it to you to determine if that's better or worse than 90.7%. Factor in the Zeke played the back half of both '21 and '22 with a jacked up knee and you start to get the picture that for all the grief this fan base gave the guy he was REALLY good at what he was asked to do. They are asking Pollard to do what Zeke did which is just dumb. He aint Zeke.. they need to let him do what HE do and let Rico or Luepke fill the Zeke role. They may not be as good at is as Zeke.. few are.. but I can't imagine they'd be any worse than what Pollard is doing. And in taking that load off him maybe we put the explosive plays back in his game.