Too much Pollard running up middle

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Whats even more incredible is. As a coach you see they are crashing the middle of the line.

Why not use that against them? Stretch it left or right. Counter runs. Anything.

Because that's not what's happening. These are zone runs and the OL can't block anybody. It's not like they're calling 22 dive.

 

[Mac_MaloneV1]

Any success he had up the middle was after Zeke wore them down.

Myth.

Tony's 57-yard TD against the Rams last year was right up the middle and Zeke only had 6 carries at that point.

 

[jazzcat22]

Myth.

Tony's 57-yard TD against the Rams last year was right up the middle and Zeke only had 6 carries at that point.

Sometimes a squirrel…..you know the saying….

 

[J-man]

they are trying to run a power scheme without a power back

 

[MyFairLady]

They need to figure something out. Martin cried like a baby for more money he needs to block better. Pollard is making 10 million per year now 3.9 YPC is not acceptable. Fix it or send him packing. Draft and invest in young O line players.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

There's no creativity in the running game. No pitches, no tosses, no shovel passes, no end-arounds. Nothing.

 

[Mikexike]

Almost had a stroke watching that garbage. Kids were scared I was yelling so much. What kind trash play calling was that? Pollard needs ball outside and in space. STOP running him up middle OVER AND OVER

Give dowdle and luepke the fn ball up the middle. If you don’t want play dowdle get another running back in here!!!! High school teams have a better run scheme and plays compared to whet we are seeing!!!!!! FIX IT

We are the dumbest team that runs inside..... we just don't know how to block any damn soul...

 

[Blast From The Past]

Why not give Luepke a few carries up the middle?

 

[Blast From The Past]

There's no creativity in the running game. No pitches, no tosses, no shovel passes, no end-arounds. Nothing.

We did a jet sweep did we not?

 

[RonnieT24]

They miss Zeke. On short yardage and inside the 5 for sure.
Also miss him to soften up the DL's. And pass protection as well.
He lost a step, sure, but he was still valuable for many things.

Oh, and did anyone see him running pretty spry, on a screen, like over 60 yards, but called back for a hold.

His contract did not warrant keeping him. Wish they could have worked something out. It is obvious they miss him, for now. They need to get that fixed in the run game.

I watched that game.. It was 74 yards and once he gathered the ball in and took off I thought it was somebody else. He hit the jets and was gone. The DB who was "held" wasn't going to tackle him anyway. Zeke was heading down the sideline at 20 mph by the time he reached that point on the field. But yeah, this team misses him something fierce. I also think the Patriots are going to have to make up their minds about which back to give the whole load to as well. I thought they could work out splitting time but frankly I don't think either Zeke nor Stevenson are getting into any kind of rhythm sharing the load. Frankly from what I've seen Zeke has been the better back of the two. He's averaging like a full yard more per carry.. but I know Stevenson is a quality back so I don't know what they're gonna do. What they really need is a quarterback. Mac Jones is awful.

 

[nalam]

Pollard is not that type of runner.....I don't think any of our backs are. At least not consistently.

I don’t think it’s because of runner , the OL run blocking was atrocious.

 

[Kingofholland]

There's no creativity in the running game. No pitches, no tosses, no shovel passes, no end-arounds. Nothing.

They did work Cooks in. Would love to see them use more misdirection, delayed handoffs, and motion on the runs. Need to spread out the D more.

 

[RonnieT24]

There's no creativity in the running game. No pitches, no tosses, no shovel passes, no end-arounds. Nothing.

1) There was a jet sweep to Cooks that went for 14.
2) There were two toss sweeps to Pollard that went for little or nothing because our receivers and tight ends are terrible blockers.

I think what people are missing is that the offensive line just is not functioning as a cohesive unit yet and as such there is far too much leakage into the backfield to get anything going consistently in the running game. The good news is that's something that absolutely can get better as they spend more time on the field together.

 

[Clove]

It's almost as if they're running that play just to catch the Chargers off guard without intention of gaining anything which is annoying. If you call running plays, those plays have to mean something. Develop a good running attack.

 

[Ranching]

I don’t think it’s because of runner , the OL run blocking was atrocious.

True, but he's still not that type of runner.

 

[ak47kaehu]

I think Dowdle is better up the middle than Pollard at least early in the game but none are great.

He hits the hole harder and with more speed and keeps the legs churning