What would you do as a coach to improve the running game?

[GMO415]

Get a RB that weighs more than 180 pounds.

 

[Chasing6]

If you could implement a change or two going forward, what would you do to improve our lethargic running game?

For me, I'm doing everything I can to make sure the defense doesn't know when Pollard is getting it and where he's going. More misdirection. Designed rollouts to move the pocket. I would spread that defense out a little and run Dak just enough that they have to consider it.

But, I'd probably get Dak killed and certainly would not do any better at play calling.

What would you do? And do you do it this week? Or wait until the playoffs?

1. Passing game needs to set up the run. Not the other way around.
2. Run less on 1st down.
3. Do we have a draw play?
4. I like CD in the backfield. Can we get him 3 to 4 carries a game?
5. Turpin/Cook jet sweep.
6. Dak naked bootleg.
7. Use Hunter 2 times a game. No one will expect it.
8. Dak just needs to take off twice a game in man coverage to keep the D honest.

We have to get creative since we are not winning at the point of attack on a consistent basis.

I would also like to Ferguson run the ball on short yardage. That guy is a beast.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

If you are talking about now, before the playoffs........nothing. I mean it's week 17, so is what it is but there's plenty you can do offseason and I think they will.

 

[buybuydandavis]

The run blocking is just flat out terrible right now. I have little explanation why, but I would be interested to see a breakdown by an NFL offensive line mind as to where things are going wrong.

Pollard isn't massively explosive anymore, but the blocking is just not good enough either.

New oline coach Solari. Oline suddenly can't block.
Off with his head!
This is not a complicated call.

 

[Havic]

The holes are so small not even Deuce can fit through them

 

[Typhus]

Use what you have on hand to their strengths.
Pollard is your YAC back, so just get the ball in his hands, in some space, use his hands more.
Dowdle runs harder off tackle than any other back on the roster and Luepke just needs to find some confidence.
That should not be asking a lot.

 

[BleedSilverandBlue]

I don't understand this at all. He is fine. Emmitt Smith in his prime wouldn't gain any yards getting hit at or behind the LOS. No back would.

Well yeah. That’s pretty much what I said. He’s still a good back, but doesn’t quite have the pop he had last year it seems. Despite this, he really isn’t the problem.

Point blank, the blocking is trash.

 

[VaqueroTD]

1. Passing game needs to set up the run. Not the other way around.
2. Run less on 1st down.
3. Do we have a draw play?
4. I like CD in the backfield. Can we get him 3 to 4 carries a game?
5. Turpin/Cook jet sweep.
6. Dak naked bootleg.
7. Use Hunter 2 times a game. No one will expect it.
8. Dak just needs to take off twice a game in man coverage to keep the D honest.

We have to get creative since we are not winning at the point of attack on a consistent basis.

I would also like to Ferguson run the ball on short yardage. That guy is a beast.

This is unfortunately probably the most realistic answer. And they've been trying a lot of this throughout the year.

Other answer.. Sit Tyron Smith, Zack Martin and Tyler Smith this weekend and let them heal. Not sure if that's possible with it being a must win game, and our limited depth, but a bye week would help tremendously with that line right now.

Steele is what he is. Unlike players like Jourdan Lewis, he's not getting better fast enough. I saw on PFF he was almost the worst rated OT in the league. Doh!

Biadasz is what he is too. A decent center, but no Travis Frederick or Andre Gurode or pick some of the good centers we've had. When Tyler and Zack are healthy, he is the obvious weak link in the middle. But he still has to be re-signed next year because we're in huge trouble with this lack of depth and older linemen if we go down at center. Center is one of those positions you don't realize how important it is until you get a bad player at the position.

Any way to lure Tony Sparano Jr from Colts to be our OL Coach next year? Always liked his old man and he's got the Colts now as one of the best O-Lines in NFL. And going to have to spend some draft picks and FA money or we're in trouble.

 

[mooseman]

The run blocking is just flat out terrible right now. I have little explanation why, but I would be interested to see a breakdown by an NFL offensive line mind as to where things are going wrong.

Pollard isn't massively explosive anymore, but the blocking is just not good enough either.

What is Bill Callahan up too these days? He was the best in the run game at one point

 

[JBS]

It’s been 17 weeks and the professional coaches on this team don’t have an answer to this question

Now you’ve asked a bunch of guys who can’t put 2 and 2 together for a solution to this probkem

Good luck

 

[Bigrandrn]

New oline coach, new center, sit RT

 

[Bigrandrn]

The run blocking is just flat out terrible right now. I have little explanation why, but I would be interested to see a breakdown by an NFL offensive line mind as to where things are going wrong.

Pollard isn't massively explosive anymore, but the blocking is just not good enough either.

Seriously…..d lineman stay in our backfield, the showing vs Detroit was freakin pathetic.

 

[quickccc]

If you could implement a change or two going forward, what would you do to improve our lethargic running game?

For me, I'm doing everything I can to make sure the defense doesn't know when Pollard is getting it and where he's going. More misdirection. Designed rollouts to move the pocket. I would spread that defense out a little and run Dak just enough that they have to consider it.

But, I'd probably get Dak killed and certainly would not do any better at play calling.

What would you do? And do you do it this week? Or wait until the playoffs?

It's tough to make the impact changes during the season, as I believe it starts with the OL unit which is
performing to an underachieving state.

Especially when Zack Martin is not having one of his better seasons without injury being a factor.
Yeh, forget the just recent pro bowl bid of name recognition gimme.

I still stand by the observation that it starts with new OL coach Mike Solari, despite being a long time vet OL coach.
it may something about his blocking scheme, techniques and philosophy but it was not conducive to neither this
OL unit or RB unit. I've read up on him, of course it's always gonna be candy coated to make him out an impact.
But it shows poorly.

Maybe some OL schemes mask and cover up defiencies more than other OL schemes, but such was not the
case with Solari, imo.

Especially if there's an eventual playoff exit, the biggest blame is gonna very likely be pointed at Solari for the
running game failures, but he was only the only one.

 

[quickccc]

Seriously…..d lineman stay in our backfield, the showing vs Detroit was freakin pathetic.

Last year when Dalton Schultz was here, much was pointed at the in-line TE blocking, as RBs
had difficult capturing the outside edges too often.

- Schultz bounced to FA, and the club sought to upgrade the TE blocking more so with Schoon,..to add
to Ferguson and McKeon.

- In '22, Martin was All pro, Tyler B even made the alternative replacement Pro Bowl, Tyler Smith filled in well for Tyron,
and even McGovern played adequately enuff at LG (an spot role he initially struggled early in his career)
and Steele was even playing at near a pro bowl level (only one sack) before his tragic ACL injury.

- Pollard was hitting the creases and lanes to showcase his sprinter speed that made him a 1st time Pro Bowler
to earn him a franchise tag deal. But the way he's being ran and pounded as a bell cow, he's not likely to have
much of a chance at recovering to his '22 form.

- Now it's not just no holes or lanes, or blockers able to pull and get to the 2nd level, or in space at RB screens
we are witnessing our backs constantly being popped and tackled into the backfield.
It wasn't near this bad last year under OL coach Joe Philibin.
we did not take a step forward - we've taken 2 steps backwards in OL play.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I would worry less about 'fixing' the issue and more about improving the situation.

I would start by sitting Tyler Smith and playing Bass and Collins instead. Get him ready for paydirt.

I would get Dowdle back involved. We have missed him.

I would lean more into the perimeter runs and off tackle calls. Take advantage of our advantage with Tyron Smith and the TE at the poa and our interior guys ability to move. We are not going to fix the middle iso any time soon.

I would run more screens/smokes to all the skill players and short yardage WCO calls on early downs. Teams are attacking the LOS against us.

 

[WhizKid]

ROS:
- Cater to my strength in the passing game and extending the run game through screen game.
- Give Dowdle more snaps in between the tackles.
- See how Tyron and Tyler are at RT and get Collins in there at LG. Should generate more push in the middle.
- Check out how Sarodrick runs behind the starters in offense.
- Stop using Pollard in short yardage situations.
- Pray something works out.

 

[btgboys41]

If improving the run was important, I’d ensure my coach was on board with that. Currently he isn’t.

I would draft the nastiest lineman I could with our top 3-4 picks. We need o line improvement in talent, and depth. We need a d line that can give the O more possessions and get off the field with more 3 and outs.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I would worry less about 'fixing' the issue and more about improving the situation.

I would start by sitting Tyler Smith and playing Bass and Collins instead. Get him ready for paydirt.

I would get Dowdle back involved. We have missed him.

I would lean more into the perimeter runs and off tackle calls. Take advantage of our advantage with Tyron Smith and the TE at the poa and our interior guys ability to move. We are not going to fix the middle iso any time soon.

I would run more screens/smokes to all the skill players and short yardage WCO calls on early downs. Teams are attacking the LOS against us.

Forward to MM please.

 

[bigE79]

If you could implement a change or two going forward, what would you do to improve our lethargic running game?

For me, I'm doing everything I can to make sure the defense doesn't know when Pollard is getting it and where he's going. More misdirection. Designed rollouts to move the pocket. I would spread that defense out a little and run Dak just enough that they have to consider it.

But, I'd probably get Dak killed and certainly would not do any better at play calling.

What would you do? And do you do it this week? Or wait until the playoffs?

Get a better center that can move the pile,someone like fredbeard is what this team is missing

 

[Bagman]

I'd run a lot of delays and draws. Like we used to do when Romo had a suspect OL. If they can't get you movement you scheme movement.

Thank you !!! Been saying that for a while. A delayed draw will allow the Dline to actually penetrate but also create creases for a back to slip through. Heck, it's happening to OUR DLINE.