Why do people think we'd be 4-0 if we threw all the time?

[InmanRoshi]

The play action ability of Rothlishamberger allows them to open up running lanes. He is freezing the LB's...the LB we face are in our kitchen.

Except that Pittsburgh never throws. They had the lowest passing attempts last year of any team since the 85 Chicago Bears last year. They currently have the lowest passing attempts per game this year, by a large margin over the Falcons. So I don't see why teams have to concede running lanes to respect Rothlesberger's passing. He hardly ever passes, and he's not exactly a game breaker when he does.

Sounds to me like Pittsburgh is just good at running the ball, even when teams knows its coming.

 

[blindzebra]

To me it is not about being conservative. I just think they aren't mixing the play calling that well. That doesn't mean pass more. I like a strong running game, but when you run the same play out of the same formation for no success a few times, try a different formation. I thought they got away from an effective running game against San Francisco in the first half. The will get a few plays that do work and then won't come back to them. I have seen that in the last three games. They don't have to air it out to be more effective.

And of course, the team has to execute better. Especially the o-line.

We keep going back to the freaking stretch play that never gains a yard. You throw out the 8 to 10 carries for less than 20 yards we get on that stupid play, and that 3.3 YPC becomes well over 4 YPC.

 

[dragon_mikal]

And that's the reason as to why 2-2. We're not any more conservative or predictable than the winning teams in the NFL. If anything, we're taking more chances than the winning teams. Quite a bit more.

Parcells is giving the players the right way to play the game, the best chance to win, and the players are coming up short.

But I still don't see how abandoning a proven winning formula for football for a proven losing formula for football makes us 4-0.

What the hell are you talking about?

We have one of the most predictable offensive gameplans in the league. When the people on a message board can call the plays before they happen it says something about how creative your playcalling is.

Numerous times during the last three games I've been able to call the play before we run it. That's sad.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Right... over... your... head.

And it doesn't surprise me at all.


We don't need to throw more. We need to run the ball BETTER. Just cuz we haven't been effective running the ball doesn't mean to throw it more. We have to be more effective running it, and running LESS doesn't make you more effective at it.

It's more about NOT being so predicatble. Ask yourself how many times JJ has started the game off running off tackle?

I'm all for 50/50....I call out all the time what we are going to do...run or pass...i think i'm right 80% of the time.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

What the hell are you talking about?

We have one of the most predictable offensive gameplans in the league. When the people on a message board can call the plays before they happen it says something about how creative your playcalling is.

Numerous times during the last three games I've been able to call the play before we run it. That's sad.[/QUOTE]

OK...you just freaked me out by saying that...my post was first...

 

[dragon_mikal]

Right... over... your... head.

And it doesn't surprise me at all.


We don't need to throw more. We need to run the ball BETTER. Just cuz we haven't been effective running the ball doesn't mean to throw it more. We have to be more effective running it, and running LESS doesn't make you more effective at it.

Right...over...your...head.

And it doesn't suprise me at all.

You throw the ball deep, stretch out the defense and you open up the running game.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but when teams know you're going to run up the middle every play while at the same time never throwing downfield, your running game is going to suck.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Right...over...your...head.

And it doesn't suprise me at all.

You throw the ball deep, stretch out the defense and you open up the running game.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but when teams know you're going to run up the middle every play while at the same time never throwing downfield, your running game is going to suck.

The single fact that our running game is sucking and NOT because of JJ...should be enough to say it all by it self.

 

[InmanRoshi]

What the hell are you talking about?

We have one of the most predictable offensive gameplans in the league. When the people on a message board can call the plays before they happen it says something about how creative your playcalling is

Yeah, the next time I run into a internet messageboard that says "Our problem is that our play calling isn't predictable enough" will be the first. Funny how that's ALWAYS the problem. 100% of the time, too predictable. For every team in the NFL, not just the Cowboys or Parcells. Their fans think their team is too predictable after a loss. Its just uncanny.


Methinks people talk out of their arse and pick the play calling and "game plan" because its something easy for them to wrap their hands around.

 

[Rack]

Right...over...your...head.

And it doesn't suprise me at all.

You throw the ball deep, stretch out the defense and you open up the running game.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but when teams know you're going to run up the middle every play while at the same time never throwing downfield, your running game is going to suck.

You didn't burst my bubble. The only thing that "Burst" was me bursting out laughing at your complete ignorance.



And predictability has very little to do with it. It's execution. We aren't executing in the run game. It also doesn't help that JuJo isn't running well. It's not just the lack of holes, it's the lack of JuJo to cut inside or outside when the hole isn't there.

 

[Rack]

Yeah, the next time I run into a internet messageboard that says "Our problem is that our play calling isn't predictable enough" will be the first.

Methinks people talk out of their arse and pick the play calling and "game plan" because its something easy for them to wrap their hands around.

 

[BlueWave]

Philly runs very little. What they do is short passes over the middle to Westbrook and the TE Smith. Eventually, it causes the Safeties to start cheating up to stop Westbrook and Smith. That's when they pump fake short and go long out of the exact same formation. In essence, it serves the exact same purpose as a good running game, just a longer handoff in an area that is more open.

Could we do this. We sure could. Witten would be huge and almost unstoppable on the short hooks and curls in the middle. Thought Jones is not as good as Westbrook (watch, you'll see it), more open field could serve him well also.

Basically, the Eagles have created a new offense that basically doesn't hand off very much, but serves the exact same purpose. Throw five or six five yards curls to Witten or jones on a drive, then pump fake one to him, and see how open Glenn is deep. Same thing as a good running game and playaction.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

You didn't burst my bubble. The only thing that "Burst" was me bursting out laughing at your complete ignorance.



And predictability has very little to do with it. It's execution. We aren't executing in the run game. It also doesn't help that JuJo isn't running well. It's not just the lack of holes, it's the lack of JuJo to cut inside or outside when the hole isn't there.

Rack...most of the time I agree with you, but this is the NFL. If they KNOW we are going to run they put 8-9 in the box = Brickwall. That is not something you can easily execute against...not at this level.

 

[dragon_mikal]

You didn't burst my bubble. The only thing that "Burst" was me bursting out laughing at your complete ignorance.



And predictability has very little to do with it. It's execution. We aren't executing in the run game. It also doesn't help that JuJo isn't running well. It's not just the lack of holes, it's the lack of JuJo to cut inside or outside when the hole isn't there.

Wow...you sure like being an ***, don't you?

Excuse me for having my own opinion. Do me a favor and remind me how well our running game has been so far.

Now tell me how our passing attack has been when we actually go down field.

Now tell me which was responsible for our two victories.

I've made my point.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

Philly runs very little. What they do is short passes over the middle to Westbrook and the TE Smith. Eventually, it causes the Safeties to start cheating up to stop Westbrook and Smith. That's when they pump fake short and go long out of the exact same formation. In essence, it serves the exact same purpose as a good running game, just a longer handoff in an area that is more open.

Could we do this. We sure could. Witten would be huge and almost unstoppable on the short hooks and curls in the middle. Thought Jones is not as good as Westbrook (watch, you'll see it), more open field could serve him well also.

Basically, the Eagles have created a new offense that basically doesn't hand off very much, but serves the exact same purpose. Throw five or six five yards curls to Witten or jones on a drive, then pump fake one to him, and see how open Glenn is deep. Same thing as a good running game and playaction.

Only to a point...we are not that kind of team. Bledsoe would get killed whereas McFlabb has that mobility (he did anyways), however I agree that we need to get it into the hands of the playmakers (you did not say that, but I think you were heading that way).

 

[InmanRoshi]

Rack...most of the time I agree with you, but this is the NFL. If they KNOW we are going to run they put 8-9 in the box = Brickwall. That is not something you can easily execute against...not at this level.

Unfortunately, teams haven't needed to put 8-9 men in the box.

San Diego was the only team who used 8-9 men in the box on any sort of consistant basis where they actually looked like it was a vital part of their game plan. Washington played back in coverage much more than they usually do. Parrish was the 49er's strong safety, and he was all over the field in pass protection, which is why he ended up 2 picks. Oakland took our WR's out of the game by bumping the hell out of them at the LOS, and bracketing our WR's with safeties. Oakland dared us to run on their front 7, and we couldn't do it.

We don't have 8-9 men in the box as an excuse. And its not like the winning teams I noted above don't face 8-9 men in the box. That's the only defense Pittsburgh ever sees.

 

[Hiero]

the eagles have built their west coast around McNabb. he always has westbrook as a dumpoff to take the pressure off him, and they get the ball in his hands as much as possible during the game. Gotta say I respect reid for getting the most out of McNabb. Cowboys would never run this kind of offense though.

 

[Rack]

Rack...most of the time I agree with you, but this is the NFL. If they KNOW we are going to run they put 8-9 in the box = Brickwall. That is not something you can easily execute against...not at this level.

We haven't been facing a lot of 8 man fronts this year. Why would teams play 8 man fronts when they don't have to?

Wow...you sure like being an ***, don't you?

Why don't you :cry2: about it?

I've made my point.

Must be nice to believe such in your little world. How's the weather over there?

 

[Wolverine]

Just asking.

I'm looking at the league leaders in rushing attempts per game..

Atlanta 3-1
Washington 3-0
Tampa Bay 4-0
Cincinnati 4-0
Pittsburgh 2-1
Denver 3-1

Why do teams with the most conservative game plans win? Is it because they're winning, so they can afford to run the ball late in games? That doesn't make sense to me, because I was told that running the ball with the lead is "playing not to lose" and "not going for the throat" and that always gets you beat. I was told that repeatedly after the Washington game. So why are these teams getting away with "playing not to lose" and still winning?

Has it dawned on anyone crying about "conservative game plans" (which I find very little to no statistical evidence for, by the way), that we'd be 0-4 if we had it your way? Why do you want us to play a proven losing formula for football instead of a winning one?

Our conservative play calling is a reason why the Commanders are 3-0 and not 2-1.


Sorry but a 13 point lead is not nuff to just start running the ball and hope your D holds out. Maybe a 17 point lead is nuff to do that since the other team needs to score 2 TDs and a FG just to tie.


The problem is we are playing this crap from the beginning. We should be opening it up and then if we get a good lead and put the other team away then go with this kinda play calling

The play calling we use right now might not be so bad if we actually had a good running game. We do not have a good running game. It is average at very best. Our OL does not do a good job of run blocking and opening up holes for JJ and also not having a good blocking FB really hurts having a power run attack. Kind of tuff to have a good run attack work when there is no FB around.

Right now the reason so many want more passes from this team is real obvious. Bledsoe gives us the best chance to win. Bledsoe is extremely accurate on long and medium passes as all of us have seen. Let him go deep and medium more to loosen up a defense and make it harder for them to stop the run.

We are not a team that can use the run to open up the pass. For us until the OL does a better job and we get a good blocking FB then we are team that needs to pass to open up the run.

If we had a true power running attack and a better OL and FB I do not think you would see nearly as many complaints. But hey some of us are just not kool aid drinkers.

 

[BlueWave]

Rack is right, we are not facing 8 and 9 (ridiculous to say that) man fronts. They have run blitzed us, but a lot of that has to do with the fact that we never consistently attack outside the tackle box. It's worth the risk for them.

 

[FolsomCowboy]

Have we even attempted a deep pass in the first half of our games?