The Elephant in the Living Room?

SaintFanInATLHELL · 11-25-2007, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by IowaSaint

Are we missing the real elephant in the room?? No real running game!!

I'd call it an abandoned running game. It's there. It's just that Coach Payton isn't patient enough to stick with it. The next thing you know that for good or for bad the offense is slinging the ball all over the field.

When you can't rush the ball between the tackles it allows the D-line to pin it's ears back and rush the passer. I know that Peyton has tried to substitute the short pass in lieu of a running attack, but to make that effective you still have to have something that resembles a running attack between the tackles otherwise the Linebackers can shadow the back without being worried about the middle of the field.

Agreed. The Saints have rushed well between the tackles at times. Then they get away from it.

The real elephant is Reggie's inability to run in the middle of the field or the loss of Duece or lack of using Duece when we had him.

I disagree with this. Reggie has proved that if you give him the ball 20 times in a game, he'll get you a buck and change. And that's running the ball inside the tackles. But Coach runs Stecker out there. Then he pulls Karney. Then he starts to have Brees sling the ball. Bush isn't going to bust a 60 yard TD every time he touches the ball inside the tackles. But he's had several 10-20 yard runs during the course of the season.

Until we can make defenses stay honest in the middle of the field we should expect more of the same.

That's right. The Saints base formation needs to be the I with Karney at fullback and PT23 or Reggie in the TB slot. Let Bush go wide sometimes. But run the ball from the formation. Set up play action. Then you'll get more explosive plays down the field with less hits and mistakes from Brees.

SFIAH

11-25-2007, 06:49 AM	#1
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,781	Re: The Elephant in the Living Room? Originally Posted by IowaSaint Are we missing the real elephant in the room?? No real running game!! I'd call it an abandoned running game. It's there. It's just that Coach Payton isn't patient enough to stick with it. The next thing you know that for good or for bad the offense is slinging the ball all over the field. When you can't rush the ball between the tackles it allows the D-line to pin it's ears back and rush the passer. I know that Peyton has tried to substitute the short pass in lieu of a running attack, but to make that effective you still have to have something that resembles a running attack between the tackles otherwise the Linebackers can shadow the back without being worried about the middle of the field. Agreed. The Saints have rushed well between the tackles at times. Then they get away from it. The real elephant is Reggie's inability to run in the middle of the field or the loss of Duece or lack of using Duece when we had him. I disagree with this. Reggie has proved that if you give him the ball 20 times in a game, he'll get you a buck and change. And that's running the ball inside the tackles. But Coach runs Stecker out there. Then he pulls Karney. Then he starts to have Brees sling the ball. Bush isn't going to bust a 60 yard TD every time he touches the ball inside the tackles. But he's had several 10-20 yard runs during the course of the season. Until we can make defenses stay honest in the middle of the field we should expect more of the same. That's right. The Saints base formation needs to be the I with Karney at fullback and PT23 or Reggie in the TB slot. Let Bush go wide sometimes. But run the ball from the formation. Set up play action. Then you'll get more explosive plays down the field with less hits and mistakes from Brees. SFIAH
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