No Running Game
 

Ok, ok, shoot me down as Mr. Buzzkill. I can take it. I am absolutely bouncing off the ceiling about being 5-0 and officially the best team in the NFC (not just because Siri says so). But I do like to look at things in the clear light of day. Now I have returned just to a beaming smile....

The running game, once again, was atrocious. Having lambasted Mark Ingram at length for how poor he has been, we all got what we wanted with Pierre Thomas carrying the rock a decent amount. 19 times in fact. For a paltry 36 yards. Had this have been Ingram, we would already be demanding a 7th round draft pick as enough of a trade!

Now don't get me wrong, on studying some of the gamefilm back again (yes I am that sad) I will give Pierre Thomas a whole load of credit here. There were several times he lost his footing (which happened to many players on many occasions) and the biggest problem, which we have also all highlighted, is our O-Line. That line simply cannot create lanes for our running backs. It's only just 'good enough' right now. It is also giving up far too much pressure to Brees and I expect him to be sacked at least 3 or 4 times a game right now.

So were we all a bit hasty in blaming Mark Ingram? Is it becoming increasingly apparent that actually it is almost entirely on our O-line?

How many times did we have a 2nd-and-1 or a 3rd-and-1 and fail to convert? That's pathetic. I have never seen so many 4th-and-inches downs for one team in all my life! And we are lucky we have both the coach and the QB who can dig us out of scenarios like that. It's not acceptable.

Anyway, buzzkill complete. I'm not trying to look to be on a downer, just want us to improve so we can look as perfect as the Broncos do!!! :)

Re: No Running Game
 

No running game, no problem. Time of possession is supposed to be an indication of a strong ball control running game.

Saints: 36:00
Duh Bears: 24:00

Go figure. Ball control passing attack wins again.

Re: No Running Game
 

A couple of our bigger/most important runs happened because our backs hit defenders and stood their ground long enough for the O Line to push the pile, Ingram seems to drop more often than not. Also, I was amazed how many times we had half their team on our side of the line after a run, there was an indecent amount of penetration at times.

Re: No Running Game
 

So what you are saying is, you would rather see Pierre score by making five smaller grinding 5 yard runs, then on a single 25 yard screen pass. OK.

Re: No Running Game
 

I would agree the running game still doesn't look good, but I was more pleased with the pass protection, so maybe the O line is (pardon the overused expression) starting to gel.

Drew did not seem to be in "run for your life" mode nearly as often this week.

Re: No Running Game
 

Ever took the homecoming queen to prom? Even if you wake up and realize your out of your league, you shut it and enjoy the ride.

Re: No Running Game
 

Don't worry. Once Ingram gets back, he will turn all that around. We just got to hold on until then.

Edited to add: I am just playing. When I hear our running game isn't good, I think of how much worse it would be if he was in there.

Re: No Running Game
 

.....anyway.

Re: No Running Game
 

I can't tell if this is supposed to be a serious comment or not

Re: No Running Game
 

Actually married one!!!

Re: No Running Game
 

Yes, that's exactly what I was saying. You did well to read between the lines there ... ummmm ... no. I wasn't questioning Pierre Thomas, which I had hoped was indicated by the rest of the context around it. I was saying that based on the logic we have crucified Mark Ingram on, we should also hold up Pierre Thomas. And because I don't think Pierre is to blame, I was using that to demonstrate the real problem definitely lies with the O-line. Having said that, the stats do not lie, on the ground we are very poor indeed.

Look at those down-and-1 conversions. They were worrying. You should be able to plough through them and carry on but we were at 4th down far too many times.

We are definitely managing the clock very well but let's understand why we are doing that. That's largely because we are getting the opposition offence off the field so damn quickly. That is our defence doing that great work. And yes Brees throwing the ball about with so much accuracy obviously helps a great deal but I would rather see a balanced game and an improved running game.

Re: No Running Game
 

Referring to the OP comment that we kept coming up short because of the running game, I blame the turf. That ground at Chicago is ass crap.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk - now Free

Re: No Running Game
 

I get what you're saying man, but there's really no need for concern as far as I can tell. The offense is doing a great job of taking whatever they're being given and executing very efficiently. They're still softening defenses and taking control of games.. though it did seem like they throttled down too soon today, but maybe it was just the bears D adjusting

Everyone assumes you need a running game to be able to really control time of possession, and would probably say that might be the biggest reason you want to have a running game. Clearly though, we are dominating time of possession without one, and still managing to keep enough balance that play action is an option.

Re: No Running Game
 

I may have given the false impression I am quite concerned :) I guess I am just on the quest for perfection. Whilst I don't want to say it, if we were to win the NFC I feel we would face the Broncos in the Superbowl and they just seem to be awesome in every aspect of the game!

I just love a bit of smash-mouth football when it's needed. Whether it is managing the game clock or just churning out a required yard to get a fresh set of downs and allow us to throw some deep passes to Jimmy Graham :)

Also I remain confused about Ingram. I defended him. Then slaughtered him. And now I really REALLY don't know if his horrendous stat line was anything to do with him :)

Re: No Running Game
 

THIS! ^^^

The purpose of a running game is to control the clock while moving the ball. The Saints are doing that tremendously with their short passing game. It beat the hell out of a straight run game.

Re: No Running Game
 

They are doing it pretty well with their long passing game as well! :)

Re: No Running Game
 

Yep, zero run game, and we lead the entire NFL in time of possession.

Re: No Running Game
 

At some point these guards have to start earning their checks...

Re: No Running Game
 

Without a run game, we are predictable. O-line needs more versatility.

Re: No Running Game
 

Normally I'd agree, but with a passing game that has Sproles, PT, Colston, Moore, Graham, Watson, Meachem, Stills and Toon, we're anything but predictable.

Re: No Running Game
 

Don't have to run effectively. As long as we continue to run it has to be respected.

Re: No Running Game
 

Before the season ends we will have to get the run game going, a rainy day or a blizzard shuts down a lot of the air attack, and if we get to the big game guess where it is?

Re: No Running Game
 

I don't care how we do it as long as we win. Running? Passing? Swimming? Flying? Don't care as long as we win. We're 5-0!

Re: No Running Game
 

rush defense rankings after 4 weeks. not like we have faced a bunch of bums

Carolina
Green Bay
Denver
Arizona
Dallas
NY Jets
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Miami
Cincinnati
Tennessee
Minnesota
New England
Chicago
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Seattle
San Francisco
Detroit
Oakland
New Orleans

even with this in mind the saints need to improve the running game.

we did nothing in the off season to address the OL even after how bad we were last year. face it teams have enough tape on us to exploit our OL.

next year we better address this area of need because Drew is taking a beating even in the passing game

Re: No Running Game
 

Such a key point. Honouring the run game can be as important as being marginally effective in it. I do keep checking the amount of times we run versus pass attempts. Today was a good example of that being a positive. Definitely think we need more balance in conditions like that today but you are 100% right. As long as we honour it, we're good.

Re: No Running Game
 

running game will improve the healthier our oline gets, I think, but that said we throw a lot of short passes and we are kind of running through our pass

Re: No Running Game
 

WE ARE WHAT OUR RECORD SAYS WE ARE!!!

:) :)

Re: No Running Game
 

okay, Atl & TB are better than their records
Ariz has rebounded to win 2 in a row
Mia & Chi were both unbeaten when we played them

my cleverly-disguised point is this:
without a strong 'traditional' running game, we have already beaten some good teams

Re: No Running Game
 

A good bit of the recent Super Bowl winners weren't effective running the ball. They ran to keep the defense honest. That's all we need to do. Top 5 running backs in the league. Adrian Peterson, Lesean McCoy, Arian Foster, Jamal Charles, Alfred Morris...how are most of those teams doing? We can keep going. Chris Johnson. CJ Spiller. Matt Forte. The running game of the Beara couldn't save them today. The lack of a run game only matters when you're losing.

Re: No Running Game
 

You may be able to take being called a "buzz kill" very well.

Ever thought how much people enjoying them selves don't appreciate the "buzz killer"? Buzz Kill is not the title I would give you.

You and the rest like you should probably take your "honest revelations" to the front office and lay it out there for them.

We sort of enjoy... enjoying being 5-0.

Re: No Running Game
 

Our screen game is our nuclear deterrent. It keeps them honest.... That's all a run game needs to do.

Re: No Running Game
 

Our O line needs help.

Re: No Running Game
 

I was encouraged that our running game did better, even in spite of a wet field.Dont get me wrong we are a long way from being where we should be, but we got better and thats something to build on. Our pass protections was head and shoulders above what it has been.

Re: No Running Game
 

Chicago was 3-1. Not unbeaten.

Re: No Running Game
 

PT may have struggled but he does more than Ingram.. So why don't we steal a ol from someones PS or something Lol. 5-0 super bowl bound

Re: No Running Game
 

I'd much rather we rushed for 125 yards per game and lost. At least we would have a running game and our losses would be "quality" ones.

Oh yeah I live in Indy. The Colts did not have a 100 yd. runner today. The Sea Hags had two. I'll let them know they have to give the win back. I guess we have to also.


:lolup:

Re: No Running Game
 

Unrelated, but does anyone else feel uncomfortable watching LT as an analyst

Re: No Running Game
 

Cant we argue about this when it causes us to lose a game. This is a waste of keystrokes. For this version of the Saints at the skill positions the threat is so much more important than the run itself. An effective run opens up the play action..... And the play action today was there.... Robert Meacham was robbed?

This game was about as balanced as the Saints have been... And to the actual running games credit as long as Briggs didn't shoot the gap we were getting 5-6 yards per instead of the Mark Ingrams 1-2 yrds per... and we actually made the a few of the 4-1s' we took vs getting stopped on 4-1 because there was no second effort....

Re: No Running Game
 

im taking the dump offs, screens, and third options for brees as more of our running game. the running game is what it is. there will be your 100 yard plus days but it has to do with what payton has on that card. i'm accepting it; its winning and i'm pumped for the next one. and today with the 4th and 1 so many of them was like someone said earlier we just were not stretching the ball out for a better spot and just bad spots by the stripes. unawareness of the line is another our fault. its all good. what a win.

Re: No Running Game
 

Nope.

We will talk about all aspects of concern, when it comes to this team and what the unquestioned experts here, think will add to continued success.

:-) LOL