Miami's running game

[fyo]

I have two main worries about the team thus far. The defensive backfield and our running game. The latter is the more complex and more interesting. It's also dragging down the passing game by taking away the deep threat. Per Sparano, opposing defenses played with two safeties deep on something like 80% of the plays (and a lot of the 20% would surely be short-yardage situations).

Our running game sucks. Let's face it.

And it's not just about R&R... Ronnie started out well, but now Ricky is playing better. That's not the problem... they're both very mediocre overall this season.

I'm convinced the problem stems from offensive line play and Henning's play calling. Allow me to elaborate...

Last year, we were in the top 2 in both "power" situations and in not getting stuffed. This year, we're down close to league average. That's not R&R -- or even Polite. That's mostly the O-line.

(We suck in "open field" yards, but that's always been the case with R&R -- just not that type of runner and without exceptional 2nd level help, they're not going to break big runs on regular basis.)

Runs to the right were the biggest problem (with an otherwise good running game) last year and if you look past the insane start-10-yards-deep sweep left plays Henning has called for Ronnie this year, the pattern is the same.

Now, the majority of our runs this year (> 60%) have been between the guards and the line has done an excellent job on those. It really is a question of what plays Henning is calling... Runs behind Jake Long and up the gut... we're doing great! But we've run far less behind Long than behind right tackle -- and those runs have sucked. Part of it is where the tight end help is, part of it is Carey needing to pick up some slack from McQuistan... but that's ultimately irrelevant. Henning needs to call more of the plays that are working and fewer of the ones that aren't.

Yes, I really do believe it's that simple.

(And smack Ronnie around a bit to get him to stop dancing quite so much... or just use Ricky... but whoever is in there, the O-line needs to step up and Henning needs to call plays that address the strengths, not the weaknesses... so no lame-ass sweeps and no trying to run behind Carey/McQuistan...)

[bsfins]

I think I agree, we need to throw out the 1966 Green Bay Packers Vince Lombardi running game out of our play book (plays that take forever to set up),and run more quick hitters.

[BigDaddyFin]

Is it possible that those stats are skewed based on the fact that the wildcat when we were running it was run almost exclusively off right tackle?

[MikeO]

We got rid of Smiley, Grove, and Thomas..........why? We were the #1 rushing team in the NFL last year and in an UNCAPPED year we started pinching pennies.

Yes Smiley and Grove were overpaid (contracts we gave them mind you) but in an uncapped year there was no reason to get rid of them.

Combine making our o-line weaker we also have an injury prone RB in Brown who has lost a step. And an OLD running back in Ricky who is showing his age at times.

Hence we have no running game

[Doc-phin]

"(We suck in "open field" yards, but that's always been the case with R&R -- just not that type of runner and without exceptional 2nd level help, they're not going to break big runs on regular basis.)"


I pretty much agree with everything you said except this.  Our receivers and tight ends have been doing a hell of a job blocking on the second level this year.  Our backs just don't seem to be able to make a guy miss.  They do a much better job of running at a stack of players and slipping into just the right spot to avoid a big hit and pick up an extra yard or two.  Nothing going on to concern opposing defenses though.

O-line isn't run blocking great, but it is good enough.  Wish we had a speedy guy like Sheets healthy right now for a different kind of look here and there.

[fyo]

Is it possible that those stats are skewed based on the fact that the wildcat when we were running it was run almost exclusively off right tackle?

Yes. We only have something like 25 runs marked as RT, so low sample size is certainly an issue. In fact, looking at the past couple games, Ricky seems to have had decent success with those runs (slightly lower than his average), while Ronnie's runs behind RT have been anemic (3 runs for 0, 1, and 0 yards, respectively).

It's perhaps noteworthy that ALL the success has been on "long" downs (8+ yards to go).

That meshes with what I've noted to myself when watching the games... that we're not getting any push on the right side.

[bsfins]

We got rid of Smiley, Grove, and Thomas..........why? We were the #1 rushing team in the NFL last year and in an UNCAPPED year we started pinching pennies.

Yes Smiley and Grove were overpaid (contracts we gave them mind you) but in an uncapped year there was no reason to get rid of them.

I guess Since you keep spreading this crap, Someone better correct you....
A.) we were forth in the league in rushing last year,not 1st look it up on NFL.co...It's not that hard...
B.) Jake Grove was hurt in pre season,Smiley has not finished the year as the starting guard the past 2 years because of injuries (last year with a tricky shoulder),Donald Thomas while showing promise early,never blossomed past what he did in his first pre season,and also couldn't stay healthy.At this Time I've not been able to find Jake Grove, Nor Donald Thomas on any NFL Roster (not on ESPN,Pro foootball reference,CBSsportline,even a quick search)

On Jake Grove's cutting
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81a613d9/article/cutting-their-losses-dolphins-release-grove-one-year-into-deal

The last news on Donald Thomas was he tried out for the Giants,and then for the Steelers,but they didn't sign him....

[mecadonzilla]

Here's what 7 games have told me, thus far this year.  Our offensive line can't run block hardly at all.  They do okay at certain times during the game, but certainly not on a consistent basis.  We cut a few guys from the o-line to start the season, so I can only assume they were sucking...but this year's line is definitely not able to move people off scrimage on a consistent basis.  Of course, it doesn't help that Ronnie looks like he's auditioning for Dancing with the Stars almost every time he hits a hole.

This team needs to see THIS line run block if its going to be successful at all in the long run.

[Tenshot13]

What I don't understand is why we run to the right so much?  I mean, shouldn't we run to the left, where our star LT is at?  When Seattle had their elite Superbowl caliber team, all they did was run to the left and it was successful.  Why can't we do the same?

[MikeO]

because we don't have a left guard or center. So Jake Long by himself can't block 4 guys.

At least on the right Carey and Jerry are half-way decent

[dolfan13]

its crazy how the dolphins have thrown soooo much money at the offensive line over the past few years, sparano made his nfl living as an nfl o-line coach, and when it comes to run blocking the offensive line is just plain offensive.

i think the biggest problem contributing to this is that on offense the team has a serious lack of speed. they play boxed in a phone booth, and there is no speed on the outside to open things up a little. everyone on defense is bunched in tight to the line of scrimmage and it makes it harder on the running game.

basically halfway through the season, and you pretty much know what this team is and isn't. call it wannstache version 2.0. pretty good defense to keep games close, don't turn the ball over, good field goal kicker with range, slug through a drive or two in hopes of a touchdown. doesn't matter if they play buffalo or the steelers, all the games will be relatively close and come down to the last drive.

[Pappy13]

Lets be honest here folks, some of this has to do with the offensive line, but some of it has to do with the opponents as well.  We are talking about Pitt, NYJ, NE, Minn and GB.  4 of those 5 teams are ranked in the top 11 in yards per attempt and the 5th team just held the Jets, one of the best running teams in the league to 3.7 yards per carry if you don't count QB scrambles.

Ricky and Ronnie had 108 yards on 25 carries yesterday and Hartline added a 30 yard run.  Sure you would have liked to have seen a little more out of them maybe, but that's not a bad days worth of work.

The running numbers would look a LOT better if you just take out the Wildcat.

[masterfins]

Lets be honest here folks, some of this has to do with the offense line, but some of it has to do with the opponents as well.  We are talking about Pitt, NYJ, NE, Minn and GB. 

Good point, unfortunately we do have to play the Jets and Pats again.  I have noticed Ronnie dancing quite a bit more this year, probably a combination of his fault and the O-line.  Ricky seems to be running hard though, just doesn't have the power to break through some of the tackles like he use to.  I'd like to keep Ricky for another year, trade Ronnie for a couple draft picks.  Pick up a couple line prospects through the draft, and hopefully pick up a durable back through FA.

[Sunstroke]

I like the idea of drafting more blue chip O-line prospects, but think the idea of getting "a couple draft picks" for Ronnie is a little unrealistic. Every trend in the NFL lately shows the devaluation of RBs in trade, and RBs with past injury issues...doubly so. I honestly don't expect to get "anything" from Ronnie or Ricky when they finally leave Miami...except an open roster spot that we can drop another new RB into.

Lets be honest here folks, some of this has to do with the offense line, but some of it has to do with the opponents as well.  We are talking about Pitt, NYJ, NE, Minn and GB.  4 of those 5 teams are ranked in the top 11 in yards per attempt and the 5th team just held the Jets, one of the best running teams in the league to 3.7 yards per carry if you don't count QB scrambles.

This is a very good call. Miami faces a sickeningly brutal run-D gauntlet this season, which raises the age-old question...which came first, the ranking or the matchups?

[Spider-Dan]

MIA encompasses, at most, 1/7th of the defensive ranking, so I'm pretty sure that they aren't the proverbial chicken in this chicken-or-egg scenario.