What Is The Biggest Problem With The Running Game?

[Bossman641]

I agree with HW. Last year we really struggled running the ball early on, and then there seemed to be a week where everything just started to click. Not that we were dominant, but at least good enough to keep defenses honest.

I'm hoping (probably just wishful thinking) that eventually the light will go on and we will see a lot of improvement in a short amount of time.

[Deputy Nutz]

The last two weeks we have all but shelved the running game, the Packers have just barely committed to it, they do it because they have to give a look to set up the next play or two. It is not easy running against SD or the Vikings and the Packers were smart enough to try and beat them at their own game.

So is that the scheme? I don't know, I am not really focusing on the running game at this point, but I understand the importance of it, but if you don't 100% commit yourself to it whats the point? The Packers went a long time without a 1000 rusher, 1977 to 1994 I believe. I would like to have a dominant running game, but when Favre is this on, you let him work your offense.

[Patler]

What do you guys think will happen when the weather changes, the wind picks up and it rains/snows? I don't think we'll be able to pass 40 times those games...

The short passing game they are playing can be just as effective in bad conditions, sometimes even more effective. It is such a high completion percentage scheme right now that bad conditions won't necessarily stop it, and a single slip by a defender can result in a long gain.

Not all good running teams are necessarily good in bad weather either. Not all backs are good "mudders".

[woodbuck27]

Very good discussion on a topic we certainly feel concern for.

The reason why our running backs do not hit holes fast enough is that there are no holes to hit.

I hope that MM and crew take a serious look at the ZBS and identify needs, that solutions are a reality next season.

Given what we have I like the biggest - strongest RB in as number one on shorter yardage downs (Wynn) not the man to be made.

We need to find the Beast at RB. He (TT) must try to solve this problem.

If he is not in the Green and Gold now he must be found as soon as TT can do that. Like last week.

I fear (or respect) that we are going to get KOed by any team that has a stronger DL than we can handle with our young O-Lineman..

The middle of our OL has to be stronger. We need the beef.

Maybe the younger Lineman are either over worked or taxed too high, skill wise (Question mark).

All this and more has to be questioned immediately.

I believe that there has been a missed oppportunity to really shine in the NFC this season and a passing game alone is not going to carry us through any playoff that we may attend.

[Patler]

How many tackles for losses in the running game have come because Colledge completely misses a guy? It happened again today. A zone scheme is screwed up by penetration of the d-linemen. So far that has been a big problem, especially it seems right over Colledge more than anywhere else. Until that is minimized, we will never know if the backs are any good in this scheme or not.

[FritzDontBlitz]

So, the choices moving forward (and obviously something you do off-season) is:

1. Keep the scheme, change the personnel
2. Keep the personnel, change the scheme to fit them better (easier to do rather than making wholesale changes in personnel).
3. Coach 'em up, get them to play more disciplined within the scheme by fixing technique that is lacking and tweak the skill positions to find better talent.

I don't think you can lay it at anyone's feet completely, however, it does seem quite often that the backs are taking on a defender at or before they are hitting the hole, or soon after they are hitting the hole, which means the lanes are tight.

These backs were hand-picked for our running/blocking scheme, so obviously they can't all suck. A running back, like a qb needs space to make a play.

you left out another option.

4. let brett throw the fucker on every play.

[woodbuck27]

Player Stats

Packers at Minny

Passing CP/AT YDS TD INT

B. Favre 32/45 344 2 0

Rushing ATT YDS TD LG

D. Wynn 10 20 0 3
R. Grant 3 17 0 15
J. Ryan 1 7 0 7
V. Morency 1 2 0 2
B. Favre 4 1 0 3
D. Driver 1 -1 0 -1

Receiving REC YDS TD LG

D. Lee 4 66 0 27
D. Driver 7 58 0 14
R. Martin 2 52 0 36
J. Jones 4 49 1 33
G. Jennings 3 43 1 18
V. Morency 3 33 0 18
B. Franks 4 30 0 12
D. Wynn 2 10 0 7
K. Hall 1 2 0 2
R. Grant 2 1 0 1

[The Leaper]

I don't like the scheme, especially now that Jags is gone. With a scheme that you can't actively practice with, it becomes pretty important to have a coach that really understands it and can explain it to his guys. I'm not sure that is happening now.

I place the blame on the scheme right now...not because I think the ZBS is incapable of working, but because we don't have the coaching and experience in place to run it properly and it looks like we really aren't sure what to do blocking much of the time.

The talent we have on the OL is OK. Our RBs aren't great, but they should be good enough to put up better numbers than they have. The playcalling doesn't seem to be the problem to me either.

[AtlPackFan]

[quote="HarveyWallbangers"]I think Morency will give the team a boost. I think Grant will get a bigger role. Things will get better.
quote]

If they can hold on to the football...

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'd say the biggest problem is that they don't run often enough to get the timing down.

Second biggest problem is lack of talent at the running back position. A good back that turns one 2 yard gain into an 8 yard gain gives confidence to the Oline, demoralizes the defense. It's a game of momentum.