(10-12-2020, 01:15 AM)NeptuneBeachBum Wrote:

(10-11-2020, 11:02 PM)Predator Wrote: We called 17 run plays against the worst rushing defense in the league. Only 14 carries by Robinson. We were only down by 3 points in the half.

Competent OC's don't give up on the run in a close game even if they get a few stops, especially against the worst rushing defense in the league. That's Football 101.  You also don't sit your best back when you are first and goal from the 6.

There is no excuse for Gruden. That is pure incompetence. You can't blame Minshew for that.

I mean, you keep saying they are the worst rushing offense in the League statistically, but our running backs were on getting 3.5 yards per carry against them... that's terrible.  Houston rushed for 5.9 YPC and we have been over 5 YPC the first 4 games.  It wasn't working today.  And then we got behind and had to throw it.  I'm not "blaming" Minshew.  I like him and hope will be our solid backup for a long time.

Robinson averaged 3.7 yards a carry. That is an acceptable average. What isn't acceptable is he had a total of 13 carries with one being a botched pass play that was fumbled and counted as a -4 yard rushing loss, so only 12 called run plays for him on which he averaged an excellent 4.3 yards per carry. We also only called 6 running plays the entire second half. We called about 55 passing plays which came with two turnovers and 3 sacks. That is horrible play calling.

Like any knowledgeable football person knows, you don't just give up on the run when you are playing the worst run defense in the league, especially when your main RB is averaging an excellent 4.3 yards per run play. Committing to running the ball wears down defenses and typically opens up bigger running plays and keeps apposing offenses off the field. It also keeps the defense honest and opens up the passing game. When you don't run the ball enough you are leaving your QB at the mercy of the defense and allow them to concentrate on covering the pass making the passing game much more difficult to execute.

The results of Gruden's failure to commit to the run against poor rushing defenses has spoken for itself 2 weeks in a row now.

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