Seems teams are running the ball a lot more early this year. Is it just an early season trend to take advantage of the defensive starters not being ready to play physical football due to most of the starters sitting out the pre season, or a long term adjustment to take advantage of teams building defensive rosters designed to function in a pass happy league?

Most teams have totally moved away from run stuffing linebackers to smaller guys that can run and cover, those types of guys get trucked by centers and guards in the run game. Teams also drop both safeties deep, that keeps them from supporting against the run. Defensive teams invest heavily in DE's and CB's, but an inside run game negates both positions, and you can always run away from the best DE, you saw the Jets CB take himself out of the game a few weeks ago after having to make a few tackles in the run game.

Makes sense, you can often get the best RB, OG, and OC in the mid to late first or second round, also can sign the top FA's at those positions for way less than the top WR or LT.

College defensive players see shotgun formation runs constantly, they rarely will see a college team that line up in the I formation and pounds the ball, so even the top college players are not used to the level of physicality you see in an inside run game.

The problem is that the NFL loves the passing game, they certainly do not like the top QB's getting one possession per quarter because the other team burns clock by running the ball consistently, wonder if you will start to see holding called on almost every successful run play.

It makes some sense. The niners are a run heavy team with arguably the best system in the league. Running, physical, defensive football will always be competitive.

You need great QB play to overcome that and there are only a handful of great QBs in the world.

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That is what happens when teams are only running 2 linebackers and more nickel and dime situations. You better be able to run it.

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teams also invested more heavily in RB during FA this year

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Another reason for this is smaller linebackers that can run, you don’t have your big pluggers anymore.

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The quarterbacks aren’t good enough anymore. That’s all there is to it. People are blaming college but I think it’s starting way before that.

There will be five mediocre quarterback prospects drafted in the top twelve picks next year too.

That doesn’t have a damn thing to do with this discussion you i.mbecile.

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What did Big Doug always say. Football is easy: (1) run the ball (2) stop the run, and (3) pressure the QB. Still as valid today as ever.

Coordinators in the NFL adjust to trends. Who would have thought that could happen?

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No it isn’t. That’s dumb old school nonsense.

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League average 26.8 attempts up to 27.5 is a trend increase?

And will be as long as folks are playing football.

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(4) Have Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Or that.

So we should be good when Caleb becomes generational.

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The YPC is up, but it's just two weeks. If that holds then the attempts will follow.

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