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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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

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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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

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.

It's early, but a clubhouse candidate for bad football thought of the year.

Seems we have a ton of people that are not paying attention, you are hearing the approach broken down during every game.

Teams play two high safeties, they don't fear the run, and think QB's are too impatient to slowly matriculate the ball down the field, so they will eventually make a mistake and try to force a throw in coverages where the two safeties have eyes on the QB and can make a play on the ball. The good OC's see that and run the ball at the smaller linebackers most teams use because they are better in coverage. You saw this a few years ago when the Bears played the Raiders and they hammered Roquan Smith early in the run game, he then started make Eddie Jackson like business decisions and tried to run around blockers rather than step up into the hole.

Backs that can catch the ball are killers as they have easy five or more yard pickups when they catch short swing passes into the areas opened up when the two safeties drop, not home run plays, but short drive lengthening stuff.

As I said before, and you already heard it from a media type, the NFL will not like this lack of QB production as they depend on passing numbers, not real sexy to have your offensive lineman be the best players as you hammer teams into submission in the run game.

I am disappointed The Claw has me on ignore.

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The Claw is an entity unto himself. Don't take it personally.

I am in awe of his typing skills.

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I’m not saying those areas are unimportant. Of course you’d like to be good at all phases and if you’re horrible at any of them, other teams will exploit you. That said, passing is still more important than rushing. Last season KC was in the bottom half of the league in rush D. In fact, only 5 of the top 10 defenses against the run made the playoffs, while 7 of the top 10 against the pass did. Similarly, 8 of the top 10 passing offenses made the playoffs while 6 of the top rushing teams did. Regardless of the 1st 2 weeks, I’d be surprised if the year end stats look much different.
Note: I agree that pressuring the QB is up there, but that plays into the pass D effectiveness.

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“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

I think the point of it all is there aren't enough good quarterbacks to fill the void of being a top 10 passing offense. I don't even know if calling it "top 10" is applicable. More like top 5.

I think Detroit might be a team that can pound you with a running game and also be a super bowl worthy team. I hope so anyway.

Detroit should be good in all phases. Their passing offense should easily be in the top 15 if not too 10.

_________________
“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

Still miss Uncle Doug, his statement is all about establishing control of the line of scrimmage, and that will never change.

Apparently the Bears most definitely aren’t following along considering the shit rushing defense they just played, not surprising though.

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