is the running game/ryan grant the key to suceeding?· Page 2

warhawk
Senior Member

14 years ago

I actually ran the numbers for '08 last week regarding the offenses and what jumped out is that hardly any team really has a lot of balance. The good run teams ranked low in passing and visa versa with the better passing teams.
The only team GOOD at both and ranked in the top ten in each was NE. Most teams averaged 17 or more positions lower in the area they were weaker. Actually GB was one of the better teams in this regard ranked #5 in the pass and #17 in the run (overall yards).

The KEY to succeeding is getting the defense back up in or very near the top ten. If you look at all the playoff teams they allmost all have a highly ranked D. Arizona was the exception but they were averaging like 32 points a game in the playoffs and that's what got them in and it's also unrealistic to see that happen often.

When you look at '04 and see we allowed the same number of points you have to consider we never beat a team in the regular season that had a winning record and got bounced out of the playoffs quick....so, I wouldn't put giving up 380 points as a standard where we could expect to be a true playoff contender.

I mean if we give up 380 points this year, win 10 games against all teams with a losing record, and get bounced out of the playoffs in the first game is anybody around here going to be happy?

In essence I feel balance between the pass and run would be great but what will be the difference is Capers moving us up on overall defense AT LEAST 10 spots and the offense maintaining the scoring average it had last year.
We do that and we really have a contender and a difference HAS to happen on defense or it won't matter much if the run game gets better.

DEFENSE!

"The train is leaving the station."

Rockmolder
Honored Member

14 years ago

#12

I stated in the "Screw the run thread" the key to a consistent offense (all four quarters) is to have a balanced offense.. on that can run and pass effectively.

You can win with a offense heavy in one direction or the other.. but sooner or later you are going to run into a DC that will force you out of your bread and butter.. gotta be able to knock them over the head with either.

"pack93z" wrote:

I agree that you need some kind of balance, but much like everyone's saying here, the balance is different for every team. We need to pass it untill they back off and then run the ball (See Chicago game for instance) and not run it unsuccesfully and then start throwing slants and screens on 3rd and 12-7.

Just look at the Eagles. They're highly succesfull. The might not've won a SB (yet), but they're always getting pretty far. I think that we should model after them. Throw a lot and then have your back run it when they're backing off. That wouldn't call for Grant in our offense though... it'd be Brandon Jackson.

Gravedigga
Registered

14 years ago

#13

This offense could be one of the best in the league if we could run the ball. Unfortunately, we dont have the lineman to be a good running team. With no balance, we're gonna have too many points in games where Aaron will have to win it with a great play and I don't think he's there yet.

I would rather us have gotten 2 O-lineman with our first picks and defense later. Pickett can handle the middle and we can find plug guys on the D-line and i'm not sold on Matthews on being an outstanding OLB. He might be solid but i dont know about outstanding, kind of like A.J.

I'm not slamming Ted Thompson so just relax, it's just my opinion. Almost never draft running backs & OLB's in the first round unless you see a cant miss superstar.

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Rockmolder
Honored Member

14 years ago

#14

"Gravedigga" wrote:

That's a good point. I believe that defense wins championships, though. I think that it was a great call to go with Raji. Trading up to get Thompson was ok in my eyes, but I would've prefered that Ted Thompson traded up 3 picks earlier to the same team and that he would've gotten us Oher. Still, Matthews is the most athletic of the 3 great USC LBs and should be good with some work one his technique.

I wouldn't have minded a high pick O-lineman, though. Mainly because we keep getting these late round projects. Maybee he has the same strategy on OTs that you have on OLBs and RBs or something.

Going slightly off-topic here, sorry.

go.pack.go.
Veteran Member

14 years ago

#15

I actually sort of agree with Gravedigga. Wow. What is this world coming to? Haha.

But seriously, I think that Andre Smith would have helped tremendously, but unfortunately the Bengals took him ahead of us. I am just as happy with Raji, though.

And I don't know if it's the scheme that we run on the Oline or if it's the linemen that we have, they're not doing a great job blocking for Grant (at least last year anyway). They were very inconsistent.

Gravedigga
Registered

14 years ago

#16

So often last year our games started to go downhill when Mike McCarthy took the momentum away from our offense by insisting on being "balanced." I agree that ideally, you should be able to do both well, since opposing defenses will attempt to put you out of your comfort zone, but I still think you need to focus on your strength. As Zombieslayer pointed out in that other thread, you don't have to have a great running game to have success. Last year the Falcons lead the league in rushing and made it to the playoffs. The Cardinals were dead last in rushing and made it to the Super Bowl.

So this year, if I see our offense steamrolling through defenses and then have to watch Mike McCarthy dial things back in the name of balance, and if that takes the wind out of our sails like it did last year, I am going to star losing faith in him as a coach. Bring back the 2007 McCarthy, please!

"Nonstopdrivel" wrote:

100% agree. We cant run the ball effectively. We dont have the dudes up front. Thats all there is to it. Either play "Patriots Ball" and increase your chance of winning or be stubborn and try to be balanced and lose.

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A wise man once said
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go.pack.go.
Veteran Member

14 years ago

#17

Yeah I was pissed when McCarthey started running the ball when we got in the red zone. Why not just go with what works, and that is Rodgers throwing down in that area.

If I remember correctly, he did not throw a single INT in the red zone.

warhawk
Senior Member

14 years ago

#18

"Gravedigga" wrote:

I really can't agree with this.

We WERE one of the best offenses in the league and I believe we will still be there this year.

We finished 6-10 because our defense failed over and over again so I don't see how the solution could be using all the same guys and "plug" guys to get us where the defense needs to be.

Our defense finished 23rd and they decided to go 3-4. Once you commit to something you go get players that work in that system. Your not going to have everybody on the team that you need when you make a switch like that.

Whether you have confidence in Arod to bring the team back or not becomes much less of a concern when you have a defense that can hold opponents from scoring points late in the game.

Numbers don't lie. 5th offensively and 23rd defensively. It's hard to argue for more offensive power with those numbers.

"The train is leaving the station."

Gravedigga
Registered

14 years ago

#19

I would've prefered that Ted Thompson traded up 3 picks earlier to the same team and that he would've gotten us Oher. Still, Matthews is the most athletic of the 3 great USC LBs and should be good with some work one his technique.

I wouldn't have minded a high pick O-lineman, though. Mainly because we keep getting these late round projects. Maybee he has the same strategy on OTs that you have on OLBs and RBs or something.

Going slightly off-topic here, sorry.

"Rockmolder" wrote:

Yea, i was eyeing Oher too, Ravens got a nice player i think. IMO, Matthews, much like A.J. Hawk doesn't have much of an upside unlike some other players taken.

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A wise man once said
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You are weak, pathetic and immature..............I would have d

Gravedigga
Registered

14 years ago

#20

"warhawk" wrote:

"Gravedigga" wrote:

That's fine but I just don't see Raji and especially Matthews as impacting out team as much as a couple of nice o-lineman like Oher and a nice guard. Hell, with our cap space, we could have picked up a 3-4 linebacker with experience and................haynesworth.........ok im sorry, i know 100 million but, damn. The guy would have given our D instant credibility like Reggie White did in the 90's.

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A wise man once said
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You are weak, pathetic and immature..............I would have d

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