During the "Finley era" our RZ offense was quite good causing some [myself included] to believe a causal relation existed between Finley and RZ efficiency. But, if we look at the games were Finley played and didn't; we see the RZ O was no better or worse w/ Finley on or off the field.
Counter- intuitively, our RZ difficulties have arisen with the emergence of Lacy!
On 1st and 10 at the 8, prior to Lacy MM knew we had to throw to score a TD and took 3 chances throwing to get the TD.
Now with Lacy, our tendency on 1st down, MM calls Lacy's #. And the Ds learned this tendency and expected us to run. If Lacey gets zip, we now have reduced our chances to score by 33%. If Lacy gets 5, we run on second, then run on 3rd and 1 w/ a "power formation" and kick a FG.
The problem is our O-line. As good as they are; they are not road graders. Lacy's yards come from the OL using trap blocks; creating cut back lanes, by pushing DLman in the direction they're already heading; walling off or reach blocking to prevent a DLman from getting to hole; OL , TEs and WR blocking exceptionally on 2nd and 3rd levels; etc. But ask them to move 4 DL back one yard on 3rd and 1 or 2; they simply stink. And last yr our best road grader's toe [Sitton] de-road graded him.
Success in the RZ will return in 2015, because MM has self-scouted the said tendencies and weaknesses. All of us, if rooting for the team GB was playing, and opposing DCs love it when the ball is taken from AR's hands. Also helping is the drafting of a beast-like, TE-like WR [Monty] and the emergence of wide-butt max catch-radiused Rodgers.