Not trying to be a dick (some would say it comes naturally) - but what do you guys even mean 'a better scheme'? Can you even define that? I don't believe 'scheme' has anything to do with it. Rushing effectively isn't complicated. I agree step 1 is being committed to it. You guys talk as if we're 'Air Coryell' out there though. We aren't. The problem isn't a lack of rushing attempts. The problem is ineffective rushing. And guess what - we rush effectively, you'll see more rushing plays.
The rest I couldn't agree with more. Get TEs who can block - and stop acquiring guys that can't. And get a difference making durable back - a true top flight one. All the rest, scheme, OL play - I think those are non-issues. Except when half your OL is out with injuries for the majority of the season.
BTW - pretty sure it's Callahan designed rushing plays/schemes - perhaps even making the playcalls there.
Well Dick.....
I KEED I KEED! Could not stop myself. You know I love ya!
As you said, commitment, is
#1 on the list of "a good running game" requirements. From the day Gruden arrived, his lips have moved...the words coming out state how he wants us to be a physical running team. But that seams to be the biggest commitment he's got to it. Running his mouth. When it comes to putting his words into action, he fails to do, what seems obvious, that he needs to do. Whatever balance the numbers might show in our pass/rush ratio, it is always skewed. Because the passing game's needs, always trump the running game's needs. I get that it's considered a passing league. But when every play/player is judged, selected, and used for their/it's passing game abilities/contributions, more so than their running game abilities/contributions, the running game can't help but suffer.
Our offensive linemen are more valued for their pass block ability, than their run block ability. And I believe they spend twice the time in practice working on the passing game. No way to prove it course, but it seems obvious to me. And I am, well, you know, Ax for Allah's sake.
If you listen to Chris Cooley, (he is a dick) and Doc Walker (an ass, but not a dick) they'll tell you that the blocking (and I use the term loosely) by our TE's is the worst in the history of the NFL. Gruden's not too dumb to see it, (Well.................Naw he can't be THAT dumb!) but he deliberately chooses to accept their failures at blocking, in hopes they may make 4-5 big plays in the passing game.
The best RB he's ever had here was Alfred Morris. No, he's not Adrian Peterson. But he's the most productive, durable back in Gruden's tenure. But because he couldn't live up to Gruden's vision of a 3rd down receiving back (you know, like the ones we all created in Madden back in the day, who was 9ft tall, ran 348 mph, with hands made of octopus tentacles, and could block 17 people at once) he sent him packing. Or, at the very least, allowed him to be sent packing.
So, every decision appears to be made with the passing game getting top priority.
As far as Callahan goes, like any coordinator, he follows the direction the head coach lays out.
Finally, the scheme that worked the best was what he kept of Shammy's his 1st season. Whatever scheme he transformed to is not working as well.
You already know I think Jay should be on his way to joining his brothers new staff in Oakland. But since he's not... yet, all we can hope for is that we somehow land a Jim Brown, or Barry Sanders. Someone who doesn't need the same blocking that mere mortals do. Because 4 years in, I see nothing to make me think Gruden's commitment to being a physical running football team, is any more than lip service. He'll have to stumble upon it. Cause it's not what he prefers.
And half assing, is a bad scheme.