Tracking the Trenches

[Ax]

Nobody fears the Gruden passing game. They fear our running game.

They want to stop the run, and make us beat them passing. Which doesn't happen much.

I think the whole Oline has played WAY above expectations. As has the defense.

'Tis the passing offense that is our Achilles Heel, so far.

 

[MikeSr619]

I think the lacking of the run game is because Gruden keeps substituting Morris and Jones and not letting them get a rhythm or feel for the game. Morris had 8 carries and Jones had 11. That is never going to get a running back going in the way you need them to.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

Long is a much better pass protector than lauvao, but I think lauvao was getting better push in the run game.

 

[Om]

If I'm a coach, I'm giving the ball to whoever is producing in a given situation, series, game, etc. If any of our three guys was consistently producing, that's who we'd see getting the bulk of the carries. Problem as I see it is that the run game has been stuck in neutral since the Giants game. I guess Gruden could keep slamming one guy against the wall over and over again--as much as one can when it isn't producing and you are forced to pass to try to convert 3rd downs and stay on the field--but it's arguable that rotating guys and looking for a spark/fresh legs makes just as much sense.

Defenses are stacking against the run and keeping safeties deep, forcing the Redskins to put together long drives. We're getting the drives, all right, but not finishing them with touchdowns. That is due to many things--an QB not quite getting it done in the red zone, injuries to Jackson, Reed, Paul, inexperienced receivers (Crowder, Grant, Ross) leaving Garcon the only obvious threat, and no go-to big body. Figuring out what Kirk actually can and can't do in the red zone is being impacted considerably by the injuries to his pass-catchers--I don't think anyone would argue that missing Jackson, Paul and now Reed has had a real impact?

Anyway ... I love me some Alfred Morris. But I don't see him running with the same authority and decisiveness of the past three years, and that's true both early and late in games. I noticed it as early as the Rams game, when Boone and I wondered if maybe he wasn't hurt and trying to soldier through. What I haven't seem from him is a strong case to keep asking him to beat a stacked defense down after down to "stick to the run" when the run isn't producing, with Morris or anyone else. I'm okay with a rotation until one guy really separates himself.

 

[Ax]

Gruden has to take his finger off the chicken switch with Kirk. He's so afraid Kirk will repeat last years performance, making Gruden look bad, that he won't call anything that isn't high percentage. So far, Kirk is still wildly inconsistent. Even with the over-protection.

Take the goddamn training wheels off. Do some percentage throws on first down to set up some 2nd & 3-4-5yds. Then the running might come easier.

 

[McD5]

An interesting comment by Tandler this morning, and I suspect that it flies right in the face of what 95% of even our most obsessed fans believe:

Rich Tandler ‏@Rich_TandlerCSN · 36m36 minutes ago
.@johnnylocal @D_A_76 @redlake44 Then why is Morris career 4th-quarter avg. per carry by far his worst of any quarter?

 

[Ax]

Hey, nice cherry!

WTF does that have to do with him losing carries in the 1st 3 quarters, to unproven backs?

Morris seems to be this years "player I don't like" for Gruden.

 

[Boone]

When Jordan Reed and/or Desean Jackson are playing teams absolutely will have some concerns about stopping our passing attack. We have moved the ball well through the air most of the year. It's mistakes (penalties, poorly thrown balls, and drops primarily) that have limited points that is the issue, not an inept passing offense. I think it's inaccurate to say our passing offense is weak or below average. Our 3rd down completion % is shockingly better than in recent years and the passing game is equally responsible for long time-eating drives.


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[Ax]

Seems like they just play back, make us throw underneath, (which Gruden is doing anyway to protect Kirk) and wait for Kirk to **** up. Which, he continues to do too often.

They don't fear Kirk. They're managing him.

 

[McD5]

Well, this is an easy one, and shows that Tandler hasn't thought it through.

With the exception of his first year in the league, Morris and the Redskins have usually been behind in football games. Not protecting leads with a run game. Mystery solved.

How does that answer anything?

Being behind in games would limit his number of touches, not his YPC on touches.

If he flames out in the 4th, the best course of action might be to ride him 3 quarters while he hopefully wears down a defense, and then bench him for a quicker back.

 

[Ax]

If he flames out in the 4th, the best course of action might be to ride him 3 quarters while he hopefully wears down a defense, and then bench him for a quicker back.

But that's not what is happening, and you know it. He's being replaced in every quarter. For no more of a reason than choice.

 

[Henry]

Not sure what that means, exactly. I do also know, however, that only 17% of Morris' rushes come in the fourth quarter. That's significantly lower than almost every other successful back in the league. For example:

Marshawn Lynch: 23%
Le'Veon Bell: 24%
Jamaal Charles: 22%
LeSean McCoy: 24%
Ike Forte: 21%
Arian Foster: 22%
Adrian Peterson: 23%
Eddie Lacy: 23%

... it might be a good idea to actually give Morris a chance to get rolling in the fourth quarter, like most other successful backs have, before deciding he can't do it. Which is pretty much what some of us have been saying.

 

[McD5]

Morris, like most backs, have their YAC improve when they get more touches. It's how it works.

Well apparently that's not the case with Morris.

So now what's the best option?

RBBC like the Patriots, Denver, etc? Or just take Alfred out in the 4th?

 

[McD5]

Alfred has gotten less touches in the last three games, and our running game has deteriorated accordingly.

I thought the NFL was about playing your best players...and, sticking with them.

His YPC have dropped off dramatically in the 4th quarter for his entire career. Not just this season. It's not a short term trend.

Isn't the NFL about recognizing trends and making adjustments?

So if he wears down late in games, are you really playing your best player at that point? What might be a better alternative?

 

[Ax]

Well apparently that's not the case with Morris.

So now what's the best option?

RBBC like the Patriots, Denver, etc? Or just take Alfred out in the 4th?

RBBC works with the Cheatriots because of Brady.
While Peyton has struggled so far this year, RBBC in Denver isn't working as well now, is it?

And they're taking Alfred out all throughout the games. You know that too.

 

[Chris]

Besides the fact that the Patriots and Broncos have accomplished qb's it would be important to note that NE utilizes short, quick passes to their garden gnomes as a substitute to the run game.

 

[McD5]

Not sure what that means, exactly. I do also know, however, that only 17% of Morris' rushes come in the fourth quarter. That's significantly lower than almost every other successful back in the league. For example:

17% vs 25% if all four quarters were equal? There might be something to that. It could also be because we were often playing from behind in years past. I imagine that's part of the reason for fewer carries.

Then there's the chicken or the egg question.

Does his YPC on those 4th quarter carries drop because he's worn out? If defenses are playing the pass, it would seem that shouldn't be the case.

Or does he get fewer carries because he's not the same guy he was earlier in the game?

Maybe the answer is to rotate backs so he's fresh in the 4th, and his YPC don't drop? That seems to be what Callahan and Gruden are doing.

 

[Henry]

17% vs 25% if all four quarters were equal? There might be something to that. It could also be because we were often playing from behind in years past. I imagine that's part of the reason for fewer carries.

Good question. Let's look at just this year then, since we've actually been in most of our games and aren't always playing catch-up:

ATTEMPTS 1-THROUGH-10: 44 carries 152 yards 3.5 ypc
ATTEMPTS 11-THROUGH-20: 25 carries 100 yards 4.0 ypc
ATTEMPTS 21-THROUGH-30: 5 carries 24 yards 4.8 ypc
ATTEMPTS 31+: 0 carries

This year, when we aren't always playing catch-up, Morris improves the more carries he gets. One wonders what attempts 31+ might look like, if he were actually afforded that opportunity.

 

[Elephant]

Gruden has to take his finger off the chicken switch with Kirk. He's so afraid Kirk will repeat last years performance, making Gruden look bad, that he won't call anything that isn't high percentage. So far, Kirk is still wildly inconsistent. Even with the over-protection.

Take the goddamn training wheels off. Do some percentage throws on first down to set up some 2nd & 3-4-5yds. Then the running might come easier.

This is not entirely true. Receivers are having a hard time getting open down field. Our receiving corps is not as good as many think. The quick routes your mention are the ones where they succeed...getting open downfield is a problem, especially for a fan favorite, Ryan Grant.

 

[Ax]

This is not entirely true. Receivers are having a hard time getting open down field. Our receiving corps is not as good as many think. The quick routes your mention are the ones where they succeed...getting open downfield is a problem, especially for a fan favorite, Ryan Grant.

Wait a minute. McD says all our receivers are open on every play. And that only poor passes, or dropped passes, are the reason Kirk isn't completing 100% of all pass plays.

But seriously, I believe that it is absolutely true that Gruden treats Kirk like a toddler learning how to walk. Standing right behind him all the time so he doesn't fall down and get a boo boo. I believe he doesn't call many intermediate to long passes because under pressure, Kirk, transforms into, Pick.

Jay is his overprotective mother/father.