So....forgetting the draft, are we a better team than that one exiting the playoffs?

Farce? You should probably learn the definition of a word before you try to get all snarky..


Oh


I almost forgot.


Jay Ajayi, in fact all NFL RB's, have their stats recorded. If a person has half of a brain they can find these stats. Some of these stats are even broken down...wait....wait for it...in rushing totals per each side of the line.

Are you scared yet? No, probably not. You're probably still not comprehending.

Let me spell it out for you.

Jay Ajayi rushing yards:

Left side: 105 rushes for 517 yards or 4.9 ypc

Right side: 111 rushes for 536 yards or 4.8 ypc

"We" excelled at running on the left, but not "Bushrod's side" (the right) ? Are you playing tag football with some guy named Bushrod? Because the Miami Dolphins did just fine on the right side with their Bushrod.

Ha


Ha

 

That's pretty interesting, actually. Weren't two of Ajayi's long TD runs against Pittsburgh and/or Buffalo to the right side too? That kind of skews those numbers a bit because if I'm not mistaken Ajayi was met with early resistance on both of those runs that he just ran right through. Going off memory here, which after this past weekend is a bit... shall we say cloudy. lol If I'm remembering that correctly, you could make the argument those runs should have been stopped short due to poor blocking, but the outstanding efforts by Ajayi to run through, and break tackles contributed to those. Stretch maybe... sure. I'm pretty sure though I remember watching one, or two of those long runs to the right and going wow... Bushrod sure stunk up that play, but Ajayi just ran right through guys to get that gain. That being said, I'm pretty sure one of his long runs to the right too was directly related to a good block up front by JB. I'm rambling now, and my brain is a bit foggy this morning, so I'm going to stop.

This might be a stretch, but are there any advanced stats out there showing yards gained by the RB to the left, or right prior to first contact by a defender?

 

Still the OL is the unit I'm scared by right now. Bushrod now is likely worse than Bushrod 2016 (factor ageing), Ted Larsen is likely worse than Tunsil at guard, Tunsil is likely an upgrade over Albert BUT is transitioning to a difficult position, Pouncey is again a guy that cant be trusted to stay healthy and James is James.

Ajayi played adimirably but wasnt always helped by the OL and more than 50% of his production happened in three games. We were in need of help to get better but right now the ceiling is same as last year.

 

Ajayi actually had nearly the same in regards to long runs to both sides. That's why I put down ypc. The oline, when healthy, played pretty well last year. That line included Bushrod. There's something to say for continuity and teamwork. Individually everybody on the oline graded pretty poorly last year. However, as a unit they were pretty effective in both run and pass blocking.

There may be something out there showing yards gained after contact. I'll see what I can find when I get home.

 

Actually no, IAQ was not playing at the end of the season. He was as unavailable as Reshad Jones was.

Obviously the team looked much different from week 1 to 16. That's why the thread title compares current roster to the one that exited the playoffs.

 

Bushrod or not, Barry Jackson reporting the Dolphins will draft a guard. I'm guessing round 2-4.

 

We don't have a 4th round pick, so it will have to be rounds 1-3, or 5th and later.

 

Bushrod had some nagging injuries last season and is a former pro bowl player. Will he regain that form next season? I don't know, but he wasn't awful last season when healthy. And again, he was an important piece to the starting line's success.

Tunsil was regarded as a possible #1 pic at LT. I don't think, once he has a full off season under his belt, that he'll have any problems moving to his natural position.

I agree with you about Pouncy. However, all signs point to him being healthy now and hopefully this past surgery will get him through next season, at least. However, Urbik and Steen both played very well at times when he was hurt. And Steen was a rookie being put into a position he had never played.

And as to Ajayi, I do think I read somewhere that he was near the top, if not at the top, in regards to yards after first contact. However, their pass protection was also much improved.

 

And they will draft a guard. And they should draft a guard.

 

I can almost guarantee we will end up a 4th, or even an extra third with three 5's and 7's. Well, maybe I can't... but given Tannenbaum's willingness to do draft day trades, It really wouldn't surprise me. Especially if there's a guy there that we want.

 

I was going to write the same thing, but Finster has me on ignore I think...lol

Also, this OL class isn't the best, but there should be a couple of descent starters at G in rounds 5-7

 

I'd be curious if there is. I think it would be pretty interesting. I'd be surprised if someone tracks it though. Sure, there's yards after contact stats I'd bet, but that's not really going to pain the picture we're trying to paint here. Even then, the stat may not be a pure reflection of the OL but it can give an idea I'd think.

I do agree with you though, I think some of the best OL groups don't necessarily always have the best talent overall, but they can be effective as a group through communication, preparation, and working together as a unit. Of course, talent is still a part of that, but you don't need top 10 in the league guys at all 5 positions to get it done. As much as I would have loved to add a top G through free agency though... I'm curious to see how this pans out. If we go into week 1 with Tunsil-Bushrod-Pouncey-Larsen/Urbik/Steen-James... I'll be concerned, for sure. Curious to see where this goes though.

I wonder, would you consider moving Bushrod to LG, since he primarily was a leftside guy. Maybe that would help him and be more natural to him being back on the leftside at Guard. Lots of time still to see how this pans out.

 

I agree that we should (and will) be looking to upgrade the OL.

Good point about moving Bushrod to the left. Steen, if he's as decent as I think he is, played RG during the majority of his career at Alabama.

 

Whoops.

 

Lumping the stats to skew the performance - even though you knew what I was talking about.

Check out that left sideline YPC - which was Albert and Tunsil. That power sweep was a back breaker and is most likely not going to be the same with a Tunsil/Larsen combo. Hope to be proven wrong though.

 

Lumping the stats? haha! WTF are you talking about? Do you not understand what I posted?

I posted Ajayi's running yards and ypc to the right and left. You yourself claimed that Ajayi is the "centerpiece" to the offense so I used him. How well did he do running to each side? You're cherry picking sweeps? hahahahah!!

Oops is right you dork...lol..I hope you were looking at yourself when you said it. hahahaha

 

They're the ESPN splits: http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/splits/_/id/2573300/jay-ajayi

 

Bwhahah!! Cherry picking sweeps? hahahaha

Total ypc, according to your stats, is nearly identical for both sides.

 

Interesting. Eye opening yet again. This is just Jay Ajayi, correct?

So, either way... Right side is 529 yards on 107 carries for 4.94 ypc, and Left is 577 yards on 103 carries for 5.6 ypc. So, cleary a YPC advantage to the left, but it's not that huge. Clearly there must have been a few long gains in that left sideline total. IMO that makes sense because you had Tunsil playing on that side. He was pretty clearly able to get outside and downfield to help block. Clearly he's better at that than Bushrod would have been on the right side, but... I'd hope so given the age difference and athleticism difference between the two.

That being said though, I'm not sure it's as massive of a difference as it seems everyone is trying to argue here. Clearly we're more effective left, and we should have been IMO simply because of the athletic ability of Tunsil. Ultimately though, you guys are arguing over 48 yards and 4 carries being the difference between right and left.

Left side was the better, and IMO that just makes sense because you had the better athlete over there in Tunsil for the whole season. I think these numbers with Pouncey could have been better either way as well since he's always been able to get outside and/or downfield relatively effectively in the run game too. I think we're not putting enough stock into him coming back, hopefully healthy too. Maybe that's rightfully so as well though since he's become such an injury concern the last few years.

 

Too funny!

Rock Sexton- "How dare you post all the relevant stats when trying to make a point. Instead you should only cherry pick and use those stats that prove me correct!"


hahahahahah!

 

For what it's worth, and ESPN may be correct, but PFR has the stats that I mentioned and I trust them more. And that is the left side had a 4.9 ypc and the right was 4.8.

 

How is 8.6 ypc to 4.9 ypc nearly identical?

That sweep is what I was referring to when I made my original comment.

 

You are maniacal. Calm the **** down.

 

How are any of these left and right side run stats calculated when there are pulling guards, centers, etc.?

 

How lost are you? 8.6 and 4.9 are the SWEEPS averages. Also, did you factor in the fact that the right sweep was attempted nearly 2x more often? Since the OVERALL ypc between the right and left are nearly identical do you think the left sweep ypc would have trended out to around the same as the right side if the attempts had caught up?

And


Riiiiiiight...

because when people talk about the oline's ability to run block and write the following: "We excelled running to the left side of the line - not Bushrod's side"

they're referring to sweeps only.

Bwhahahahah!!

 

The ypc is factoring in all runs to each side.

Unless you want to use Rock Sexton's method which is to just count sweeps. lol

 

BWahahahhaha

I can type in spaces

LOLOLOL

Bwahahahahaha

Seriously though. When they run "left" that's a guard/center trap or counter play. "Left Side" is the space Tunsil/Albert occupied and it's no wonder why they typically gashed defenses when they went to it because the two of them are better than a James/Bushrod combination. They couldn't go to it at a high clip because defenses would stack that side. Good thing Gase was balanced in his playcalling.

 

Boy...there's a real knowledge gap here.

I don't try to throw my opinions into the discussions between rocket scientists. Know why? I don't have the slightest clue about rocket science. You should heed that advice.

However, why do you think the stats you posted are separated into right side, left side, middle, left sideline, and right sideline?

And balanced? According to ESPN they ran the right sweep nearly TWICE AS OFTEN. You call that balanced? Yes, I think you would.

 

I don't doubt that Brandon, what concerns me is how much he'll be willing to part with to move up. It took a 6th and this years 3rd and 4th to buy a late 3rd last year, and a 4th to move up 5 spots in the 2nd, dumping a 2nd, two 3rds, two 4ths and a 6th(6 picks) on 2 players.

 

ONE 3rd...

 

we did trade away our original 3rd from this year, in addition to spending the one we acquired with it last year on L.Carroo. But it's not exactly two picks spent, if one was used to acquire the other.

4th and a 6th to move next years 3rd rounder into an extra 3rd right away ...with a target on the board? I'll take that again. Carroo aside. Ofcourse there's no comp 3rd expected next year. That made Tbaum extra bold.

 

Fair concern I suppose. However if we move up and get an impactful player for years to come, does it matter that much? I know the Carroo deal stings alot of people because he didn't produce this year (and maybe that's not the only reason for your concern), but if at the end of the day it's a player theyre sold on, and he fits, and has a good impact right away, then people likely won't care that we coughed up a couple late picks to do it. The concern for me still is, and always will be, our ability to hit on picks in rounds 1-3. I'd rather have a 3rd round pick that becomes an impact player right away over a couple 5ths and 6ths that probably won't pan out.

I do agree though, you can't give up "the farm" in late picks just go get into the third. Especially if you're going to miss on that player. You've got to be as sure as sure can be.

 

You can't count one pick twice. We didn't have a 3rd round pick last year when Carroo was up. We took this years 3rd, 4th, and 6th to get Carroo.

It was 3 picks. 3 motherfu(&king picks to get Carroo... lol

 

Already answered that question.

Balanced across all running formations/direction instead of overplaying their hand trying to turn the corner on the left side too much. The other thing is you're looking at some of these numbers and strictly attributing them to lineman in black/white fashion. PFF and others graded a guy like Bushrod very poorly in the run game. The elevated average over by him has IMO more to do with the impact of Gase's playcalling and Ajayi's abilities ..... albeit James did improve his run blocking this year.

 

Try these stats on for size-

How many teams had a back to back 200 yard rusher last year? Just one

How many times has that happened in the history of the league? Five total

How many fans said that their team's run blocking sucked afterwards? Only one in the history of football

That sums up just about everything you need to know.

 

No, you didnt answer.

NOW you want to loo at all the running formations? lol...

News Flash: I already showed you that info.

The right side of the line performed the same as the left.

 

Regarding Ajayi.. not sure if this has already been mentioned, but if you look at the list of RB's that had at least 2 games in the same season with 200+ yards rushing, it's almost a who's who list of RB's suggesting that if history is any indication it's really unlikely Ajayi just had one great season and that it's more likely we hit on a very good RB.

Here's the list:

Earl Campbell
O.J Simpson
Tiki Barber
Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Eric Dickerson
Greg Bell
Terrell Davis
Barry Sanders
Corey Dillon
Marshall Faulk
LaDainian Tomlinson
Ricky Williams
Jamal Lewis
Larry Johnson
Willie Parker
Adrian Peterson

.. and

Jay Ajayi

Only O.J and Tomlinson did it in two separate years so it's unlikely we'll see Ajayi do that again.. IF history is any indication (let's hope it's not on this second stat).

 

At this point I just hope we dont get in another elementary school math lesson LOL. And I hope we dont make too many trades or someone's head might explode.

 

Pass protection improved dramatically last season, I liked Urbik as a tough veteran who could do the job instead of just letting opponent defensive lineman call him mary all game long. Still I dont think it's enough and I would like to support more a very good back like Jay. He was tops in the league in yards after contact but it would be nice if we dont just ruin him like we did with Ricky running him into a wall every Sunday. The team has to help him.

 

I did answer it.

You've managed to corner yourself into just left/right when ESPN appropriately separates the runs into five variables.

Of the five - the strongest YPC was to the far left side.

#SHOCKER.