The combo of Ronnie and Ricky is a powerful one that we have almost never used. I played in the days of the Wishbone and I know what it is like to be pounded on 35-40 times a game. It will make a defense quit. Almost all big backs get better the more times they run the ball. Partly because they get in the groove, partly because the OL does and then because the defense gets worn down. Defending against the pass might make you tired but trying to the stop the run all day will wear you out. I remember Ricky taking over at the end of games. Our best chance of a 40 yard play is not a Pennington to Ginn pass, it is Ronnie or Ricky on our 32th run attempt of the game. Good big running backs do not wear out, they wear others out. Both Ronnie and Ricky are 230 pounds and Hillard is 240 for a extra pop. If you want to to run the fullback (which I like), run Lex Hillard at them. If you want to stop a pass rush you run at them and beat the crap out of it. If you worry that Jake Long has a problem with speed rushers you allow him to grind Freeney into the ground. Almost every single OL will tell that they they had rather run block, it is their only chance to hit someone and to be offensive, Pass blocking is defensive. The Colts strong side DE (Robert Mathis) is only 245 pounds, their 3 LBs are 235 pounds each. They have now started run blitzing to to stop the run. Make them overdo it and hit them on a Play Action pass or two. At least once this decade, try winning a football game by running the ball. Ricky used to do it on his own, now between the two of them we should be beating the crap out of teams. The old saying goes "it is not the 100th blow that breaks the rock, it was the 99 blows that came before it".
One thing I don't like is that is they have problems going up the middle they give up too quickly. They don't try to run it to the outside. I've seen us get stuffed in the middle and give up the run even though we were making yards on sweeps and outside runs. Yards are yards. And I don't care if we got them on a up the gut play or wezipped around the end for a 20 yard gash. I just think we give up on the run way too soon and we don't have a passing game to compensate.
I like your thoughts. I also think we need a clear starter. I don't care who it is, but give either Ronnie or Ricky 20 - 25 carries and the other should just be put in to give the starter a breather. This one series of this guy and another series of that guy isn't cutting it. Not when you have two running backs who are power runners and need to get consistent carries to find their stride. But we also need to keep in mind the fact that the NFL is a changing landscape. We also need to develop a passing attack that can keep up with the high scoring offenses of the NFL.
The problem is most games were always behind in the score,when that happens you need to start airing out or you find yourself with the game over over pretty fast.
Well said. I totally agree. We have an offensive line built to maul the defensive front seven. Brown & Williams are our best two players on offense... period. That equates to a power running game that you use to wear down the 'D', and set up the pass. It's a no-brainer to me. Just give 'em the damn ball.
What games are you talking about? Rarely were the Phins down by two scores or more in the 4th quarter last year... which is when you abandon the run and throw the ball to play catch-up. This team isn't built to win that type of game. Which is all the more reason to play a conservative power offense, sprinkle in the Wildcat (which is an old-old-old school style of power offense), control the ball, control the clock, limit the opportunities of the opposing offense, and soften up the defense so you can score late if you have to.
It has nothing to do with Ronnie's health either. They had the same complaints in Dallas about passing too much and not using their RB's effectively.
I love the idea of pounding the ball, but wait and see: The Colts will play us 8 in the box, maybe 9 in the box all game. Watch how aggressive the LB run stuff reads are. They will be flying up. Hopfully we have made the adjustments in our technique and play calling to handle it.
The problem is that our OL last year did not block well in the middle, and when it came to last week, they didnt block well at all.
we are built to run the ball. enough of the dink and dunk. pound the rock and then pound the rock again
Couldn't agree more. 20-25 carries for Ronnie, 10-15 carries for Ricky, 5-10 for Cobbs. I don't care if that's too many carries, pound the rock till the defense collapses.
So we should run the ball 50 times a game at most and 35 at least? That really is too many unless we are winning. I think Ronnie needs 20 carries and Ricky needs 5, and maybe a few passes each if possible.
Well, I was exagerating. Just saying we need to run the ball more. And 5 carries for Ricky is too low.
i have always said that i think ricky and ronnie should take turns every other game. give ronnie 30-35 carries in week 2 and give ricky 30-35 carries in week 3. problem solved.
Well, if you try to get Ronnie and Ricky equal carries, you're just hurting both of them. Maybe focus one guy each game. Ten carries each isn't gonna work. They both get better with 20 or so carries, so one of them is going to have to suffer. Posted via Mobile Device
Ricky doesn't deserve to get the ball over Ronnie in my opinion. I'm not taking the ball out of my best offensive players hands. It doesnt matter if Ricky is good or not.
As long as our OL continues to struggle, we're better off giving Ricky the majority of carries just for the simple reason that he's better finding a crease. Ronnie needs a bigger hole to run thru than Ricky does...
Ronnie creates his own crease. He always picks up positive yardage. Ricky gets caught in the backfield and Ronnie does not.
Why debate who gets more carries if we are only going to run 18 times a game? I'd like to see Ronnie get 25+ carries and Ricky 10+. And Cobbs can return punts unless there is a injury. I'm just tired of acting like our running backs might break if used too much. I still have nightmares about Cleo freaking Lemon trying to pass for first downs so we could maybe win a game. Ronnie was running for 5 YPC and he would call Cleo's number on 3rd and 4th down.
Im guessing you dont watch the games,Please call directv and get the football Package,right now you can get a discount too.
The Colts are not stupid. They know that we are a run first team. If we get the running game rolling they are going to stack the line. At that point we have to make a play in the passing game. You must be able to make plays in both fazes of the game to win. It just not a simple as run the ball 25+ time = win. It a lot more than give R&R 25+ runs. If the colts blitz 8 should we still be running R&R?
And we know they are a passing team..............Why would the Colts think we are a run first team? When did that happen? Did anyone anywhere say we had to run on every down? We have to make a play passing? Wow...Like a completion...or maybe a first down? Funk them, funk the Colts, I'd line up and tell them what we are going to do. And then dare them to try to stop it. Make them stop us instead of doing it ourselves. (I am really sorry that I sound like I'm being a dixk but I'm so tired of this football team playing like a bunch of puzzies)
IJMO but we have a team that needs a running game to make it possible for the passing game to work. We have two powerfull runningbacks who both can punish defenders if the offensive line and runningbacks can ever get cohesion. If the OL can open holes and the backs can break into the defensive backfield they can punish the secondary. I may be among a minority but I feel that our running game is our strength, not our passing game. Both backs need repetitions to loosen up and if they don't get the carries, the OL and running backs will never develope the cohesion that is needed for a power running game.
I love everyone here. But OMFG, it is not about if Ronnie or Ricky is better, it's are we going to use them like they are real NFL running backs. They are both good, they are big, strong and fast. A. Peterson threw up last week because he ran the ball 25 times. And I could care less. Run R and R into the ground and I could care less. The house is on fire and we are debating which fire department is better. CALL BOTH OF THEM!
You know what's funny? all the crappy RBs dan marino had and here we are arguing over whose better between Ricky and Ronnie. Seriously, they're both awesome.
i guess one day, "today", defines a player too right? what has ronnie done today that makes him better than ricky? the fact is that ricky's had better seasons than ronnie has.
If you're telling me that Ricky Williams is better than Ronnie Brown at this point in time, then you're smoking whatever Ricky Williams is smoking. RW had the better seasons, but that was 4-5 years ago. Today, right now, RB is the better back. Posted via Mobile Device
If you're telling me that Ricky Williams is better than Ronnie Brown at this point in time, then you're smoking whatever Ricky Williams is smoking. RW had the better seasons, but that was 4-5 years ago. Today, right now, RB is the better back. Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device
And if/when they do stop us, we have got to make a few passes. We can call ourselved a running team all we want, but if they are dropping 8-9 people into the box every play and keeping to 1-2-3 yards a carry, we have GOT to make them pay. We couldnt do it to Baltimore, we couldnt do it to Atlanta, lets see if we can do it to the Colts.