Running Game - Something We've Talked About A Little But Which Bears Repeating

[JDaveG]

We heard leading up to the game how our running game was bad, and the o-line couldn't get things going, and we also heard about Philly and their stable of thoroughbred backs.

Well, we out gained them 105 yards to 63. They had 2 TDs to our 1, but I still consider this a win. Part of it is they got behind by double digits and abandoned the run early, but the truth is, they didn't have to. For most of the 2nd half it was a close game, and our d-line was still strong against the run and we were still able to run the ball. While I'd have liked to see us close it out running the ball (and thus running out the clock), I saw enough to know that this is going to improve as the season goes on. I'm optimistic about our running game, and if the running game is working, the offense will be more and more dangerous as the season goes on.

[Guest facelessman07]

You know you're an Atlanta fan when you get excited about 1 of your backs averaging 4.0 ypc

[Hashbrown3]

I think it is 3 to our 2

[JDaveG]

You know you're an Atlanta fan when you get excited about 1 of your backs averaging 4.0 ypc

Indeed. I'll take my solace where I can find it though.

[JDaveG]

I think it is 3 to our 2

I was referring to rushing TDs. And it turns out it was 2 to our 0.

[MACK4ttACK]

one word, coletrain

[GeorgiaBoyz]

Coleman would have went for 100 if his longest run wasn't called back. He's a stud !

[YoungHeezy]

We seriously have to try something different than those stretch runs on 2nd and 3rd and short

[Hashbrown3]

I was referring to rushing TDs. And it turns out it was 2 to our 0.

Got it, yes ur right

[falconidae]

Rookie RB, new scheme, 3 new pieces on the Oline, I think 4YPC is pretty frigging good. He was also one step away from breaking some long runs. Once the Oline learns to get the second level blocked, he's going to get some of those long runs.

[likeriver]

For his first game I'd say Coleman did pretty phenomenal. I think he's going to be the starter ultimately, and might give us the run game we've long desired.

[Summerhill]

We seriously have to try something different than those stretch runs on 2nd and 3rd and short

This is a seeming flaw in the ZBS - you get nice gains in the middle of the field but often can't convert run-specific downs.

[JDaveG]

For his first game I'd say Coleman did pretty phenomenal. I think he's going to be the starter ultimately, and might give us the run game we've long desired.

He's the starter now. And I agree -- he's going to be a good one if he stays healthy.

This is a seeming flaw in the ZBS - you get nice gains in the middle of the field but often can't convert run-specific downs.

Seeming, but not in reality. Seattle runs a ZBS. They don't have problems running the ball in run specific downs. Denver made a living off of it in the late 90s. We just need to get the o-line up to speed on the scheme, get Coleman and Freeman some experience, and we'll be fine.

[Dukeduke211]

I think he has already taken the starting role. He would have to be injured imo to not get the majority of the carries.

[jdawg4876]

folks seem to forget that freeman converted a 3rd and 1 or 3rd and two cant remember for a first down shockingly on the left side even with the "horrible adam there" (Im being sarcastic).

that 3rd and 1 to close out the game was just a bad play call should of been a play action or bootleg and I feel confident we would have got that first down

[JDaveG]

folks seem to forget that freeman converted a 3rd and 1 or 3rd and two cant remember for a first down shockingly on the left side even with the "horrible adam there" (Im being sarcastic).

that 3rd and 1 to close out the game was just a bad play call should of been a play action or bootleg and I feel confident we would have got that first down

I don't think it was a bad play call as much as Matt probably should have checked out of it, and that corner blitz was really well disguised. Matthews did an admirable job trying to block it, but he reacted a half second too late.

[wleggett]

You know you're an Atlanta fan when you get excited about 1 of your backs averaging 4.0 ypc

He was in the top 10 for yards gained.

[jdawg4876]

I don't think it was a bad play call as much as Matt probably should have checked out of it, and that corner blitz was really well disguised. Matthews did an admirable job trying to block it, but he reacted a half second too late.

thats what I mean they sold out to stop the run that much was obvious at least to me

[RandomFan]

Seeming, but not in reality. Seattle runs a ZBS. They don't have problems running the ball in run specific downs. Denver made a living off of it in the late 90s. We just need to get the o-line up to speed on the scheme, get Coleman and Freeman some experience, and we'll be fine.

Not really a good comparison. The ZBS has traditionally been known to be weak when it comes to getting that tough yard when needed, and rightfully so. Over the last two seasons Seattle has actually started mixing in Power blocking plays to go along with their zone scheme. Alex Gibbs always said you had to commit 100% to the ZBS if you wanted to be successful at it, but Seattle is proving him wrong. Tom Cable, Seattle's OL coach, learned under Gibbs but he's evolved from what he learned. If you look at the Houston game last year they were destroying Seattle's ZBS, so they actually switched to a full Power scheme mid-game and then proceeded to dominate Houston the rest of the way.

I'm glad we've switched to the ZBS, and I am pretty confident we'll be successful with it. But it does have a big weakness, and it's getting that tough yard. It's a concern, but we'll get better at it as the year goes on. That is the biggest reason we've seen the Falcons jettison really good pass protectors in favor of better run blockers this year. As we saw during the Eagles game, they can scheme good pass protection for the most part. Run blocking is more dependent on having good run blockers, in this scheme.

Edited September 16, 2015 by RandomFan

[Free Radical]

Houston with Foster were downright dominant at running the ball a few years back. The view that you can't push the pile or run the ball up the gut with a ZBS is a myth created by our ****** offensive line and having to run with Warrick Dunn in the mid 2000s. The bottom line is that if you don't have the linemen, you aren't going to win. We don't have a strong run blocking unit, and haven't had a decent one for it since 2010.

[TheFatboi]

He's the starter now. And I agree -- he's going to be a good one if he stays healthy.

Seeming, but not in reality. Seattle runs a ZBS. They don't have problems running the ball in run specific downs. Denver made a living off of it in the late 90s. We just need to get the o-line up to speed on the scheme, get Coleman and Freeman some experience, and we'll be fine.

The biggest difference between young backs and vets is younger backs are always looking for the big run instead of just getting the first down. Once that settles in that will also help our short game. Now that he's seen nfl speed he knows it's not always about breaking the big run. Just get the first down. Young backs have a tendency to try and bounce it outside if there's traffic in the middle instead of just pluggin it like turner used to do.

[JDaveG]

Not really a good comparison. The ZBS has traditionally been known to be weak when it comes to getting that tough yard when needed, and rightfully so. Over the last two seasons Seattle has actually started mixing in Power blocking plays to go along with their zone scheme. Alex Gibbs always said you had to commit 100% to the ZBS if you wanted to be successful at it, but Seattle is proving him wrong. Tom Cable, Seattle's OL coach, learned under Gibbs but he's evolved from what he learned. If you look at the Houston game last year they were destroying Seattle's ZBS, so they actually switched to a full Power scheme mid-game and then proceeded to dominate Houston the rest of the way.

I'm glad we've switched to the ZBS, and I am pretty confident we'll be successful with it. But it does have a big weakness, and it's getting that tough yard. It's a concern, but we'll get better at it as the year goes on. That is the biggest reason we've seen the Falcons jettison really good pass protectors in favor of better run blockers this year. As we saw during the Eagles game, they can scheme good pass protection for the most part. Run blocking is more dependent on having good run blockers, in this scheme.

I fully acknowledge that you understand the system way better than I do, and I also defer to you on the Seattle example. But I don't buy that you can't get short yardage with this system. Worst case scenario we can run more bootlegs and screens to open up the run a little more in short yardage situations, since there's no rule that says you have to move the pile to get a 3rd and 1 converted. If we do that, we'll be able to convert regardless of whether we run or pass. I'm more a fan of unpredictability and misdirection than 1 yard and a cloud of dust, and the WCO, especially with a ZBS installed, excels at that.

[JDaveG]

The biggest difference between young backs and vets is younger backs are always looking for the big run instead of just getting the first down. Once that settles in that will also help our short game. Now that he's seen nfl speed he knows it's not always about breaking the big run. Just get the first down. Young backs have a tendency to try and bounce it outside if there's traffic in the middle instead of just pluggin it like turner used to do.

I still want a bruiser to compliment our little guys. Even Coleman, who's about 210, isn't really much of a pile mover. It doesn't take much to get 1 yard with a ZBS. You just have to hit the crease and break arm tackles. It's not like we need a bruising line doing man blocking in front of a 250 pound back. Just give me a good 230 pounder who runs with authority and has good vision. We're not asking him to be Barry Sanders. Just find the hole, hit it and drive.

[TheFatboi]

I still want a bruiser to compliment our little guys. Even Coleman, who's about 210, isn't really much of a pile mover. It doesn't take much to get 1 yard with a ZBS. You just have to hit the crease and break arm tackles. It's not like we need a bruising line doing man blocking in front of a 250 pound back. Just give me a good 230 pounder who runs with authority and has good vision. We're not asking him to be Barry Sanders. Just find the hole, hit it and drive.

I'd like to see some quick FB handoffs. They work really well in short yardage situations. Especially when the defense isn't expecting it.

[falconstwopercentsized]

Remember when we used a 7 foot ************* at right guard? Good times.