Am I the only one that feels like we use both RBs too much?

[TrapAHolic]

We just paid Freeman a buttload of money this offseason, and imo he should be the main back when rushing. His vision, quickness, and lateral agility is so far beyond Tevin Coleman’s its ridiculous, i think we were all just enamored with his straight line speed. Tevin Coleman is not good at short yardage. He tries to hit the hole as fast as he can no matter what. He also has no ability to break tackles and as soon as he gets touched, he falls. I do understand he does need carries to keep the defense honest and not make it obvious that we’re going to throw the ball, but man he does not need to be in clutch short yardage situations unless its a designed pass to him.

I have been feeling this way since last year, but that drive when Sark decided to run Teco on 2nd and 3rd down with a minimal gain then bringing Free out for 4th to run it up the gut again was the last straw for me. Not to mention the whole game whenever Freeman was in, the offense was moving.

Some of it is on playcall and execution, but I do wonder how we would fair if we just stuck with Free til he got tired, not alternating backs each series.

Thoughts?

Edited November 6, 2017 by TrapAHolic

[E. T.]

We don't use them enough if you ask me...not even in the passing game like we used to. 

[TrapAHolic]

4 minutes ago, E. T. said:

We don't use them enough if you ask me...not even in the passing game like we used to. 

I was speaking the usage rates between the two while rushing, but I do agree with you. Just 1 target for TeCo in the passing game? Smh. But thats a whole other issue

 

All the talk about balance but Matt threw 38 times yesterday vs 18 rushes. Free was getting 4ypc

[FalconsIn2012]

Coleman is only averaging 7 rush attempts per game.  Our 2 headed monster is now a 2-headed afterthought.  You don’t realize they are underutilized until you scan the boxscore and see 18 total carries.  

[E. T.]

1 minute ago, TrapAHolic said:

I was speaking the usage rates between the two while rushing, but I do agree with you. Just 1 target for TeCo in the passing game? Smh. But thats a whole other issue

 

All the talk about balance but Matt threw 38 times yesterday vs 18 rushes. Free was getting 4ypc

Gotcha... just thought I'd throw that in.

[Xfactor]

No Sark just uses them backasswards

[Scott1988]

just use them like Sean Payton uses Mark Ingram & Alvin Kamara

[PeytonMannings Forehead]

I would like to see Free get out there for a stretch and get lathered up and see what he would do with a consistent diet of 20 carries a game.  Maybe the coaching staff has determined that he isn't a workhouse but incidentially, the one time this year he had over 20 carries was a 100 (106 to be exact) yard game for him with a 5.5 ypc.

[Dirtybird56]

I was big on TeCo coming into his rookie year and last season, but it’s so clear Free needs to be the workhorse. Sark is just killing us. Dude doesn’t seem to understand their capabilities, what was it 2 mins left in the game before he got TeCo in space? After how many rushing attempts up the gut. I mean good lord

[Tandy]

43 minutes ago, Falconsin2012 said:

Coleman is only averaging 7 rush attempts per game.  Our 2 headed monster is now a 2-headed afterthought.  You don’t realize they are underutilized until you scan the boxscore and see 18 total carries.  

Rush attempts through 8 games last year vs. 8 games this year:

2016 = 202 carries (high 32  vs Den, low 18 vs Sea)   Average 25.3 carries per game.   892 rush yards (high 217 vs NO, low 52 vs TB/Sea) Average yards per carry = 4.4

2017 = 198 carries (high 32 vs Jets, low 18 vs Car)   Average 24.8 carries per game.   918 rush yards (high 151 vs Det, low 53 vs Car)   Average yards per carry = 4.6

[SkerFalcon8710]

39 minutes ago, TrapAHolic said:

I was speaking the usage rates between the two while rushing, but I do agree with you. Just 1 target for TeCo in the passing game? Smh. But thats a whole other issue

 

All the talk about balance but Matt threw 38 times yesterday vs 18 rushes. Free was getting 4ypc

No free was getting 2 ypc and Coleman 1.. Freeman had 1 run that amounted half his rushing total. He never gained more than 4 yards and had multiple 0-2 yard runs 

[caponine]

Freeman doesnt look like the same player too me, imo. Not the same from the last 2 years. Looks weird too me

Edited November 6, 2017 by caponine

[Born Again Georgian]

I mean, Sark just keeps running them into the meat grinder.  No creativity, little movement.  Just smash mouth ball with a finesse squad.

[FalconsIn2012]

42 minutes ago, Tandy said:

Rush attempts through 8 games last year vs. 8 games this year:

2016 = 202 carries (high 32  vs Den, low 18 vs Sea)   Average 25.3 carries per game.   892 rush yards (high 217 vs NO, low 52 vs TB/Sea) Average yards per carry = 4.4

2017 = 198 carries (high 32 vs Jets, low 18 vs Car)   Average 24.8 carries per game.   918 rush yards (high 151 vs Det, low 53 vs Car)   Average yards per carry = 4.6

Good info.  My only contention would be that our passing offense is not nearly as good as 2016.  Our rushing attack in 2017 is equal to or better than last year.  So why not lean on what works as we figure out the passing game.

 Just comparing 2016 & 2017 rushing stats only matters if the passing numbers are comparable.  Unfortunately they are not as of yet.  Still hopeful it can get there.  Fingers crossed

Edited November 6, 2017 by Falconsin2012

[since68andcounting]

The trick is to use them based on their strengths.

Freeman

• Workhorse "grind out the running game" back
• Great vision and acceleration makes him best for ZBS
• Gets stronger with repeated carries
• Great vision and amazing at turning a clogged hole into positive yardage (can also get too "cute" occasionally and lose big yardage)
• Good receiver but not really a seam/deep TD threat
• Average but improving pass blocker

Coleman

• "One cut" runner great with quick hitting traps/draws
• Great in the passing game both with screens and downfield
• Improving in the ZBS, but NOT a workhorse grind it out ZBS back
• Goes down easy sometimes, especially in a clogged hole (lowers his head and drives vs. looking for a hard cutback lane)
• Great as change of pace in 2nd half when defense tires
• Good pass blocker

IMO, we should play each back predominately in one half. If we are concentrating on establishing the run and/or eating clock with the run game, Freeman is the guy. If we are mixing it up and want explosiveness and change of pace, Coleman is better.

 

[Sting129]

43 minutes ago, Tandy said:

Rush attempts through 8 games last year vs. 8 games this year:

2016 = 202 carries (high 32  vs Den, low 18 vs Sea)   Average 25.3 carries per game.   892 rush yards (high 217 vs NO, low 52 vs TB/Sea) Average yards per carry = 4.4

2017 = 198 carries (high 32 vs Jets, low 18 vs Car)   Average 24.8 carries per game.   918 rush yards (high 151 vs Det, low 53 vs Car)   Average yards per carry = 4.6

if you think about it, this is more depressing...how do we have a better rushing attack than last year but scoring 13 fewer points per game?

[PeytonMannings Forehead]

8 minutes ago, Sting129 said:

if you think about it, this is more depressing...how do we have a better rushing attack than last year but scoring 13 fewer points per game?

Turnovers.

[Jerz]

Our running game is so f*ckin weird and inconsistent. When we actually try to run the ball they get stuffed and ruin the drive but when we sparingly run the ball the opposing team gets gashed. Our hot and cold rushing attack is frustrating and is another problem this offense has.

I actually liked some of the unpredictibility of the run and pass on some drives yesterday but when we needed the run game the most it vanished.

[EJmusic]

Run game is deceiving IMO. we run well but not enough to gain a yard or two when necessary. 

[Absolute]

35 minutes ago, Sting129 said:

if you think about it, this is more depressing...how do we have a better rushing attack than last year but scoring 13 fewer points per game?

Julio has 1 TD...Matthew has thrown for 11 TDs compared to 19 last year...plus those **** turnovers.

[TalentedMrRidley]

I would just like to see more misdirection. That's in large part what made Devonta Coleman so special last year. I've been the most disappointed in short yardage situations. 

 

Edited November 6, 2017 by camfalcon

[Tandy]

1 hour ago, PeytonMannings Forehead said:

Turnovers.

Bingo.   The biggest difference between 2015-2016-2017.

High turnovers (especially in red zone.   Low Turnovers and high turnover ratio.   Back to high turnovers.

This is where the real difference is - right here!