Help me understand how ….

[*SHRacerX*]

(11-06-2021, 11:53 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: Interestingly enough, there isn't any evidence that running opens up the passing game. There is an analyst named Ben Baldwin, who is fantastic for advanced NFL data, who did research into this. His conclusion was that running game success has no correlation to play-action passing success, or passing success in general. Play-action seems to work because the mere threat of a run exists if the RB is on the field, the defenses have to play their gaps regardless. 

Play-action passing is really, really good, though. The Bengals would still benefit from using PA more but I agree, let Burrow rip it. He has been playing fantastic and the team has the weapons on the outside to do very well. To your last point, I would love getting Mixon involved with more screens and actually routes out of the backfield. He is a very talented receiver and a lot of a running backs value comes from their ability to catch. He and Evans, really, would be great options out of the backfield. 

Absolutely.  The Rams and Pats used to call their short passes to the RBs as "an extension of the running game".  Whatever.  The point is, you can't blow through 8 defenders when you have five or six blockers.  Get the RBs in space (see Jets, NY, against Bengals) and let them make plays instead of trying to turn everyone in to Derrick Henry.