12-23-2021, 02:20 AM
(12-23-2021, 12:59 AM)rfaulk34 Wrote: Balance, in itself, has no correlation. There has to be effective running--as you pointed out in the beginning of your post--for the run game to be causitive. Unless, of course, the QB throws it 40 times for 400 yds and 4 TDs. The running game can average 1.2ypc and the QB can throw 15 times for 98 yards and if the defense shuts the opponent out, the other stuff doesn't matter.
For this specific Bengals team, the defense (1st and foremost) + Sir-kicks-a-lot + an at times balling Burrow and/or an effective running game has been the thing that has lead to so many more wins. It has nothing to do with running the ball 25 times and passing the ball 25 times.
So, anyway, check this out.
In wins this year, Mixon had ypc averages of: 4.38, 5.00, 4.19, 5.22, 4.92, 4.10, 5.89, 3.41
In losses this year, Mixon had ypc averages of: 3.45, 3.30, 2.36, 4.92, 2.84, 3.22
See a trend there? One outlier in each instance and consistency in all the others.
Fair enough. Generally speaking, I like balance. It has to be effective too, though. Good balance helps. Especially in a cold weather division with no domes. It seems like the most successful teams in the AFCN have been able to run very effectively and are balanced at least.
Pitt and Balt have had some success in years where their QB threw 620+ times, but it never seems to end well when they have. Also, it seems like that's league wide when it gets towards January. Not very often do you see QBs just carving up playoff level defenses in cold weather.
Not saying it never happens. I just think teams grow more balanced late in the year. I could be wrong about that though.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
