12-06-2023, 05:14 PM
(12-06-2023, 11:37 AM)KillerGoose Wrote: I think people are getting a little too bent out of shape with the eight carries line. Cincinnati only ran 40 plays, excluding a kneel at the half. They ran the ball 20% of the time, a notable deviation from their standard 34% of the time. In order to get down into that range, you would bump Mixon's carries from eight to 13. The defense has to account for the possibility of running the ball if a RB is on the field. They can't just disregard him, even if the team isn't running the ball often. Those run fits still have to be played. It's why RPOs and playaction just work, whether your running game is performing well or not.
I'm not saying the numbers needed to be wildly different, it's not like Mixon was running it well. But it seems absolutely crazy to me to see your franchise QB go down... the backup has his first start... and we run the ball 14% LESS than we were on average with Joe Burrow back there! Sprinkle a few more runs in there.. it's not like Browning was ripping the Steelers up through the air.
Of course the defence can't just sell out on the run completely... but if the opposing team is running the ball 20% of the time, then the defensive priorities will be for the pass. The players on the field will naturally be thinking about the next pass play to defend... as they aren't seeing us run the ball.
Ultimately, a very good duty playcalling the game a week later and it was a game where the run game did it's part as well. I just think you help Browning out with trying to establish any semblance of a run game, 8 plays in 40 certainly isn't doing so.
