A few thoughts

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(10-23-2016, 08:10 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: I'd say it's more likely that our run blocking suddenly looked competent against weak competition, than it is that Hill and Gio suddenly developed good vision and speed for one game. Gio has had a bad year running this year too, LL.

Actually, it's more than just this year. In Gio's previous 16 games heading into this week, he only rushed for 470 yards and 0 TDs on 3.73 yards per carry. Awful numbers. Worse than Hill over the same stretch.

I know you really don't like Hill, but Gio's recent numbers are strong evidence that it's more of a blocking problem than just a Hill problem.

Yeah, not saying Gio has been great running, but there's more than just that to the RB position. That's like saying JaMarcus Russell was a great QB because he had a cannon for an arm. True, but you also need to be able to read defenses, have pocket awareness, go through your progression quickly, get rid of the ball quickly, have good touch, etc.

I wanted to like Hill, and I will readily admit that the postseason fumble probably soured me on him a good amount. (Also he was my keeper in 2015 FF.) But I think he can still be a good RB, I just think the kind of RB he is will have to be dramatically revised. There was talk of 2,000 yard season coming into 2015, and how talented and such he was.

I'm starting to think Hill is now more of a LeGarrette Blount type RB. He has that occasionally huge game (148 yards, 3 TD in the 2014 postseason game against Indy, 105 and 2 TD against Houston this year and such) but outside of just giving him the ball on the first two downs, he doesn't really bring much to the table.

Gio is a superior blocker, blitz pickup, catching, making people miss, keeping the ball safe, running guys over, making chunk plays, running routes, endurance to stay in the game, keeping the pile moving forward, using his blockers, etc.

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Today was the first time in a long time (other than that single TD run a couple weeks ago) that Hill has run consistently hard. Running hard isn't reliant upon blocking, even if the blocking this year has been shit.