Is it me ...

[*PhilHos*]

Or is our rushing offense doing pretty well this year? I know we've had a few plays where we didn't get much yardage, but I'm not seeing the consistent negative yardage we used to have the last couple years. It's like Moss is still getting positive yards even if it's only for 1-2 yards.

If so, it makes it even worse that they're still not running the ball much.

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

30th in rushing yards, 22nd in rushing YPC

Our 3.8ypc is tied with 2022 as the lowest we've had in the Zac Taylor era (4.1 YPC in 2020 is the highest).

[George Cantstandya]

So I got curious and was a bit bored.   Here is where the Bengals ranked in various rushing categories according to pro football reference since 2014.  I just decided to go with a 10 year window for the heck of it.  The line of course denotes the head coaching change.

2014: 492 Attempts (Rank 5): 2147 Yards (Rank 6): 4.4 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 10)
2015: 467 Attempts (Rank 7): 1805 Yards (Rank 13): 3.9 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 21)
2016: 446 Attempts (Rank 9): 1769 Yards (Rank 13): 4 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 23)
2017 377 Attempts (Rank 29): 1366 Yards (Rank 31): 3.6 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 30)
2018 359 Attempts (Rank 26): 1682 Yards (Rank 21): 4.7 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 9)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2019 385 Attempts (Rank 25): 1517 Yards (Rank 25): 3.9 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 24)
2020 411 Attempts (Rank 19): 1668 Yards (Rank 24): 4.1 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 25)
2021 436 Attempts (Rank 19):  1742 Yards (Rank 23): 4 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 24)
2022 399 Attempts (Rank 29): 1528 Yards (Rank 29): 3.8 Yards Per Attempt (Rank29)
2023 383 Attempts (Rank 30): 1527 Yards (Rank 31): 4 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 24)
2024: TBD But so far- 38 Attempts (Rank 29): 144 Yards (Rank 28):  3.8 Yards Per Attempt (Rank 22)

Disclaimer I'm really tired and I may have made a few typos or pasted a wrong stat some place.  No errors are intentional or meant to mislead.  Also as a more casual fan I don't really know how to make sense of these stats or figure out any trends.  Maybe some of you that are better with such things can do so?

[The Gooney Rule]

(09-16-2024, 04:05 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: 30th in rushing yards, 22nd in rushing YPC

Our 3.8ypc is tied with 2022 as the lowest we've had in the Zac Taylor era (4.1 YPC in 2020 is the highest).

Do you reckon that includes all the QB sneaks and Burrow's more lethargic scampers which go for a yard or two in those averages?

 (My eye-test/short-term memory feels like there have been more of those than normal so far, as I've been holding my breath every time Joe burrows in there, but then again, my eyes aren't quite right with a mixture of tears and blind rage obstructing my vision, whilst my brain is trying to rebound from all the banging my head is taking on the table to start this season...can we get one of those dorky bubble wrap helmet covers for board members if this lasts?)

If those stats are QB inclusive, I wonder what our RB-only rushing stats are for these first couple games vs RB-only rushing averages of Zach-years gone by? 

[masonbengals fan]

Call me crazy but I like Moss's game & Brown has another gear.

[Joelist]

The running itself is better in general but as usual we don't run nearly enough and we are still trying to have a power blocking OL run wide concepts. We looked better running inside the tackles than outside them. We need to have more carries in order to settle the line down to run block and leave backs in long enough to get into a rhythm.

[Essex Johnson]

(09-16-2024, 04:04 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Or is our rushing offense doing pretty well this year? I know we've had a few plays where we didn't get much yardage, but I'm not seeing the consistent negative yardage we used to have the last couple years. It's like Moss is still getting positive yards even if it's only for 1-2 yards.

If so, it makes it even worse that they're still not running the ball much.

Actually last year we improved in negative yards compared to prior years so have to give oline credit that it has continued 

[CJD]

I think what you may be picking up on is that Chase Brown is begging for more carries. He is averaging 6 yards per carry and he was getting nice 6 and 7 yard chunks when given a chance yesterday (and 1 12 yard chunk!).

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Chase Brown definitely has looked good in the first 2 games, especially against the Chiefs.

Zack Moss is a good short yardage Back though and I like the guy better than Mixon in these situations and as a pass protector.

We need to run it more and specifically more with Chase Brown when he plays like he did against the Chiefs.

The O-line seems better at run blocking so far this year too which definitely helps. It can get better though no question.

[reuben.ahmed]

Goodberry said we are only using Chase Brown with a TE blocking for him, i.e. they're having the TE (halfback/fullback) run up the field, make an "outstanding block" and just ask Chase Brown to "go". They don't "trust" him in decisino making yet.

Who cares about his decision making if he's busting 7-10 yard rushes. Do it until they stop it? We can't use him sparingly, what's the purpose of holding back? Why do we make it hard to win? I think Zac doesn't adjust fast enough, in-game or in season. Why are we holding Chase Brown back? He is the key to victory. Zack Moss looks like Mixon back there, not good. Chase Brown must be showing something in practice that he can't handle more responsibility, 5 rushes, why? 

We will win when healthy, the question is if we can win when not healthy. We have to win the games we weren't supposed to (like the Chiefs). You have to create your own luck to make the ball bounce your way. We made it to the SB because we were ironically healthy outside of CJ. No team does that.

[Joelist]

What frosts me is we run better inside than out. direction wise this year we seem to run slightly better left than right but its slightly. So lean into it - run over and over out of under center going inside and let the line exploit its size and block downhill. Make the defense stop you on the ground; it may make Burrow impatient but when they have to actually respect the run the ability to blanket the wideouts does away and good things happen.