Anybody hear Ron Mexico on SportsCenter?

The running game that we had in the second half of 2004 was more effective (when we won) than it is currently. Sad? Yes. But it was better, and I sure would like to be having one of our backs grinding out 120 yards a game right now.

 

In only 8 games, Nick Goings had 217 carries with an average 3.8 ypc for a total of 821 yards and 39 rushing first downs. He had another 394 receiving yards (8.8 ypc) plus 18 receiving first downs.

Had he done the same thing in the first half of the season he would have lead the league in carries, been 3rd in rushing yards, tied for 8th in YPC and rushing TDs, and been 3rd overall in first downs by rushing ahead of names like LT, Shawn Alexander, and Edgerrin James. He also would have been first in the league in receiving yards by a RB (beating Brian Westbrook by more than 100 yards) and all purpose yards by a RB.

I don’t whose right here but those are Nick Going’s stats. Why can’t we get those numbers back?

 

I don't think Collin and I were debating stats other than rushing, but it is an intersting point.

He was a helluva receiver out of a backfield, just another area in which he gave us production. Again, not saying that Goings > Foster/Davis. But numbers don't lie.

 

I think we will, from Foster, if we run him.

That was a stout D, the games we have left will not be against people that good. OL all year has been a work in progress; though I may be nuts I have faith that they won't quit trying to improve and that the embarrassment they suffered in Chicago will be powerful motivation. The coaches and the starting five can harbor no illusions now.

 

Had he done the same thing in the first half he would have set the NFL record for carries (currently held by Jamal Anderson with 410 in '98). Note that Goings' production went down dramatically after he lost those fresh legs. And as for why we aren't getting at least that much now, it's both because Mitchell is that much worse and because Davis simply shouldn't be playing. I speculated weeks ago that we were saving Foster for the games that mattered most (perhaps with the idea that he wouldn't last that long if we used him now), and as crazy as it sounds, that continues to seem like a reasonable possibility. It's either that or the team is once again being ridiculously stubborn when it comes to sticking with ineffective players (which is perhaps the more likely scenario). Davis just isn't cutting it, but we're not going in another direction.

But once again, it should be noted that switching backs will not make us a good running game again because the line is not currently capable of that. It might at least get us back to where we were late last season, however.

 

Which might be JUST good enough...



EDIT: moved the word just