Downfield blocking and our running game

While I agree that losing Otah (and to a lesser degree, Kedrick Vincent, IMO) hurt our running game, I don't think their loss is the whole picture. Our atrocious QB play is part of it, too, but I think there's another key ingredient missing from the dominant rushing attack we've enjoyed over the last couple of seasons.

Downfield blocking.

Last season in particular, when Stewart and especially DeAngelo were breaking off big runs, we had guys like Moose downfield plowing the way. Smitty was contributing quite a bit, too. Now Moose is gone and Smitty played the first part of the season trying to heal from a twice-broken arm. I'm thinking that might have compromised his blocking ability a bit. And though I haven't seen for myself, I'm guessing Gettis ain't Moose when it comes to keeping the field clear for Double Trouble to do their thing. Hell, I'm betting LaFell (Moose's heir-apparent) ain't close to being there, either.

This season the big plays aren't happening in the run game. When the guys do get carries, the yards per attempt are ridiculous compared to past seasons. What do you guys think? Am I on track here?

 

We also had Stewart bouncing off tacklers like a video game version of himself.

 

I have not seen them get down field very often to where down field blocking would matter. Smitty can pancake the corner but when the DT is stuffing the runner in the backfield it does not matter.

 

there's no doubt that Otah/Vincent was better than what we have. I still feel like Vincent was expendable, and there was valid reason to expect one of the two guys we had starting at the end of 09 were better, because they had been.

I think one thing is that downfield blocking means the back got downfield, and the DB wasn't stacked at the line. Neither has been the case that much. We did good things against 8 man, 9 man before, but it was with Delhomme. Moore didn't really face it much in 09 and earned his way out of it then.

Smith tries. I love him, he'll fight his guy and doesn't give a shit, he'll just keep doing it. He's too talented to be on a team like this for now, but he gets paid lottery winnings every year and at its worst he can still facesmash some punk corners. Gotta give him props for protecting his QB, something that's rare to say of a WR.

But he's not Moose as a blocker, no one really is. LaFell will get there but like most of the O, it's something that will have to come in time.

 

The problem that I have seen is that about 75% of the time we don't get far enough downfield for the blocking there to matter.

 

Yeah I agree, if a downfield block was made, there would be no one there to take advantage of it anyhow.