For the last three weeks, coach Gary Kubiak said that the Texans were putting special emphasis in practice on their running game. And Ahman Green played last week. And the Texans still averaged 2.9 yards a carry for their running backs against the Jaguars.Since Kubiak has been coaching the Texans, there has never been a game where the running game worked well at the same time that the passing game was working well. More often than not, the passing game has worked in spite of the running game.
This may be surprising to some. When Kubiak first came to the Texans, there were visions of Domanick Davis (Williams) putting up huge yards in the sort of Denver offense that gives backs big yardage totals and suited Davis' game. Davis never played for Kubiak due to a career ending knee injury, and the Texans offense never became a Insert Generic Running Back here, gain a ton of yards attack.
The reason for this? Kubiak imported his passing attack from Denver, and some of the personnel who knew how to run it (Brian Pariani, Kyle Shanahan), but didn't import any of the offensive line / running back coaches. In addition, one of the reasons why teams don't run Denver's offensive line system is that it is hard to teach, and hard to get good at because the linemen have to work together for a while to get it right.
MIke Sherman took over the offensive line last year, and installed a blocking scheme that was different that the Denver style zone blocking. This year, they have installed more of the old Green Bay style running attack, and more of the power blocking game.
When Sherman was promoted to take over Offensive Coordinator duties, I wondered how a Sherman-led offense would work mixed with Kubiak's offensive philosophy:
"I can't say I particularly see the Sherman-Green Bay style of power offense as being particularly meshable with the Denver-style zone blocking misdirection offense. The best offenses in my mind have always been those with a very definable direction and philosophy. Sometimes when you take the best of two things, it makes a better whole, but other times it makes a mishmash. You know, the chocolate and peanut butter thing works well together for a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, but I'm sure though I like single malt scotch and breakfast tacos, I can't say I'd want to mix them."
Kubiak claims that the problems with the running game are not all on his running backs, that it is also a matter of the blocking, injuries to Steve McKinney, the play calling, and execution. I'm not sure what the answer is, but given the on-going problems with the running game, it makes you wonder if it is something as fundamental as coaching philosophy. It is a broken record hearing each Monday after games how the Texans have "to battle to get better" with the running game. Do you have any additional thoughts?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-16-2007 @ 3:23PM
kingcalvin said...
They've never had a running game, and the answer was NOT Ahman Green. See "Reggie Bush".
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10-16-2007 @ 3:34PM
Stephanie Stradley said...
Are you talking about the Reggie Bush who has difficulty running between the tackles and has an average 3.5 yards per carry average? That's less than Ahman Green's average of 3.8.
His longest run is shorter than even Ron Dayne's longest run this season with similar number of carries.
I am sure that the Texans could have found a use for Reggie Bush, but Kubiak values running backs that get positive yardage each time and doesn't get stuffed at the line or dance around for negative yardage.
Sometimes an all-purpose player doesn't do any one thing very well. There are running backs better than Bush, and tons of wide receivers better than Bush in that role.
If there were a do-over of the 2005 draft, I can tell you that very few Texans fans wish that they would have picked Reggie Bush.
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10-16-2007 @ 4:49PM
Justin said...
About the running game, they should've never gotten rid of Dominick Davis. He was better than Green and Dayne combined. Drafting R. Bush or any other RB that went in the first round would've been a good idea.
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10-16-2007 @ 4:49PM
Justin said...
About my recent comment. I had no idea that Davis has out of football because of a career ending injury. But still, Green wasn't the best choice for them and maybe next year the Texans front office will do something right and draft Darren Mcfadden.
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10-16-2007 @ 8:00PM
James said...
It hurts when you don't have the right lineman and your best run blocker goes down in game 3 of the season. Maybe with a better running back it doesn't matter but we have Green who is good but on the downside of his career and Dayne who is a third down back at best. But it is only year 2 so give them more time,good things are on the way.
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10-16-2007 @ 8:00PM
Tom said...
Teams that have traditionally run the ball well under all circumstances, and the Pittsburgh Steelers under Bill Cowher with Jerome Bettis stand out, have drafted exclusively towards that end, with linemen averageing more than 320 lbs at all 5 positions. Part of the problem with that is it's a very rare human specimen that can weigh 350 lbs and still keep todays speed rushing defensive ends off the quarterback. This creates a problem for the passing game, and creates a problem mounting a comeback when the team falls behind, because the team is too one dimensional. This has been magnified by the salary cap era and smaller team sizes. I seem to remember a time when the draft was much longer than 8 rounds and it wasn't televised. You read about who your team drafted in the Sunday paper, and then the other guys on Monday's. The creation of the H back has led to the blocking only fullback, which has changed the way teams go about running the ball now. I seem to recall something called a standard pro set where either the tailback or the fullback had opportunities to run the ball and one blocked for the other. Sometimes the tailback even had the fullback leading on a toss sweep and this could lead to a long running TD.
The Texans problems aren't that the linemen aren't running the zone blocking scheme effectively and not getting to the second level, it's that they're getting stuffed at the first level from guard to guard, and they don't have the kind of speed at tailback to turn a toss sweep into a long gainer let alone a TD. BAsically Steve McKinney got hurt and they suck at running now, not that they had aome kind of super slick designed running game to begin with with traps and pulling guards and screen passes and draws and fullback led toss sweeps.
Another thing they've dones drop some stuff they were using earlier in the year that worked because it was different like a 5 wideout set.
They're not mixing they're plays as well. They're not creative, unimaginative, then they try to cover it by calling a stupid onside kick and put a defense that had been playing well enough in a hole.
I'll be very surprised if a 280lb center is the answer. DIDn't Casey Studdard play center at Texas? If so why is he only being thought of as a guard?
So just like it looks like they don't really have a redzone package, it looks like they don't have a well designed running game, and the personel with which to execute it. They've drafted linemen 2 years straight that have the potential to be that kind of line that has a lot of chemistry and plays together a long time, but then they don't play them because they're not starters because they have a lot to learn etc. They don't have line depth, and if you're going to be playing musical linemen than you need a simpler scheme anyway.
I think 2 of the things that have really changed the way football is played in the NFL now and the way teams go about running the ball is the 5 yard chuck rule, and all the rules protecting the quarterback. The successfull teams like New England and Indianappolis have adapted and taken advantage of the rule changes and new team structuring.
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10-18-2007 @ 7:52AM
Hal said...
Steph - you have hit on my hot button with the Texans, which is Mike Sherman. It is obvious what players he has personally brought in, and they are not working out. It isn't obvious what his input is to the offense, but given he is the offensive coordinator I can't believe it is all Kubiak. I just think Sherman is a nice guy that has made horrible decisions regarding personnel, schemes, and play calling. I am little surprised that the local sports journalist continue to just talk about how great of a guy Sherman is and how fortunate we are to have him on staff. He is on our staff because no other team in the NFL wants him as a head coach. I think you are spot on with the conflict of his style and Kubiaks - it's not working.
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10-20-2007 @ 2:55PM
Justin said...
They find their running game if they make a smart choice and they draft their future franchise back Darren McFadden in the 08' draft.
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