Will we ever have a great running game?

[pgt_rob]

I'm not a football coach but I can notice the obvious. We started with the running game and it just wouldn't work. Trent looked lost out there tonight and Bradshaw is a tough runner but was stopped. I feel as if each year history repeats itself. Chalk it up to young olinemen not setting up blocks? Or is it our running backs that can't hit the hole or power through like Gray just did? What's going on?

[MTC]

As soon as we have Reitz, Shipley, and Nixon starting on the right side. 

[lennymoore24]

Once we actually learn how to block.  If Richardson, Boom, or Bradshaw were on NE, they would have had 200 yards and 4 TDs. It is not the RB.

[sfergson727]

Can we call Richardson a dismal failure yet????  He is in my book.  The hardest part is admitting the obvious, then the healing begins.

[Flash7]

No

[Dr. Guildo]

I'd settle for a decent one. Plus an o-line that isn't get knocked around so much I mean AC looked good, but Cherilus had a terrible game with Mewhort looking pretty shaky at times too.

[The Old Crow]

Ray Rice will soon be available.

[pgt_rob]

Ray Rice will soon be available.

Yes. But would it honestly do any good though? I feel as if our o linemen aren't experienced enough to block well for our running backs. Not to mention injuries that definitely piled up for us but none for New Englad. Pretty sickening to me, history repeating itself over and over and over again. My heart is so in this team and it is always 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

[LordHelpOurColts]

Sure...just get Grigson to give up another first rounder for Jonas Gray.

[akcolt]

We have a young team. We will continue to build and get better. It is not the end of the world.

 

I love how NE has the ball for 10 more minutes and run it down our throats and it is still Trent's fault. Bradshaws drop early was a killer then Reggie on 4th then Nicks again on 4th down Trent probably caused those too.

 

We need to continue to build the O Line and front 7 on D. It is one game. NE is playing really well right now

[colts52761]

If we get a new rg and rt!

[Gavin]

Not until our O Line learns and plays with fundamentals more consistently plus learns to use angles to block and we also get a Back with more acceleration then what we currently have on the roster

[Happy2BeHere]

Can we call Richardson a dismal failure yet????  He is in my book.  The hardest part is admitting the obvious, then the healing begins.

 

You don't replace the kitchen faucet when the valve below is the problem. In other words...No you can't call him a dismal failure...all of our running backs for quite some time stink..and it's because the valve (the offensive line) is corroded and not much can get through.

 

Put Richardson in the backfield in Dallas and I guarantee you he'll rival what Murray is doing.

[mintor]

get charles from kansas city chiefs and he still suck in the game.

[colts52761]

we call out richardson why not thorton?

[sfergson727]

You don't replace the kitchen faucet when the valve below is the problem. In other words...No you can't call him a dismal failure...all of our running backs for quite some time stink..and it's because the valve (the offensive line) is corroded and not much can get through.

 

Put Richardson in the backfield in Dallas and I guarantee you he'll rival what Murray is doing.

I would be curious as to what T-Rich has done to be called a success in his time here at Indy?  Did he become a ball rolling butcher knives and I missed it?

 

Bradshaw, who is older than dirt in comparison has outplayed T-Rich at every opportunity.

[Bluefire4]

O line needs to be tough and not play scared. We do have young guys up there.

[coltsfanatic24]

Not with Richardson as your RB, he's too slow.

[colts52761]

I'm ok with castonzo, mewhort, and i think harrison will be ok. But thorton? no.  Cherilus seems like a veteran that should be playing more consistently.

[colts52761]

doesn't richardson run a 4.5 40 yard dash?

[Happy2BeHere]

I would be curious as to what T-Rich has done to be called a success in his time here at Indy?  Did he become a ball rolling butcher knives and I missed it?

 

Bradshaw, who is older than dirt in comparison has outplayed T-Rich at every opportunity.

 

Who said anything about calling him a success...you must not read too carefully. I clearly previously stated it's too early to call him a failure. My mind isn't established either way...while some people's are ... mine is not.

 

Current stats from NFL.com

 

Bradshaw 90 carries for 425 yards average of 4.7 and 2tds

Richardson 115 carries for 391 yards average of 3.4 and 2tds

 

Now...neither one of those stand out to me. Sure is Bradshaw "statistically better" when we are talking about "THE RUN GAME" yes...yes he is. But not like he is significantly better in any means as you say.

 

Compare it to LUCK 38 carries for 144 yards average of 3.8 yards and 2 td's.

 

By stats comparison you could say Luck is better than Richardson as a running back. 

 

The point (FOR ME) is that the rushing game completely stinks all around...and it's NOT JUST because of the running backs....90% falls upon the offensive line to create the path.

[Flash7]

It's not the O-lineman or the RBs. Just imagine what belichick and crew would do with our O-lineman and RBs. It's now clear seeing what NE has done with their O-lineman. When have they ever had a bad O-line?

[austriancolt]

Our Offensive Line is struggling since years one point is talent the  other (which the Colts should take a look at now) is coaching! 

[mintor]

I'm ok with castonzo, mewhort, and i think harrison will be ok. But thornton? no.  Cherilus seems like a veteran that should be playing more consistently.

But thornton? no.  Cherilus is veteran at above avg lt . mewhort a rookie play good.   thornton play below avg right guard. harrison is rookie play good as well . think about it have 2 rookies and second year players . yes hard play great offense  when most your players are learning.

[Flash7]

Our Offensive Line is struggling since years one point is talent the other (which the Colts should take a look at now) is coaching!

It's definitely the O-line coach and scheme. We have enough talent there to gain more than 4 yards by our RBs.

[James Harden]

The only guy that can run with our O-Line is probably Adrian Peterson..

[austriancolt]

The only guy that can run with our O-Line is probably Adrian Peterson..

 

But only if he is chasing a child...

[IcyRhythms]

I think some players that enter the NFL find that the game at that level moves too fast for them. Guys like Richardson, Joey Harrington, and Ryan Leaf to name a few are some of these individuals. The game on the NFL level is just too fast for them. They probably wonder how they were drafted to be honest

[James Harden]

I'm not a football coach but I can notice the obvious. We started with the running game and it just wouldn't work. Trent looked lost out there tonight and Bradshaw is a tough runner but was stopped. I feel as if each year history repeats itself. Chalk it up to young olinemen not setting up blocks? Or is it our running backs that can't hit the hole or power through like Gray just did? What's going on?

Colts should really negotiate with the Saints in the off season for one of their running backs. Ingram, Robinson, Thomas all are better then Richardson.  

[Combsey]

I would be curious as to what T-Rich has done to be called a success in his time here at Indy?  Did he become a ball rolling butcher knives and I missed it?

 

Bradshaw, who is older than dirt in comparison has outplayed T-Rich at every opportunity.

Not by much though

[NewColtsFan]

Can we call Richardson a dismal failure yet????  He is in my book.  The hardest part is admitting the obvious, then the healing begins.

 

In case you didn't notice -- and you clearly didn't -- Bradshaw had a bad game too.

 

This wasn't a Richardson problem game.    This was an offensive-line problem game.    Our backs had no where to run.   There were no holes to run through.

 

Blaming this on TRich is ridiculous......   this was a bad game for our o-line.    Period.

[NewColtsFan]

Will we someday have a great running game?      I don't know?

 

But I hope someday we have a good running game.    Because ours has clearly regressed badly.   It's disappeared as the offensive line play has gotten dramatically worse.

 

If we someday have a consistently good running game,  then I'll be happy.

[Gavin]

At some point during the offseason I think something a bit drastic has to be done......

 

 

1.Bring in a veteran O Line talent....talent is the keyword...Not some bum whos a vet..... a real talent...I don't care if we have young talent on the O Line who we drafted.....I want to be able to run the ball when we want to before Luck retires

 

2.Fire the O Line coach......I don't think he is the real problem but I could be wrong

 

3.Find more athletic O Linemen even at the cost of size!....you DONT have to be 300+ lbs to block

 

4.Use more variety in our blocking scheme...Why did we go away from using our TE's to get to the 2nd level to block...We had success with it

 

5.Go back to the basics of Blocking 101....I think a combination of 3 4 and 5 is what needs to happen (If you have to do this step then its not to far off you probably better do step 2 probably)

[Dark Superman]

I'm not a football coach but I can notice the obvious. We started with the running game and it just wouldn't work. Trent looked lost out there tonight and Bradshaw is a tough runner but was stopped. I feel as if each year history repeats itself. Chalk it up to young olinemen not setting up blocks? Or is it our running backs that can't hit the hole or power through like Gray just did? What's going on?

RICHARDSON wasn't the one who was lost put there.. It was the guys who failed to block for him.

[Dark Superman]

The whole line outside of Anthony is below average..

[pgt_rob]

RICHARDSON wasn't the one who was lost put there.. It was the guys who failed to block for him.

 

I know that. I want to know why we can't seem to fix that.

[Dark Superman]

I know that. I want to know why we can't seem to fix that.

Because the guys we have playing now are below average..

And our benched players aren't any better..

[bigt]

Where would Grigs look for a new offensive line coach (college or the pros)?  It seems as though the Patriots staff turns normal looking guys out of smaller colleges every year into an elite unit no matter who is running the ball.  With the exception of Harrison, we've used high draft picks on our line.  No excuses there anymore.  Maybe Pagano and his offensive coaches should sit down and watch the film and try to break the Patriots code.  The announcers kept talking about angles.  They were pushing our 340 lbers out of the way like they were  chumps.  LOL - Chuck should call Bruce and ask him what he would do in this situation.

[Gavin]

There is multiple problems why we haven't been able to run the ball from what I have seen

 

#1. problem.....Very poor technique in drive blocking which we use a lot of when run blocking...WAY TO MANY O LINEMEN I see not bending there knees and losing there leverage because of it

 

#2.problem......Lack of commitment to the run game

 

#3.Not enough variety in our blocking schemes...Heavy Man Blocking. Not much Zone Blocking, Seemingly no Gap or Angle Blocking.....Predictable

 

#4.We don't have a Back that hits the Hole hard enough with acceleration when the Hole is there

[Coltswarriors]

No.

 

I'm also asking the same question about whether we'll ever be able to consistently stop the run. I think that answer will be no for the rest of my life.