Detroit's rushing attack has made steady improvements during coach Dan Campbell's tenure. Can the team's dynamic backfield tandem continue to dominate as the pieces around them change?
I am going under. It won't be a huge drop but I don't see them getting even better with the OL being a question mark. Maybe by years end they are cranking at 4.8 or better.
The one cavate is the lions will likely be playing behind more often with that schedule so less 4-minute offense that tends to be lower yards per rush. More Gibbs too.
The pass and run games are very complementary. With Jamo, the defense has to respect the deep ball and play safeties deeper. Just look at tape from last year. Safeties are playing 12-15 yards off when normally they play at 10-12. That’s the effect of speed. That means safeties are slower to fill and backs have an easier time finding a crease. In addition, with Amon Ra and LaPorta, linebackers and nickels have to play looser. That gives the O-line a better chance to get to them. I’ll take the over.
No regression? Great , Justin. I can see it. I can see explosive screens with Gibbs and Montgomery. But first 4 games will be hard due to new talents at guard/center position. Plus NFC North is trying to beef up.
Derail is maybe too strong a term imo but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a statistical downtick in the running game for a few reasons including the gelling of the offensive line. Monty is only 28 but he is a running back and running backitis can set in at any time with little or no warning. There are many good running backs who were finished at 28. I am not predicting and certainly not hoping or expecting this, however I do recognize the possibility. With a new OC who reportedly favors the screen game along with Gibbs working on improving his route running particularly where the wheel route is concerned, his receptions could go up while his carries diminish. Then there's Taylor Decker. Is his career on the downslide. Maybe but how steep and is Manu ready?
Floors and ceilings are projections, so there's always room for argument. But...
Both Miles Frazier and Tate Ratledge were substantially better pass blockers at LSU and Georgia in their final 2 years, if you can grant that PFF grades over their last 2 years has some validity. I think their reputations as better run blockers stems from Tate's self-identification as a Dirt Bag and perhaps from an AI generated article that asserted they were better run blockers, which seemed to echo into truth.
I am going under. It won't be a huge drop but I don't see them getting even better with the OL being a question mark. Maybe by years end they are cranking at 4.8 or better.
The one cavate is the lions will likely be playing behind more often with that schedule so less 4-minute offense that tends to be lower yards per rush. More Gibbs too.
The pass and run games are very complementary. With Jamo, the defense has to respect the deep ball and play safeties deeper. Just look at tape from last year. Safeties are playing 12-15 yards off when normally they play at 10-12. That’s the effect of speed. That means safeties are slower to fill and backs have an easier time finding a crease. In addition, with Amon Ra and LaPorta, linebackers and nickels have to play looser. That gives the O-line a better chance to get to them. I’ll take the over.
No regression? Great , Justin. I can see it. I can see explosive screens with Gibbs and Montgomery. But first 4 games will be hard due to new talents at guard/center position. Plus NFC North is trying to beef up.
Derail is maybe too strong a term imo but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a statistical downtick in the running game for a few reasons including the gelling of the offensive line. Monty is only 28 but he is a running back and running backitis can set in at any time with little or no warning. There are many good running backs who were finished at 28. I am not predicting and certainly not hoping or expecting this, however I do recognize the possibility. With a new OC who reportedly favors the screen game along with Gibbs working on improving his route running particularly where the wheel route is concerned, his receptions could go up while his carries diminish. Then there's Taylor Decker. Is his career on the downslide. Maybe but how steep and is Manu ready?
The 2025 OL, with a new center, has to be tight with timing and jell early. Hope hope hope.
I like the optimism! I do worry about that interior, though I suppose they probably have a higher run blocking floor than pass blocking floor.
Floors and ceilings are projections, so there's always room for argument. But...
Both Miles Frazier and Tate Ratledge were substantially better pass blockers at LSU and Georgia in their final 2 years, if you can grant that PFF grades over their last 2 years has some validity. I think their reputations as better run blockers stems from Tate's self-identification as a Dirt Bag and perhaps from an AI generated article that asserted they were better run blockers, which seemed to echo into truth.
I could be wrong too, so...